Date November 26, 2008

WordPress 2.6

Category Posted in FYI Comments No Comments »

Upgrades Completed - Known Issues

Date November 21, 2008

Now that the upgrades have been completed, there are a few common and easily fixed issues you may come across. Here's what they are and how you fix them:

My Widgets have (gone, moved, disappeared, are different)!

When we did the upgrade, we removed all of the old themes (some of them had insecure files in them and needed to be removed) and replaced them with updated versions and a fresh new set of themes. We preserved, however, the theme you were currently using. During the process of upgrading, the widget settings were lost in some cases.

To fix it:

Simply place your widgets back where they were in the Design -> Widgets interface.

Linkblock doesn't work anymore!

Our old link management solution, Linkblocks, did not work with the new version of Wordpress.

To fix it:

Replace your linkblock widgets with Superlinks widgets in the Design -> Widgets interface.

It's telling me I need to upgrade my widgets or my Wordpress, what do I do?

It is OK to update your plugins. Should the plugins update but not activate, simply click Plugins, then scroll down until you see the inactive plugins. You want to make sure that you activate the plugins with the highest version number. I would avoid upgrading your actual Wordpress software unless we recommend it (that information will come to your system trainer and/or from this website).

I don't see certain settings for my plugins (Such as Flickr RSS settings)

Click on Users, and click the check box next to "librarian" or your user, and select "Administrator" under the "Change Role To" drop down (above the list) and click "Change."

Please leave us comments if you see additional issues.

Thanks!

Category Posted in FYI Comments No Comments »

Event Calendar for 2.6

Date November 20, 2008

Event Calendar

The very first time you use it, you will need to set up the category you want to put your event posts in, and set a few settings depending on your preference.

Create the event category
1.    Log into the administration console of your website (the Dashboard)
2.    Click "Manage"
3.    Click "Categories"
4.    Click "Add New"
5.    Enter the name of the category (Events, Library Events, Fun Events, whatever you like), don't worry about the other fields.
6.    Click "Add Category"

To look at the options and set the event category:
1.    Log into the administration console of your website. Click on "Settings," then click "EventCalendar."
2.    Set the Event Category to the category you just created
3.    Set any other settings you might like (step 2 is the only essential step).
a.    TIP: If you want your Event Calendar posts to appear separately (not on your Home page), select "Only Show Events"
4.    Click "Update Options" at the bottom of the page.

To add the Event Calendar widget to your sidebar:
1.    Click on "Design"
2.    Click on "Widgets"
3.    Pick the sidebar (if you have more than one) and click "Show"
4.    Drag the "Event Calendar" widget to your sidebar.
5.    Click "Edit" to give the Widget a unique title.
6.    Click "Save Changes"

To add an Event:
1.    Create a new post (Write > Post)
2.    Write the headline and description of your event.
3.    Scroll down until you see the "Event Editor"
4.    Click the + symbol to add an event
5.    Set your start and end times
6.    Click the + symbol to add additional dates (for recurring events)
7.    Publish your post

You should now see a highlighted day on your Event Calendar.
Click on it to see the post for that event!

Category Posted in Great Idea! Comments No Comments »

Theme Resources

Date November 19, 2008

Tired of your boring old theme? Check some of these out:

100 Excellent Wordpress Themes

More WordPress Themes Sort by column, customizable header, or widget ready

When you find a theme you like, rather than download the file, you can simply COPY the URL of the file
(in Firefox - right click on the "Download" button and select "Copy Link Location")

To install a Theme:

  • Log into the Dashboard
  • Click "Design"
  • Click "Install a theme"
  • Paste the URL of the theme you have chosen
  • Click "Install"

Category Posted in FYI Comments No Comments »

Sites Upgraded

Date October 30, 2008

These sites have been completed, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. You may notice that your widgets have disappeared or appear to have changed. This is OK! All you need to do is go in and place them where you want them again:

  • Altamont
  • Arma
  • Abilene
  • Ashland
  • Augusta
  • Barnes
  • Basehor (already completed prior)
  • Beattie
  • Bern
  • Bonner Springs
  • Bronson
  • Bucklin
  • Caldwell
  • Caney
  • Carbondale
  • Cedarvale
  • cgpl
  • Cheney
  • Coldwater-Wilmore
  • Colony City
  • Columbus
  • Conway Springs
  • Corning
  • Dodge City
  • NCKL Train
  • Demo2
  • Edna
  • Eudora
  • Enterprise
  • Effingham
  • Fall River
  • FOKL
  • Fort Scott
  • Fowler
  • Garden City
  • Grant County
  • Greeley
  • Hamilton
  • Hamilton City
  • Hardtner
  • Haven
  • Hiawatha
  • Hillsboro
  • Hope
  • Horton
  • Inman
  • Library Intersections
  • Iola
  • Johnston
  • Linwood
  • Little River
  • Mary Sommerville
  • Marion
  • Macksville
  • Marysville
  • McLouth
  • Longton
  • Lyndon
  • Meade
  • Minneola
  • Montezuma
  • Moundridge
  • Moran
  • NCKLS
  • Norton
  • Nortonville
  • Osawatomie
  • Osage City
  • Oswego
  • Oskaloosa
  • Ottawa
  • Overbrook
  • Paola
  • Parsons
  • Peabody
  • Plains
  • Pleasanton
  • Pomona
  • Prescott
  • Protection
  • Ransom
  • Rankin
  • Savonburg
  • SCKLS
  • Scott County
  • Sabetha
  • Seneca

These sites were DELETED due to inactivity. Please note this does not preclude you from applying for a new KLOW site at a later date. We are merely trying to make sure that all sites are up to date and there is no reason to upgrade a site that hasn't been used in 12 months and/or shows no signs of activity. All traces of these sites (the place holder pages/directories, DNS entries, and virtual host settings) will be removed the first week of January, 2009:

  • Barnard (inactive since 8/07)
  • Bison (inactive since 07/07)
  • Bluemound (inactive since 8/07)
  • Bluerapids (inactive since 12/06)
  • Burnley (inactive since 08/07)
  • Chanute (inactive since 07/06)
  • Coffeyville (inactive since 08/07)
  • Colby (inactive since 11/06)
  • Delphos (inactive since 07/07)
  • Elkhart (inactive since 10/07)
  • Eureka (inactive since 11/07)
  • Frankfort (inactive since 12/06)
  • Garnett (inactive since 08/07)
  • Goodland (inactive since 12/06)
  • Grenola (inactive since 11/07)
  • Hartford (inactive since 12/06)
  • Hepler (inactive since 06/07)
  • Hillcrest (inactive since 07/07)
  • Humboldt (Inactive since 11/07)
  • Jetmore  (inactive since 10/06)
  • Kearney (inactive since 02/07)
  • Lawrence (never active)
  • Long Island
  • Lenora
  • McCracken
  • Moline
  • Norcatur
  • Scandia
  • Sylvia
  • Quinter

Category Posted in FYI Comments No Comments »

KLOW Featured on librarian.net

Date October 8, 2008

Jessamyn West highlighted our project on her blog at librarian.net.

Aw, shucks. *blush*

As to who in Kansas are the brains behind the project, it was started by Brenda Hough and Liz Rea at the Northeast Kansas Library System in 2006. Liz is still on the project (*wave*) but Brenda has moved on, her place being very capably filled by Sharon Moreland, NEKLS Technology Consultant. It is funded by NEKLS and the State Library of Kansas.

Thanks for the nod!

Category Posted in FYI Comments 2 Comments »

Introduction to KLOW

Date October 6, 2008

What's new in Library Web site development?

What is WordPress?

  • Blogging application
    • traditionally, blogs are frequently updated, personal websites featuring diary-type commentary and links to articles on other Web sites.
      • main content area has articles listed chronologically, newest on top
      • articles are organized into categories
      • older articles contained in an archive
      • people can leave comments about the articles
      • links to other related sites are listed (called a "blogroll")
      • "feeds" like RSS, Atom or RDF files are available
  • Open source
    • freely distributed, collaboratively developed and modified software code
    • collaboratively written support materials - www.wordpress.org

Exploration of WordPress

  • What the world sees...
    • Header
    • Post
      • Title
      • Categories
      • Comments
      • Images
    • Sidebar(s)
    • Pages
    • Archives
    • Categories
    • Links (Blogroll)
    • Meta
  • Behind the Scenes...
    • Dashboard
      • Settings
        • Update/Edit header and "General Settings"
        • Site Administration
      • Plugins
      • Users
    • Write
      • Write Post
      • Write Page
      • Write Link
    • Manage
      • Edit/Delete posts
      • Edit/Delete pages
      • Edit/Delete links
      • Add/Edit categories - index/group posts by topic
      • Add/Edit tags
      • Add/Edit link categories
      • Edit/Delete media library (images)
    • Design
      • Themes
      • Widgets
      • Install a Theme
      • Header/Theme customization
    • Comments
      • Moderate comments and Spam
    • HELP

Thinking About Content

  • What is the purpose of your site?
    • Promote news and events
    • Provide information about Library operations (hours, contacts)
    • Provide hard-to-find information
    • Provide access to local information
    • Local history
  • How simple or complicated do you want the site to be?
  • Who will add and update content?
  • Who will check for dead links?
  • What information do you NEED and WHERE do you want to put it?
    Home page (sidebar widgets) :: Pages :: Posts organized by Category

    • Widgets - Hours :: Catalog :: Images via Flickr :: Search boxes :: Audiobooks, Music and More
    • Pages - About :: Policies :: Feature Page :: Board Information :: Teens :: Kids :: Readers

Tips and Tricks

  • ColorSchemer - For Themes that allow color customization
  • Buttons - Use a photo editor to generate a hyperlinked 'button'
  • Simple How To guide for tasks like adding and editing images and making hyperlinked image buttons for a Text widget.

Category Posted in FYI Comments No Comments »

NEKLS Final Friday Web Site Work Day

Date September 26, 2008

The NEKLS Tech folks hosted an informal Work Day on Friday, Sept. 26 for our librarians who had newly upgraded KLOW Web sites.

We discussed the Life Cycle of Open Source Software (.ppt) and spent time reviewing the New Features and Fuctions of WordPress 2.6 (.doc).

Handy Tips shared at the training:

Adding a Hyperlink to an Image in a Text Box:

  • Open a new Post and using the Add Media buttons, add the image you want to use in your Text Box.
  • Save the Image
  • Select Manage > Media Library and click on the image thumbnail you wish to add.
  • Copy and Paste the URL from the Address Bar (For example: http://www.mykansaslibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/229043wc6ohwbobe.jpg)
  • Go back to the Dashboard
  • Open Design > Widgets and chose the sidebar for a new Text widget
  • Add a Text Widget
  • Edit the Widget - give the Text box a Title
  • In the Body of the Text Widget:
    • To insert a picture only:
      • Type:
        <img src="http://www.mykansaslibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/229043wc6ohwbobe.jpg">
      • Save Changes
    • To insert a picture with a Hyperlink:
      • Type:
        <a href="http://xxx.xxx.xxx"><img src="http://upgrade.mykansaslibrary.org/wireless_logo-150.jpg"></a>
      • The http://xxx.xxx.xxx would be the Web site you want to go to when clicking the image
      • The "img src" refers to the Image Source, or the URL of the picture you want to appear
      • Save Changes

Pasting Text from an outside source (Word, the Web, etc.)

  • When Pasting from Word, use the new "Kitchen Sink" menu
  • Click the Kitchen Sink button
  • Then click the Paste from Word button
  • Use Ctrl+v or Edit > Paste to paste in your text
  • Click insert

Make your own Buttons

  • Susan from Hiawatha wanted to create a new button for her site and found:

HTML Basics for Text Boxes

  • For Bold Text, use <strong>TEXT</strong>
  • For Italic Text, use <em>TEXT</em> (for "emphasis")
  • For single spacing, use <br> at the end of a line of text
  • For double spacing, use <p> at the end of a line of text

Category Posted in Handy Tips Comments No Comments »

Potential Training Materials from WordPress.org

Date September 24, 2008

The WordPress Blog and WordPress Docs pages from the WordPress.org site provide great tutorials, video tours and guides that can be used for training.

For a quick overview of what changes came in versions 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 (there was now 2.4 release), you can look at the Release blogs.  Using Images and File Attachments in WordPress changed significantly in 2.5 and will require new training.

Documents provided at WordPress.org cover topics such as:

  • Getting Started with WordPress
  • WordPress 2.6 Information, including New Features
  • Working with WordPress
  • Design and Layout
  • Troubleshooting
  • Advanced Features
  • WordPress Lessons

As with all open source projects, these materials were collaboratively created by volunteers and some reflect the 2.6 verison and others do not.

But, for some topics, the work of creating step-by-step instructions with screen shots is done for you!
For example, First Steps with WordPress > Writing and Managing Posts

Category Posted in FYI Comments No Comments »

Upgrades, They Are a Comin’

Date August 26, 2008

Did you know that the KLOW sites have not had a major upgrade since the project started in 2006?  With open source software, improvements come rapidly and it's time that we take advantage of these.  So, over the next two weeks will be upgrading all current KLOW sites from version 2.2.3 to 2.6.1. This means, we will have additional themes, the continued ability to upload and upgrade themes and plugins, a media library to help organize pictures and videos, and several enhanced security features.

To help with this upgrade, we need to make sure every site has an email address assigned to it, specifically the "Librarian" user email.  If you are not able to get in or don't remember your password, you can use the "Lost your password?" function.  If no email is set, contact us for assistance.

To be complete forthcoming, there will be some transition issues.  This is the nature of software upgrades. Hopefully these will be minor and easily rectified, similar to the operations required when switching themes.  We also intend to create an informational video explaining some of the differences.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. As always, keep up to date with KLOW issues and notices here!

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