Some High-Tech Tips

Firefox has functionality I just love: the search as you type functionality. It's not ON by default and to make FireFox exhibit this behaviour, check the Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> General -> "Search for text when I start typing" checkbox. When active, to find something in a page, one just start typing the text to be found. It's not necessary to press CTRL+F or F3. To find the next match, just press CTRL+G or F3.

Why is this great? Because it improves the browsing usability. Imagine you have goggled something and then open a page. To see where the searched text appears with the search as you type functionality, just start typing the text you have goggled. See, easy and fast. No need for extra keystrokes.

However, this functionality isn't available in Chrome which have keep me away form a more regular use. There is however an extension that just do that: chrome-type-ahead. It looks like that the Chrome developers don't like this search as you type feature but, IMHO, because of stubbornness than anything else. Anyway, the Chrome extension is there, not as perfect as it could be if part of the Chrome core, but still quite ok. Give it a try if you are in the mood.

http://code.google.com/p/chrome-type-ahead

This tutorial describes how to perform a backup of your template, how to edit your template and how to restore your template.

tip level: beginner

 

Some times people find problems editing their template and then I figure out that the root for the problem is because they didn't select the "Expand Widget Templates" check box. So, if you are using the code directly from this check box, be sure to select it:

 

 

However, I would recommend that you edit your template another way.

 

1. Download the full template, by clicking the link "Download Full Template":

 

2. Choose to save the file and give it a meaningful filename:

Including the date in the filename it's a good idea for backup organization.

 

3. Keep this file unchanged and perform the edits in a copy of this file. This way, if something goes wrong you can go back by uploading the previous version of the template.

Use a text editor to perform your changes in the .xml file. You can use a basic editor such as Windows Notepad but consider to use an editor that colorize the code. Notepad++ is a good choice and it's free. Links:

- Notepad++ page: http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net

- Download page; click at the "Download Now!" button:

 

4. Perform your edits in the template, save the file and upload the new template. The template will be immediately changed and in use.

 

If you want to preview the changes before applying them, copy the edited template text and replace the text of the text box with it. Then press "Preview":

If it is ok, press "Save Template".

This preview method doesn't always work, particularly if the changes involve JavaScript. The best approach is to create a test blog and performing the template tests there.

5. If your changes become problematic, just upload the original template that you saved at points 1/2.

 

That's it. Enjoy.

This post contains some guidelines to improve the security level of your Blogger blog and some tips to recover control

Two reasons may have driven you to this page:

1. you are in trouble and I hope you can find some help here;
2. you came by chance and you had better check the following tips.

Believe me, security problems are real even if they haven't yet hit you. Here are some tips and guidelines you should follow.

 

Bem, haverá várias. Mas há uma funcionalidade que não encontro em nenhum outro browser

e que me deixa colado ao Firefox, não arredando pé até haver igual noutros. Falo da possibilidade de pesquisar na página mal comece a escrever (se precisar de fazer CTRL+F, CTRL+L ou equivalentes).

 

É uma opção que não está activada por omissão mas para mim é uma delícia. Activa-se em (ver imagem supra): Tools | Options | Advanced | General | Search for text when I start typing.

A beleza desta funcionalidade é, por exemplo, fazer uma pesquisa no Google, abrir uma das páginas da pesquisa, escrever aquilo que se procura e, plim!, está-se lá. É rápido. Depois, basta fazer CTRL+G para ir para a ocorrência seguinte.