Blogger-Toolkit

Guys I am sorry to say that currently I am more working on my other blog Impressing Technology than Blogger Toolkit. You will find all kinds of articles including Blogger hacks there. So if you like my articles you can visit and subscribe to Impressing Technology.

Zoho creator allows you to create database that can be accessed easily from any where. This database can be shared, embedded in web page or blog.

To create a database first you should get registered in Zoho. After registering signin. Then click on "Switch To" at the top of the page, a list of online applications are shown, in the list click on "Zoho creator" to create a database application.

• Now Zoho creator page will open, at the top right side click on "Create New Application".

• In the "Create New Application" page, enter Application Name and Form name. At the left side select Add Form. At the right bottom you find two options Private and public. Select public and click on Create Now.

• In the next page, elements are shown at the left side, drag and drop those to the form in the middle. Since i want to create a Website feed back form, i will add name field, email field, feedback field. If i want i can add more fields like country, age,.....

• Now click on "Views" at the top and select your created application view.

• In the "Views" page you can change the order of columns. Click on "Script" at the top to goto next page.

• In the "Script" page, you can enter your own scripts if you are familier with them. Script adds more functionality to the database application.

• Next click on "Share", here you can add users who can access this application. If you specify it as Private or else it can viewed by any one no need to add any users.

• Now click on "Layout", you can customize the look of your application. Select either Pane Layout or Tab Layout.

• Next click on "Access this application" at the top of the page. Here you can see the data entry form and the database with records. Try entering some data and see the database whether correctly saved or not.

• Now you can place these two in a web page or blog. Click on "More Actions", then on "Embed in Webpage". You will be given some code and customize options for items and look. Copy and paste that code in blog or website. Since this application is public no one actually needs to signin, but for private option different code is shown, asking user to login to enter data. So only invited users can only enter data in to database.

There are many features that i did not explain you. So i recommend you to see video clips, Get Started Quickly and Introducing Script Builder at the Zoho site for more information on building various applications.

I hope this will give you idea about Zoho Creator. There are so many applications to see, Sample Applications, Public Applications and some Testimonials, Screenshots, Tips and Tricks - Land of Zoho Creator.

Also see:

Embed PDF files in Blog
Steps for embedding PDF file in blog posts

Adding icons to post heading, comments, date of post, archive,.. makes a good impression for the visitor. To get free icons see resource below.

Resource for free icons:

• Fasticon
• Sweetie

I have used icons for post names, comments, archive, comment user and post dates. And uploaded them to Yahoo Geocities.

• Go to Dashboard, click on Layout, Edit HTML, then backup your template. To backup your template click on Download Full Template at the top. After downloading enter the filename as "Backup_of_BLOGNAME_on_Nov_18th.xml".


• Now in the edit template,click on Expand Widget Templates. Now add <img> tag to the template code for displaying icons. You can use the following img tag for displaying icons in your template.>

<img alt='Locked' border='0' height='16' src='http://www.geocities.com/sample/blogger-toolkit/page_white_text.png' width='16 >
</img>

Note: The above code is sample and source doesn't exist. So please upload icons to your own Geocities account.

• This <img> tag must be placed in correct place to get good results. For post icon, find the word 'data:post.title' in your template. After finding, place <img> code there.If you have any doubts see image below to get some idea, where to add code. Adjust the width and height of the icon to match your post heading size.


• Now you know how to add icon to template. Follow same steps for comments, archive,... I will give some keywords and screenshots to you so it will be easy adding icons.

• Keyword : Posted On for adding calender icon. See picture if you have any doubts.

• Keyword : <data:top.commentLabelPlural for adding comment icon. See picture if you have any doubts.


• If icon is placed at wrong place, use img keyword to find img tags in your template.


• Try to preview your template instead of saving it. So changes are not permanent even if you make some mistakes.

There are so many widgets on the web for displaying recent posts in a blog. But adding other widgets to the blog doesn't look like professional. So to give your blog a professional look, place a small piece of path in the feeds to display recent posts in your blog.

http://YOUR-BLOG-NAME.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Steps for adding recent post feed to the blog sidebar:

Go to Dashboard, click on Layout, Page Elements, then Add Page Elements, click on Add Feed to blog. In the 'Add Feed' window place the above shown path, with your blog name in the Feed URL and click Continue.

Then you will see some post titles displayed and some options like Title, no of items to show, and so on. Click Save changes to accept. Place this element where ever you like in your blog and save. See your blog for recent posts.

Recent comment feed:

Same steps can be applied for showing recent comments in your blog. Here is the path to show recent comments.

http://YOUR-BLOG-NAME.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default

Also see:

Recent post widget for Blogger

Youtube, popular video site. There you have thousands and thousands of videos and even growing more. In those thousands there your favourite videos might be splatered here and there. If you like to place all those videos to be at one place you have to embed them in your blog or web site. Embedding videos is as simple as copying and pasting. Being so simple for advanced users who already used it, but when you are a newbie its the matter of how to do, so i want to explain this for newbies.

Embedding video:

Also see:

Embed PDF files in Blog

Scribd allows embedding of PDF document in web page. If you want to embed your own PDF document, then upload it to the Scribd. Scribd allows users to upload office files for free and no need to register for uploading files. But registering has its own advantages, it gives you option to make your uploaded documents to be private otherwise they are public.

1. After uploading PDF document, click on the file that is to be embedded.
2. PDF file is enlarged and you have some options on the side, click on the Advanced link in the Embed section.
3. In the next page you will find ScribdPaper Embedding Code. There add required width and height in pixels. There you have additional option for displaying from which page ie., start page the document is displayed. With this option you can skip some pages from the starting of the document.
4. Click on resize.
5. If you are satisfied with the display of the document then copy the Embed code.
6. Paste the code in the 'Edit HTML' section of your Blogger post.
   
7. Click on Preview.
8. Whole document is displayed.

Also see:

Embed PDF files in Blog