Build a Blog with
Open Live Writer
1
SIMPLE SETUP
Open Live Writer can be installed via the Microsoft Store
or downloaded directly from (http://openlivewriter.org). On
first launch, the app asks you to select which blogging services
you already use. Click the radio button next to a service to
select it. You can add further blogging platforms once setup is
complete. The setup wizard now asks for the web address of your
blog, along with your username and password. Click “Next” to
continue. Open Live Writer immediately begins analyzing and
synching your blog. For certain platforms, the app offers to
publish a temporary post. This is a fast and simple way for Open
Live Writer to download your blog theme, enabling you to view
posts as web users see them. Click “Yes” to agree. Once setup
is complete, Open Live Writer prompts you to set a nickname for
the blog (the default is the blog name). Click “Finish” to confirm.2
YOUR FIRST POST
Once setup is complete, Open Live writer prompts you to
create a new blog post. Fill in the field marked “Enter a
Post Title,” then enter your post text below.
>> You can access text editing options such as “Bold” or
“Center Align” using the taskbar at the top. Click the “Picture”
icon to add an image from your PC or the web. Highlight text and
click the hyperlink icon to insert URLs; if a web address has beenTHE WORLD HAS YET to r e a c h “p e ak b l o g .” Until i t d o e s , th e Inte r n et w il l co ntinu e to b e s w am p e d
with bloggers sharing their obsessions, from exotic vacations to rare bottle caps. There are
hundreds of platforms to choose from, many of which offer free tiers.
Open Live Writer is a lightweight, open-source fork of the popular Windows Live Writer.
It’s designed to bring order to the madness of juggling various blogs. On first launch, you’re
asked to connect your blogging account—a number of popular platforms, such as WordPress,
Blogger, and DashBlog, are supported.
Once logged in, you can use the word processor-style interface to create and edit blog posts.
The application supports basic features, such as changing fonts, adding pictures, and inserting
hyperlinks, as well as more advanced tools, such as adding categories and tags, embedding
videos, and scheduling posts for later publication.
O p e n L i v e W r i t e r c a n s u p p o r t a n y n u m b e r o f b l o g a c c o u n t s , e n a b l i n g y o u t o s w i t c h e f f o r t l e s s l y
between various platforms. Aside from consolidating your blogging, the app can also be used to
prepare and save posts offline. In this guide, you’ll discover how to get started with Open Live
Writer, as well as how to use some of its more advanced editing features. –NATE DRAKEYOU’LL NEED THIS
OPEN LIVE WRITER
Download it from the Microsoft
Store or directly from http://
openlivewriter.org.copied to the clipboard, it displays automatically. To save
a draft, go to “File > Save.” From this submenu, choose
“Save” to save a draft to your computer; to save a post to
the online draft section of your blog, select “Post Draft
to Blog.” If you choose this, you may be asked to sign in
again [Image A]. Check the box marked “Remember Your
Password” to avoid this in the future.3
REVIEWAND PUBLISH YOUR POST
Once you’ve created your post, click the “Preview”
tab at the bottom-left to see your blog as it would
appear with your latest news. If you’ve previously chosen
to save a post to online drafts, you can also view this in
your browser by clicking the draft post title. Click the
“Edit” tab to make any last-minute changes. Power
users can edit raw page code via the “Source” tab. When
ready, click “Publish” in the taskbar at the top. Open Live
Writer automatically launches your blog in your browser
once the post is uploaded, so you can review it.4
ADDING MULTIPLE BLOGS
Open Live Writer supports multiple platforms
and accounts. If you manage another blog, open
the “Hom e” t ab, cl ick the nam e of y our c ur r ent blo g in theBA©^.NET^ FOUNDAT
IO
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