Quickstart - Activating Blog Account and Writing Entry

Activate Blog

Blog Activation is a two step process.

1. Apply for Personal Web Space (https://www.work.psu.edu/webspace)

If you do not currently have Personal Web space, fill out the form at https://www.work.psu.edu/webspace.
Note: Please allow three business days for your Web space to become active.

2. Activate Blogs Account

Once you have activated your Personal Web Space, go to https://blogs.psu.edu and use the Login to New Blog System log-in link. You will be taken to a Dashboard screen.

Create Blog and write entry.

1. Once you have successfully activated your account, go to the Create menu and select Blogs. Complete the forms to create your blog. Click the Publish link in the green box when prompted. See Create a Blog for more details.
2. Configure your Comment Settings so users can easily post comments.
3. You should now see a Write Entry tab. Click this tab and complete the form to write your first entry.

Current Blog Features

The Blogs at Penn State include the following functionality:

BASIC FEATURES

• Multiple blogs per user
• Published in your personal web space (you can blog about whatever topic you want)
• Customize fonts and colors with the Styles selector
• Supports tags, categories and monthly archives
• Upload image files and podcast files as well as other media files.
• Comments and Trackbacks from anyone.
• Filter comments and trackbacks for spam.
• Generates (RSS) news feeds and podcast feeds
• Customize Sidebar
• Import text from other blogs

* Ideal for announcements, journaling, portfolios, note taking, and discussion.

NOT ENABLED YET

• Private blogs - all blogs are visible to the public. The Blogs at Penn State team is working on a solution to tie Blogs to Protected Web Space
• Departmental blogs - The Blogs at Penn State team is researching solutions.

Blog Pilot Documentation and Support

• Help documentation is available at http://blogger.psu.edu/gethelp/.
• Use the Blogger Forum or contact blogs@psu.edu for additional assistance.

This is a Pilot

This is a reminder that we are still in pilot status for Spring 2008 for this system. Although we will work to ensure full service, there may be glitches in the system and support feedback may not be as rapid as with other production services such as Webmail or ANGEL.