How to Use MovableType

MovableType is a .cgi program used for creating and maintaining a weblog. It uses a web browser interface, which means you can use MovableType from any computer connected to the internet and running a standard web browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla.

I will give each of you a user name and 4-digit password. After reading these instructions, you should have no problem logging on to your account and posting to the class weblog.

You will find the log-on page at this URL: http://rhetorica.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt.cgi

I will hide a hot-button to the log-on page on the class weblog. I'll let you know in class how to find the button.

Step 1: Open the log-on page and enter your user name and 4-digit password. DANGER: DO NOT choose "remember me?" on a public computer!!!

 

Step 2: Upon successfully logging-in, you will see the following screen--the welcome screen. You may edit your profile by choosing the appropriate link. You may set up 1-click bookmarks on your personal machine only. DANGER: DO NOT set up a bookmark on a public machine!!!

On this screen Joe Student is an author of both The Golden Mean and Bang It Out! You will see only one depending upon your class.

To post a new entry, click "new entry." To perform management functions (see "advanced operations" below), choose "manage weblog."

 

Step 3: Choose "new entry." The following screen will appear. Enter text in the "entry body" area. You may compose in the text area or you may cut-and-paste text from a word processor or text editor (plain text or ascii only).

Type in block paragraphs--single space, no indents, 1 extra space between paragraphs.

After you have composed your entry, write a short title in the "title" area.

EDIT YOUR ENTRY for style, spelling, and grammar!

When you're happy with your entry, choose "publish" from the "post status" drop-down menu. Then click the "save" button at the bottom of the screen.

You may also preview your entry with the "preview" button.

The default post status setting  is "draft." MovableType lets you save drafts for later editing and posting. Do not worry about the "allow comments" or "text formatting" choices at this time.

When you push the "save" button, MovableType conducts two operations. First, it builds the page (or rebuilds as the case may be). Then it sends track-back pings to various news aggregators (I'll explain this later). All you need to know is this: DO NOT interrupt MovableType while it is performing these operations!!!

After posting, check the weblog to be sure everything posted properly. If there's a problem, you may choose "edit entries" from this window.

See below for more text options and linking.

 

Linking and text options

You may customize your entry in several ways. First, and most important, MovableType allows you to link to other pages on the web. You do not need to know HTML. Here's how to do it.

  1. Select the type you wish to link.
  2. Click the URL button at the top of the text entry area.
  3. Enter the URL you wish to link in the pop-up box. (An easy way to do this is to cut-and-paste the URL from the target page.)
  4. Click "OK."

You may also add bold face, italics, or underlines by selecting type and clicking the appropriate option.

If you know HTML, feel free to add some spice to your entries. You may hotlink to pictures and graphics or create other text effects as you please.

 

Advanced operations

You may edit your profile from the welcome screen.

 

You may link to  the main menu from the welcome screen. Here you can choose to compose a new entry, edit a previous entry, search entries, or view the weblog. This screen also shows you the most recent entries.