MLN posting tools

Okay, I'll start (4.00 / 3)

You might find some good resources over at the dKosopedia, since DailyKos is built on a souped-up version of the same software that MLN is using.

Adding pictures to your posts is a two step process because MLN (like most blogs) does not host images.  You have to upload an image to a service like Flickr or ImageShack and then use HTML to have your images appear in your diary.

There's a good summary here at dKosopedia about how to use images in your posts and comments.

The same holds true, essentially, for video -- you have to either upload video to a service like YouTube (or find video there) and then "point to it" in your post using HTML.

HTML basics are very easy to learn. If you used word processors back in the '80's, the "codes" you used to create bold and italic in printouts, which you couldn't see on the screen before WYSIWYG monitors, were just like HTML codes.

To format any text using HTML, you enclose that text in "tags" or codes.  A tag is always preceded by its tagname enclosed in <brackets>, then the text you wish to format, then a closing tag, which is the same as the tagname but preceded by a forward slash "/", also enclosed in brackets.  Like this:

• underline is made by <u>your text here</u>
  
• bold is made by <b>your text here</b>
  
• bold is made by <i>your text here</i>
  

You can test it in comments below.  Try bolding, underlining, and italicizing a word.  Use "preview" to check to see if the word is formatted correctly before you hit submit.

If you're quoting lots of text from another article and you want it set off in the indented grey blockquote box, you use the blockquote tag just like the bold, italic, and underline tags.  To create this effect, you type

<blockquote>some text</blockquote>

Try it to see if it works!

And don't forget to close your tags (that is, include the ending tag with the forward slash) or everything aferward will be formatted that way.  Hope this is helpful!

 

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by: Maura @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:10:35 PM UTC

Woops...preview is my friend (4.00 / 3)

Obviously, I could take a good dose of my own advice to preview a comment before submitting it!

The last item in that bulleted list is supposed to be for italic, not bold.  Use "i" for the italic tag.

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by: Maura @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:11:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you Maura! (4.00 / 1)

Thank You Maura

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:24:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hot damn (0.00 / 0)

You can teach an old dog new tricks. I am proud of the above! :)

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:25:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

All right!!!! (0.00 / 0)

Now you're off and running!  :-)

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by: Maura @ Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 19:36:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What magic is this? (0.00 / 0)

I'd like to know how you typed (blockquote)some text(/blockquote) without blockquoting it? I'm using (parentheses) in place of the here.

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:38:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

See those damn brackets (0.00 / 0)

made my (bracket) disappear.

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:39:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ASCII entities (4.00 / 2)

to get

< brackets >

you would type

&lt; brackets &gt;

You can also – if you desire it – get nicer hyphens, or long hyphens called em dashes — if you're feeling bold :)

– &ndash;
— &mdash;

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:06:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Unordered List (Bullet Points) (4.00 / 2)

Since Maura used fancy schmancy HTML to make a bullet point list, but didn't share her elite knowledge, I'll do it:

<ul> (this is the tag you use to indicate that you are starting the list)
<li> (this is the tag you use to indicate a list item)
</li> (this is the tag you use to indicate the end of a single list item)
</ul> (this is the tag you use to indicate the end of the list)

So each item in Maura's list above is preceded by <li> and succeeded by </li>

Here are the tags, in order:

• <ul> to start the list


• <li> to start a list item and this next tag to end it </li>


• <li> to start a list item and this next tag to end it </li>


• <li> to start a list item and this next tag to end it </li>


• <li> to start a list item and this next tag to end it </li>


• </ul> to end your list

|Spazeboy.net|Spazeboy's Guide to Political Videoblogging|

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by: spazeboy @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:39:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If you want a numbered list (4.00 / 3)

1. You should do the same as above,


2. only use <ol> and </ol>


3. instead of <ul> and </ul>
   
   • (this stands...
   • for "ordered list")

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:09:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Besides "scratching that progressive itch"... (4.00 / 2)

I am learning HTML by frequenting this site. Beginning with Scarce's instruction with blockquotes, I learned other nifty tricks with HTML thanks to someone posting this pagesite:

Basic HTML commands

Someone in MLN posted this site before, but I forgot who.

If you want to post an image, that is a little trickier. But, check out this page site:

Introduction to HTML: Pictures

The tricky part is getting the right .jpg or .gif filename. I discovered it by accident (or by trial and error). When you see a picture on the internet, right click on the pic and then click on 'properties'. The address that shows up on the grey box will be the full filename you want to insert into between the " ".

I don't know how to upload YouTube videos, yet. And I don't know how to upload pictures directly from my hard drive, also. But, you can upload your pics into an internet site and use that site's filename .jpg (or .gif) for your 'img src'

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:20:08 PM UTC

You Tube Provides The Link (4.00 / 1)

I went to You Tube, found this video, and next to it was the link - I just cut and pasted it here:

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by: Jon Kantrowitz @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:38:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you (0.00 / 0)

you learn something new everyday.

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:42:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

youtube test (0.00 / 0)

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:55:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I See Mac People (0.00 / 0)

If you're a Mac person like me, and you're running OS X 10.4.x (Tiger), you can get a Dashboard Widget that gives you a reference for all the HTML special characters (and I'm sure this isn't the only such Widget available).

BTW, in the course of posting in another thread, I just discovered that HTML codes do work in subject lines, even though they don't appear to be working when you look at a preview. (Or is that just a hiccup in my browser?)

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by: dauphinb @ Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 23:57:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Missed It by <i>That Much!</i> (0.00 / 0)

I just discovered that HTML codes do work in subject lines, even though they don't appear to be working when you look at a preview.

Actually, I'm now seeing the actual codes (rather than the styles they're supposed to invoke) in the "Recent Comments" sidebar, and when the comment is at the top of the page, but when it appears sub to another post in a thread, the codes seem to work. I'm using Firefox 2.0 under Mac OS X 10.4.8 on a  new (i.e., Intel) iMac. Are people with other computers/OSs/browsers seeing the same thing I am? Enquiring minds want to know!

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by: dauphinb @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 00:05:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

This is the ultimate guide to HTML (IMHO) (4.00 / 1)

HTML Goodies

They cover everything from the most basic HTML code to the latest trend setting stuff as it becomes available. When I am unsure how something is done, they almost always have it up there.

It is awesome for anyone that wants to learn it all from the begining. BUT even the most advanced users/bloggers can learn tricks there. :)


Drinking Liberally in New Milford
ePluribus Media

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by: Connecticut Man1 @ Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 16:46:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

HTML for Links (4.00 / 2)

Here's the pagesite if you want to link stuff to what ever word, phrase, sentence, etc. you type.

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:27:40 PM UTC

test for picture (0.00 / 0)

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 22:56:49 PM UTC

you want (4.00 / 1)

<img src="http://38.99.77.125/img407/2008/jakecleocarridefs5.th.png">

don't forget the space before SRC and the quotation marks!

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:19:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ok (4.00 / 1)

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:30:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

another picture test (0.00 / 0)

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:08:31 PM UTC

. (0.00 / 0)

http://profile.image...

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:23:35 PM UTC

. (0.00 / 0)

URL=

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:28:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Quick and dirty HTML methods (0.00 / 0)

When I'm posting on My Left Nutmeg or MyDD I usually compose the diary on Daily Kos and then cut and paste it into a new diary on MLN or MyDD. Then delete the Daily Kos diary unpublished.

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by: joejoejoe @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:32:22 PM UTC

and one more time (0.00 / 0)

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by: Missy's Brother @ Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 23:38:48 PM UTC

By George, he's got it! (4.00 / 1)

:-)

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 00:03:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Woo hoo!!! You did it! (0.00 / 0)

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by: Maura @ Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 19:36:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lesson No.2 (0.00 / 0)

Thank you very much everyone for all of your help. I can now accomplish the four things that I had originally asked about. (as long as I keep referring back to this thread) I believe the only thing left that I have a question about is this: how do you place a link in your posting but reword the link to say something else? Thanks in advance. 

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by: Missy's Brother @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 13:47:37 PM UTC

You can make anything a link... (4.00 / 1)

like this:

<a href="web address">your alternate text</a>

An example:

Missy's Brother's Profile

<a href="http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/userDiary.do?personId=417">Missy's Brother's Profile</a>

Make sure you include the http:// if it's to another website: if you don't include that, web browsers will assume that the link is to another file on the same site. For example,

Buy a book at amazon

<a href="www.amazon.com">Buy a book at amazon</a>

Will try to bring you to the address http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/www.amazon.com, which won't work.

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 15:03:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You and Maura (and other FP'ers?) (0.00 / 0)

are obviously more adroit with HTML, because you guys can display whatever text you want without HTML interpreting it as such. Someday, I'll explore your ASCII entities.

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 16:04:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

codes (0.00 / 0)

You just need a less than sign to open your tags:

< &lt;

And a slash to disable http links:

/ &#47;

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 17:03:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amazon (0.00 / 0)

Don't forget though that Liberals are now boycotting Amazon because they are the last major corporation that refuses to take their ads off of Ann Coulter's website.

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by: Missy's Brother @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 16:50:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Finally an answer I know. (4.00 / 1)

Okay, Missy's Brother, this works for me and was passed on I think by Sufi:

The order is, code defining the hyperlink, define the text you want to highlight in place of the hyperlink.

To make sure the coding appears, I am going to deliberately write out symbols.  You should use the actual symbol, such as quote, okay?

Once you write out the coding, copy it into a word document or something as an example for the future.  (You can't look at the post again as code, but you can open a diary you wrote and review the code in future).

coding is:
bracket a space href equal signquote
HYPERLINKendquoteforward slash>TEXT YOU WANT TO SUBSTITUTE FOR LINKbracketforward slasha>

a space href means: a href
Bracket means <; quote means "; forward slash means /;

Okay, I will follow my directions to see if this works.
Colony Collapse Disorder - It's the environment, stupid

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by: greenpeas @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 15:00:51 PM UTC

link test (0.00 / 0)

Click here to see the face of EVIL

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by: Missy's Brother @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 16:45:08 PM UTC

I've turned into a pillar of salt. :-) n/t (4.00 / 1)

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 16:47:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

LOL (0.00 / 0)

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by: Missy's Brother @ Sat Mar 10, 2007 at 16:50:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

How do you show a link (0.00 / 0)

without showing the whole URL, just showing your words?

Thanks for the info, it's really useful!

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by: saramerica @ Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 18:43:52 PM UTC

Never mind! (0.00 / 0)

It was posted since the last time I looked....

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by: saramerica @ Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 18:45:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

HTML Goodies (0.00 / 0)

The ultimate guide to HTML for newbies to the most advanced users:

HTML Goddies

They are kindof an HTML encyclopedia. heh


Drinking Liberally in New Milford
ePluribus Media

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by: Connecticut Man1 @ Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 16:50:56 PM UTC

OOPS! (0.00 / 0)

HTML Goodies


Drinking Liberally in New Milford
ePluribus Media

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by: Connecticut Man1 @ Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 16:51:37 PM UTC