Blogger Demyst'd (Part I)

I thought it would be appropriate to make the first post-series about my experience with Setting up Blogger, Manipulating Blogger Templates, and general knowledge that may prove useful to those attempting to start and run their own blog with Blogger. I believe that I will continue to learn things about Blogger and therefore decided to make a series of posts concerning Demyst'ing Blogger, as opposed to attempting to fit everything into one.

I believe it is important to have a basic understand of HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and XML/XHTML for those interested in Blogging. These W3 Schools and HTML Dog tutorials may help. I have provided the Intermediate and Advanced HTML Dog page links for those who desire further learning:

W3 Schools is an amazing resource, but not necessarily the best absolute-beginner resource.

HTML(HyperText Markup Language) -
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) -
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

JavaScript -
Beginner, W3 School

XML/XHTML (Extensible Markup Language) -
What is XML/XHTML?


After you feel comfortable with HTML and CSS, procede:

Step One:
Create your blog in Blogger. (If you have not created a Google Account, it will be made automatically.)

Step Two:
Name your blog, and choose a template. I recommend doing some research before choosing a template, even if it means looking through some existing Blogger blogs (Next Blog button on Blogger 'navbar'), to see what template is best suited for you. I chose Minima White, and later wished I had taken more time to consider the option. Minima is great, if you're looking to start with a 'blank page'. If you are looking for a more 'modern' look, you may condiser one of the rounded corner designs (although I will post on how to round corners in Minima).

Step Three:
Familiarize yourself with Blogger with the "Dummies Guide to Google Blogger"

Some things that may be unclear:

1. Blogger, the way it exist today, is often referred to as Blogger (Beta), Google Blogger (Beta). When researching information on Blogger, make sure you are reading about the new Blogger and not 'Classic Blogger'.

2. Templates - also known as Layouts - are the fundamental structure to Blogger Blogs. The structure of Demyst.us is based on the 'Minima' Template, provided by Blogger. The new Blogger's visual interface makes Template manipulation easier, however, some may desire to alter the Templates in certain ways, which requires editing of the HTML/CSS code (will discuss further).

-Blogger Template simplified into five parts

3. Widgets - also known as Page Elements - are components of the Blogger Template that carry data. Notice the left column of this page, the 'Correspondents' area. This is an example of a 'Profile' Widget/Page Element (provided by Blogger).

- What are Widgets?
- How to make a Blogger Widget/Page Elements


There are many things that I desired in my blog template that Minima White did not offer.For example: 3 column layout, graphic logo, summarized posts, rounded corners, etc. Therefore, I researched methods of altering and editing Blogger Templates/Layouts and Widgets/Page Elements.

This is where it gets tricky.

Note: I do believe it is important to have Beginner - Intermediate knowledge of HTML, Javascript, CSS, XML/XHTML, and an understanding of the way that Blogger works, to begin editing and manipulating templates.

For those who feel comfortable with these environments, go on to the next post (coming soon).

The next post will continue the Blogger Demyst'd series, concerning Manipulating Templates/Layouts, and aspects of HTML, Javascript, CSS, XML/HTML that I found to be key in the development of Demyst.us.