My Computer Back in Service

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Installation of any WordPress Plugin is quite similar to any other in the steps that need to be followed in order to function properly. For the most part the only differences will be What you have to Upload to your Host Server.

Every WordPress Plugin I have ever installed always starts with downloading a .zip file. This should include ALL the information, folders, files and particular steps you will need to take in order to complete the installation.

Step by Step

• Download the .zip file…
  • to Your Computer in it’s entirety. Save it to any Folder you feel comfortable using ie. “downloads” or “zip files”. Confirm you received all the files. You can use your default expansion program if you are using an Operating System that has that function or something like Winzip for the next step.
• Unzip the .zip file…
  • to a folder on Your Computer where you can access everything in all the Folders and Files that have been expanded. [Keep the Expanded Folder separate from the Zip Folder, this will help avoid some confusion.] Normally these will default to the “Plugin Name Folder” and include the necessary files and folders you need to use the plugin, and a “readme” file which should have all the Special Instructions to ensure proper functionality of the Plugin (be sure to read it!).
• Log in…
  • to your Host Server and access your WordPress files for the Blog to which you are Uploading the Plugin for installation. This is ALWAYS in the public_html file. Make sure you keep track of where your expanded folders and files are stored on your computer for the next step.
• Navigate to wp_content/plugins…
  • If you need a Folder for the Plugin, Create the Folder with the Suggested Name in the “read me” text. Upload all the Files and Folders necessary (being sure to Create any Sub-folders ie. “image” or “features” and Upload any required files within those folders).
  • If No Separate Folder is needed, just Upload the File(s) making sure to create any Required Folders such as “cache” for storage of temporary information. (Folders like “cache” require the ability for the plugin to write to the folder for storage, be sure to open the folder so writing information is enabled).
• Save everything (as necessary) and Log Out of your Host Server
• Go to the WP-Admin of your Blog and sign in as Administrator
• Navigate to the Administration-Dashboard-Plugins Page of the Blog and ACTIVATE the Plugin
• If needed, ADD any code to the .php files as appropriate (you did read the “read me” right?) and SAVE any Changes

Your WordPress Plugin should function as promised as long as you followed ALL the necessary steps.

If you have been thinking about using a New Theme for your WordPress blog and thought the installation was a little beyond your expertise, maybe this will help.

I realize that it’s not the best quality, but bear with me, it is my first time.

Let me know if you found it helpful and if you would like more Screencasts (they’ll get better, I promise) on other subjects.

I just wanted to share a short video I made about my feelings on Pamela for Skype.

My biggest complaint is that I wanted to use it to do Two Way Video Interviews, but it doesn’t work. Apparently, I am not alone in my frustration.
 

Have you tried Pamela for Skype? What was your experience?

I am considering using a new service I found called Revver that I can easily Embed a Video into a Blog post. If it works well enough, I may start using it as a weekly feature or when it is appropriate as a way of explaining some features rather than just putting words on the screen.

Ok, as I said in the Vid, it is only a test.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Joe

BTW, I will do a review of my findings on the service after testing, so stay tuned.

Those of you who are using the RSS feed, you will have to click the Post Title to see the Video, sorry.

J.

Do use AdSense on your Blog? Do you want to put some Ads after your posts but are limited by the fact that you can only have 3 instances of AdSense per page? Do you want to know how to show AdSense Ads after a certain post and not others to be sure you stay within Googles guidelines and not be banned?

Here’s how you can set up an AdSense campaign to show after one post per page. The example has the Ads showing after the second post, but you can set it up after any post number you like. And this also works on Category and “Next” pages without any other changes being made to your code.

Go to your index.php in the Presentation folder of your WordPress Dashboard.

And look for:

<?php if (have_posts()) :?>
  <?php $postCount=0; ?>
  <?php while (have_posts()) : the_post();?>

And IMMEDIATELY BEFORE it put this bit of code:

<?php
$postnum = 1;
$showadsense1 = 2;
?>

Go a little further down in the code and look for this (at the end of the content statement)

<?php endwhile; ?>

And place this bit of code RIGHT BEFORE that statement:

<?php
 if ($postnum == $showadsense1)
  (your AdSense code  goes here)
$postnum++;
?>

It’s as simple as that. There should be no need to make any changes if and when you update your WordPress version, but you will have to remember to redo the code if you change your Theme.

You should be able to copy/paste the above code with no problems, just remember to put YOUR AdSense code in place of “(your AdSense code goes here)” or it will never work.

Questions or problems can be left in comments and I will answer them there so others will know the answer to your question too.