[To get to this address just add /demoediting to the main address]
this page by John Travers jtravers@gmail.com
The following notes are about how to use Block editing. Every paragraph, image, table, link etc is a different kind of Block. The blocks can be moved up or down the sequence of blocks. There are dozens of blocks, but the ones most likely to be of use are Paragraphs, Images, Headings, and Gallery (of images). So you don’t need to bother about the fancy design element below, but you can use them. Get Headings, Paragraphs and Images working first.
Get Started with WordPress (important)
To get started as an editor you need a WordPress account. Go to wordpress.com and sign up for an account, using your email address. For your user name I suggest the equivalent of johntravers. It is a pain if it isn’t recognisably you. Tell me your username so I can add you as a User. I add you as a User, and then on specific pages can add you as an editor. You will get your own Media space to upload images etc.
When I have completed your entry and permissions you can login. To login, go to adelalideu3a.org.au/login [save this address for your future logins as an editor.] Alternatively you can go to wordpres.com to login. When logged in to the site, check to see your name top right corner. Then add ‘/sandpit’ or sandpit2 to the address in the address bar, and when you get there, see if the edit button is at the bottom. If not, let me know — I have probably done something wrong. John T
Once you have access to your page, and you are logged in, and select Edit, you will see a view as below. The Update button means you are in Edit mode. The tabs on the right, Document shows settings for the page, and Block shows settings for the current block. Click the Settings icon (the cog) to show or hide this panel.
Principles of page design
Consistency
Readers like order, so make headings, use of images etc. consistent. Headings either left aligned or centred, not both. The layout on this page is OK above this section, but terrible below because it is a jumble of different styles and elements. The template that this site uses controls what editors can do, insisting on consistency. There are only a small set of compatible colours are suggested, for example (though you can select any).
White Spaces
I bought a book on page design years ago and it was called White Spaces to emphasise that space is valuable to design, good to highlight, avoid clashes, give prominence to a heading. A small heading in surrounded by space works better than a crowded large heading.
If you see a page like the one below, with black header, your WordPress ID is displayed on the right which means you are logged in. Just click Edit.
Block menues
Some common blocks
There are dozens of blocks, but you will probably only use about 4 or 5 for 90% of your work. But if you want to do something different there may be a block to let you do it. Most common blocks are insluded in the + sign next to a new block, and the similar sign + in a circle at the top left of the page takes you to the complete libary of blocks.
Headings a
Large Hpeading
Small Heading
Colour Heading
Gallery
Button
Slide Show
Enhanced paragraph
You can make a lot of changes to the appearance of a simple paragraph, but beware, it can make your page look tacky if there is too much glitz. These changes are made from the menu in the right side bar Blocks menu. Click the Settings cog.
Wrap around text and image
Wrap around text can look very good when a small image is available. Add the image before or after the text. Set the image to be either Left or Right aligned. Then use the up or down arrows to the left of the image to move it alongside the paragraph and it will look like this! You can adjust the size of the image using the blue buttons on the edge of the selected image. You might need a bit more or less text to make it look good. Wrap around text can look very good when a small image is available. Add the image before or after the text. Set the image to be either Left or Right aligned. Then use the up or down arrows to the left of the image to move it alongside the paragraph and it will look like this!
Table
Table can layout can be altered in the block menu to add or subtract rows and columns.
| Places | Km drive | Attraction |
|---|---|---|
| Port Adelaide | 23 | Maratime Museum, and port |
| Belair | 12 | National Park and tennis courts |
| Hindley St | 7 | food and entertainment |
Lists
- lists are useful
- to add order to a group
- and they can be changed to dot point lists
- and can look quite neat
- if you have an orderly mind.