Chrome Browser, And Elegant Disappearing Scroll Tabs

The disappearing scroll tab, in the latest Chrome browser version, is tres elegante - for some blog owners.

Personally, I'm not convinced.

Hover the cursor in the scroll tab area, to get the tab to pop out.

If you use the Chrome browser, and the display content is longer (or wider) than one physical screen, you may not realise that.

Some people may think that part of their blog - their post - or their template - has been lost.

But, look again.

Now, you see it.

Now, you don't.



If you use a "mouse" with a scroll wheel, this is not a problem. Start scrolling with the wheel, and the tab pops out.

For folks who are accustomed to "grabbing" the tab, and dragging it downwards (sideways) to scroll, this is not a step forwards. If you want to read text, that's above the bottom of the blog, how do you scroll left to right, while reading a long line of text?

Look at what our readers see.

Now, you see it.

Now, you don't.



Where did the rest of my main page go??

What our readers think, when using Chrome, is another question.

I think that the scroll tab is another "well enough".

Now, you see it.

Now, you don't.



Where is the rest of my post code? What the #@!!?

At any rate, if you - or your readers - think that blog, post, or template content has mysteriously vanished, try using the scroll tab (if you can find the tab). You may find the "missing" content, right in front of you.

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The Chrome Engineers recently added an elegant enhancement to their browser. If you're not scrolling up and down (or right to left), you don't have to look at that nasty old scroll tab - even when using the #Blogger post editor.

I'm not convinced that this is a step forward.

Blogger Magic - Enabling Exceptions, In Chrome

Some blog owners and readers prefer to ignore recommendations in Chrome - and block cookies and / or scripts.

Blocking cookies can cause problems with many Blogger features - and blocking scripts will cause problems with both Blogger and with Google, and with various other websites.

If you want to use Blogger and Google effectively, you need to allow cookies to be installed, and to allow scripts to be run, on your computer.

If you cannot allow cookies and scripts for all websites, you can allow cookies and / or scripts on specific websites.

With Chrome, if you are willing to selectively allow specific websites to install cookies / run scripts, you should enable exceptions for those websites.

Start with the "Content settings" wizard.

Select "Block third-party cookies and site data", and / or "Do not allow any site to run JavaScript".



Add cookie exceptions, for specific websites.

Click on "Manage exceptions" under Cookies, to get the "Cookie and site data exceptions" wizard.

To add "google.com" as a cookie exception, paste / type "[*.]google.com", and select "Allow".

Click anywhere in the wizard window, to see the addition - then click "Done".



Add JavaScript exceptions, for specific websites.

Click on "Manage exceptions" under JavaScript, to get the "JavaScript exceptions" wizard.

To add "google.com" as a JavaScript exception, paste / type "[*.]google.com", and select "Allow".

Click anywhere in the wizard window, to see the addition - then click "Done".



Remember that cookie and script filter settings, in Chrome, may not be the only settings which you need to consider - and that many filters are subject to change, without your knowledge or approval.

For more detail about cookie and JavaScript exceptions, see Chrome Help: Manage exceptions. These are settings that you must determine and install - neither Blogger nor Google can make these changes for you.

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Security conscious #Blogger blog owners may wish to ignore #Chrome recommendations, and block general permission for websites to install cookies and / or run scripts on their computers.

Some websites will not run properly, without cookies and scripts. If one is to use websites like Blogger and Google successfully, they need to be trusted - and Chrome must allow those websites to install cookies / run scripts.

The Followers Gadget, And The Vibrating Sidebar

We get occasional odd problem reports in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken about mysterious display oddities.

Why is my sidebar vibrating?

Here I'll note that the problem about "vibrating" has been reported, using various synonyms - in different syntaxes.

This symptom has many possible phrasings, as mentioned in different forum problem reports.

• Dancing.
• Jiggling.
• Jumping.
• Leaping.
• Moving.
• Shaking.
• Shimmering.
• Trembling.
• Vibrating.
• Waving.
• Wiggling.

Identifying the words used, in the problem reports, is one challenge.

The problem appears to involve the Followers gadget (possibly, specific versions of Followers), being positioned at the top of the sidebar, above other accessories.

One can only wonder what terms are used, in non English speaking countries.

This problem is not easy to identify in quantity, because of the many different synonyms used - and with some synonyms used, in different syntaxes.

Why does my sidebar vibrate?

or

My sidebar vibrates!

instead of

Why is my sidebar vibrating?

for one example. This makes any forum text search, to look for similar reports, require multiple, exhaustive attempts.

The list of 11 words, above, is just a list of examples, alphabetised (as I do with most lists). I have seen all 11 words (33 possible syntax combinations), and more, from time to time, in various blog comments, blog posts, and forum questions.

Positioning of the Followers gadget can affect multiple template gadgets.

Some blog owners have positioned the Followers gadget above the posts column - or even beneath the blog title / description (and spread across the entire blog width). This will make the posts column - or even the posts / sidebars (the entire blog width) - subject to this effect.

The problem appears to involve the Chrome (possibly Safari too) browser - and is visible only at specific Zoom levels.

If you see this problem when viewing someone else's blog, try zooming in or out, and see if the problem persists. Chances are, it will stop. Also, try using a different browser.

If you see this problem when you are viewing your blog, try repositioning the Followers gadget lower in the sidebar. Observe what gadgets are positioned below the Followers gadget, as you move the gadget downward.

Blog This!

Posted by Bruce Polderman, Product Manager

One of the things I often hear is how challenging it can be to generate ideas for topics to write about. This may be especially true for popular blogs when you feel as though your followers are eagerly awaiting your next post. Sitting down and staring at your computer with the hope of feeling inspired can result in disappointment. 

On my blog for example, I have a mix of posts that were authored be me, and articles that I've discovered elsewhere that I think may be of interest to others. Like many of you, there are times when I have things that I’m eager to write about, and other times when I just want to share something.

If this sounds familiar, you may find the “Blog This!” Chrome Extension of interest. It enables you post to your blog from any web page with just one click. The Extension is available on the Chrome Web Store under the “Blogging” category.

When you install the extension, a button will appear on your browser toolbar. Simply click the button to open Blogger in a new application window.

The new post is pre-populated with a link to the web page you're on, as well as any text you've highlighted on that page. Edit the post to your liking and post it instantly to your blog.

Happy blogging!

One-click Blogging with BlogThis! Chrome Extension

by Chang Kim, Product Manager, Blogger

More and more of you are using Google Chrome (more than 30 million active users now!), and we want to let you know that a Blogger extension is included in the Chrome Extensions gallery. The BlogThis! Chrome extension is available now, one of several hundred extensions to be found in the Chrome extensions gallery.

Using the BlogThis! Chrome extension, you can start writing a blog post in one click. Whenever you are inspired by a web page you are looking at and want to blog about it, just click on the BlogThis! button on your Chrome toolbar, and the Blogger post editor opens up with a pre-populated link to the web page you were on. If you want to include any text in your post, simply highlight it before clicking on the BlogThis! button. Edit the post as you'd like, and publish it instantly or save it as a draft for future posting.


To try out the BlogThis! Chrome extension, first switch to Google Chrome BETA (if you are not already on that version), and install the BlogThis! extension by clicking on "Extensions" on your browser toolbar or visiting the BlogThis! extension homepage. Note: Extensions are only available for Chrome on the PC and Linux; Extension support on Chrome for Mac is under development.