OnSugar Help

sabs — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:05:15 -0700

Learn how to Create a Page Break
Create a Post by Email
Post while browsing with our OnSugar BookMark Tool
Everything you need to Map Your Domain

What Is OnSugar?

sabs — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:48:52 -0700

OnSugar is a hosted publishing platform that is based on what we use to publish PopSugar, FabSugar, and the rest of Sugar. We offer 11 different post types, timed drafts, access to Getty images, a fun drag and drop layout tool and more. All for free.

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

OnSugar Bookmark Tool

sabs — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:09:01 -0700

Easily create posts by adding the OnSugar Bookmark Tool link to your browser. Drag the link into the bookmark toolbar, or right-click to add the link to your favorites/bookmarks.

What is the OnSugar Bookmark Tool?
The bookmark tool is an easy way for you to create posts on your OnSugar blog. If you see something you want share with your friends, or suddenly have a great idea for a post, just click the bookmark link. It even allows you to post another site’s photos on your own. And as long as you’re still logged in, you won’t even have to back to your site to do so.

How do I use the bookmark tool?
To use the bookmarklet tool simply drag the above link onto your toolbar or favorites/bookmarks. Alternatively, right-click on the link above and select “Bookmark this link.” This will put the bookmark tool into your favorites/bookmark bar. From here, when you’re at a site you want to blog about, click on the link and the bookmark tool will popup. Just fill out the form and click Save Post.

What kind of post does it create?
The bookmark tool creates a link type post. Each theme has a special styling for link types, but you can always adjust the way they look by editing your theme.

Can I tag or categorize posts I make with the bookmark tool?
You can give your new post both tags and categories. Be sure to separate each tag or category with commas.

Why aren’t images showing up in the bookmark tool?
Some websites pull images in a special way that will not allow our bookmark tool to pull them in. They do this for many reasons including copyright, load time, etc. If there are no images, you may need to do the post the old-fashioned way.

Do I have to include an image?
No, you do not need to include an image. To exclude the image, simply check the "Don't include photo" link.

If I have more than one blog, which one will it post to?
Before you click Save Post, you will need to choose which blog you want to publish to in the drop down menu. Select the right one and then click Save Post.

Tracker

sabs — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:05:10 -0700

What is Tracker?
Tracker is a great way to keep tabs on all of the OnSugar blogs you're following. Additionally, you can keep track of all the Sugar editorial sites, and PopSugar Community Groups too.

What are the different tabs inside the Tracker?
The four tabs are:

All: This shows everything you're tracking.
Sugar: This shows only Sugar editorial sites such as PopSugar or YumSugar.
Groups: This only shows all the content from PopSugar Community groups you are subscribed to.
Blogs: This only shows content from OnSugar blogs you are following.

What are the different ways I can sort the posts in my Tracker?
You can sort the posts by Post Date, Number of Replies, or Last Updated. Last updated means a post was either created or commented on.

What happens when I click on the box in the right hand Mark Read column?
Clicking on the box in the Mark Read column will make the post disappear from Tracker. It's your way of indicating you're completely done with the post. Doing this will cause the post to stay hidden even if new comments are added.

What does “Hide posts I’ve read” mean?
By default, posts you've already visited or marked read will not show up in Tracker. Unchecking this post will allow hidden posts to show up. Posts that have already been read will be marked with a checkmark in the Mark Read column.

Why does a post I’ve visited keep showing up in my tracker?
If a comment appears on a post you've visited, but haven't actually marked read, it will appear back in Tracker without a checkmark next to it. To make it stay hidden, simply click the box in the Mark Read column.

Can I make something I've already read appear back in my tracker?
If you accidentally mark something read, simply show hidden posts, and then uncheck the checkmark. This will cause the post to stay in your Tracker.

How do I add blogs to my Tracker?
To track a blog, go to the homepage, and in the top right in the black bar, click on Follow.

How do I add PopSugar Community groups to my Tracker?

To track a group, become a member, go to the homepage of the group, and click on Join Group on the right. All posts from this group will now show up in your Tracker.

Manage Your Comments

sabs — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:56:08 -0700

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 blogs'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 blog.
Published: This tab only shows published comments on your blog.
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 “Blog 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 blog, however you will be the only one who can see it. You can choose to publish it at anytime.

Exporting a Blog

sabs — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:07:25 -0700

What does it mean to export my blog?
Exporting your blog 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 blog?
To export your blog, click on the "Export Blog" link in your blog'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 blog 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 (layouts, 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
Layouts: Text within a layout 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 blog, 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 blog contains free Getty Images, if I export them to another blog 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.

Themes on OnSugar

Allison — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:20:00 -0700

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.

Adding Google Analytics To Your Blog

sabs — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:44:26 -0800

How do I add Google Analytics to my blog?
To add Google Analytics to your blog, 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 blog 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 blog.

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.

Layouts

sabs — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:12:03 -0800

What is a Layout?
Layouts 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 layout like any other post type. Pheew!

How do I add images and text to my layout?
To add images, first click the 'Add Image' button on the left corner of your layout 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 tab 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 layout. 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 layout, click on the add image button on the top of the layout 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 layout?
If you add a shopstyle product to your layout, 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 blog.

Notifications

sabs — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:23:36 -0800

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 blogs you would like to subscribe to. You can also change the notifications for Private Messages, comments on your blog, and when someone follows your blog.

What are follower notifications?
Follower notifications allow you to receive emails when a blog 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 blogs you follow post new stories.
Daily Digest: Receive one email at the end of the day containing links to all the stories from blogs you follow
None: You will not receive blog update notifications.

What is the default follower notification setting?
The default notification setting is “ASAP” This means every time you follow a blog, 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 blog, this will be the type of notification you will receive.

Can I have some blogs send me emails ASAP, and some blogs included in a Daily Digest?
Yes. Each blog you follow can have a different notification. You can mark some blogs 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.