Recently, we're seeing a few frustrated blog owners, in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I?, who have decided that the recently provided CAPTCHA ("word verification") screening puzzle is simply too much for their readers to handle. Some blog owners have discovered that removing the CAPTCHA, from their blog comment wizard, is not all that easy, either.Everytime I click on "Save settings", to disable word verification on my blog, as soon as I return to the settings, it is enabled again. How do I get rid of the CAPTCHA?
Some blog owners have not yet learned that the New Blogger GUI (2011) just is not ready for public use.
Until recently, disabling CAPTCHA (word verification") screening in our comments was not simple. The New GUI "Posts and comments" wizard did not always have a setting "Show word verification", and our advice used to beGo back to the Classic GUI, if you want to disable the CAPTCHA, so your readers can comment with ease.
Now, there is a setting in the New GUI wizard.
Unfortunately, it looks like switching back and forth, between the Classic and New GUI, causes the CAPTCHA to be enabled, for some blogs. Until the exact cause and effect is identified, we are simply advising people to not switch back and forth, unless absolutely necessary.
Given the other known problems with the New GUI, it's (currently) easier to remain in the Classic GUI - at least, if you don't intend to use any of the new Blogger features that have been recently released. If you do switch back and forth, and don't want your readers to suffer "CAPTCHA Anguish", you'll want to check the setting, periodically.
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Ever since the New Blogger GUI (2011) was offered to us several months ago, we've been seeing odd questions about options for Comments in our blogs, in the New GUI.How do I select the "Full page" or "Pop-up window" comment form, for my blog?
andHow do I select CAPTCHA verification?
and occasionallyCan I still have notification of comments, as published?
The latter question is easy enough to answer - it's just not as obvious as the other settings, in the New GUI. The first two questions represent genuine concerns, for some blog owners.
The first question - comment form placement - was recently made available, under Settings - "Posts and comments" - Comment Location.
The choice of whether to use CAPTCHA ("word verification") screening is a uniquely personal choice. Some blog owners are certain that CAPTCHA screening is necessary, while others are equally as certain that it's absolutely unnecessary. The absence of the choice causes some questions.
Finally, the comment notification option, while not actually omitted, is not obvious to everybody. Tucked away in the "Mobile and email" page, it's easy to miss, without a careful search.
Just as the several other known deficiencies, some Commenting options remain to be resolved, before every blog owner will willingly use the New GUI.
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Not all blog owners understand the need for people to post anonymous comments, against our blog posts. Periodically, in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I?, we see the naivete expressed by some.How do I find out who is posting anonymous comments to my blog?
These people do not understand the need for anonymous commenting.
You, as a blog owner, have the ability to select the level of authentication, to be required of anybody preparing to post a comment to your blog. For "Who Can Comment?", we find the selection list- Anyone - includes Anonymous Users
- Registered Users - includes OpenID
- Users with Google Accounts
- Only members of this blog
People who wish to comment anonymously, yet provide a "Name" / "URL" to link back to their Blogger profile, or their blog / website, may do this at their discretion. Anybody doing this provides no guarantee of being genuine, however.
If you allow "anonymous users" to comment, then people who wish to comment anonymously need to be assured that their privacy will be respected. You can gather demographic data about your blogs visitors - and you may infer specific details about individual commenters - but the relevance of that policy will be limited by the precautions exercised by your commenters.
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This week, we're seeing signs that Blogger is about to push the New Blogger GUI (2011) a step closer to reality.In about two weeks from today, all Blogger accounts that haven’t yet made the switch will be upgraded to the new user interface. You will be able to opt-out at any time by clicking the “Switch back” link; however, all accounts will eventually be permanently upgraded.
For all the optimism, the New Blogger GUI (2011) just is not ready.
Collapsed BlogList
There does not seem to be any way to selectively designate blogs to be displayed, nor is the Classic GUI link to "Show all" or "View all blogs" visible - though there is now a link to show "Deleted blogs". The latter is an essential function, for people trying to un delete a previously deleted blog, or to locate a blog locked (righteously, or spuriously) as a suspected spam host.
Comment Settings
People who need to enable / disable the CAPTCHA, for commenting on their blogs, have to switch back to the Classic GUI, as there is no setting for commenting "word verification" in the New GUI.
Older Browsers
Recently, we see reports that older browsers will have a major problem, leaving some blog owners unable to use Blogger, at all.
Removal Of Blog Posts Gadget From Template Code
Occasionally, we may have a valid reason for removing the Blog Posts gadget from the template. In some cases, we need to reset the post template, and in other cases, we may have a duplicate Blog Posts gadget. Both cases have been reported as a problem, by people trying to use the Template editor, in the New Blogger GUI.
Fortunately, Switching Back Is Not Difficult
Right now, the process of switching back is (somewhat) painless. At the top right of the BlogList, and of each Dashboard page, you'll see the familiar gear icon. Selecting that, you get a dropdown menu, with "Old Blogger interface". Selecting that, you'll land directly on the Dashboard home display (losing your position in the settings for one selected blog), which is a bit annoying.
If you do not see a menu selection for "Old Blogger interface", you are probably using Draft Blogger. Click on the pulldown menu at the very top of the screen, next to your name, and select "Blogger profile". From the Profile Editor, un check "Make Draft Blogger my default".
Alternately, you may be able to use the Blogger Classic GUI Recovery URL.www.blogger.com/opt-in-new-ui.g?useNewUi=false
We'll hope that Blogger at least resolves these setting deficiencies, before pushing this to everybody, by default.
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Last year, in Private Blogs And Commenting Policy, I documented a private blog conundrum.
I had discovered the oddity that designated readers in a private blog are unable to publish comments, when commenting is authenticated as "Only members of this blog".
At the time, I merely suspected a design oversight on the part of Blogger engineers, in deciding that designated readers to a private blog were not afforded the courtesy of being allowed to comment.
The comment authentication choices (for the blog owner to select) appear to include- Require no additional authentication ("Anyone - includes Anonymous Users"), presumably because ability to access the comments wizard requires authenticated access to the blog.
- Accept "OpenID" authentication ("Registered Users - includes OpenID").
- Accept Blogger account ("Users with Google Accounts") for designated readers.
- Accept author members only ("Only members of this blog").
- Eliminate the "designated readers" distinction altogether, and make all members "authors".
In further retrospect, I see that this "oddity" allows blog owners an additional level of control - whether or not to have a blog that allows some people to only view the blog, and to not publish comments.
It would be possibly more obvious, if private blogs were to have an additional selection, in Settings - Comments, for "Who Can Comment?". This would, preferably, include a setting "Designated readers may post comments". This would save blog owners from the uncertainty, that allowing anything less than "Only members of this blog" to publish comments, may bring.
It's also possible that understanding of the choices which exist now may be sufficient. Your comments are welcome.
(Update 2015/06/24): Blogger has reduced the confusion, by eliminating non authenticated ("guest") access, to private blogs. All private blog access will require Blogger authentication.
