Sidebar Widget Manager

Widgets are snippets of code which allow you to add different types of content to the sidebar of your blog. Additional built-in widgets available in the Penn State blogs include Technorati Search, the Tag Cloud, Calendars and the Creative Commons license statement.

If your layout has two sidebars, you need to create and edit a second widget manager for the extra sidebar column. Otherwise, only a few basics sidebar items will be shown in the second column. To remove a second column, go to the Styles page

You can watch the video or read the text how-to below:

Add and Remove Sidebar Widgets

To make these active (or to remove sidebar elements), complete these steps.

1. Log on to http://blogs.psu.edu and enter your blog.
2. Click the Design link on top then select Widgets.
   
3. Click the link for First Widget Manager.
   

4. All available able widgets will be displayed.
   1. Drag widgets you do not need to the right hand Available Widgets column.
   2. Leave widgets you want to be displayed in the to the left Installed Widgets column. You can drag the order of the items to change the display order.
   3. Click Save Changes to exit the Widget Manager.

      

5. Click the Publish link given.
6. Click the View Site button in the top links to see the changes in the sidebar.

Managing Widgets in Second Sidebar

If your layout has two sidebars, you need to create a second widget manager for the extra sidebar column.

1. Login into http://blogs.psu.edu and enter a blog by clicking the name.
2. Click the Design link on top then select Widgets.
3. Click the Create Widget Set link under “Widget Sets.” You will see the Widget Manager with a blank “Installed Widgets” column to the left.
4. Enter “Second Widget Manager” into the Set Name field.
   Note: If you mistype or enter another name in that field, the blog template will not be able to recognize it.
5. Drag widgets you want to be displayed to the left Installed Widgets column (see Widget Manager for details). You can drag the order of the items to change the display order.
6. Click Save Changes to exit the Widget Manager.
7. Click the Publish link given. Click the View Site button check your blog sidebar.

Add a Headline Feed In the Sidebar

This widget tool allows you to add headlines from another blog or news service to your sidebar.

Find the Feed Link

The Feed link tool only adds headlines from Web sites which generate an RSS or ATOM news feed. News feeds may be marked with a variety of methods including

• In Firefox or Internet Explorer 7, an orange feed icon may be seen to the right of the URL.
  
• In Safari, a blue RSS icon may be may be seen to the right of the URL.
  

Add the Feed Link

1. Log on to http://blogs.psu.edu and enter your blog.
2. Click Design in the top menu then select Templates.
3. Click Create a Feed Widget in the Actions menu in the lower right.
4. Copy and paste the site URL (e.g. http://www.cnn.com) into the Feed or Site URL text box then click Continue. The name of the newsfeed will be displayed.
   Note: If the site does not include a news feed or you enter a Safari feed:// URL, you will see an error message "No feeds discovered."
5. Click Continue at the bottom of the screen to confirm the link and enter the next screen.
6. On the next screen, edit the Title of the feed as needed.
7. Select the number of Entries (headlines) then click Save.
8. To add another feed, click Create Another; otherwise click the Finish link to exit the feed widget creator.

Display the Feed

You must enter the Widget Manager to move the feeds to the sidebar. To do that:

1. If you are not within the, click Design in the top menu then select Widgets.
2. In the next screen, click the link for First Widget Manager.
3. Drag the feed widget (named after the feed) from the right hand Available Widgets column to the left Installed Widgets column. Click Save Changes to exit.

   

4. Click the Publish link, then click View Site to check your blog sidebar.

Edit Typos in Feed Title

If your Feed title is too long or has typos, do the following.

1. Log in an enter your blog.
2. Click Design in the top menu then select Widgets.
3. Under Widget Templates click on the widget that you want to change.
4. Change text to change the displayed headline and hit Save.
5. Click the Publish Site (circle arrow) button in the top links to implement the widget, then View Site to view changes.