Installing a Template in the New Blogger Interface

Basic instructions for loading one of our templates into Blogger using the new interface.

From the Dashboard
Under ‘More Options’ select ‘Template’
In the top right click ‘Backup/Restore’
Where it says ‘Upload a template from a file on your hard drive’
Select ‘Choose file’ and find the xml template on your computer
Then click ‘Upload’

The following design features require copy and pasting of code into Blogger gadgets. The code is included in the download file.
Slideshow, Menu & Social Banners
To avoid having code errors please open these files with notepad only (not word, wordpad, works or other editor). To locate notepad on your computer go to the start button > all programs > accessories > notepad.

From Dashboard
Under ‘More Options’ select ‘Layout’
In the gadget named ‘Slideshow’ click ‘edit’
Find the slideshow code text file on your computer (included in download)
Copy and paste the code into the ‘Slideshow’ gadget & save
Come back and customize following the instructions inside the slideshow text file

From Dashboard
Under ‘More Options’ select ‘Layout’
In the gadget named ‘Menu’ click ‘edit’
Find the menu code text file on your computer (included in download)
Copy and paste the code into the ‘menu’ gadget & save
Please read ‘Creating Pages’, ‘Categories & Labels’ & ‘Menu Links’ to complete menu

From Dashboard
Under ‘More Options’ select ‘Pages’
Click ‘New Page’
Click ‘Publish’
While in ‘Pages’ click each page title link to view
Copy and paste the urls (from your browser window) into Notepad… you’ll need these for the menu
~NOTE: In the sample template the following are pages; About Me, Contact, Pricing, What to wear, Policies & Press. These can be whatever you like. Categories are not pages – please read ‘Categories & Labels’ to create categories.

From Dashboard
Under ‘More Options’ select ‘Posts’
Click the tag or label icon to add labels or add labels to individual posts by hovering over the post title and clicking ‘edit’
The labels added will be the categories for your blog
~NOTE: If you don’t have a set of labels that will work in place I suggest creating a mock post and adding all of the labels (categories) you’ll want (this post can be deleted later). In the sample blog the categories are engagement, wedding, maternity, newborn, children, family & lifestyle. These can be whatever you like.
Once labels are created – from Dashboard
Under ‘More Options’ select ‘Layout’
Click ‘Add a Gadget’ choose ‘Labels’
Click ‘View blog’ (top left screen)
While viewing your blog click each Label link to view
Copy and paste the urls (from your browser window) into Notepad

Return to ‘Layout’
In the gadget named ‘Menu’ click ‘edit’
Open your Notepad text file that has saved links and copy and paste the urls being careful not to erase the ” ”
For more help with links – HTML Links

From Dashboard
Under ‘More Options’ select ‘Layout’
In the gadget named ‘Social Banners’ click ‘edit’
Find the menu code text file on your computer (included in download)
Copy and paste the code into the ‘social banners code’ gadget & save
Paste urls in the noted spaces… ie ‘YOURFACEBOOKLINKHERE’ being careful not to erase the quotes ‘ ‘

Customizing misc: Using a new background image – newer templates (plain jane, element)

While in template designer click ‘background’ then dbl click the icon
When Blogger’s background choices popup there is also a choice to upload your own image
Find the background tiles on your computer and upload the image or your own image

Customizing misc: Using a new background image – older templates (artisan, ciao, daybook, torn)

To add a new background image to the blog go to >Design tab and click the Edit HTML sub-tab. Scroll down the this code… body { background-image: url(‘http://yourimagehost.com/yourimagename.jpg’); To add your own image first upload that image to a photohost and copy the direct link. Carefully add your new link replacing our image link – background-image: url(‘YOURLINKHERE’);

Additional Resources & Support