Software move complete!
I said in a previous post that when we completed our move from 1 software (MovableType) to another (WordPress) I’d go over the improvements with you.
So here we are! The move took place about 2 weeks ago, and Kelli, the moderators, and I have been evaluating and working out bugs since. Which is not to say they’re all gone, so at this point I’d like to know what problems, if any, you’re seeing.
The most important features I wanted to add were to commenting.
Previously there were terrible uploading hangups I think are now gone. You’ll also now see several formatting options as well as the opportunity to post your gravatar next to your comment! (Go to gravatar.com to create your avatar.) In addition our designer was able to do away with the hassle of authenticating comments by adding new spam software. Perhaps the biggest perk is you can now edit your comment after it’s live if you see a mistake or change you’d like to make.
The most noticeable new feature is the “Like” option you now see at the end of every post. If you click “Like,” a link to my post will appear on your Facebook page. Very simple. I’m happy to see many of you taking advantage of that.
Other new features include a live Twitter feed on the lower right side of the home page. Anytime anyone adds @jillstanek to their tweets, they’ll show up there. Part of the fun now will be for you to see what pro-aborts say about and to me on Twitter and vice versa! Twitter is a whole other world of conversation, let me tell you. But also I’ve invited LifeNews.com and LifeSiteNews.com to add @jillstanek to their tweets, so hopefully this will become another way for you to keep current on pro-life news.
I also added a link to my Facebook group page, also on the lower right side of the home page.
We’re still working on issues with the site uploading slow, but other than that I think we’re about done with this particular site enhancement. Thanks again for your patience, and I hope you find the improvements helpful!
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
The Content layer (the off-white layer behind the text) doesn’t load consistently. All I see is the sea-foam green background layer.
I will miss previewing comments before posting. It was handy to verify html tags.
And I like seeing the entire body of the newest post, rather than having to click “Read the rest of this entry…”
Cranky, thanks for your feedback. I battled hard to keep “preview” but was told it wouldn’t work with the formatting plugin being used. I thought the next best thing would be having the ability to edit. You see that option don’t you?
Ok on wanting to read the entire body of the newest post. That change had nothing to do with the software move. It was/is a judgment call. When posts are relatively long, I’ve been shortening them from the get-go so readers can see more posts at 1st glance.
Yes, ok on the white background. We’ve been having problems with that today. You’ve noticed it other times?
I see the edit option for comments, yes. The white content layer has returned as of this comment. It wasn’t visible previously.
Not sure how to space my paragraphs. I haven’t tested embedding any of my infamous Photoshop images either. I typically uploaded those images to my database first, but my site got sick and I haven’t been able to do any lately.
The other oddity is where you mention your Twitter @jillstanek. Wherever text immediately follows the @ symbol it is highlighted the same color as your href text.
And how on earth do I space my paragraphs?
And so now you see how much trouble I’m having “editing” text. I’ve just repeated every paragraph with edits.
Not very intuitive.
Unfortunately with the new format, I’m no longer able to post from my phone, which is my primary source of internet, due to my phone browser lacking the capabilities for Javascript :(
Ah, Rachael, I didn’t know that. Very bad. Will check.
Jill
I’ve been a little out of the loop as of late, but the last week or two during the transition has been mostly ‘snickers bar’ experiences.
Things do seem to be much more snappy.
Both downloading and uploading.
I tried the ‘edit’ thing and had to leave before I could ever tell if it worked the way I suspected it would work.
I just attempted to post a comment back on the Henry Hyde thing and after two tries and multiple updates it never did materialize.
Have I been ‘dis-avowed’?
Jill
I’ve been a little out of the loop as of late, but the last week or two during the transition has been mostly ‘snickers bar’ experiences.
Today, things do seem to be much more snappy, both downloading and uploading.
I tried the ‘edit’ thing and had to leave before I could ever tell if it worked the way I suspected it would work.
I just attempted to post a comment back on the Henry Hyde thing and after two tries and multiple updates it never did materialize.
[Just checked again, still no comment posted on Hyde]
Have I been ‘dis-avowed’?
Just how is this ‘edit’ supposed to work?
If I could wiggle my nose like Barbara Eden would that help.
Remember to cross your arms before nodding head.
Whoa there bucko, I’m confusing the witch with the genie.
Samantha, wiggled her nose.
Genie, crossed her arms, closed her eyes and nodded her head.
OK.
Now I have two posts with ‘edit this’.
The second one materialized after I clicked on the ‘edit this’ in the first.
I feel like I trapped in some sort of catch 22, gimble lock, ground loop.
Wretched techically challenged fellow that I am who will save me?
I’m having the same issues with “edit”. I click it, the screen refreshes, but the post I want to edit doesn’t appear in the edit box; it appears along with all the previous posts, but with the bold word “EDITING” above it (alas, it seems to be lying!). I’ve tried to enter text into the new typing box, but it merely posts like any other post; it doesn’t replace or modify the original text at all.
Translation: the editing feature doesn’t seem to be working. Maybe it’s just Firefox, but I doubt it…
I had the same experience with IE, Paladin.
Ok, now I’m getting it. I was wondering why I was seeing multiple comments again! The edit function isn’t working. Got it. On it. Thx.
I haven’t been receiving your feed in Bloglines lately. I even tried adding a few of your other ones on the feeds list. Hmmm… It is likely related to the blog change. Any suggestions?
Ok, the edits problem are fixed, and a plugin has been installed to allow phone comments. Thanks to all for suggestions.
Carol, I’ll check in to that.
Carol, I checked with the web designer. She said that you need to update your subscription to use the new URL and that should resolve the issue. Let me know? Thanks!
I deleted all your old links and re-subscribed to all six (that showed up in the Bloglines list) again. This time one worked!! Great. I’m happy.
Jill, I’m posting this from my phone as we speak. When I put in your website in my address bar, it now takes me to a mobile version of your site with a simple format and low graphic content, which is much easier to read, won’t max out my phone memory, & I can now comment. Much appreciated!!