TypePad Hacks

I love picnik too :o)

It should be at the top of the bottom-most section of the design screen. This is only on a design that uses Advanced Templates. If you are not working with an Advanced Template design, you won't see it.

@Kam:

Make sure you put your code AFTER BOTH of the last 2 < /div > tags.

As far as putting the code in every template, the answer is yes and no.

If you follow the directions carefully, John tells you to create a new template module that holds your menu code. The module is called "banner". This is the one place where the code goes - when you want to edit your menu, this is the single place to go to do so.

He then tells you how to replace the default banner that comes with TypePad with your new banner. This is done via the MTInclude statement (Step 3.5).

Basically, you're going to go into each template (off the top of my head, there are 6 you'd have to edit - main, archive, individual, date-based, category, pages) and tell TypePad to use your new banner module instead of the default.

Once you get it working on one template, the changes to the other templates should only take you a couple of minutes to do, and like I said, the only place you'd ever to go change the contents of the banner would be that new banner module.

THanks for this.

Question: When I do this css for horizontal tabs my header disappears. any suggestions?
can i do this step by step process (above) to any template? or do I need to tweak it for each individual template? If so how do I tweak the step by step process for any template I choose?

Thanks so much. appreciate any help.
Best,
Kam

I don't see the 'Create New Template Module' is this dependant on the level of typepad account I have. I have a pro account.

@Jeff:

You know, I'm always trying to post things that are helpful and I want people to be successful with their TypePad blogs.

But your comment can't be how you really feel, can it?

Maybe there is something else you're upset about - something that frustrates you with TypePad? I'll try to help with whatever issues you're having.

It's an internal search feature. It's useful. Even if you re-purpose the field and use it as mentioned above, it will still work internally. I could easily see that having a blog with 200, 2,000, or 10,000 posts would make it a little difficult to find a particular post you want to revisit or update.

We often suggest changes to TypePad, and they are happy to hear our feedback. Some suggestions make it into the product, some don't. Maybe this will be one of those things that gets incorporated.

Hi! Thank you sooo much for explaining everything! I finally understand what I've been trying to create for so long :)

I still seem to have some errors. It works in IE, but it won't in Mozilla. It looks like it's still part of the header there. Strange, and I don't know what to do about it.

The menu is placed above my header, when I prefer it to be underneath. Noticed more of the same questions here, but still no right answer. Maybe you have figured out by now what we do wrong. Thank you in advance.

Thanks for the info here. (although it is definitely Not what I wanted to hear) I found this page thru a search on 'seo and typepad'. I'd been looking to see how to use that field correctly. It seems to me that using the term, 'keywords', for the field in question could only have been meant to deceive users into believing that the product they were paying for was more powerful. Whoever it was that chose to use the term had enough experience to know it would be quite misleading. Making mistakes is one thing but purposely misleading paying customers is another.

Can anybody give me a scenario where the the person who chose the term, 'keywords' didn't know better?

Sorry for the rant. I don't want to bring down the quality of this page.

Good to hear search engine traffic is improving.

Of course, if you have hacked your templates already for things like title tags, you will have to incorporate those existing changes into the instructions I posted.

Also: I'm assuming that as long as I keep this tweaked line the same in my new head individual file --

<$MTEntryTitle remove_html="1"$> -- <$MTBlogName$>

-- that this will not conflict with my prior tweak of switching around the name and post title to improve SEO? And that this tweak is additive to that previous one, and not a substitute? or is it?

Thank you, that sounds pretty straightforward. I'll give a shot. I noticed i'm getting more search engine traffic since doing the dynamic tags replacement, so hopefully this one will improve it further. Thanks again.

Picnik rocks!

So easy to use, it truly is the editor "for the rest of us".

Highly recommended.

@Leslie:

Paul also asked if there was a way to put a short synopsis of each post into the two columns.

And of course, the answer to this would also be Yes.

Use the < $MTEntryExcerpt$ > variable to display the post excerpt. If you use the excerpt field in the post editor, the text you enter there will be held in the variable. If you don't use the field, the first 40 words of each post are stored in the variable.

40 is the default number of words. You can modify that number in your blog's settings.

Yes, this is possible.

TypePad gives you up to 4 columns to work with, named alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.

If you want the main page of the site to have two columns of posts, you would have to edit the template and use the MTEntries variable to insert x number of previous posts into each column. That can be accomplished with the lastn directive.

If you want 10 posts in each column, change x to 10.

There is also an offset directive for the MTEntries variable. For the first column, don't use the offset directive. For the second column of posts, set it to 10.

This will give you the 10 most recent posts in one column, and the next 10 in the other.

Sorry.

TypePad stripped out my META tag code example. Hopefully, by adding a space before and after the greater than and less than symbols, it will show up in this comment.

Above, it should read:

Example: Replace < $MTBlogMetaKeywords$ > with < meta name="keywords" content="< $MTEntryKeywords$ >"

@James:

Go into your post editor. If you don't see the "Keywords" field, customize the display of the editor. Choose the Advanced setting to see all the fields available, or do a Custom setting and choose to view the Keywords field.

Keywords is the field that you can use creatively without messing around with any externally facing data. If you want META keywords on a per-post basis, enter them in the Keywords field separated by commas. If you want a per post META description, put short but descriptive text here. If you want to use a thumbnail or some other image on a per-post basis, put the image tag here, etc., etc.

Now, to get the data into the post's permalink HTML, you'll have to edit the individual archive template (you have to be using Advanced Templates for this). Go to the Design tab of your blog. Look for the template named Individual Archives. Open it.

You'll see all the code that is used to dynamically control the eventual page source for each post. The very first line of code pulls in the default TypePad < head > module for permalinks. This default module is called head-individual. Inside the default head-individual module, TypePad uses an include directive to automatically insert common HTML that all pages use into the < head > section of each page or post. The code they include is contained within the default head-common module.

See the documentation on these modules here.

So to make per-post META tags (keywords or descriptions) work, you'll need to create an edited version of the head-common module and paste it into a customized head-individual module. In other words, go to the link above, copy the head-common code, then strip out the part the pulls in the blog-level meta description or keywords - < $MTBlogMetaKeywords$ > or < $MTBlogMetaDescription$ > - and create code that pulls in the data that is stored in the post's Keyword field. That data is maintained in a variable called < $MTEntryKeywords$ >.

Example: Replace < $MTBlogMetaKeywords$ > with

(Remove the extra spaces I put in on either side of the dollar sign).

Now, go back to the same link above. Copy the code TypePad gives you for the default head-individual module. In your design, create a new template module. Name it head-individual. Paste TypePad's default code into template module body.

Where TypePad has the include directive that pulls in the default head-common code, you're going to want to replace that with the edited code you created earlier - the code with all the common head code which now includes the line with the MTEntryKeywords command in it.

Save your new head-individual module. You can publish that if you want to, or you can wait to publish all the changes at once.

Finally, go back to the individual-archives template. Remove TypePad's call to include the default head-individual module and replace it with a call to include our new, edited one.

< $MTInclude module="head-individual"$ >

Save and publish.

That should do it.

Of course, if you're going to use TypePad's Keyword field for some other use (like the thumbnail idea), you wont' need to bother with head-common and head individual - just edit the individual archives template as needed, using the MTEntryKeywords variable as necessary.

Still confused?

Some day, when we don't have a huge backlog of projects, maybe we will do a screencast for this or write up a more detailed post with screen captures and code.

Hello John,

Thank you for the code on the title tags....have been showing up as duplicate title tags in google webmaster tools.....now that I have installed the code my posts are missing....can you help.

not to sound dense, but i'm wondering if David can elaborate a bit on the procedure here. I did the dynamic tags hack successfully, but I'm having trouble with the jargon used to describe how to do this one. can you describe with a little more detail what exactly you do where? thank you so much.

What if you put comma separated key words in it, then took those key words and put them in the section of your individual archives ("permalink") pages with a key words entry? All you'd have to do is edit up the head-common module in your Advanced Template set, then use the MTInclude command to insert the module in the Individual Archives template.

I have the same question as Paul from 2006!... I've been looking for the answer... can't find it. Is this possible??? How???

Here's his post:

paul says:

Does anyone know if there is any way to create a four-column typepad blog where there are two columns that contain posts? Or a three column where you can have posts in 2 columns?

As an alternative, is there a way for recent posts to have a sentence or two describing the post?

Thanks.

Well, it's a neat program on a first-generation iPhone and I've been using it for about 24 hours. Here are my observations:

--> At least 25 percent of the time, there's an error message about an "unexpected response" when trying to publish a blog post. This happens regardless of whether I'm accessing the web via Wi-Fi or Edge. Once this error message occurs, the post will bot be published despite repeated attempts. All I can do is delete them and start over.

--> Regardless of how good they look as originals, most of iPhone photos look a lot worse in TypePad. Much of the problem seems to be that although the TypePad software allows you to resize the photo when you take it within the TypePad app, you can only zoom in. In other words, you can't have TypePad display a full photo so that it fills half of a post's text area and wraps the type. All photos are going to be displayed so that their width matches the text panel width -- which in most TypePad templates is going to be something like 400 pixels.

--> TypePad puts way too much vertical space between the bottom of the photo and the start of the text.

Are any of these issues resolved on the 3G iPhone?

I tried to create a comments archive using your instruction. However, when I checked the "<$MTInclude module="entry-list"$>" in the new index template I created, which I copied from the main index template, I didn't see the line "<$MTInclude module="entry-list"$>" that you said should be replaced with the following code:

HELP!

Would love to see the robots.txt tutorial and how to do this whole thing.

Hi John,

At the bottom of my blog, I added a blue color to the "Border Bottom". However, that in some of the blog pages, this border jumps to middle of the page instead of remaining at the page bottom. I've include a link to a page below to my blog where you can find a sample issue with the border:

http://sefermpost.typepad.com/sefermpost/2008/07/challenges-abou.html

Please, how do I resolve this?

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

How do I make the "TrackBack URL for this entry:" appear below the comments form like yours?

Thanks David for the wonderful help. I was able to resolve it. Other issues I will like to resolve:

1. Since I modified my blog including the "extended post link" I've been having error message each time I post a new news on my blog. I wrote to Typepad and below is the email reply from them:

"It looks like there's a tag error in your Advanced Template
Set. Specifically, you should check whether you are using
the tag in your Individual Archives or Pages
Templates. This tag should not be used in Individual
Archives or Pages."

I've done all they said and I'm still having the same problem.

2. Since I modified the blog, I noticed that the "Previous" and "Next" navigation links below the page disappeared.

3. I've used your instruction on "Rank Better in Google by Adding Dynamic Title Tags to your TypePad Blog" and it worked. GREAT!. Next I'll like to have the homepage display the name of the blog using the "<$MTBlogName$>" and also how do I include the blog main theme, which is "Breaking News, World Politics, Election" along with the name of the blog only in the homepage title.

Again, thanks for you GREAT tips.

I also seek to see the widget working on facebook and orkut.

Lol, nevermind John... I got it working. I simple replaced everything below the MT Entries and /MT Entries tag.

Hi John,

I know this is a bit old, but I tried following the instructions. I guess due to recent Advanced Template changes I don't have that "entry-list" script in my Category or Databased Archives.

Is there another solution for new templates?

Joel:

1. Put your menu in its own div below the banner area. Name it whatever you want to name it, and create styles in your CSS using that name. You're not stuck with using the exact framework of the modular TypePad layout.
2. I'm using FF2, and the menus work perfectly. I still need to test in FF3.
3. Yes, updating your other templates and including your custom module is sort of a given.

Nice explanation. I'll try to join this program as well.

Man, I've been a pest. You may want to append part 6 of step three to read:

# Return to the Design tab and for each of the following templates Category Archives, DataBased Archives, Individual Archives, AND PAGES and replace <$MTWeblogIncludeModule module="banner"$> with <$MTInclude module="banner-header"$> Click Save for each one.

That takes are of the pages issue.

But for some reason the menus only work in IE 7, which is driving me insane.

Ok, here are the two real problems. This does not work with FF3 for me. The menu is there, but the links, rollovers, etc. are all inactive. Does work in IE 7. Not sure how to go about fixing this.

The main thing is, this does not work with Typepad "Pages" (if the blog is displayed, it's there, if one of my pages is selected it is gone in other words).Anyone know what I could edit to repair this?

I was able to get this to work seemingly ok, with the problem being, the menus do not work in Firefox, but they work great in IE.

Also, this doesn't seem to work at all if there is a custom banner image inserted on the page. I have tried to make it work, but when there is a custom banner in place, the menus do not even appear.

Hi Guys

I am implementing this on my blog and just having trouble with the class to have it display to conform with my CSS.

Sory I am a newbie this one has been doing my head in for a couple of hours. Would appreciate if you could help!

Here is the code just want to insert the class behaviour in the right spot!

• <$MTEntryTitle$>

Many thanks Peter

@Sunny:

You have to edit your entry-list and entry-list-sticky modules. That's where you'll find the code for the extended post link.

Great tips you have on your blog. How do I get rid of the text in the center of:

Continue reading "sample title name here" »

I will like to have the final link as:

"Continue reading »"

Thanks

RE: Bill Schultz - Not sure where you get the idea that indie911 scams artists out of their profits. We take 20% of a $0.99 download. That leaves $.79 going directly to the owner of the song, and frankly our $0.20 barely covers transaction fees and bandwidth, without even considering office overhead and staffing. As far as emailing download links, those expire, and the products being purchased are non-DRM'd MP3s, really making it a moot point.

We offer a service to artists who may not be able to get distribution to sell directly to their fans with the highest payout in the business, while providing them with a widget they can easily post on their myspace or website pages to help them increase sales by giving them a direct point of purchase on those web pages.

Nate Erwin
indie911

I'm amazed that the largest market, that demands a point of sale widget, was totally overlooked by PayPal.

There are over a million independent Music act on MySpace alone, with hundreds of thousands more using CD Baby and other, so called, indie sites to sell their digital downloads and CDs.

Why should any business need a middleman to take a percentage?
PayPals transaction fees are very reasonable and there is no way for PayPal to cheat the vendor since they don't have possession of the vendors product.

What is needed is a widget that doesn't send and email, ( with links to the digital downloads ), to the customer, but instead generates a page with the links once the transaction is completed.
It is important that all Url's and file names be hidden during the download process.

All other systems that do this job either rip of the musicians or force the musician to join their organizations, upload their products and pay fees to use the widget.

These organizations,require the musicians to upload their product to their server.
With the product in their hands and with these organizations handling the transactions, endless amounts of cheating can easily take place.
This is the problem all the major label acts are facing today.

If customers purchase digital songs through their widgets, since they have the product to give to the customer, they can simply not report the sales to the musicians, who really have no way of knowing they were cheated.

Systems like indie911's hookah, are perfect for scamming musicians out of major portions of their profits.
I'm not saying they are doing this but, what's to stop them?

I can only hope the the People at PayPal will fill this void, and soon!

Hi, Great hack! I have a problem though. The CSS applied to the listed items on the nav bar seems to be affecting listed items on the sidebar as well. All the sidebar items are now listing horizontally rather than vertically and have lines all around, just like the nav bar. Is there any way to prevent this from happening? Thanks for your help! Daniel

Hi John,
I've recently begun enjoying your Typepad Hacks blog as part of research for my next book, a sequel to Internet Riches.
Great job! Very informative and useful stuff. I especially liked the Guide to E-Commerce. That must have been a lot of work.
I recently posted a "wishlist" of fix suggestions for Typepad, too. You and your readers might enjoy it, too.

It's called "Typepad Bug Fixes: My Wishlist" here: http://www.scottfox.com/2008/06/typepad-bug-fix.html

Please keep up the good work!
Scott

Aaron:

I haven't figured out a way to do this through templates yet. (Movable Type - not a problem, they have a "if odd" feature that can distinguish between even and odd numbered comments, but MT is a whole different animal).

What I have not considered until very recently is using some Javascript to do the job. When the page loads you could traverse the DOM and look for the tags that encompass each comment. You could then apply styles in an alternating fashion as you iterate through them in a loop.

Thanks for the heads up, Scott.

I've changed the links in the post to point to the new domain.

Does anyone know if I can have alternate background colours for comments. Similar to iTunes - so first comment is blue, then second is white, third is blue etc.
Might be easier to read them.

Cheers!

Hi Krissy --

Yes! The app will work on an iPod Touch.

If you leave your email address on this page, we'll let you know as soon as the app is available, and let you know how you can get it.

http://www.typepad.com/features/blog-iphone.html

-- Sarah