How To Use Features on PAN Website

LET'S GET STARTED

 

Sometimes some of the functions on the NING platforms don't seem to be working and in most cases, it can be attributed to a browser issue, especially for Firefox users.  You may need to upgrade your browser to a newer version.  If you are having these types of issues, check out the link below.

20 Things I Learned About Browsers & The Web, CLICK HERE.

How to Use Our Features

Blogs & Discussions:

Place your mouse on the MEMBERS tab on main menu bar. Select BLOGS. When the next page appears you will notice a +ADD button in the upper right side of the page, to the left of your name. Click +ADD.

The follow screen will appear:

Tags:

Notice the TAGS at the bottom. You will want to think of the subject/topics to enter here that would direct other members when they do a SEARCH on the internet to find related articles. Enter each subject and separate them with a comma. If you do not want the words to be separated, for example: Tea Party News, you must type it as follows: Tea_Party_News. I try to enter TAGS first because otherwise I tend to forget them. This is very important information for others who are researching particular subjects, so please try to remember to enter the TAGS.

Next, enter the topic of discussion in the POST TITLE. Use a topic that you think will attract the members to your Blog/Discussion.

Now you are ready to enter the text, pictures and videos into your blogs or discussions.

Before you get started here, select the information you wish to post. If you have found an article that you wish to use on the internet*, highlight the area you wish to copy with your mouse, and right click. Select copy. Now this information has been saved into your computer's memory. However, be sure to leave this web page open so you will be able to get the URL (website address) to post in your blog later on ... or ... just copy the entire link somewhere to copy it later.

Next, under the menu bar you will want to enter your original or copied materials in the text box:

* - COPYRIGHT LAWS:

NOTE: When entering either a blog or discussion, please keep in mind that there are copyright laws that protect the author's original materials when entering information from various publications, emails, videos, etc. In most cases it is permissible under the Fair Use Laws to enter a few paragraphs and then end the blog/discussion with:

"To read the rest of the story, CLICK HERE."

Linking:

The Blog Menu Bar

Once you do this, with your mouse highlight the CLICK HERE and then click on the LINK on the menu bar above the text box where you have entered your materials. The following screen will appear.

The text box information should match the area that you highlighted. Notice that CLICK HERE, the area we highlighted, is in the box next to LINK TEXT. If this box is blank, then you forgot to highlight the area you wished to link before you clicked the LINK icon.

Once you make sure that the proper area you wish to link is inserted in the LINK TEXT, you can now enter or paste the associated website in the box to the right of LINK URL that begins http://

When you have entered the link, Click OK.

Your linked sentence should now look like this: "To read the rest of the story, CLICK HERE."

You will want to test this link once you have posted your blog/discussion to make sure the link is working properly.

(Yes, I know, it takes more time to go to another web page, but we all must follow the copyright laws.)

When you enter information that you want to LINK to other web sites, be sure to highlight that area with your mouse, then click on LINK and follow the steps above.

Pictures:

To enter photos, remember that most times you will need to create the picture first on your computer and then import the file, although there are times when you can copy and paste directly into your blog. (Remember also that some photos are copyrighted materials and should not be posted.)

To enter a picture into your Blog/Discussion from your computer, position your cursor with your mouse on the beginning of the text where you want to insert the picture. CLICK the icon to the right of LINK and the following screen will appear:

If you have a URL (website address) for a picture, insert the link in the box next to URL. If you are uploading a picture from your computer, click the BROWSE. This will open your computer files so you can select the file you wish to insert into the text. Once your text is selected the file name will appear in the box to the left of the BROWSE.

Next you will want to decide where you want to position your picture in your text. If you select LEFT, then text that is below the picture will be positioned to the left of the picture, with the balance of the text below the picture. If you select CENTER, the text will be wrapped on both sides of the picture. If you select RIGHT, the text will be on the right side of the picture. If you select FULL, all of the text will be below the picture.

If you want to a picture linked to a website when it is clicked, put the website address in the box to the right of LINK. You will want to test this link once you have posted your blog/discussion to make sure the link is working properly.

Next determine the size of the picture you wish displayed and enter in the box to the right of WIDTH. The width pixels will determine the size of picture when it is posted. You can increase or decrease the size of your picture by adjusting the pixels here.

Once you make sure all of the information is how you wish your picture to appear, Click OK.

If the picture does not appear as you want it to look, double click on thte picture and in the bottom left corner of the picutre a menu will briefly appear IMAGE: EDIT / DELETE (If you move your mouse away, the menu disappears.) Click on your selection. When you select EDIT, the above screen will once again appear. If you select DELETE, the photo will be removed.

Videos:

To enter a video into your Blog/Discussion from your computer, position your cursor with your mouse on the beginning of the text where you want to insert the picture. You may want to insert a couple of spaces here so it will post properly in the text. To enter a video, use the icon to the right of the picture icon. The following screen will appear:

Paste the embedded code inside the box, then click OK. You can then position the video by using the menu bar below the video icon.

For more information on how to enter videos from YouTube, CLICK HERE.

Plain Text & Removing Formatting:

Many times when copying articles on the web they will be formatted in such a way that it does not post properly. Before inserting the materials into your blog, Select the T to the right of the VIDEO icon. The following screen will appear:

Paste the copied information inside the box, then click OK.

Inserting Files From Your Computer:

To enter a file from your computer, position your cursor with your mouse where you want to insert your file. Click the paperclip icon next to the T. The following screen will appear:

Click BROWSE and select the file from your computer. Once you have done this, the screen will look similar in appearance to the screen below:

Naturally, the name of the file you have selected will appear, I just used one of mine for demonstration purposes! Next, click OK.

Your file will then appear at the position you indicated you wanted the file inserted in your blog.

Text Enhancements:

To make your Blog/Discussion look more "outstanding" you can choose various items from the formatting menu bar located below the icons we have just previously discussed.

FONT - This will allow you to select the style type you wish to use for your blog. The normal default for the text is Arial. However, you can change the type style by highlighting the text that you want to change. Next click the arrow to the right of FONT and a drop down menu will appear to make your selection.

Once you make your selection, the text style will change for that portion of the text you selected.

SIZE - This will allow you to select the style size of the type you wish to use for your blog. Once again highlight the text you wish to size and then click the arrow to the right of SIZE and a drop down menu will appear to make your selection.

A - Black is the automatic default color for the blogs. However, if you want to change the color of your text, highlight the text you wish to change and then click the A icon and this will change the font color.

Other text options are:

B - Bolds your text. There are many instances when you will want to have your text bold. When should you bold the text in writing, CLICK HERE.

I - Your text will appear in italics. This is used in blogs to show emphasis or to write the proper titles of books, etc. following the rules of using italics in writing .

S - Strikeout text. This is used in many drafts or you will see it many times in regulations whenever the rules have been changed or "stricken."

U - Your text will appear underlined. This is used many times for emphasis, but to learn more on using underlining in writing, CLICK HERE.

Using this icon will block a section of text being quoted.

Use bullets to make specific points in your writing.

If you wish to use an outline format, use the above icon.

The eraser - will remove current formatting in the body of text

To view your work in FULL SCREEN edit mode, use this icon.

DO NOT USE THIS ICON BEFORE YOU HAVE PUBLISHED OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR WORK ...

Can you guess how I found out?!

Positioning of Text:

The next three buttons following U with the horizontal lines will position the text.

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

BEFORE YOU PUBLISH

Once you have completed your Blog/Discussion, click PREVIEW unless you are sure that the blog looks exactly like you want it to look. This will display how your blog/discussion will appear and should open a new tab in your browser. To get back to your original, just click on the tab you were working on. It is always a good idea to preview one more time before you click, PUBLISH POST.

PUBLISH AT LATER DATE:

Want to post at a later date? You can decide what date and time you wish your post to publish once you publish the post. BUT BEFORE making that selection, click the circle next to Choose a date and time and then make your choices. See screen below.

Sharing on Facebook and Twitter:

Again, before you Publish Post, if you would like to have your writing to immediately SHARE ON your Facebook and Twitter accounts, you will notice on the screen below the icons for each. Be sure to check these boxes to automatically post at the same time as you publish on this site. This will save you a LOT of time and duplication in your efforts.

You can also SHARE your Blog/Discussion/Videos/Photos with any of your FRIENDS on this network. Once your post appears, scroll to the bottom of the post and click SHARE and the following screen appears:

You can select any of the listed icons to post to your accounts. When you select CHOOSE FROM FRIENDS, and a popup screen will give you the option to choose individuals by clicking each individual name - or - FRIENDS ON THIS NETWORK will send to all friends on this network.

You can also send it to those on your personal email address by entering the email addresses in the box below SEND TO.

NOTE: These emails remain your confidential property and are not shared or seen by any Administrator, Moderator or other Members.

Who Will See or Comment on the Post?

You decide who you want to see or comment on your posts. You can also decide if you want to moderate the posts.

Save as Draft:

Sometimes when we are writing we experience what is commonly called "writers block" or you might be interupted. In order to SAVE your work without publishing, Click SAVE AS DRAFT.

F I N A L L Y

Click, PUBLISH POST

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Welcome to the world of blogging! Please note that on some websites the blogs have to first be approved by the Moderators, so please, PREVIEW these before publishing or the blogs will have to be approved a second time.

EDITING:

If you discover an oops or want to add or delete something after you have published ... no problem. On the page where the post is published, it will look like my page below:

Click the OPTIONS button and a drop down menu will appear.

Select EDIT POST. Once you have done this the program will take you back to the original screen you worked on to create your post.

That's all there is to entering blogs and discussions and I hope this encourages each of you to contribute frequently to keep our members informed.