Have you ever wondered what all these links and buttons were for your HSB manager account? It seems very confusing if you don't know what you're doing or new to the blog site. Have no fear, help is here. Navigating around your HSB manager is easy. All you need is a little direction. After racking my brain and thinking on it awhile, I've written down "the basics" for getting around the HSB manager pages. I hope you can use them, and if you need help don't be afraid to ask. That's what we're here for.

***Please note that > indicates the next step.***


How to "Log Out/In" of Your Manager:
Log In: Go to http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ > type in username/password > login button > manager (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/index.php)

Log Out: Go to Manager (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/index.php) > "log out"

Basic Manager Links:
Manager > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/index.php
Profile > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/edit_profile.php
Add Entry > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/add_entry.php
View Entries > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/view_entries.php
Settings > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/settings.php
Comment Settings > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/comments.php
Categories > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/entrycat.php
Friends > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/view_friends.php
Messages > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/messages.php
Links > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/links.php
RSS Feed > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/sitefeed.php
Template > http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/manager/edit_template.php

To Add An Entry:
Login > manager > add entry

What is the purpose of "add entry"?
When you write up an entry and save it, it will appear on your weblog. You can change the color, font, and size by clicking on the "taskbar" at the top of the entry. To add a link in an entry you highlight the word you want to link, then click on the little globe in the taskbar, and add a web address you want to link to. Or you can just click on the globe and title the link and add the web address inside the link-box that will show up when you click on the globe. You can also add an email link by following the above directions BUT instead of adding a web address in the "link box" you add this: /src/compose.php?send_to=email@domain.com. At the bottom of the Add Entry page there will be different options to do (i.e.: date, time, category, "who can read", "allow comments", "send to mailing list". Once you've posted an entry, you can always go back and edit it by doing:

Login > manager > webcookies (click on username located on the leftside of your manager page) > edit (all your posts will be listed so you will have to edit whichever one by looking at the title) > save changes. You can also delete an entry by following the above directions except push "delete" instead of edit.

Settings:
Login > manager > settings

What is the purpose of "settings"?
You can do many things by going to your settings (most I've listed below). You can set how many posts you want to appear on the front of your weblog page. You can block IPs, and add email addresses to your mailing list (so when you add an entry and send it to your mailing list - people/email on your mailing list will receive a notice). You can also set up what is seen on your profile (i.e.: stats, friends, personal info) or who can see it.

To Set-Up Categories:
Login > manager > webcookies (click on username located on the leftside of your manager page) > Entry Categories > add a category

What is the purpose of "categories"?
When you add a new entry, you can select a category (after setting them up), and when you post that entry it will be saved in that category. The purpose of having categories is this when you write about (i.e.) your homeschool project and you file it under your (i.e.) homeschooling category, anyone who clicks on the "homeschooling" category they will be able to view all your entries on homechooling. It's a better way to navigate around your blog and easier for visitors.

To Add Friends:
Login > manager > friends > add friends

OR

Login > go to user's profile > click "add to friends"

*You must add their username, and not the id on their address bar.

What is the purpose of "friends"?
When you add friends to your weblog they will appear on your sidebar (on most templates) and also on your profile. When someone adds you to their friends it will say "fellow friend" and you can push "add". When you want to remove a friend from your list just click "remove". If you set your comment settings (below) so only your friends can view/comment on your blog this list of friends that you add will only be able to view your blog.

Comment Settings:
Login > manager > settings > comment settings

What is the purpose of "comment settings"?
There are a few ways to set-up your comments. (1 you can allow only your friends to comment, (2 you can allow only registered users of HSB to comment, (3 no one can comment. You can also have it so that when someone leaves you a comment HSB will send you an email, notifying you’ve received a comment as well setting it up to login a commenter's IP address it when they comment, which can give you vital information, especially if you have nasty anonymous comments posted. With the IP address from the comment, you can block them by blocking their IP address (You can block IPs in your settings). The IP address is a number which can tell you what severer they're using and where they are located. You can only see the IP address if you're logged into your manager and then view the comments on your page. And the last setting for your comments is that you can set it so that the comment author can edit and delete their comments, only edit with no delete, or not edit/delete at all.

To Save Links:
Login > manager > settings > links

* add the address of the webpage you want to link to (in the right-box), and title the link (in the left box)

What is the purpose of "links"?
When you add a link on your manager, they will automatically appear on your sidebar, usually under your home, profile, email me, archives, and RSS. As you keep adding links, they will keep automatically appearing on your sidebar.

To Change Your Avatar:
Login > manager > profile > browse for image > upload image

What is the purpose of "avatar"?
When you leave a comment or someone visits your profile there will be a picture there (your avatar).You can change your avatar at any time to any image. If an image won't upload, make sure it's not too big and is the right format.

To Add Interests:
Login > manager > profile > type in interests (one word using commas to separate them)

What is the purpose of "interests"?
When you type in your interests (ie: reading, sewing, blogging) they become links on your profile. When someone clicks on an interest, people with the same interest will all come up on a page. This is a way of helping others with the same interests find each other.

*Make sure to separate your interests into individual links by using a comma.

To Write An "About Me":
Login > manager > profile > type in things about yourself

What is the purpose of the "about me" on my profile?
The about me on your profiles is to write about yourself, a little introduction for whoever visits your profile. The description on your profile is for what your blog purpose is for. They are different.

To Set-up Your RSS Feed:
Login > manager > settings > RSS feed > "allow RSS Feed to be published" (with HTML so your fonts, pictures, and links to show up).

What is the purpose of the "RSS Feed"?
The purpose of your RSS Feed is so that other people can subscribe to it. They can log into RSS feed reading sites and read your posts, without going to your blogs. This is an easy simple way for people to just click on their feed reader and see what you've posted. This is a very good way to get people reading your blog.

How To Send A PM (private messages):
Login > manager > messages > compose > To: (type in a unsername) > send message

What is the purpose of the "PM"?
By using this feature you can contact anyone on HSB, even if they're not on your friends. Many people use private messaging on HSB instead of emailing as not to give out any personal contact info. If someone isn't allowed to give out an email address, a private messaging is ideal. However, if you are a parent note that you will not be able to see who sends your child PMs unless you login into their account. When you receive a new message, you can login to your HSB account and directly on the manager index page it will notify you by saying "You have 1 from ______ (username) new message: read". You may click on "read" to view the message or click on the username to view the user's profile page.

How to up load images:
Login > manager > Photos & Files > select/browse computer for image > upload

What is the purpose of the "images"?
When you upload an image you can right click on it and "copy shortcut", then you can paste it right into this code (where it says LINK): IMAGE CODE

You can then "add entry" and click on "source" in the taskbar and paste the code (above). Then you click "source" again and your image should come up in your post.

Or go to "add entry" click on the image icon in the taskbar and enter in the img address and click enter. The image will then appear on your entry.

How to put photobucket images on an entry:
Upload an image to photobucket, then copy the little icon of the picture, and paste it on an entry. Done. When you've posted the entry the image will be on there, and when people click on the image it will be bigger so they can see the whole thing. By only copying the little icon off PB it allows you to post pictures without over loading your blog (or making the page huge).

Delete Weblog Button
Login > manager > delete weblog

What is the purpose of using the "delete weblog" button?
By clicking on the "delete weblog" button you will be taken to another page, which asks if you want to continue deleting your weblog. Once you've click "yes" your weblog will be delete. All your posts, comments, template, friends, and settings will be GONE. You will not be able to retrieve this info afterwards. You will then have to start over by selecting a template, adding friends, posting, changing settings, etc.
 

HSB Tech-wannabe,
Jocelyn Dixon