OnSugar Help

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.

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, Search Getty, Upload Image,Your Images, and Your Bookmarks.

• 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.
• 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. Note: These images can not be managed, and are just a quick reference to our database that lists everything you have uploaded. We do not currently have a space limitation, so there is no need to delete images.
• Your Bookmarks: Easy access to items you have created links and bookmarks for. Learn more about creating bookmarks.

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.

How do you post by email?
To post by email send an email to YOURBLOG@onsugar.com. So if your onsugar blog is myblog.onsugar.com, you would send an email to myblog@onsugar.com. The first time you send a post by email, you will get a confirmation code. To activate it, click on the "Post by Email" tab in your profile settings.

How long will it take for my post to publish to my blog?
Your blog post should appear in about 5-10 minutes.

How can I add tags or categories to my email posts?
You can add tags and categories by adding either (or both) of the following lines to your email:
tags: example tag1, example tag2
cat: example category1, example category2

What does show my location mean?
If you select to show your location and are posting from a device equipped with geo-tagging (such as an iPhone), a link to your location will appear in your published post.

Can I turn on/off my location preference on a per post basis?
You can turn your location on or off by adding one of the following lines to your email:
geo: true
geo: false

Why am I being asked to verify my post?
Different email providers offer different levels of security. To ensure that you were the one trying to post to your site, we sometimes require a verification. To verify your post, just reply to the email you receive. You do not need to include a body or subject line.

If you would like to avoid this step, you may want to consider using an email provider with added security such as gmail or yahoo.

See an example of what the email and resulting post will look like

What is a page break?
A page break is piece of code you can put into your story to make it “break” into two pieces. The part before the break will appear on the homepage, followed by a link to the rest of the story. When your reader clicks on the link, they’ll go to the post page where they can see both parts of the story.

How do I create a page break?
To create a page break add the following code to your post. Be sure to put it between the first part of the story (what you want to appear on the homepage) and the second part.

The text between the brackets can say anything you want. Some examples are: read more, more after the jump, etc.

Note: This line of text will not appear on the post page, but it will be the link the reader clicks to see the entire story.

What is the Rich Text Editor?
The Rich Text Editor is the bar of icons on top of the main text field. It has several buttons that allow you to easily create content for your post.

What does each button do?

• Bold: This button will bold your text.
• Italic: This button will italicize the text.
• Underline: This button will underline your text.
• Strike Through: This button will strike through your text.
• Align Left: This button will align your text and images to the left.
• Align Center: Clicking this button will center your text and images.
• Align Right: Clicking this button will justify your text and images to the right.
• Align Full: Clicking this button will justify your text and images to the width of your text column.
• Unordered List: This will create an indented unordered/bulleted list.
• Ordered List: This will create an indented numbered/ordered list.
• Undo: This will undo your last text change.
• Insert/Edit Link: This will put a link into text. Tip: Try highlighting the text you want to turn into a link before clicking this button. It will pop open another window where you can choose whether you want to open the link in a new window or the same.
• Remove Link: Click this button to remove a link from your post. It is easier to highlight the text you want to remove the link from first.
• Font Size: Choose your font size from the dropdown menu. Tip: Try selecting your text first.
• Text Color: This button allows you to change the color of your text by selecting a color from the dropdown palette.
• Background Color: Change the background color of your text by selecting a color from the dropdown palette.
• Insert Embedded Media: Clicking this button will pop open another box that allows you to easily include other types of media files.
• Check Spelling: Clicking this button will run a spell check on your text.
• Add Image: Clicking this button will launch our Image uploader.

What is a text post?
A text post is our standard post type. It allows you to add text, html, and images to create a post.

How do I add photos to a text post?
Click on the yellow photo icon in the rich text editor to add images to your post. Learn more about adding images.

How do I add HTML to my text post?
In order to add HTML to your text post, you need to switch to the HTML mode. You can do this by clicking the "switch to raw HTML" link below the rich text editor. When you do, your content will toggle to HTML mode instantly. To switch back click the "switch to Rich Text" link.

How do I add a link?
To add a link, highlight the text or image that you want to link, and click the chainlink icon in the middle of the rich text editor. You will then be prompted to add a url for the link. Click the “Insert” button and voila! You’ve got a link.

How do I break up long posts?
You can break up long posts by using our page-break functionality.

Can I embed audio or video into a text post?
In order to embed audio or video into a text post, you will need to be in “HTML” mode. Once you are in looking at the HTML, you can paste the embed code into your post.

What is a chat post?
A chat post is a unique way to spotlight a conversation. The chat posts show up in an easy-to-read way that is easily identifiable as a conversation.

How do I create a chat post?
To create a new chat post, simply cut and paste your IM conversation — or create your own conversation — into the conversation field.

What format does my chat need to be in?
Your chat needs to be formatted with colons after each speaker. Here’s an example of what would go in the conversation field: 

Me: Hi there.
You: Hey, how’s it going?
Me: I love chatting!
You: Me, too! 

Oh, and you don’t have to be so excited each time. A mundane conversation is okay, too.
 

What is a link?
A link is a type of post that allows you quickly link to another location in a special layout.

Why doesn’t a link type have a title?
A link post uses a Name field instead of a Title field, as it is meant to be different from a regular post. If you would like to use a link with a title, please create one using the Text post type.
 

Can I edit posts once they are published?
Yep, you can definitely edit posts after they’re published. To do so, you need to be in post edit mode. Simply click on the “edit” link in the post to go into edit mode. Make sure you click the “Save Post” button after you make any changes.

You can also edit posts by clicking on the “Post & Drafts” link in the site dropdown menu. Once there, click on the “Published” tab. Find the post you’re looking for, and click the “Edit” button.

How can I delete a post?
To delete a post you need to access it via the edit mode (see above). Once there, click the “Delete Post” button at the bottom of the page. Be warned, this action cannot be undone.

You can also delete posts by clicking on the “Post & Drafts” link in the site dropdown menu. Once there, click on the “Published” tab. Find the post you’re looking for, and click the “Delete” button.

I accidentally deleted my post, can you send me a backup?
No, unfortunately once a post is deleted you cannot get it back.

Can another writer edit or delete my post?
If your site has multiple editors, then the other editors can edit or delete posts. However, other site writers can only edit and delete their own posts.

If I make changes to my post, will a notification be sent?
No, a notification is only sent when a post is created.

If I edit a post will I lose my comments?
No, if you edit your posts, the comments will remain exactly the same. But if you delete your post, the comments will be deleted as well.

How do I upload an audio file?
Click the “Browse…” button on the Audio Post page, and select the file from your hard drive. Fill in the desired text fields and click “Create Post” at the bottom of the page. The audio post will appear on your homepage.

What format types do you support?
We currently only support .mp3 audio files.