Simtropolis Blogs: Support and Information

[JakeMD 107]

Simtropolis Blogs

Welcome!  The Simtropolis Blogs feature is finally up.  Well, what are you waiting for?  Go create your blog!  The Simtropolis Blognet is a way for users to express themselves with their art, writings, or anything they wish to talk about.  Unwind your day with the Simtropolis Blog Network.

From the Dirktator,

Hey guys, just to let you know that inactive blogs (that have not been updated for more than 30 days, will be automatically de-listed, and if there is no action after 60 days, it will be removed). To prevent this, make sure you have an update at least once every 30 days.

If you'd like a special arrangement, please PM an admin and we can work something out.

Visit the official guide, click here!

Show off your Simtropolis Blogs!

One quick note;

Images upload must not contain any special characters.  Only alpha-numeric characters are allowed.

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If you have any other questions, please ask them here.  I will do my best to answer them!

[Kevin 101]

You are way too fast at getting these things together Swat

[Shadow Assassin 336]

I haven't had any problems yet, but is there any chance of additional stuff relating to posting blogs, explaining how to post, etc?

[JakeMD 107]

Originally posted by: Shadow_Assassin

I haven't had any problems yet, but is there any chance of additional stuff relating to posting blogs, explaining how to post, etc?quote>

Of course, I just wanted to get this out there ASAP.  I will (or if anyone else wants to chip in) be making a complete guide to the blogs eventually.  *Counts his site-wide projets.....  6*

[zane900 1]

i saw this coming a mile away.

is it just me, or is simtropolis bettering daily?

[Patricius Maximus 236]

Just as I was contemplating a blog myself, a blog feature comes to Simtropolis. I must say the timing was perfect, and I am going to create one momentarily.

It seems to be similar to the blog-like CJ section. Intriguing.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Would you like a pin to go with that...?

[JakeMD 107]

If it is not too much trouble =D

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Wow I really like the way you can customise your background and stuff....   you would hardly know you are on ST!

I think I would like to make a blog but I have to come up with a cool name...

Any suggestions?

[Kevin 101]

I just went with my CML... yours wouldn't be so bad either

[zane900 1]

Originally posted by: abcvs

I think I would like to make a blog but I have to come up with a cool name...

Any suggestions?quote>

Something coffee related, perhaps?  I know our resident nursinator is very passionate when it comes to his coffee. 

[football_fever 6]

Blogs were an amazing idea, but I can't figure out how to get a full image in the background like Ryan and SimHoTToDDy. Mine are always multiplied, and will look entirely different depending on screen size. How do I do that?

[Dirktator 2,310]

Originally posted by: football_fever

Blogs were an amazing idea, but I can't figure out how to get a full image in the background like Ryan and SimHoTToDDy. Mine are always multiplied, and will look entirely different depending on screen size. How do I do that?quote>

All background images are set to repeat so it will start in the top left and tile.

Just upload an image that's large enough and it will fill the space without the appearance of repeating.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Originally posted by: dirk

Originally posted by: football_fever

Blogs were an amazing idea, but I can't figure out how to get a full image in the background like Ryan and SimHoTToDDy. Mine are always multiplied, and will look entirely different depending on screen size. How do I do that?quote>

All background images are set to repeat so it will start in the top left and tile.

Just upload an image that's large enough and it will fill the space without the appearance of repeating.

quote>

That is one way to do it and it usaually works well, but you may run into the size cap if you are not careful. Mine fit nicely at about 500px squared. The most important part, however, is editing the edges so the tile transitions are seamless (or as much as possible). You could do both at once really, just make your small image larger and tile it before you upload so you have full influence over how those intersections will appear. Oh, just noticed the fixed/ scroll option next to the upload line, chaning that to fixed would help if you have a larger image.

I wonder if CraigkingofIreland still has his photoshopping service around

By the way, the new functions are great! I haven't had a chance to play with all of them, but they look fun. This is like web page design all over again (only without all the hand coding)

[football_fever 6]

Thanks, dirk and SimHoTToDDy. They really do look seamless. We have members of amazing quality on this site

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

Heres a quick tutorial on how to make seamless images:

1. First of all youll need some kind of image that would look good tiled, alomst any picture is fine but you should stick to a pattern like image for best results

2. Get GIMP its a free image editing software that you can get here www.gimp.org/ If you alredy have GIMP then ignore this step.

3. Now youll need to open your image in GIMP. Make it how you like, and when youre done apply this filter:

Fliters>Map>Make Seamless.

Then the resulting image should look fine and have no seams whatsoever.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

The original posts showing off blogs have now been moved to the show us you blog thread.

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

Wow new blog section I'm going to try this out!

By the way does anyone know if it is possible to upload a transparent banner? I tried uploading a transparent GIF file and transparent PNG file but it hasn't worked so far.

[Dirktator 2,310]

Originally posted by: elemented9

Wow new blog section I'm going to try this out!

By the way does anyone know if it is possible to upload a transparent banner? I tried uploading a transparent GIF file and transparent PNG file but it hasn't worked so far.quote>

It should work, though you'll get better results with a transparent 24 bit PNG, there are a few blogs with this effect.

Be sure to set your banner's backgound colour to "none" if you want your banner to show thru to your main body background.

[beebs 129]

I've noticed the message editor in the blogs has a smilie button, however all the images are broken.

Craig- Still hunting for a blog name..?

Edit: How does one do the "More" thing I've seen in other blogs?

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Craig- Still hunting for a blog name..? quote>

It is on my to do list.  But it definately has to be cool.

[Dirktator 2,310]

Originally posted by: beebs

I've noticed the message editor in the blogs has a smilie button, however all the images are broken.

Craig- Still hunting for a blog name..?

Edit: How does one do the "More" thing I've seen in other blogs?

quote>

Type your text like this, throw down the more tag just like this [more]

Now everything after the more tag will appear when the user clicks the Entry title or the "read more" ...

A good way to increase your view count!

[beebs 129]

The main blog page seems to be loading a little wonky for me..

FF3.0 & XP

[JakeMD 107]

Beebs, is it still acting like this? I have loaded it in IE, FF, and Chrome and they all display it just fine.. Even Safari on my iPod displays it fine.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

I am having trouble finding where to upload my gravatar... can someone point me in the right direction please?

I worked it out...

You go to 'add comment' and at the bottom of the reply screen is a link which takes you to the set up your gravatar web site...  follow ya nose from there.  Easy as.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

The latest updates to the blogs are at the top of the list... is there anyway to swap this around so the oldest is first?

Dunno maybe the newest stuff should be first... pro's and cons I suppose.

Hmm. Still getting the hang of this blog business. I do like how each update keeps its own space... and the comments relate directly to it. That is the disadvantage of a thread... everything gets jumbled together...

[JakeMD 107]

Craig:

If you go here you can browse to the older blogs.

[blue sinjid 7]

Seems I Can't log-in into my blog admin! When I enter in my pass and username and hit that forum button,nothing happens!

[JakeMD 107]

Originally posted by: blue sinjid

Seems I Can't log-in into my blog admin! When I enter in my pass and username and hit that forum button,nothing happens!quote>

What browser are you using?

[Dirktator 2,310]

Hey guys, just to let you know that inactive blogs (that have not been updated for more than 30 days, will be automatically de-listed, and if there is no action after 60 days, it will be removed). To prevent this, make sure you have an update at least once every 30 days.

If you'd like a special arrangement, please PM an admin and we can work something out.