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Blogging Software - Part I - BlogDesk

By Larry Hendrick | May 29, 2006

I am still using the two different blogging software packages, BlogDesk and Zoundry’s Blog Writer and wanted to give you an update on the testing of the two. To be honest, they are as different as night and day, but each has it’s pros and cons. I still haven’t made the decision on which I will choose, or if both will find a place because of certain features.

This review is written with BlogDesk and will look at what I like and what I would like improved with this piece of software.

What I like …

  1. easy to install
  2. works with multiple blogs
  3. multiple blogs can be on different platforms (Wordpress, Blogger, Typepad, etc.)
  4. post to multiple blogs simultaneously
  5. handles pictures with ease
  6. edit existing posts from your website
  7. spell checker
  8. control over allowing comments, ping and draft publishing
  9. seamless font and positioning control
  10. templates for posting
  11. technorati tagging

What I would like improved …

  1. change date and time w/Wordpress
  2. easiness coming out of ordered list (it’s a trick)

The easy to install and working with and posting to multiple blogs are self-explanatory. I have used the simultaneous posting to multiple blogs and it works nicely. Just fill in the check boxes for the blog and category you want it posted to and your done. Picture handling is one of my main reasons for using blogging software. It lets you manipulate the picture placement better and faster than working the html by hand. You can place the pictures where ever you want and either have text above, below, or wrapped around the picture. Easy as pie.

The editing existing posts could be easier, but it does work and allows you to re-publish and overwrite the existing article. The other controls are like working in Microsoft Word. To make your text bold, italics, underlined, or to use strike throughs is as easy as highlighting the word and clicking the header button. The same applies for changing the font color or using the built in highlighter .

If you do a frequent type post, BlogDesk allows you to build a template and use and re-use it to make posting simpler. I have built one for my podcast on Motivation on the Run and will try it out this next week. The ability to include Technorati tagging seems a requirement now for this type software. Every one I have looked at includes this feature, but it is handy.

Saving is done by using the title of the article, so all you have to do is click the save button ever so often and you are in good shape. Any saved article can be retried by clicking on the open icon or menu and choosing which one you want to work on next. This particular post has been in the works for a time and when opportunity presents itself, I open BlogDesk and write another paragraph or two.

There is a good help file included, but you should need it on rare occasion, like how to get out of ordered list mode. And if memory serves me correctly, I had to locate that tidbit on the website because it wasn’t in the help file. Just remember that when you want to stop the numbered list, you must use the “out-dent” button.

The only real problem I have with BlogDesk is the future post option. The software author has been very helpful with this, but it still doesn’t work properly. In the way I write articles, I use the future post feature in Wordpress several times each day. At first, the feature didn’t work at all, but in the latest version of the software, 2.5, it works better, but not best. In Wordpress, if I want an article to appear at 5:37 PM and set it that way, it appears at 5:37 PM. It works every time flawlessly from within Wordpress

and also with the other blogging software I will write about in Part II. BlogDesk will take the future date or time, but if I set it to post at 5:37 PM, it may show up and 10:37 PM or 8:53 PM and that causes me a few problems. Some posts are timed for a reason, and the ability to control that time is essential. I’m sure this will improve as the software matures, but it is a very real issue for my use.

Overall, I am please with this software and would rate it with the following:

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Topics: Blogs, Technology |

12 Responses to “Blogging Software - Part I - BlogDesk”

  1. Johannes Says:
    May 30th, 2006 at 3:52 am

    Larry, the date-setting-problem has more to do with WordPress than with BlogDesk - or does it work correctly when you use ZBW?

    As for the numbered list: when you press the corresponding button, the list begins. If you want to stop the enumeration, just press this button again. Exactly like in Word.

    Ah, one last thing: there is a new version (2.6).

  2. Larry Hendrick Says:
    May 30th, 2006 at 5:58 am

    Johannes,

    Thanks again for your response. Yes the future date works perfectly in ZBW every time I have used it, which is a lot. With BD it is random, but seems to usually post five hours after the specified time. When I go to the Wordpress admin panel and look at the “manage post” tab, it shows the correct time for posting, but the article is not on the page. Quite curious.

    I will have to try that on the numbered list. That’s not the way I get out of that feature in Word, so I will have to try that. That took me a while the first time to decipher.

    I will take a look at the site on the latest version to see the build changes.

    Again, thanks for the response.

  3. CypherHackz (5 comments.) Says:
    June 3rd, 2006 at 2:13 pm

    I’m downloading it right now. I hope my hosting provider didn’t block it. Before this I try using Blogjet but my hosting provider block the access because of some security issues.

  4. Larry Hendrick Says:
    June 3rd, 2006 at 3:09 pm

    I hope they don’t block using it either. It is a great piece of software, especially if you manage many different blogs. Access to all of them from one place.

    I am currently working on part II about blogging software, giving all the scoop on Zoundry’s Blog Writer. It’s another great product and the article should be up sometime this next week.

    Thanks for commenting and have a terrific week.

    Larry

  5. CypherHackz (5 comments.) Says:
    June 5th, 2006 at 11:26 am

    Do you ever use BlogJet? Have you try it?

  6. Larry Hendrick Says:
    June 5th, 2006 at 11:35 am

    I did download it and trial it for the full 30 period. I was impressed with the software, just not the price tag. It handled everything very well, but no better than BlogDesk or BlogWriter.3

    Larry

  7. CypherHackz (5 comments.) Says:
    June 5th, 2006 at 12:02 pm

    But how do you use tags (or technorati tag) in BlogDesk?

  8. Larry Hendrick Says:
    June 5th, 2006 at 1:54 pm

    If memory serves me, it is under the “extra” menu and then “tags.” You just add the technorati tags and it publishes them.

  9. CypherHackz (5 comments.) Says:
    June 6th, 2006 at 9:11 pm

    And how to make in BlogDesk?

  10. Larry Hendrick Says:
    June 6th, 2006 at 9:42 pm

    I’m not sure about the “more” command, I don’t use it on any of my sites. You might email the author of the software at BlogDesk.org. He has been extremely responsive and helpful with my issues. And if you find an answer, make sure and leave another comment with it so others can learn too.

  11. CypherHackz (5 comments.) Says:
    June 7th, 2006 at 8:50 pm

    I have found it. Click on More section. It is between Post and Excerpt.

  12. Business Unusual » Return of Off-Line Blogging Software Challenge Says:
    May 13th, 2007 at 1:44 pm

    [...] each item is important. End result, no one makes an off-line editor that covers all my needs, but BlogDesk comes [...]

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