Home > Articles

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Categorizing a Weblog

Although Radio's weblog editor is designed primarily for the creation of a single weblog, this constraint can be overcome by organizing entries into categories.

Categories, which are disabled when Radio is installed, make it possible to file each weblog entry in one or more topic areas of your own creation. They're off when Radio is installed but can be turned on using the Categories preference.

There are six categories set up when Radio is installed: the home page (the main category) and five others: My Friends, My Hobbies, My Interests, My Organization, and My Profession. You can add other categories and delete all the existing categories (aside from the home page).

Figure 3.3 shows the weblog editor with categories turned on.

Figure 3.3Figure 3.3 Filing a weblog entry in two categories.

A weblog entry is filed in one or more categories by marking their check boxes (as in Figure 3.3). The Home Page box is selected by default; remove this mark to keep an entry out of the main weblog.

To enable categories, click the Prefs link on any page of the desktop Web site and look for the Categories link in the Weblog section.

There are several ways to present the weblog entries that are filed in a category:

  • Entries can be displayed on Web pages and in an RSS file specific to that category.

  • The Web pages for a category take the same form as the main weblog and have a design based on a theme. If you don't choose a theme, the weblog's theme is used.

  • A category's home page is the weblog URL followed by /categories/categoryNameHere. (Spaces are stripped from the category name and the first letter is always lowercase, so My Interests becomes /categories/myInterests and Politics becomes /categories/politics.)

  • New entries to a category can be publicized on Weblogs.Com, the service listing newly updated weblogs, or omitted from that site.

  • The category's RSS file has the URL of the category's home page followed by /rss.xml, such as /categories/politics/rss.xml.

TIP

If you are ever in doubt about where Radio is publishing something—such as a weblog entry sent to a new category—view the Events log. It contains a link to each file upstreamed by Radio to a Web server.

  • Entries can be offered only as RSS files.

  • Entries can be routed somewhere else using Web services that support XML-RPC or SOAP, two protocols for exchanging information between Internet-connected computers.

Each category is given its own folder inside Radio's www\categories folder. The name corresponds to the category's URL.

When you publish a category as a Web page, it can function as its own weblog with a name, description, and appearance completely different than the main weblog.

As an alternative, a category can serve as a section of the main weblog. My own weblog has categories for each of the subjects I cover most often: Radio UserLand, Salon Blogs, Java, and technical jargon. Each category uses the same design as the main weblog.

The most unusual way to use a category is as a holding place for information that is routed elsewhere.

For example, the Advogato Web site at http://www.advogato.org is a popular community for open-source computer programmers and other developers. Each site member can offer a diary describing current programming projects, bug fixes, current technology news, and other chatter.

As described in Chapter 1, "Tuning in to Radio UserLand," diary entries can be submitted to Advogato using an XML-RPC Web service.

NOTE

Footbridge also can be used to send weblog entries to LiveJournal diaries and weblogs published using Moveable Type or Blogger software. The program is distributed as a .root file that should be placed in Radio Userland's Tools folder. To find out more and download the file, visit http://markpasc.org/ code/radio/footbridge.

This can be accomplished with Footbridge, a Radio add-on program offered as shareware by Mark Paschal. The software forwards a category to Advogato interface using XML-RPC. Once you set up a category to use this, all entries posted to that category show up on your Advogato diary.

By combining categories with Web services, Radio becomes an authoring tool for anything that offers a public XML-RPC or SOAP interface.

Configuring a Category

You can edit an existing category to change its name, description, and the way it is presented on the Web by following these steps:

  1. Click its name on the desktop home page in the Categories list below the weblog editor.

    An Edit Category page is displayed (Figure 3.4).

Figure 3.4Figure 3.4 Tinkering with a weblog category.

  1. Use the Category field and Description text area field to adjust these settings.

  2. The name and description are used on Web pages and RSS files for the category (assuming that it has a theme design which makes use of this information, as most do).

    A change to a category's name is reflected in Web pages and RSS files, but its URL remains unchanged.

  3. To present the category as Web pages, check the Render This Category in HTML check box.

  4. To make the category show up on Weblogs.Com, check the relevant check box.

  5. If the category is published as Web pages, you can choose a design with the Theme drop-down menu.

    Once you're familiar with themes, you can assign one to the category. To use the main weblog's theme instead, choose None.

  6. Click Submit to make your changes official.

The changes you have made to a category won't be reflected in the site until you publish a weblog entry that belongs to it. (A way to speed this process up is discussed in Chapter 5, "Upstreaming Files to a Web Server.")

Creating a New Category

There's no restriction on the number of categories a Radio weblog can offer.

To add a category, follow these steps:

  1. On the desktop home page, click the New link at the top of the Categories list (below the weblog editor).

    The New Category page is displayed, containing the same fields as the Edit Category page described in the preceding section.

  2. Fill out the fields as desired.

    The name you choose for a category is used to create its URL, so a shorter name creates a less cumbersome address.

    One way to get around this issue is to create the category with a short name that would make a good URL, save the category, and then edit it later to lengthen the name.

Deleting a Category

You can delete categories as well, which removes them from the list below the weblog editor. Follow these steps:

  1. Click the Prefs link on any desktop Web page to see the preferences page, and then click the Categories link in the Weblog section.

  2. Click the Categories page link.

    The Categories page is displayed, listing all of your categories.

  3. Check the check box of the category (or categories) to delete and click the Delete button.

Deleting a category does not remove any of the category's weblog entries, files, or folders.

If you want to remove a category's Web pages or RSS file from the Web, open the www\categories folder and delete the category's folder. Within minutes, Radio will automatically detect the change and delete the files.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020