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Thursday, August 27, 2009

New Blogger post editor - birthday gift?


Blogger has launched a new post editor (as a 10th birthday gift?) which they say is an improvement over the old pre-birthday post editor. You can switch to the new post editor by signing into Dashboard and go to SETTINGS > BASIC. At the bottom in Global Settings (this means your choice is not limited to a single blog but to all the blogs in your Blogger account), you will find the choice to select either the ( ) old editor or the ( ) Updated editor. You can read about the updated editor at An overview of the new post editor.

Blogger claims improved image handling with the new post editor. Now when you upload a photo, it will be placed at the insertion point (cursor) rather than always at the very top of the post editor and dragging it (in the COMPOSE mode will not kill the link to the enlarged photo as with the old editor. However, this "improvement" comes with a price. The photo upload icon is missing from the toolbar in the updated post editor in Edit HTML mode. Looks like Blogger have dropped the video upload icon for that is missing in both Edit HTML mode as well as the Compose mode

Compare the toolbars of the old and new editors below:

Toolbar in EDIT HTML mode with old post editor

Toolbar in EDIT HTML mode with new post editor

Toolbar in COMPOSE mode with old post editor

Blogger toolbar of updated post editor in COMPOSE mode
Toolbar in COMPOSE mode with new post editor

I have tested the photo upload with the new editor and I don't like it. Fortunately one can easily toggle between the old post editor and the updated post editor. Go to Dashboard, SETTINGS > BASIC and at the bottom, you will find the Global Settings (meaning whatever changes you do here will apply to all the blogs in the same Blogger account). There you can select the old editor again. May try the new post editor again sometime in the future. I understand Blogger may do some tweaking after negative feedbacks. See screen shot below:

Blogger post editor settings

Related posts:
Images and the Blogger updated post editor
Blogger updated post editor: Removing image border

57 comments:

Kamal said...

I think the new editor is really very much the same as previous one. For the photo upload, of course it do not seems to allow you to set the size and alignment of the photo. On its pop up photo windows, only Browse or key in the URL. However, once they insert the photo into the editor, we can click the photo and choose the size and alignment, just like to previous editor. I really do not see the different aside from no video upload.

Kamal http://moneymatter7.blogspot.com

Mike Reeves said...

It seems to be a backward step as it is now a two step process: first you need to upload the images and then you need to add them to your post. Unfortunately you have to do both steps one image at a time - you can no longer select multiple images. As the main purpose of my family blog is to share pictures this makes posting a tedious and frustrating process. So it's back to using Windows Live Writer for me.

Peter @ Enviroman said...

I hate the COMPOSE mode.

SBA said...

I found your post as I was about to put similar info in my blog. I do like the new editor. apparently Google added the insert image icon after your post (?). It's great to put the photo exactly where you want it in the text. makes sense to do this one at the time not load 7 photos at once. Mike,you can load all 7, close the popup then call for insert at the right spot in your post. [can select which of the 7 by pointing].

Kamal, no need to resize the photo if you right click and use the drag handles --- it's automatically changed in proportion.

Web Master said...

New editor also missing the Compose in native languages option.

do you observe it?

Margaret and Lloyd said...

I loved the new editor, but went back to the old because I couldn't get the spell check to work on the new. What am I doing wrong?

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Nothing. It just isn't there. I too have abandoned the updated post editor.

BTW do let us know why you love the updated post editor and whether you are referring to the COMPOSE mode or the Edit HTML mode.

Emily said...

I won't convert until they give me back the video upload feature, but I definitely appreciate the need for better image handling. I prefer working in the Compose mode.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a better release in the future.

Altoon Sultan said...

I've tried the new post editor and have a lot of trouble with it. I love not having to plan in what order to post photos.

but....I'm using a mac and maybe because of that I don't get the resizing drag handles. The biggest problem though is that when I post, the image and text doesn't align like in the old editor, and not only that, the right boundary line of the image disappears.

This is way too aggravating to use, so I sure hope they don't abandon the old editor.

FREEBIES 4 U said...

I made a list of things about the new Editor that I don't like:

1) I used to be able to cut and paste from my other sites and the formatting (links, URLs, pictures) would remain intact. Now it just puts the text and often inserts several extra paragraph lines which I have to delete

2) In the old editor, I could link a picture to a website...person clicks on picture, goes to website. Initially in the new editor, although it was a pain in the a**, i could do the same, now I cannot. I've tried in Opera, Firefox and IE (v6,7 & 8). Nada.

3) In old editor you could also place a cursor on a link, click the link button and see to which website it was referred. In new you cannot, generally you just get a box to enter a new link.

4)I kinda like the picture upload in the new editor, though. However, it is not a great improvement over the old one. I dont like the fact of having to upload a pic, go back to the directory, select another, upload and repeat. Old editor had 5 browse buttons which was easier...i just wish it was not limited to 5 at a time...10 would be nice.

5) In both new and old editors, if I make text the LARGEST and change the color of the LARGEST, the color reverts back to black. havent found a cure for this yet, but it, right now, is the least of my worries.

I found your post because I was wondering how to change BACK to the old editor.

I do NOT like the New editor overall. I too will probably check back later. Hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but its hard to look glue in the mouth...if you know what I mean.

Keep bloggin!

Drew ~ http;//itsfreebies4u.blogspot.com et al.

Altoon Sultan said...

To get back to old editor go to the "settings" tab, choose Basic; down at the bottom of the page under "Global Settings" is Select Post Editor; just choose Old Editor and save settings.

FREEBIES 4 U said...

Forgot to add:

I do LOVE that the NEW editor has UNDO and REDO buttons. Frustrates the heck out of me to delete a pic in Old editor and have to reup.

Wish they could combine the two editors someway...just to make ME happy! LOL!

McDonnell said...

New Post Editor really is a step backward...what's up with this? No video upload icon (film strip)...even the help instructions don't differentiate between the old and new editor. Hey Google, junk the new editor until you are ready to include all functionality of the old one.

Sammy said...

I switched to the updated editor but was quite surprised to find that there wasn't any provision for spell check in it. It escapes me as to why they haven't included that feature. The name updated editor is thus a misnomer, when it doesn't even include such a basic and useful feature .

TRISTA said...

HELP! I uploaded the new editor, but now the layout of my blog is all messed up. Even though in the layout mode, it shows things like "about me" on the left side of the page, when I view my blog, everything is in one long column. Has this happened to anyone else????

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Can you let us have the blog URL so we can do some checking?

TRISTA said...

Peter and everyone--my blog is: http://allbutthekitchensink.blogspot.com/. Since loading the new editor, the mainpage shows everything as one long column. If you click on a post, however, it shows up correctly. I've tried fixing in "layout," but it shows up in a column anyway. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!!!

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Can you explain this please: "I've tried fixing in "layout," but it shows up in a column anyway."

Also, when you mention LAYOUT, are you referring to what I call template LAYOUT in this post - Introduction to the New Blogger (see the screen shot).

TRISTA said...

Peter--yes, in the "template layout" and the tab "page elements," all of my blog's content is laid out correctly (title and image and "favorites," etc. on the left-hand side as a column.) But, when I go to the mainpage of my blog, all of the left-hand content gets shifted to the bottom of all the posts, one long column. Finally, when I click on an individual post, it all looks correct. I've read other help-hints (like removing large images, long html links, etc.) and nothing seems to fix the problem. thank you for your help!

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Have you edited your template? Would there be an unclosed <div> somewhere perhaps?

Or have you already trobleshoot sidebar at bottom Part 1 or troubleshoot for sidebar at bottom of page problems Part 2 or steps at troubleshoot sidebar at bottom ????

TRISTA said...

Peter, and everyone else with the patience to read this dialogue: THANK YOU!!! I finally found it.

Long, loooong story short, I'd been looking in the wrong post for the problem. Once I tried seeking mistakes in a different post, I found that the new editor's "read more" --and/or--a large image right below it messed up my blog's formatting.

I can't say for sure which was the problem because I deleted both in one impatient stroke. Phew. I'm so relieved things are back to normal. Thank you for your help. Peter, I'll be going to your site much more often for blogger tips.

David Chin said...

Just last week, it was confirmed that the jump break feature caused all the gadgets to fall to the bottom of the posts.

The reason: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=2d9b8ad3c326f044&hl=en

kiyoteekisser said...

I agree that the old editor is better. The new one would be great if it worked smoothly. It is very frustrating to work with both. I have found that the new one leaves out some of the text within a post. I can't get to it to edit it.

Peter @ Enviroman said...

For kiyoteekisser,

What exactly do you mean that it 'leaves out some of the text within a
post?"

Do you mean that when publishing, some of the original post text is
lost?

rachel said...

It's a relief to find that I'm not the only one struggling with the new editor. It seems half-finished, or badly thought-through. I've gone back to the old one for now.

Aisling Murphy said...

My captions will no longer stay under my images - they either move up the side or down miles from the image. I always post my pictures and captions aligned to the left. All was working great until a couple of weeks ago.

I have tried both old and new post editors, as well as all known browsers - but no luck.

I would be grateful for any help. Thanks, Aisling

Rachel Lynette said...

I really would love the undo feature the new editor has and also the highlighter, but I need to be able to link pictures and the spell checker sure is nice, so no new editor for me.

Why can't they just put them together? Why on earth did they drop features. I don't get it.

Peter @ Enviroman said...

What method did you use to put captions to your images?

Aisling Murphy said...

Cut and paste and aligned left. I've tried this with both the Edit HTML and Compose boxes on the old and new editors

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Hi Aisling,

Your earlier comment said you had caption below? the photo. It is not easy to have caption below the window when the photo (uploaded via post editor) is aligned left or right. The way I can think of is to use <table> but I vaguely remembered I tried it but it didn't work because that caused all the text that is supposed to flow around the photo (now in a table) to be now below the photo. I am very interested to know how you did your caption.

Aisling Murphy said...

With great difficulty - trial and error! Have a look at them at
www.victorsloan.blogspot.com

The captions won't work on the latest - see:

http://victorsloan.blogspot.com/2009/10/return-to-works-stadium-on-one-of.html

Peter @ Enviroman said...

I see this from your post Stadium. Don't look like a caption to me:

<span style="color:#999999;">Extract from <span style="font-style: italic;">A Broken Surface: Victor Sloan's Photographic Work</span> by Aidan Dunne in Victor Sloan: Selected Works 1980-2000, published by Ormeau Baths Gallery and Orchard Gallery, January, 2001<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z0oWbZYJ02w/SuWw3oJiODI/AAAAAAAABEA/nDzFO8qRLyQ/s1600-h/121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z0oWbZYJ02w/SuWw3oJiODI/AAAAAAAABEA/nDzFO8qRLyQ/s400/121.jpg" vr="true" /></a>

Aisling Murphy said...

Whatever it is caption or not I can no longer do it with new posts!

Peter @ Enviroman said...

I can only help if I understand what it is that you can do before but cannot now with the updated post editor.

Kathy Rainwater said...

Wow - I converted to the new editor and somehow magically - all my previous posts LOST their paragraph breaks.

I struggled with the new thing for a few posts and THANKFULLY found you, and realized I could go back to the old editor. Duh.

Any thoughts on how to repair the now damaged previous few years of posts? They look like huge lumps of verbiage.

Yuck.

Happy Bday Google.

Janae' said...

Thank you thank you thank you!! I have been trying to figure out how to get back to the old way for days now! I do not like this new way. Thank you!

justpotteringabout said...

I decide to switch to new post editor and then realised there was no 'Title' box. Switched back to old post editor and same problem. Checked my other blog which I hadnt changed and everything ok. Help please, how do I solve this one or should I be looking in HTML

Peter @ Enviroman said...

I suspect that has to do with SETTINGS. Sign into Blogger (Dashboard) and go to SETTINGS > FORMATTING and make sure show title field has been enabled.

MelissaInk said...

Thanks - worked like a charm! I hope they update the new editor soon with the video link!

Lesa said...

Hello,
I tried to use the Amazon product finder (not as an associate) just to see how it worked. I composed a blogpost with a link+image but when I published only the title of the post showed up-- none of the content or amazon info was there. I noticed the amazon product finder automatically switched to the new post editor which has never worked for me. So I'm guessing the fact that the new post editor doesn't work on my blog is the problem. Since my blog is about books, I would really like to become an amazon associate and use the product finder.

How can I get the new post editor to work on my blog? Does the computer need something in particular to make the post editor work? Do I need a certain blog template to make it work?

Thank you in advance for your help!

roadstar said...

I think the new editor sucks and needs a serious improvement. It's almost impossible to get WYSIWYG formatting. Spacing is all over the map and unwanted tags and other code appears out of nowhere and screws up page formatting. I waste so much time re-doing things. It's very very frustrating. All of that code is horrible. If you want to edit the html you have wade through gobs and gobs of it.

If anyone is listening - BLOGGER UPDATE THE EDITOR NOW!! I am committed to blogger as all of my blogs are here. This editor has to get better, soon. Thanks!

Peter @ Enviroman said...

roadstar, since you don't like the updated post editor, why don't you just switch back to the old post editor? I and many others have.

Brenda said...

Hi, new here...
when I switched to the new editor it wouldn't post my content. Is that a common problem people are having?
I'm back in the old editor. Now I'm wanting to put up links across the top of my blog. I've gone to the Edit Pages tab under posting, but it does the same thing. It lists the title of link etc. but no content.
I'd be interested in knowing how to do this, if you could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it!

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Are you referring to these:
static pages
simple text horizontal navigation (menu) bar

Jane Durham said...

THANK YOU! I was so annoyed when this change happened and I've been searching all over for an answer to the video problem. Thanks for answering my question!

Todd Wright said...

Blogger seems to force us to use the new editor on pages. But when I cut and past the HTML code from a post done in the old editor to a page it messes everything up--for my skills, irreconcilably. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Looks like you are right about the static pages and the updated post editor. Regarding your difficulties, are you getting problems despite pasting the HTML into the EDIT HTML mode of the updated post editor?

Penny Manning said...

Todd is right. I haven't posted in my blogs for a while. I create a new blog, cut and paste from an old Blogger blog into the HTML tab and my friggin' code is half ruined. The top half is void of spaces and the bottom half has too much spacing. What happened? Did Blogger make changes to the New Editor in the last two or three months? I so pissed off. It's ignoring my span codes that I use for spacers because the editor's spacing is so wishy-washy. Now I have no control over spacing. And that BR/ spacing doesn't make a difference whether enabled or not.

Times like this I want to delete my blogs and run tail to WordPress...but it seems every post editor has its issue`s. Whimper!

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Have problems with the new post editor? Just switch back to the old post editor which is what I do sometimes. Just go to Dashboard > Settings > Basic and enabled old editor.

Penny said...

Thanks Peter! Trust me, I tried switching to the old editor but had the same problem. Even tested by pasting the same post html into the html window of my pre-existing blogs (4 of them)--with the new text editor--and the html posted perfectly.

Maybe it's because I linked onto Blogger in Draft before posting? Anyway, I resolved the issue by posting directly into the Compose window rather than my favorite Html mode, then deleted the span code that just wasn't working.

I think the hard return codes the Blogger Editor added to the end of my span code lines were interfering--negating my code somehow. And before you mention it-- :>) --I did, did, did unclick the Convert hard returns into code but the blasted editor kept adding them to my new bloggie's posts.

I gave up, Blogger Editor won...I adjusted and made it work for me. Now on to the next html drama. I like the new template changes... Sadly, many of the pictures are way too big for the blog screen (on my computer/FF browser anyway) but I had loads of fun creating my new blog as always.

Thanks again for the advice. What a cool, useful blog, you have here.

Penny AKA Sweet Little Angel

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Glad to hear you somehow fix your problem. Regarding the new template editor, I have noted that it may not work for IE6 and my Google Analytics tells me that 8.5% of my visitors still uses IE6. I would be very careful with the new template editor.

Penny said...

I have IE8, but use FireFox 3.6.2 for my blogging needs and internet surfing. And if anything goes awry with Blogger, I have back-up copies of my post htmls on NotePad AND I keep a copy of the template html and all important subsequent changes. Who knows, Google/Blogger might go belly-up one day. But at least I'll have my posts.

I'm gone....bedtime.

Penny said...

Oh! I forgot to mention, I had read about the incompatibility on the email--I think it was--from the Blogger team. I don't get as many IE6's like I used to, but progress must win out, and I do understand that some people for whatever reason cannot upgrade to IE 7 or 8. But this new blog is merely experimental until Blogger decides if the new template editor is going to swim or sink. but thanks for the reminder and warning...I'll make sure the new blog's material is made available on the companion blogs which I am not converting to the new template editor. Yet.

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Backup files for your post? You may also want to consider the backup blog with export-import

Clearly Claire said...

I'm totally kerfluffled - when I opened an older, pre-new *rap post, the captions all sailed to the bottom of the post, leaving my photos uncaptioned. When I put the captions back the following happens:

1. The caption letters are smaller than normal in size.
2. The captions do not pop the photo to full size when clicked in normal viewer mode.

3. The captions lose color and appear black, whereas my pre-so-called-improvement blog posts appear in color (but if I open them their captions fly to the bottom of the post).

Am frustrated and feeling mean enough to spit nails. HELP!

Peter @ Enviroman said...

First question, do you happen to be using the COMPOSE mode?

Did you do your captions by typing the caption in between the 2 >< in the HTML to display the images?

Peter @ Enviroman said...

as in Centering the text and putting a centered caption below the photos?