Block Editor

Posts, The Reader, And Paragraphs

~ beetleypete ~ 48 Comments

I received a message from Stevie Turner to let me know that the recent episode of ‘Outside’ that she read appeared as one complete block of text, with no paragraphs.

As I go to a lot of trouble to use paragraphs to separate events in this long serial, I find it very annoying that WordPress has done this.

I suspected this was happening because Stevie reads my posts using The Reader facility, instead of on my blog page. This was the case, as she confirmed for me.

The only reason I can guess at, is that I am still using the original 2012 Classic Editor. So I presume that some part of the WordPress software is presenting this in Block Editor format on The Reader, as one huge ‘Block’.

My apologies to anyone else who has been experiencing this, I didn’t know it was happening on my blog until this morning, as I never use The Reader.

Blogging: The Time Of Calm

~ beetleypete ~ 75 Comments

Not yet halfway through 2021, blogging on WordPress seems to have calmed down. I haven’t been put in Spam for some time now, and I am really pleased to still be able to use the Classic Editor for the time being.

Checking out the revised Block Editor, I found it was a lot easier to create a basic post, even adding photos and links. Many bloggers have completely embraced it now, and wouldn’t return to the old editor even if it was an option. Some of them are also producing excellent tip posts and video turorials which are a real help to those of us who find the technical changes daunting.

It seems we have found some middle ground, with those of us still clinging on to Classic currently able to do so, and some who hated the Block Editor coming around to see the benefit of its extra features. I don’t blog on a phone or tablet, I use a PC. So I cannot speak for those of you blogging on mobile devices. However, it does all seem to be going a lot more smoothly than expected in 2021.

And no, I am not going to say anything negative this time, I’m trying to be positive about my blogging hobby from now on.

Another bonus has been the number of new bloggers who seem to understand not only what to do, but how to do it well. They leave nice comments, reply to comments, and don’t expect everything to happen overnight. Well done to all of you who can recognise yourselves in that category. I hope you carry on blogging, and soon become part of this great community.

So that’s all really. After more than two years of constantly slagging off everything to do with ‘Mr Blocky’, I have finally stopped.

My menu settings for the Gutenberg Editor.

~ beetleypete ~ 32 Comments

I am reposting this from the blog of Ron Walker. https://ronscountry.com/depotblog/
He has compiled a You Tube tutorial on some basic settings for the Block Editor. It is clearly explained, and easy to understand.

After realizing many are still struggling with the block editor intimidation factor, I created a video tutorial that I hope will help some get started. Having a familiar or standard layout of things you use often is the first step in getting comfortable learning. These are the basic menu settings I use, to lessen the overwhelming options in the block editor.

If you like the video, please like and subscribe to the channel. That way you will get notifications of future videos. I may make more tutorials based on the feedback and questions left here, or in the YouTube video comments.

Mr Blocky Test Post

~ beetleypete ~ 107 Comments

This is a test post for using the Block Editor.

Ollie.

  • Ollie In Lincolnshire
Trying a photo from the WP selection.

Okay, that seemed to work.

Text added using ‘Classic Block’ option.

Ollie photo added using ‘Gallery Block’ option, then selecting from media library.

Random photo added using ‘Gallery Block’ option, then choosing ‘Pexels Free Photos’ from the options shown

Third image selected by choosing ‘Gallery Block’, then ‘Image’, then ‘Rounded’. Used one of my own.

    Trying a You Tube clip.

    And a random link.

    https://theconversation.com/suez-canal-what-the-ditch-meant-to-the-british-empire-in-the-19th-century-158169?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB

    So I suppose I can do it, but it is definitely not as intuitive as the old Classic Editor.

    This Worked For Me

    ~ beetleypete ~ 72 Comments

    I finally managed to get one of the many tips to work. One issue was that I have ‘Two-Stage Verification’ on my Account Settings. Once I worked out how to get into that, I used this easy tip, and now have access to the Classic Editor every time.

    Remember to ‘Save Settings’ though.

    Click to access how-to-return-to-the-wp-admin-navigation-sidebar-3.pdf

    If you can’t read that on screen, here’s a link to the original post.
    https://weeklyprompts.com/2021/03/22/changes-to-the-wp-admin-navigation-revised-support/

    I don’t know how long WP will let that loophole exist, but if you are unhappy with the Block Editor, this will work.

    WordPress Strikes Early!

    ~ beetleypete ~ 104 Comments

    Well it seems that WordPress understands ‘Late 2021’ to be the last week in March. With no warning, the ‘Classic’ option was removed from my blog today.

    I am now stuck with ‘their way or the highway’. In other words, the hated and detested Block Editor. Not-so-fondly referred to by me as ‘Mister Blocky’.

    Fortunately, I had already completed the final episode of my serial, and I am using the cheekily-named ‘Classic Block’ to produce this post.

    I know many of you have come to love Mister Blocky, so there’s no need to rush to its defence in the comments. But I HATE it, and will continue to do so, whatever you say.

    I am hoping to receive a ‘work-around’ that will enable me to use the Old Editor again soon. But in the meantime, if I am not around on my blog, you will know why.

    Making The Most Of Classic

    ~ beetleypete ~ 53 Comments

    With my illness seemingly past its peak, reduced to an occasional cough and a feeling of exhaustion, I am back in the swing of blogging. Still able to use the Old Editor thanks to the numerous tips I received, I feel that my blogging mojo has been restored. Even allowing for some mildy irritating WordPress glitches going on, my current experience of blogging is identical to the one before it all fell apart with the imposition of the Block Editor.

    So you can expect more posts in the days to come, and I will hopefully get back to adding more film reviews as well. If I carry on being allowed to still use the old system, fiction will make a comeback in the near future too.

    For now, I am upbeat about blogging again, and not thinking about the old v new systems.

    As long as the Classic option remains, I will be making the most of it in the time available.

    No More Mister Blocky

    ~ beetleypete ~ 70 Comments

    After all the posts, all the grief, the debates, headaches, and everything and anything to do with the cursed Block Editor, you will be pleased to know that I will no longer be posting about this scourge of the WordPress Blogger.

    I have found what seem to be two effective ways to create posts still using the Old Editor, and very soon I will be back to normal blogging, without a Block in sight.

    At least until the end of 2022, when they are supposedly stopping all access to anything but Mister Blocky.

    The Dummy Is Back In The Pram

    ~ beetleypete ~ 62 Comments

    (Translation for American readers. Dummy = Pacifier. Pram = Stroller. )

    When a baby or small child has a temper tantrum here, we say “Oh he/she has thrown their dummy out of the pram”. That carries on into later life, whenever anyone has what some perceive to be an unreasonable outburst, or unexplained fit of annoyance.

    As regular readers will know, the last few days have seen me rage at WordPress for forcing the Block Editor down my throat. This culminated in me leaving the world of blogging, with a sad farewell. Prompted by my unexpected departure, some members of our great community decided to send me the simplest of tips that my flu-confused and age-addled brain could actually cope with. I have already thanked them, in a previous post.

    As a result, I am able to post this, and barring any sabotage by WordPress in the near future, I will soon be back to blogging in the old way, at least until the Classic option is no longer available after 2023.

    So my dummy is back in my pram, and securely in my mouth.

    For now.

    Old Editor: Grateful For The Help And Tips

    ~ beetleypete ~ 107 Comments

    After posting about my farewells from WordPress, I received two very easy tips that so far allow me to access the old editor.

    Here they are, in case they help anyone else.

    1) Enter this in your browser, substituting the name the name of your blog.
    https://beetleypete.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?classic-editor

    It will take you to the old-style editor where you can create a post.
    Then bookmark that page for future use.

    2) This was sent to me by Michel.
    (Click on the photos for large print)
    Go to the wordpress admin page and select all posts:

    Once there, go the top of your screen and press the arrow next to add new and you will see that you get the option to access the classic editor:

    Once you have selected the classic editor, it’s business as usual.

    I hope these help somone else. If they carry on working for me, I will be back to blogging soon!