Ever since I’ve switched to Windows Vista, I’ve been curious as to how blogging would be like if I were to try Windows Live Writer. This desktop app that will allow me to blog without ever logging in and using this blog’s dashboard.
So, after having enough rest from a grueling weekend, I’m writing this post using Live Writer. So far, so good. Everything seems to be working well, the interface is nice and comfortable. Though I will need to take some time to get used to this environment as I’ve never really used the WYSIWYG interface or visual editor of WordPress.
The immediate problems I see with writing posts with Live Writer is that I’m unable to tag my blog posts using WordPress’ native tagging system and insert images using the Lightbox plugin for that added ‘oomph’ to it. Then again there could be some workaround to this somewhere in the interwubs or I’ll just write my blog posts offline and then save the drafts to the blog and then edit it online before hitting the good ‘ol publish button.
Writer spice-ups
I’ve heard that there are plugins for Writer that will allow me to add more elements that would enhance my blog posts, will be spending the rest of the week looking into those as well as reviews by other bloggers about those plugins and Writer itself.
What I’m really curious is how to add tables to a blog post. I’m too lazy right now to look it up on Google or Cuil, whichever search engine captures my fancy, but it’s a feature here in Writer so I might as well give it a try.
| This is a table | on my blog |
| if it works | woot! |
Hope that doesn’t break my blog or anything. Next up would be to put in some neat photos and I really hope it will work well with the custom image tags I’ve incorporated into the CSS file of this theme. If not, I’ll just insert such photos on line thus allowing me to add the light box effect to it.
Tags and more tags
Aha! So there’s a tagging plugin in Writer, but it doesn’t support WordPress’ own tagging system and so lo and behold, the return of Technorati tags on my blog. Well for this test post only, that is.
So what else could Writer offer or allow me to do? I guess that’s all for now. I’ll just publish this post so to break my blogging hiatus and to jump start my blogging cycle for the good of us all.
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Julius aka "Jhay" Rocas has been blogging since 2006. He is a certified geek. New Media publisher/Professional blogger and Internet ninja. Youth activist. He blogs about tech news, gadgets and social commentary. 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The early versions of WLW leaves scrambled tags when you edit your post in non-WYSIWYG mode in Wordpress. For instance, every item on the list falls on the same line like one sentence. And every paragraph leaves tags. How about this new version? Anyway, all WYSIWYG editors I have used behave the same.
Aldrin Cantoss last blog post..Cool Eee PC Accessories coming soon?
Really? Unfortunately, it's still the same. I was even a little irked when I saw the post in such a mess using WP's non-WYSIWYG editor.
But it turned out just the way I wanted it once previewed online. So now I'll still be using WLW for writing blog posts as it relives me of the need to be online constantly.
Now if only Ecto would be available to Windows users, I'd be sure to make another switch.
Windows Live Writer supports both Wordpress tags and Categories. Though they are kind of hard to find.
For setting a category, look near the bottom of the window. There is a long white combo box with grey text that says ‘Set Category’. If you also want to set tags for wordpress, we call those ‘keywords’. If you look near the bottom right you will see 2 little up arrows(chevron) which you can click to expand the ‘advanced properties panel’. Inside there you will find the keywords textbox.
If you have any problems feel free to email me.
-Brandon