mBlog FAQ: Setup & Technical

How do I get a blog?

Any current faculty, staff or student with a valid unique name can get a blog. Go to: http://mblog.lib.umich.edu A blog with your uniquename will be automatically created for you.

How do I create an entry?

On the Main Menu, click the "Create Entry" link to the right of your blog name. Fill in the fields in the form and click "Save" at the bottom.

What's the difference between a post, an entry or an article?

Nothing. All three names refer to the entries that you create and see on your blog.

Who can comment on my blog?

Anyone with a UM uniquename may comment on your blog. If you wish to let others comment, have them create a friend account.

Can I have more than one blog?

Yes. To create a new blog, click the "Create Weblog" link in the Shortcuts area on the Main Menu.

Is there a limit on the number of blogs I can have?

No, you can have as many blogs are you like.

How do I create a blog for a group, committee or other organization that I belong to?

Create a new blog and name something it that represents the group. You can add multiple authors to the blog so that more than one person can post entries.

Can I restrict viewing of my blog to a specific group of people?

No, your blog is either public or private. By default, blogs created using the Mblog service are public and viewable by anyone, anywhere. Blogs that are publicly viewable may also be indexed by search engines like Google. If you would like to keep your blog private and not viewable by anyone, select "DRAFT" when creating and posting blog entries

How do I add multiple authors?

Click the "Add/Edit Authors" link in the Shortcuts section of the Main Menu. Select an author from the drop-down list and select a blog. Set the permissions for that author on the selected blog.

What permissions should I give other authors on my blog?

For an author to be able to contribute to your blog, they only need post permissions. If you wish to share the management duties of the blog, such as making changes to the look of the site or adding additional authors, you need to select those permissions from the list.

How do I remove an author from my blog?

To remove an author, click the "Add/Edit Authors" link in the Shortcuts section of the Main Menu. Select an author from the drop-down list and deselect all of their permissions. They will no longer be able to do anything on your blog.

How do I turn on comments?

Comments are automatically turned on for each blog. If you do not wish to allow comments or you want to moderate your comments, you will need to set those preferences.

What is comment moderation?

Comment moderation allows you to review the comments before they are posted and decide which ones will appear on your blog. By default comment moderation is turned ON when you create a blog.

How do I change comment permissions in my blog?

On the Main Menu, click on "Weblog Configuration", "Preferences", and then "Comment Configuration". To turn off comments, set the Allow Comments Default to "None". To moderate comments, uncheck the "enable comment moderation" box.

How do I add pictures to my blog?

Pictures can only be added through external links. You can link to pictures that you have stored in your IFS space.

How do I change the look of my blog?

The look of the blog is controlled through the use of templates. You will need to know some HTML and CSS to make changes to the look of you blog. When changing the templates, do not overwrite everything that is in the templates or your blog will not work. You will need to preserve the <$MT> tags so that your blog will be able to place you entries and comments in the right place.

Please note: You're on your own when it comes to template modifications! We'll do our best to support you, but we can't find and fix errors in your HTML or CSS, and changes to default configurations may result in unexpected behavior of your blog...or no blog at all. Always make backup copies of your working templates.

What does Quick Post do?

Quick Post is a bookmark that allows you to quickly create a post from any webpage. This feature will generate a link to the page that you are viewing and present you with a form to generate a post.

Where do I send questions and comments about the mBlog service?

Please send questions and comments to mblog-help@umich.edu .