Blogger Blogs - Know The Options

Remember buying an American manufactured car in the 1980's?

If you want Option a, you have to buy OptionPack 1. You cannot get Option b with OptionPack 1, Option b is only available with Option c and OptionPack 2. OptionPacks 1 and 2 cannot be ordered together. Option d is only available with Extended OptionPack 2, and cannot be ordered with Options b or c.

Some bloggers are starting to feel confused about Blogger and their options, reminiscing how I felt in the 1980s.

Right now, we have the following options, all ordered separately.

1. Classic vs Layout template.
   • Your blog is configured for a Classic (HTML) template using Layout - "Edit HTML" - "Revert".
   • Your blog is configured for a Layout (XML) template using Template - "Customize Design".
   • Your blog requires a Layout template, to have Gadgets, "Older Posts" / "Newer Posts" links (this distinction was removed in April 2010), Dynamic Label indexes, and Static Pages.
   • Your blog can use HTML content in a Layouts template, but cannot use XML content in a Classic template.
2. New Post Editor vs Old Post Editor.
   • The new post editor and old post editor are alternately selected, using Settings - Basic - "Global Settings".
   • The new post editor is required for the enhanced photo upload wizard and for static pages.
   • The old post editor is required, for spell check and video upload, in Production (Orange) Blogger.
   • The new post editor in Draft (Blue) Blogger has both spell check and video upload.
   • If you get the New Post Editor, it will apply to all of your blogs. If you are a member of a team blog, all members of the team will end up with the New Post Editor.
3. Draft (Blue) vs Production (Orange) Blogger.
   • Draft Blogger is accessed directly, as "draft.blogger.com".
   • Production Blogger is accessed directly, as "www.blogger.com".
   • Production Blogger will redirect to Draft Blogger, if you select "Make Draft Blogger my default", from the Draft Dashboard. But, you have to use the "Layout" link from the Draft Blogger dashboard. The navbar "Customize" link will always lead to Production (Orange) features, even if you have the Draft dashboard selected as your default.
   • Draft Blogger is was formerly required (the Template Designer was made a part of production Blogger in June 2010) to access the Designer Templates wizard.

So know your options, and pick what you need. And when you need help, state carefully which options you need help with.

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