Support for OnSugar

What Is OnSugar?

By sabs · September 19, 2008 · 14 Comments · 331 Views

OnSugar is a hosted publishing platform that is based on what we use to publish PopSugar, FabSugar, and the rest of Sugar. We offer 10 different post types, timed drafts, access to Getty images, a fun drag and drop "spread maker" and more. All for free.

To learn more about it, check out our showcase site: What Is OnSugar?

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Comment Management

By sabs · May 22, 2009 · 2 Comments · 122 Views

What is comment management?
Our comment management tool allows you to easily monitor all of your comments in one place.

How do I access the comment management tool?
To access the comment management tool, click on your site's dropdown menu and select "Comments" near the bottom of the list.

Why are some of the rows gray?
In order to easily identify the different types of comments, we have marked all Un-Published comments with a gray background.

What are the different tabs in the comment management tool?
The five tabs are:

  • All: This shows all comments on your site.
  • Published: This tab only shows published comments on your site.
  • Un-Published: These are the comments that are un-published. Only you can see these comments, your readers can not.
  • Registered: This tab displays comments left by registered OnSugar members.
  • Anonymous: Here you can see all comments left by anonymous users. To turn on anonymous comments please click on “Site Settings” in your drop down menu.

 

How are the comments displayed?
The comments are displayed by date. It is defaulted so that the latest comment is on top.

Can I search through my comments?
Each tab has its own search box. You can search all comments, only published comments, and so on. You can also search for comments by a certain user or post number.

How can I see all comments form one user?
To see all comments from one user, click on the gray “all comments” link underneath their username.

How can I see all comments from one post?
To see all comments from one post, click on the gray “all comments” link underneath the post name.

Is there a way to publish/un-publish multiple comments?
To publish/un-publish multiply comments, click on the check box in the comment row. Once you have selected the comments, choose “Un-Publish” or “Publish” from the dropdown box at the bottom, and then click “Apply”.

What happens when I un-publish a comment?
An un-published comment will remain on your site, however you will be the only one who can see it. You can choose to publish it at anytime.

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Exporting a Site

By sabs · April 14, 2009 · 1 Comment · 25 Views

What does it mean to export my site?
Exporting your site allows you to import it to another platform. We'd hate to see you leave us, but don't want you to feel locked down.

How do I export my site?
To export your site, click on the "Export Site" link in your site's dropdown menu. Once you do, you will then be prompted to select which type of export you would like to do.

What platforms can I export my site to?
We currently offer export files that are compatible with Blogger, Typepad, and Wordpress.

I started the export, where do I get my file?
When your export is complete, you'll receive a link where you can download your file.

Do you export all of my posts?
We export all published posts, including those that are marked to not show up on the homepage. Posts that are marked as drafts do not get exported.

What order will my exported posts show up in?
The posts will appear in chronological order. Please note, posts that you've marked as featured will no longer appear first and will instead appear in chronological order.

Do you export all post types?
All post types are exported (spreads, videos, chats, etc.). However they are not compatible with the other platforms and will not function in the same way. Here is a more detailed list of what you can expect:

  • Galleries: All images will be displayed in one post
  • Spreads: Text within a spread is not exported, and all links are stripped out
  • Polls: Choices will be listed
  • Quizzes: Questions will be listed with choices and answer explanation
  • Quotes: Fancy stylings are removed
  • Chats: Fancy stylings are removed


Does break code work in my export file?
The break code is rendered differently in each platform. As of now, it works the same for Wordpress; Typepad converts it to a "continue reading" link; and Blogger strips it out completely.

What happens to my media files?
Your media files are still linked to onsugar.com. This includes all images, videos, and audio files. Please note, if you delete your OnSugar site, you may end up losing access to all of these files.

Will my media files work on all platforms?
Audio files work on Typepad and upgraded Wordpress. Video files work on Blogger, Typepad, and upgraded Wordpress.

My site contains free Getty Images, if I export them to another site can I still use them?
While the links will still work, you will no longer be allowed to legally use the Getty Images.

Do you export my comments?
When you choose what type of file to export, you can also select whether or not you want to export comments.

Do you export my categories and tags?
Yes, we export categories and tags. However, please note Blogger and Typepad combine them into one grouping instead of two.

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Themes on OnSugar

By Allison · March 16, 2009 · 1 Comment · 758 Views

You have a number of options when creating themes on OnSugar.  You can...

  • Choose a theme from over 40 OnSugar default themes
  • Customize an OnSugar default theme
  • Create your own theme, either from scratch or by making a copy of an existing theme


Choose an OnSugar default theme for your blog:

1. Click the "Themes" link in your site dropdown menu.
2.
Next, click on the "Featured" tab to see the OnSugar default themes.
3.
Click "Set" to apply that theme to your blog.

What are the different tabs in the theme editor?
You’ll notice there are 5 different tabs on the theme view.  These are:

  • Active: This tab shows you what theme you're currently using.
  • Featured: This tab displays the Featured OnSugar default themes.
  • Shared: This tab displays shared themes created by the OnSugar community.
  • Yours: This tab displays themes you've created or copied.  (Advanced)
  • Create: This tab allows you to create a theme from scratch.  (Advanced)

 

Customizing an existing OnSugar theme
Many of our OnSugar default themes are marked “Customizable” This means that you can easily change the fonts, colors, graphics and more aspects of the theme, without delving into the CSS.   Note: Each customizable theme has different options. Some allow you to change everything, while others only allow you to add headers and change colors. The different options will appear in the left hand side of the customizable theme.

 

Customize a Theme:

1. Select "Themes" from your site dropdown menu
By default you’ll see the active theme for your blog.  If you’re on the OnSugar default theme, you’ll see the Customizations panel immediately to the left.  If not, you’ll need to go the “Featured” tab and select a theme that has the “Customizable” label on it by clicking “Set.”

2. Make changes to the theme
Change colors, fonts, upload your own graphics and more.  You can see all these changes in the live preview to your right.

3. Click “Save” at the bottom of the customization panel to save your changes.

Creating your own theme
There are two ways to create your own theme on OnSugar; you may copy an existing OnSugar theme and create a new theme from that, or you may create one from scratch.

To Copy a Theme:

1. Click the “Copy” link from beneath the theme description.
A copy of that theme will then appear under the “Yours” tab.

2. Click “Edit” beneath the description of the theme.
In the theme editor view, you’ll see 5 tabs, a picture icon and a pink arrow.  The 5 tabs are:

  • Info: This tab displays your theme name, description, thumbnail, and shared settings.  There is also a link here to add customization attributes to your theme.
  • CSS: All of your CSS additions or edits will be done here.
  • Page: This tab contains the page template.  You can add third party analytics code, meta tags, etc. here.
  • Comments: This tab contains the template for how comments are displayed.
  • Post: This tab contains the template for the individual post.


3.
Make desired changes and click "Save"

To Create a Theme from Scratch:

Click the "Create" tab on the far right hand side of the top menu.

Directly uploading graphics for your theme:
If you’d like to directly upload graphics for your theme, click the picture icon to the right of the Post tab.  Once you upload your image, you will see a popup with the image URL that you can then cut and paste into your theme template.

Expanding the CSS editing window:
If you’d like to expand your CSS window for editing, click the pink arrow on the far left side of the theme tabs.

Please see our template tags page for a list of all theme attributes on OnSugar.

 

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Adding Google Analytics To Your Site

By sabs · February 9, 2009 · 8 Comments · 1,065 Views

How do I add Google Analytics to my site?
To add Google Analytics to your site, you must first create your own theme. You can do this by creating your own from scratch, or you can copy one of ours. Then be sure to “Set” it so that your site is using it (you may need to go to the "Yours" tab). Next click the “Edit” link.

Once you're in edit mode, you will see a list of tabs on the top left column. Click on the “Page” tab. This is the template that control how your page is displayed.

Scroll down to the bottom of the  code and locate the </body> line.

Next, paste the entire chunk of Google Analytics code directly above that line. Click “Save."

In about 24 hours (this is how long Google says it takes), your information should start tracking.

Will this put analytics on every page?
By adding the code to your page template, the google analytic code will be accessed on every single page on your site.

Will domain mapping affect my analytics?

No, as long as you are using the same code the entire time, domain mapping should not affect your Google Analytics.

How do I get the Google Analytics code?
You will need to sign up for a Google Analytics account in order to get the analytics code. If you need more help obtaining your code, please contact Google via their help center.

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Spreads

By sabs · February 3, 2009 · 0 Comments · 442 Views

What is a Spread?
Spreads let you arrange images and text on an open canvas.  You can create collages of favorite photos, magazine-like layouts, or style a complete outfit with images from ShopStyle, Getty, or your own collection.  You can also resize and rotate your images, add special effects, add text boxes, add graphics, and title, describe, and tag your spread like any other post type. Pheew!


How do I add images and text to my spread?
To add images, first click the 'Add Image' button on the left corner of your spread canvas.  This will load the media assist pop-up box where you will choose your image.  In the media assist box, you can upload images or use one of the images you've already uploaded by clicking on the "Your Images" tab.  For more images, click on the Getty or Coutorture tabs to add celebrity, news, and fashion images, or click on the ShopStyle tab to search for your favorite product photos. Once you find an image you like, click on it, and it will be added to your spread.  If you've selected a Getty or ShopStyle image, you'll see a caption as well.  If you don't want to include the caption when you add the image, uncheck the include caption box when you're adding an image.

To add text to your spread, click on the add image button on the top of the spread canvas.  Enter your text then click “Add”.  You can further style your text box by using the text box panel on the right that automatically opens when a text box is selected.

To add a graphic, simply click on the graphic you'd like, then select one of the color choices in the smaller boxes below the main graphic images.  This will immediately add that graphic to your canvas.

To delete an image or text box, first select the image or text box you would like to delete, then click the pink x in the corner, or just press delete on your keyboard.

How do links work on a spread?
If you add a shopstyle product to your spread, both the image and the caption will link to the retailer that provided the product image.  If a reader clicks on either the image or the caption,  a new tab or window will open in their web browser with the product page on the retailer’s site. This way they can view the product without navigating away from your site.

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Notifications

By sabs · January 20, 2009 · 7 Comments · 576 Views

Stay connected with your fans and friends. Receive notifications when you someone sends you a private messages, starts following your siite, makes a comment, and more. Be sure to customize your notifications to suit your preferences.

How do I change my email settings?
Click on “Edit Profile” in your dropdown menu. Next click on the “Notifications” tab. From here you’ll be able to select and choose the sites you would like to subscribe to. You can also change the notifications for Private Messages, comments on your site, and when someone follows your site.

What are follower notifications?

Follower notifications allow you to receive emails when a site you’re following updates. You can choose to turn off all notifications, or just keep the ones you’re interested in.

What are the different follower notification settings?
The different notification settings are ASAP, Daily Digest and None.

  • ASAP: Immediately receive emails when the sites you follow post new stories.
  • Daily Digest: Receive one email at the end of the day containing links to all the stories from sites you follow
  • None: You will not receive site update notifications.


What is the default follower notification setting?
The default notification setting is “ASAP”  This means every time you follow a site, it will be set to send you an email automatically.

How do I change my default follower notification settings?
Click on “Edit Profile” in your dropdown menu. Next click on the “Notifications” tab. From here you’ll see your “Autosubscribe when I follow” setting. Changing this setting will change the default notification setting. The next time you follow a site, this will be the type of notification you will receive.

Can I have some sites send me emails ASAP, and some sites included in a Daily Digest?
Yes. Each site you follow can have a different notification. You can mark some sites as ASAP (this means you’ll receive an email when the post happens), some as Daily Digest (they will all be lumped together in one email at the end of the day), and some as None. The settings are up to you.

What are comment notifications?
When you comment on a post, you have the option to “Post” the comment or “Post and Subscribe.” When you Post and Subscribe, you will receive emails notifying you of other comments on that post. To stop receiving these emails, simply uncheck the box next to the corresponding post name.

How do I stop receiving comment notifications for someone else’s posts?
To stop receiving notifications on a certain post, click on the “Notifications” tab while editing your profile. Next scroll to the bottom where you will see “Comment Notifications.” To stop receiving emails, simply uncheck the box.

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RSS Feeds

By sabs · December 31, 2008 · 0 Comments · 268 Views

Where can I find my RSS feed?
A link to your RSS feed is built in to the footer of your site. You can access it at http://YOURSITE.onsugar.com/posts/feed.

Note: If you have mapped your domain, your RSS feed link will be http://YOURDOMAIN.com/posts/feed

How do I add a link to my RSS feed to my widgets?
If you would like a higher profile link to your RSS feed, you can create a widget for it. To do so, click on “Widgets” in your dropdown menu, and then choose the “Your RSS Feed” widget in the left-hand column. This will automatically add it to your sidebar.

How do I add a link to my RSS feed to my navigation bar?
To add the RSS feed to your navigation bar click on the “Pages” link in the dropdown menu. Next click on the “Link” box. Then add your RSS url – it will be in the format http://YOURSITE.onsugar.com/posts/feed 

What is the difference between RSS View Full Posts and Teaser Posts?
In your site settings you will see an option for RSS View. There are two choices, Full and Teaser. Full means your entire post will show up in your RSS feed. Teaser means that only the portion before the page break will show up in your RSS feed.

Can I create a feed for certain types of posts?
You can create feeds for any of your post types. To do so create a link to http://YOURSITE.onsugar.com/galleries/feed or http://YOURSITE.onsugar.com/quizzes/feed and so on for each post type. The different post types are texts, galleries, spreads, polls, quizzes, quotes, links, chats, videos, and audio.

Can I create a feed from a tag/category?

With OnSugar you also have the ability to create RSS feeds from tags or categories. To do so use the link http://YOURSITE.onsugar.com/category/YOURCATEGORY/feed or http://YOURSITE.onsugar.com/tag/YOURTAG/feed

Here’s an example: http://help.onsugar.com/category/help/feed

I have more than one OnSugar site, is there a way to get a feed of all of my posts?
Click on the “Yours” tab on your OnSugar main page. Here you will find an RSS icon with the link. It will be: http://www.onsugar.com/yours/feed/YOURUSERNAME

Can I get a feed of all the sites I’m following?

To get a feed of all the sites you follow, click on the “Followed Sites” tab on your OnSugar main page. Next click on the RSS icon. The feed will be: http://www.onsugar.com/home/feed/YOURUSERNAME

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Uploading Images

By sabs · December 31, 2008 · 3 Comments · 392 Views

How do I upload an image?
To upload an image, click on the yellow picture icon in the rich text editor. This will pop open our media assist box.

What are the different tabs in the media assist?
The five different tabs are Search Shopstyle, Fashion Week, Search Getty, Upload Image, and Your Images.

  • Search Shopstyle: Here you can choose from thousands of products available through ShopStyle. Be sure to select your filter (women, teens, living, etc.) before clicking “Go.” To learn how to monetize on these images, learn more about our ShopSense program.
  • Fashion Week: Browse through the archives of Coutorture. Here you’ll find original photo editorials, as well as the latest images from Fashion Weeks around the globe.
  • Search Getty: With OnSugar you have free access to hundreds of thousands of  Getty Images®. Illustrate your posts with the latest celebrity and news images. Note: Due to legal reasons, if you have domain mapped your site, you will no longer have access to Getty Images®.
  • Upload Image: Here you can upload an image from your computer, or from a URL.
  • Your Images: Easy access to the images you have uploaded.


Will my images be resized?
When you select an image, a “Choose” tab will present itself. Here you can select from several different size options. Note: Most themes cannot accommodate anything larger than X-Large (550).

How do I change the alignment of my image/make my text wrap around it?
When you select your image, make sure you choose your alignment. If you leave it as normal, text will not wrap. Selecting left pushes the image to the left of the wrapped text, right to the right of the text. If you select center, your image will appear above your text, and centered in your post.

How do I make my image a link?
When you are on the “Choose” tab you can set the link to None or Full. None will leave it blank, and Full will make it a link to the full-sized image. If you want to make your image a link to somewhere else, you need to add it first. Once it is added to the rich text editor, you can click on it and then click the link icon. You will then be able to add the link information.

What are the additional options for the Getty Images®?
When you select a Getty Image®, you have the option to automatically include a condensed caption or a detailed one.

What are the additional options for the ShopStyle images?
In addition to a condensed and detailed caption, you also have the option of including the sale price of the item.

What type of posts can I add images to?

You can add images to all post types except Chat and Quote.

How do I upload an image for my theme?
Read our post on creating a theme to learn more about theme images.

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Importing a Site

By sabs · December 30, 2008 · 6 Comments · 335 Views

How do I import my old blog?
You can import your old blog by clicking on “Import Site” in the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can also create a new site and select the import option from your site’s homepage.

What platforms can I import from?
You can import from Blogger, Wordpress, and Typepad.

How do I import from Blogger?
To import from Blogger, select the Blogger icon. Next type in your Blogger url. Note: You must have full feeds turned on in your Blogger settings.

How do I import from Wordpress?
To import from Wordpress, select the Wordpress icon. Next you will need to upload the file you exported at Wordpress.  Learn more about exporting your site from Wordpress.

How do I import from Typepad?
To import from Typepad, select the Typepad icon. Next you will need to insert your Typepad username and password. If you have more than one Typepad site, you will need to select which site you are importing. Note: Typepad blogs must not be password protected, and to ensure proper importing comment feeds must be turned on.

How long does it take to import my blog?
The import time depends on how big your old blog is. You will receive an email notifying you when the import begins, and one when it ends. The import process generally begins in a few minutes. If you believe something has gone wrong, please contact us at help@onsugar.com.

It only imported part of my posts, what happened?
To ensure that all content comes through correctly, you need to set your old blog’s RSS feeds to full. This includes comments. If your old blog’s settings are fully open and you are still running into problems, please contact us at help@onsugar.com.

Will my comments and tags/categories be imported?
Yes, all comments and tags/categories will be imported. If yours did not import, make sure that your old blog’s RSS settings are fully open.

Will my OnSugar site continue to import my other site’s posts?
No, the import tool is a one-time import. If you import your site again, it will import the entire site again (resulting in double posts).

Can I import more than one site to my OnSugar site?
Yes, you can import all of your sites into one OnSugar site. To do so, click on the "Import Site" link from your dropdown menu after your first import has completed. This will prompt you to import another site, and you can choose to import it to any of your existing OnSugar sites.

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