New Plugin Testing: WP Backup to Dropbox
Sometimes experiments yield the results we want and sometimes they don’t. However, you’ll never know if you don’t give it a try…
I started testing a new plugin I found by accident… WP Backup to Dropbox. http://wpb2d.com/
So far, I really like it! I am a fan of Dropbox to begin with, but I am also a fanatic of backing up and updating my websites regularly. So, this plugin seemed like a great potential tool to add to my arsenal for my sites, as well as other sites I care for.
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Add & Edit Images in WordPress Posts and Pages
This tutorial will teach you how to add & edit images in WordPress posts and pages. This is a basic tutorial and does not go into any advanced options, just the basics of inserting, resizing, moving, and deleting.
Do you have any tips for an issue I am having with the wp-backup plugin?
Question Submitted by Denny Hagel
My question is concerning backing up my wordpress site. I use the wpbackup plugin that is supposed to email me the back up as scheduled ( I have it set for weekly) and yet I have only received two backups in the last couple of months. I am not sure where to start to look for the problem.
I have not used the wpbackup plugin, but I have heard of it.
I guess I am a little old-school when it comes to backing up websites. I prefer to actually go in and get my files myself.For your plug-in issue, I would first check your WordPress Dashboard to make sure you have the most recent version of the plugin. If you already have the most recent version, it could be something that the plug-in author can help you with. You can try to contact the creator – you can usually find a link to the plug-ins website on Dashboard —> Plugins (just look for a link that says “Visit plugin site” beside the wpbackup plugin. If neither of those options work, check back with me and I will see what other things you can try.
Unfortunately, trouble-shooting is not always a quick process; sometimes it is a process of elimination.
I hope this helps you out and I thank you for commenting and asking a question. 
Will learning Blogspot help me with WordPress?
If I learn how to do things on blogspot, would that help me to make changes to a WordPress site?
What a great question!
Asking questions is part of how we learn. Thank you very much for asking.
Blogspot has some similarities to WordPress. WordPress.com also offers a free blog service (similar to blogspot’s) and it is almost exactly like the WordPress that is installed on your own server (this is referred to as a self-hosted WordPress site).
I started out with a blogspot blog several years ago and that is what got me started on my web design journey.
Do you have any tips for getting started with a website?
Question Submitted by Patty from Scottsdale, AZ
I am just getting started, can you tell me the best way to get started so it does not become overwhelming? It seems like so much to learn! Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions! Thank you for asking! I appreciate the opportunity to help you.
When getting started, the first thing you need to do is purchase your domain name, but it looks like you have already done that part. (funfitfanfinaanciallyfree.com)
The next step is to purchase web hosting space. This can sometimes be purchased from the same company in which you purchased your domain name. If you don’t have a web hosting company, I can suggest one for you – just let me know.
After you have the domain and web hosting taken care of, you are ready to start setting the website up.
I specialize in WordPress sites, so I recommend using WordPress as a content-management system for your site. WordPress is free, there are tons of free themes (plugins for the look and features that you desire) and it makes it easy to make changes to and update your site.
To set up WordPress, first check with your web hosting provider to see if they offer it. Most hosting companies that have a cPanel back office have resources to install WordPress in a few clicks.
Those are your first 3 steps – I don’t like to overwhelm people, so I will leave it at that for today. When you are ready for the next phase of developing your online presence, I am here and happy to help you along in your journey.
How do I add a calendar to my website?
Question Submitted by Trudy from SC
I would like to add a calendar to our church website. What is the best way to do that?
There are a couple of options that might work for adding a calendar to the website.
The quickest choice, is probably to set up a Google calendar. Google has a feature that will give you the HTML code you need to place on your site for it to appear. You can read more about that at:
http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=41207
If it is a WordPress site, here are links to THREE FREE WordPress Plugins that may work for you:
1. Calendar http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/calendar
2. Events Calendar (this one uses shortcodes, too, so it is easier to place it where you want it) http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/events-calendar/
3. Events Manager (this plugin is more interactive with website guests) http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/events-manager/
Hope this is helpful to you. If you get stuck, feel free to contact me via email or at: http://www.hdsforyou.com/contact .
How do I add a comment submission section to my site created with Publisher?
Question Submitted by Vickie Van Antwerp from NC
I used Publisher to create my son’s memorial website but I can not figure out how to put into a place a submission page where people can leave a message like you would on Facebook. Any ideas.
A comment submission section can be addressed and implemented in a couple different ways.
OPTION 1: Facebook has a widget that can do this. Here is the description of it from the Facebook Developer’s page:
Social Relevance: Comments Box uses social signals to surface the highest quality comments for each user. Comments are ordered to show users the most relevant comments from friends, friends of friends, and the most liked or active discussion threads, while comments marked as spam are hidden from view.
Distribution: Comments are easily shared with friends or with people who like your Page on Facebook. If a user leaves the “Post to Facebook” box checked when she posts a comment, a story appears on her friends’ News Feed indicating that she’s made a comment on your website, which will also link back to your site.
For more information (and an example of it working in action – at the bottom of the page), you can go to: http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/comments/
OPTION 2: If you have a WordPress Website, there is a plugin that can help you with this. It is called Facebook Comments for WordPress and you can find more information at: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/facebook-comments-for-wordpress/
While reviewing information for answering this question, it seems that this may be difficult for those new to creating websites. So, if you need any assistance with this, feel free to email me for guidance at: http://www.hdsforyou.com/contact.
If you reviewed the links in this answer and you feel that this is way over your head and you would like me to set it up for you, feel free to email me or use the contact form at: http://www.hdsforyou.com/contact
Current Public School Trend: Less Focus on Handwriting Instruction
I have noticed a trend emerging in the local school district in which I live. The district as a whole is placing less emphasis on cursive handwriting instruction. I asked a couple of my children’s elementary school teachers when cursive was to be taught and they couldn’t answer that question. This concerned me a bit because some of the teachers at the Intermediate and Middle Schools require their students to write in cursive, under the assumption that it had been taught in the Elementary School. From what I have read, this is not just isolated to my area.
With the computer technologies we have today, it seems that the focus on legible penmanship is not what it was ten years ago. I remember teachers commenting then that handwriting lessons might become obsolete. It was one of those, “only time will tell” situations.
With so many things becoming electronic – email, bill paying, job applications, unemployment, even the department of motor vehicles – it seems that cursive writing might not be as vital as it once was. However, as an educator, it is difficult for me to agree that cursive writing instruction should no longer exist in out schools.
There are times and certain situations, even today, where legible cursive writing is needed.
The first that comes to mind involves standardized testing. There are written portions, essays, which are required to be hand-written. In some states, this handwriting must be in cursive or it will receive a deduction. Students who have not been taught cursive in depth will not have the skills needed to score well on essay tests.
Neat writing is not just for school...
You might say, “Well that is school-related. Where do I need legible handwriting in the real world?”
Good question!
There are a variety of places where legible handwriting are very important. There are a number of places that still do some things the old-fashioned way.
One of these places is my doctor’s office. Most offices are transitioning to digital records, but there are a number which still require you to fill out your new patient paperwork with a pen. If the office staff cannot read it, you could run into a problem later on.
Registering your children for school (and homeschool co-op groups). Many of those still do it with the old pencil and paper method.
This just names a couple, but there are more out there, depending upon where you live. Just think….
If you need to exchange or return an item at Wal-Mart. Gotta fill out a form.
Some job applications are not electronic either.
Some of your monthly bills cannot be paid online. You want to be sure you can write legibly so the wrong amount isn’t deducted from your account.
Leaving a note for your spouse or child. Although this could be done via a text message, sometimes a special card or note in a lunchbox are appreciated as well.
I could go on, but I think you get my point. Legible handwriting isn’t an antiquated art form. It is, after all, one of the three R’s. Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. I don’t think it is time to retire it just yet. In ten more years, well maybe, but not today.
Moving Your WordPress Blog? Tips to Avoid Disaster!
If you have moved your WordPress site or blog and have lost everything – your posts, pages, theme customizations, links, and more – then you can use these tips to help avoid that happening again. If you have never moved your WordPress site and have never lost your data, or are planning on moving your WordPress blog soon, these tips can help you keep all your information safe!
It seems that with every website hosting move, there is some work to be done afterwards. Sometimes when moving your WordPress blog, the move just does not go as planned. If you have one of those bad moves, it is stressful and annoying to lose everything you have worked so hard to create. Take these precautions when moving your WordPress blog or site, to help ensure your losses are minimized and your data is protected.
The first thing to do is export your information in WordPress. To accomplish this, login to your WordPress Dashboard (www.yoururl.com/wp-admin), then go to “Export” on the “Tools” tab. If this is your first export, you want to click the circle beside “All Content”, then click “Download Export File.”
Select "All Content," Then Click "Download Export File"
This will download a special file (usually an XML file) to your computer. If you happen to lose any posts, pages, or comments, then this file can be imported to the blog’s new location to help restore your information.
In addition to this Export, there are some other precautions that you want to take, so frustration can be avoided.
"You have got to be kidding me!?!"
The next thing to do is to backup all your website or blog files that are on your web hosting server. I use cPanel, so to do this I log into my cPanel using the Login and Password provided by HostGator; then I right-click my public_html file and compress it. Once compressed, then I can more easily download it through cPanel or through FileZilla (or the FTP software of your choice). Once all of these files are saved to your computer, then you are ready for the next step before moving your WordPress blog……
Backing up your SQL file.
Your SQL file contains all the information that helps your WordPress site function properly. It is very important to backup regularly (especially when you update your WordPress software… but that is for another post 
).
To back up your SQL database before moving your WordPress blog or site, you need to go to your web hosting server (cPanel in my case) and go to your PHP Admin feature. For HostGator, it is called “phpMyAdmin.” To back up a database, I click on phpMyAdmin, then click on the database I wish to backup (on the left-hand column). After that, I click on the EXPORT tab at the top of the screen. I do not change any of the settings that are pre-selected. When ready to export, I click “GO” in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Once the .sql file downloads to my computer, then it is saved.
Backing up these things cannot prevent all disaster when moving your WordPress blog or site, but if something goes wrong, you will have all your files in your possession to get your site back up and running as quickly as possible. Keep these files in a safe place, just in case you need them. (I was glad I had them last time I moved this site. Lol. After losing everything, I had it back up and running within 2-3 days).
Domain Name and Web Hosting – Helping to Clear Some Confusions
If you have thought about creating a website and found yourself asking: “What is the difference between getting a domain name and web hosting? Aren’t they one in the same?,” then this post is for you.
There are several things that must be done before you even can start designing your new website. This post will help explain some of the “pre-
design” steps to make this process a little easier for you.
Domain Name: The first thing you must do when you want to create a website is purchase your domain name. For example, this website’s domain name is hdsforyou.com. Domains can be purchased in a variety of names, with different extensions (.com, .net, .org, .co, .us, and more).
Your domain name must be renewed before it expires. When you purchase a domain, you can usually opt to pay one, three, or five years at a time. Before the end of your time (whichever one you chose), you must renew this domain name in order to keep it. Depending on the type of extension you want, the price of the domain varies. You can purchase a domain name for about $10.00 or less per year.
To check to see if a domain name is available, you can go to: www.EnomCentral.com
Web Hosting: Web hosting is another thing which must be secured before your website can be created. Web hosting refers to space on a server where the files for your website will live. You will need to have purchased your domain name before you can get web hosting. Hosting packages vary in cost, depending on the amount of space and features desired. Some people choose to purchase web hosting at the same place where the domain name was purchased. This is one option and to keep things simple for your first site, it is not a bad option at all. I know GoDaddy and EnomCentral both offer these services.
Personally, I prefer to use web hosting that has the cPanel online interface. It is like the back office of your website and I like the features and simplicity that the cPanel offers. The web hosting company that I choose to use is HostGator. They often run specials where you can purchase web hosting at a very affordable rate.
Hosting is purchased in a package, usually payable monthly or annually, depending on the company you choose. The cost is usually around $10.00 or less per month.
Once you have your domain name and your web hosting purchased, you are ready to start designing your site. Some hosting companies have pre-made templates you can use, but for a more customized website, you may opt for hiring a designer instead.
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Hi! I am Alicia Tucker, the owner, designer & trainer at HDS. Prior to doing this, I was a public school teacher for 10 years. I have earned my BA in Elementary Education and Sociology, as well as an MAED with a Specialization in Curriculum and Technology.
When I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2005, and no longer able to work outside of the home, I devoted much of my spare time to learning quality web and graphic design, with a special focus on WordPress customization. In all that I do, the teacher shines through. I love sharing my passion for technology and helping others. 
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