CLIP: How To - Move From WordPress.com To WordPress.org

from ProBlogger Blog Tips by Jeff Chandler

Moving a Blog from WordPress.com to WordPress.org is something I’ve had a lot of questions about - today Jeff Chandler shares tips on hwo to do it.

Everyday it seems like I find a story or two from a cities local online newspaper which delves into the topic of blogging and what it’s all about. The story usually goes through a mini backlog of history surrounding the term, what blogging is and at the end of the article, there is usually a list of suggestions on how to get started with the most popular suggestion being WordPress.com. Using WordPress.com is a great way to introduce yourself to blogging but if you decide that you want to turn blogging into a full time job or just want more control over your work, you’ll need to move.

Thankfully, the move from WordPress.com to WordPress.org (WordPress.org being the self hosted version of WordPress) is painless thanks in large part to a great export tool.

To start things off, login to your WordPress.com account and browse to your administration panel. From the menu on the left, click on TOOLS - EXPORT. At this point, you have the option to confine the export to a particular author or all authors. Using the export tool will compile yourposts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, and tags. This information is placed into a WXR file or, WordPress eXtended RSS file. Essentially, this file is just a normal XML RSS based file with a couple of custom fields added to it which makes it specific to WordPress. Once you’re finished, click on theDownload Export File button and save it to your desktop.

Once you have that file on your desktop, you can breath a little easier considering your half way through the content migration process.

The second part of this guide refers to an installation of WordPress 2.7. Login to your self installed WordPress administration panel and from the menu on the left click on TOOLS - IMPORT. From the list of blogging systems click on WordPress. Next, click on the Browse button and locate the XML file you downloaded earlier. This will upload the XML file into your WordPress installation and will unpack all of the data the file contains. There is one caveat though regarding this entire technique.

Most webhosts for whatever reason still have their PHP.ini configured in such a way where end users can only upload files with a maximum file size of 2MBor smaller. Although it takes quite a bit of content in an WXR file to go over 2MB, 2MB is not a lot of head room. If you find yourself in the position where your WXR file is larger than the maximum file size, I highly suggest submitting a trouble ticket to your webhost and asking them to increase the limit. If they choose not to, then ask them if they can import the file for you. If that doesn’t work, you can pull a trick from your sleeve by uploading a custom php.ini file to your webhosting accounts root folder. This is what my host did for me and afterwards, I took a look at the php.ini file and noticed it had this line in it:

; Maximum allowed size for uploaded files.
upload_max_filesize = 7M

Apparently, the php.ini file overwrote the settings on the original file and I was able to bump my limit up to 7 Megabytes. This trick is not guaranteed to work. As a last ditch effort, you can also try adding these lines to your .htaccess file. Just replace the pound sign with a number that is above the size of your WXR file.

#set max upload file size
php_value upload_max_filesize #M

#set max post size
php_value post_max_size #M

Once the WXR file is unpacked on your self installed version of WordPress, you’re ready to walk through the gates of freedom without skipping a beat!

P.S. This strategy also works for those wanting to go from WordPress.org to WordPress.com.

Install tEarn on the Open Source Drupal CMS

Copy Tag from tEarn 

1. Create a tEarn Account
2. Setup your Publisher Profile. Reference the FAQ for advanced settings.
3. Copy your Tag to the Clipboard. See step 3 on the page.

Paste into Drupal

On the administer page of your Drupal website:

1. Select Blocks Under Site Building
2. Select a Footer block and click configure
3. On the toolbar, select HTML
4. Paste your Tag from the Clipboard and Update
5. Click Save Block

Test the code by clicking any link that exits your website. Monitor your results at http://tEarn.com/. 

One-Click Blogger Install of tEarn Widget

We've simplified the installation of tEarn exitmercial for Blogger. 

After you create a profile of your website, (i.e. register your domain name) the 'Add to Blogger' button automates tEarn installation. 

Sign up at tEarn and start earning from high-eCPM exitmercials.

Installing tEarn on WordPress 1.x/2.x

Note: The following instructions are not for use with blogs hosted at WordPress.com or any WordPress MU–powered installation.

tEarn's exitmercial services are delivered at your site via the tEarn script. Once you’ve installed tEarn code on your site, you can control the tEarn service from your tEarn Control Panel. The code connects tEarn and your WordPress, so adding exitmercials to your blog couldn’t be easier!

To add tEarn to a WordPress-powered blog, you’ll need to insert a small piece of code in your templates. Fortunately, this is easy — follow these steps.

1. Create an account at tEarn for your blog and copy your tEarn code.

   Sign in to your WordPress Admin dashboard.

2. Click the Presentation tab, then the Theme Editor sub-tab. You should see a dropdown menu of installed themes and a list of template files associated with the currently selected theme to the right of the editor. The remainder of this example assumes use of the WordPress Default theme.

   

3. Click Main Index Template in the list of template files. Its contents load in the editor. (For WordPress 1.5: “Main Template”)

4. Paste the code you copied in step 1 in the body of the template. We recommend the line following the BODY tag. It can also be inserted before the closing BODY tag.

5. Click Update File » to save your changes. 

The tEarn tag has no visible parts on your page. Click on links that exit your blog to test. Use your tEarn Control Panel to monitor results. 

tEarn Exitmercial One-Time Special

Publishers: To install this presentation on your ad page, the last page of the presentation has the needed HTML tag. Here is the link to the '$20 Trial' presentation.

Installing tEarn Exitmerical on Tumblr

Tumblr is the simplest blogging tool. It supports PC's, Mac's, SMS phones, IM clients - allowing you to easily post to your blog from anywhere. 

Tumblr can also import your blogs and present them as a consolidated stream to the Tumblr community. Tumblr has unique methods for the community to discover each other like an interactive map.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for installing tEarn on Tumblr blogs.

Copy Tag from tEarn

1. Create a tEarn Account
2. Setup your Publisher Profile. Reference the FAQ for advanced settings.
3. Copy your Tag to the Clipboard. See step 3 on the page.

Paste into Tumblr

1. Login to Tumblr and find your Dashboard
2. Click customize. Toolbars at the top show options
3. Click Theme and paste your tag after the HEAD tag.

Tumblr auto saves. Click any other link and the change is saved. 

The tEarn tag has no visible parts on your website. It has zero footprint. Test the code by clicking any link that exits your blog. 

Monitor your results at http://tEarn.com/.

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tEarn Exitmerical - $20 Trial Buy, the Simplest Ad Buy, PPT

Publishers: To install this presentation on your ad page, the last page of the presentation has the needed HTML tag. Here is the link to the '$200 Special' presentation.

(link to Santa Clara Weekly page)

Installing tEarn into Dreamweaver Templates, Adobe

Dreamweaver, from Adobe, uses templates for controlling the common parts of a website, such as the header, sidebar, and footer. 

To create a template for a new website, here is a tutorial.

About Dreamweaver Templates

To install the tEarn tag into one or more templates, note the following:

How to Modify & Update a Dreamweaver Template?

So you have made the template and the pages using it. How do you modify the common elements of your template pages? All you need to do is make your changes to the dreamweaver template and save it. All pages are automatically updated on request. Simple!

Tip: Use Server Side Includes in your Dreamweaver Template

We highly recommend the use of Server Side Includes (SSI) with dreamweaver templates for large websites. Include files save you the trouble of updating and uploading numerous pages having the same content. For example in your dreamweaver web site if you navigation links are in an include file you can change your navigation at any time and will have to upload only that single include file. Read our free tutorial on SSI.

Copy Tag from tEarn

1. Create a tEarn Account
2. Setup your Publisher Profile. Reference the FAQ for advanced settings.
3. Copy your Tag to the Clipboard. See step 3 on the page.

Paste into Dreamweaver

Whether you choose the SSI or template method, here are the steps to insert the code.

1. Open your master template. (If you have more than one, repeat these steps for each template)
2. Make sure the template is in the CODE mode for pasting HTML code.
3. Place your data cursor on any fixed part of the master template. This includes the header, sidebar, or footer. Since the tEarn code has no visible footprint, the code can be inserted in any part of the template, including the HEAD part of the template.
4. Paste your Tag from the Clipboard and Save

Test the code by clicking any link that exits your blog. Monitor your results at http://tEarn.com/.

Install tEarn on Blogger, Youtube Video

General Instructions for CMS Install of tEarn Tags

The tEarn Javascript code adheres to well-behaved, web 2.0 standards. Similar to Google Analytics, our asynchronous, multi-threaded, and failsafe design assures no user, bandwidth, or server impact. The code works quietly and is compatible - even when dozens of third-party Javascript widgets share the page.

Here are the general instructions to copy your tEarn tag and paste into a Content Management System (CMS).

For step-by-step instructions for your CMS system, search 'install Google Analytics and your CMS name'. The tEarn code is installed the same way as Google Analytics.

Copy Tag from tEarn

1. Create a tEarn Account.
2. Setup your Publisher Profile. Reference the FAQ for advanced settings.
3. Copy your Tag to the Clipboard. See step 3 on the page.

Paste into CMS

1. Login to the Admin section of your CMS.
2. Look for the 'Header HTML' or 'Footer HTML' settings for your website. Each CMS may use different names to refer to these settings. Early systems may use the term SSI for Server Side Include. AspDotNet refers to this page as a Master Template. Other terms include theme, layout, or website settings. These components control panels that are common to evey page of a website, like the header, footer, or sidebar.
3. Select the command. Choose the HTML or source option, if offered.
4. Paste your Tag from the Clipboard and Save changes.

Javascript Required

The CMS administration panel must support the insertion of Javascript. Some systems prevent SCRIPT tags from being inserted by the webmaster. With those systems, help from the server administrator is needed to insert the tag.

Testing the Installation

The tEarn tag has no visible parts on your website. It has zero footprint. Thus, it can be pasted into the header, footer, or any sidebar panel. Test the code by clicking any link that exits your blog.

Monitor your results at http://tEarn.com/. The system is near real time - with a minute delay, at worst.

Sharing Instructions with the tEarn Community

If you use a specific CMS, share step by step instructions with the tEarn community by posting the instructions on your blog.

To join the tEarn CMS network, install this tag at the bottom of the post.
<script src="http://tearn.com/Uploads/ady/tcmsblogs.js"></script>We will share your post which automatically cross links all posts via this tcmsblogs widget. If you have questions, post a comment below.

Step-by-Step tEarn Install on Google's Blogger

Here are the step-by-step instructions to copy your tEarn tag and paste into Blogger.

Copy Tag from tEarn

1. Create a tEarn Account
2. Setup your Publisher Profile. Reference the FAQ for advanced settings.
3. Copy your Tag to the Clipboard. See step 3 on the page.

Paste into Blogger

1. Login to Blogger
2. Click Customize at the top-right of your blog page; or the Layout tab from your Dashboard



3. Click 'Add a Gadget'. It's a link. Add the tag as a sidebar, footer, or body gadget.
4. In the pop-up window, scroll down and choose the 'HTML/Javascript' gadget.
5. Paste your Tag from the Clipboard and Save

If you have an old version of Blogger, you can also the 'Edit HTML' tab to add the tEarn tag into the Blogger template. The tEarn tag can be inserted in the HEAD or BODY section of the template.

The tEarn tag has no visible parts on your website. It has zero footprint. Test the code by clicking any link that exits your blog. 

Monitor your results at http://tEarn.com/.

Learning the Core of HTML

Anyone can learn HTML. 

Don't let the syntax overwhelm you. Web 2.0 tools eliminate the need to learn, memorize, and type 99% of the HTML tags.

Here is a holistic view of referencing and linking that is the core of HTML.

What is a Link?

A link, like this HTML link to it's definition at Wikipedia, becomes an interactive element that users can click to view references. Stretching the definition, it can also bring images and videos onto a page, like the image at the top right.

Whether writing news, commentary, comments, journals, or academic papers - the core of any non-fiction REQUIRES references. Instead of inconvenient footers at the bottom of a page, HTML embeds the link and allow readers to jump to the referenced material. Thus, the link becomes hyper text that enables the reader to interact with a document.

To the reader, the link most often appears as underlined text. They click to activate. It's so simple and intuitive that elementary students use the web everyday.

Creating Links and References

Creating links and references confuse many writers. Whether a link to embed an image, ad frame, or video, hyper text to another page, or other uses of references - many have learned the mechanics for one service without understanding the basic concepts. Variation of steps, phases, and interfaces confuse. Thus, when faced with a new web 2.0 service, fear reigns.

The holistic view is simple. Master these three issues to better understand any web 2.0 service.

• Uploading the source file
• Copy the URL or address
• Paste into your document

Uploading Files to the Internet Cloud

Before you can link or reference, the image, photo, video, or text file must be uploaded to some server on the Internet. 

• If you're linking another website, skip this step. It's already uploaded. 
• If you're linking a previously published page, skip this step. 
• If you're linking an ad service, skip this step.
• If you're linking a photo, upload to a server like Yahoo's FlickR, Google's Picasa, or Facebook Photos, or hundreds of public servers.
• If you're linking a video, upload to Google's Youtube, Yahoo's FlickR, or any number of 3rd party services.
• If you're linking media from public sources, find the item and skip this step.

Web 2.0 services call the network of public servers available, the cloud. Most public servers are free.

Uploading moves a file from your computer to a server. The uploading steps are different for each service, but very similar. 

Each uploader may offer services to upload in batch, convert files to different formats and sizes, and otherwise simplify the task.

Copy the File Address to the Clipboard

Every page, image, video, or file on the Internet has an address. Software uses the term URL, URI, address box, domain name, file directory, or other terminology. They all refer to the address of a file.

Find a file on the Internet and copy the address into the clipboard.

• You can use Google, Yahoo, or Microsoft Live to search for pages, images, or video. Click to follow a link and the address is available in the address box for copying.
• Using PC browsers, the right-click menu allows you to point to a link copy it's address. 
• Pointing to a photo, you can right-click to get the address of the photo. Note the confusion between the address of the photo versus the address of the page that contains the photo. Copy the address that match your need.
• Youtube has a special feature that provides the HTML tags needed to embed a video on a page. Click and copy to the clipboard.
• Ad services also provide HTML tags. Find the tag and copy.

Paste to Your Page

When requested, paste the address on the clipboard into your page. Depending on the service and the element you wish to create, the steps vary greatly. Conceptually, it's the same. The address embeds the referenced element on your page. 

• Using a graphical interface like a blog, iconic tools allow embedding of links, images, and HTML. Select the item you need and paste the clipboard address into the right box.

If the target is an image or video, the embedded results show immediately. If the target is a link, the hypertext shows with an underline. (Note, that it's possible for the underline to be turned off via CSS and other settings of HTML.)

Copy and paste the file address. It's that simple.

Copy and Paste Shortcut

Many services with graphical text editors allow copying and pasting of text that already includes the link code. This means, you can drag the mouse to lasso words, pictures, and links. When pasted, all those elements become part of your HTML document.

Experiment with your blog or CMS software to see if this shortcut is supported.

Exploring the Link and URL Address

To better understand the process, let's take a look at an address and a link. An address looks like this:

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8964xxxxx006013

Here is a breakdown of the parts.

• The http:// is a protocol for hypertext transfer. Other protocols are used on the Internet to transfer mail, voice, and other services.
• The www.blogger.com is a domain name. This is the unique name for a server on the Internet.
• The /post-create.g part is a path through the server to a file on the server.
• The ?blogID=... is a query string used by the program on the server.

Addresses can be ugly. Copy and paste avoids typing errors and having to understand it's parts.

When used as a link, the HTML shows something like the following:

<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8964xxxx06013">Sample</a>

• Angle brackets signal HTML code instructions in a page.
• The longest, most complex part of a link is the address.
• 'Sample' is the hypertext'd phrase. 
• The 'a' tag starts the link. The '/a' tag ends the link.

Here is the HTML for the top-right image:

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/...HTML.svg/150px-HTML.svg.png" />

Note the address of the image and the HTML img tag for embedding the image on this page.

HTML is 100% syntax. Like grammar rules, proper use is required. Unlike grammar rules, failure leads to pages that don't work rather than just a poor grade ;-)

tEarn Intra versus Exit Links

A link can bind two pages of the same website or different sites. tEarn (Tag, Earn) distinguishes links that allow users to explore the pages of a site; versus links that lead users to exit a site. The latter links are called exit links; and tEarn activates exitmericals.

Conclusion

Fortunately, web 2.0 services eliminate the need to deal with HTML and addresses. However, understanding this core lesson allows writers to control and troubleshoot problems.