Coni's Corner - A Community Blog: June 2009

Have you heard about NVU?  They claim to be the #1 FREE  Web Authoring System with WYSIWYG and HTML modes, and this a a great thing for a "non-computer" type person like myself.  I stumbled upon this this site and downloaded the program and have been using it(?) for all my blog drafting.  However, my frustration has been figuring it all out and putting it all together,  adding the artwork, colored text etc., and then getting it pasted into my AR blog site.  As I toggled back and forth I always lost the enhancements, but by George, I think I've got it and I wanted to share it with you just in case there are any other  NVU users out there or someone who might want to give it a try (minus all the hair pulling)!  So, here is my attempt at a tutorial.

1. Download NVU for free!
2. Write your blog, adding links, font choice, colored text, etc. The capital "A" arrows will increase or decrease the size of your font and you might have to play with this a little to get it to look the way you want it on your blog. Draft everything right now except your artwork!
3. When you are done,  highlight the text, open the top view tab and click on "HTML Source". This automatically changes your entry into HTML code. Don't panic, if you forgot something and need to see the WYSIWYG version,  just go back to the view tab again and click on the "Normal Edit Mode".  You can go back and forth as many times as your need, just be sure that you have all your text highlighted before you make your choice of either "HTML Source or Normal Edit Mode".
   
4. Are you ready to post to ActiveRain?  Highlight the text, open view and change it to HTML.  Once your post shows in HTML, highlight all of your text beginning with the line that starts <body... and left click to copy the text.
5. Open your ActiveRain to post a new blog.
6. Hit the HTML tab on top of the Entry Box.  Click "OK" to the pop-up box.
7. Paste your blog.
8. Title your blog.
9. Save it as a draft! 
10. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and post your blog.  Don't panic! Just like magic your blog your blog page opens up and your blog will be in living color and all!  But you are not done!
11. When your blog page opens, select edit.
12. When you come back to the edit page, click on WYSIWYG in the Entry section and now you can insert your pictures, fix any typos and make any adjustments you need.
13. Add your tags, visibility (change it from draft to whomever you are posting to) and make your additional posting selections.
14. Authorize your blog as the owner of content and post.
15. Congratulations!!!  You can now do what it took me months to figure out!