Ohmystinkinheck

I am in the process of re-vamping the WordPress Wednesday posts. As WordPress continually upgrades itself, I feel the need to cull my tutorial posts to keep up. If I have posts for outdated plugins and/or functions, I’m going to delete or update them. If I have posts using old screenshots, I’m updating those too. As I update each of them, I will re-post them with a new date.

Are you asleep yet?

Many of you are first-timers here and didn’t know that I used to write posts on Wednesdays pertaining to WordPress. Well, I do. I plan to continue, but first, there is a bit of clean-up to be endured. For some, the next few Wednesdays will be a repeat. For others, it will be brand stinkin’ new. And if you have never, ever read ANY of my WordPress Wednesday posts, PLEASE start by going through “Ditch Your Blogging Training Wheels”, because until you get past that point…everything else will be useless to you.

Enough of the dribble…

Shall we begin? Yes, let’s.

I want to share a dirty, conniving secret with you. Okay, maybe not so dirty and/or conniving, but certainly a secret until now, obviously.

If you have ever had me go in and fix ANYTHING on your WordPress blog, I have turned-off one particularly dreadful setting. Why? Because I love you and want to spare you bloated markup and more problems than you could ever imagine in your worst WordPress nightmare.

Before I launch into my full detailed explanation there are a few questions I’d like to ask you first.

If I were to tell you that within your blog’s back-end there is an option that would:

• bloat your blog’s markup (make the underside as dirty as thrice-worn underwear)
• rape your opportunity to know html in a clean, pure, consuming passionate way
• stage war with many WordPress plugins that can make your blogging experience akin to riding a lift up a mountain instead of trudging up on your own two feet
• and finally, overwrite or kill your blog’s custom design or even freely downloaded theme until it looks no better than a two-bit hooker trying to catch a trick on Sesame Street

…would you not listen?

Good.

Then, follow me and we’ll clear this up right away.

Log into your WordPress blog. Once in your WordPress Dashboard, click on “Users”, which is the last of the three text links on the far-right side of your dashboard.

Here you can Manage Users across your blog. As you can see, I am the only user for my blog; I am the ‘admin’. Most likely you are your own ‘admin’ too. Click on the text link, ‘admin’.

This takes you to ‘Your Profile and Personal Options’ for the admin user.

Do you see the evil cretin now? To the far left? The checkbox? To the right of the light blue row for ‘Visual Editor’? Are you tired of my questions?

UNCHECK IT.
UNCHECK IT.
UNCHECK IT NOW or die a flaming blogger’s death.
I’m totally serious. Kinda.

Awwww. Don’t you feel better. The angels are singing. All is right in the world.

I feel that WordPress should have a more honest statement to the right of that particular checkbox. Something like this would work.

Now that you’ve UNCHECKED the box, be sure to scroll all the way to the very bottom of the page and click on the “Update Profile” button.

Believe it or not, you have just done a really powerful, POWERFUL thing for yourself and blogging. If I told you how many times people have broken their themes by using the Visual Editor you would send me your first child. No, seriously.

But wait…there’s more.

Now, from where you are, click on the text link ‘Settings’ (near where you clicked ‘Users’) - the first of the three text links on the upper, far-right side of your window.

Within the ‘Settings’ window, click on the second text link in the white horizontal menu (far left), ‘Writing’.

Now that you’re in the ‘Writing Settings’ window, find the ‘Formatting’ table and UNCHECK the box that says: “WordPress should correct invalidly nested XHTML automatically.” In some cases it might be unchecked already, but if it isn’t, DO IT.

Consider this the best type of peer pressure imaginable.

In fact, I also unchecked the box above it too because I don’t want the automated function of changing emoticons to graphics. But THAT isn’t a biggie…just a preference.

Don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the window and ‘Save Changes’.

Now why, oh why did I have you do all that? And how, oh how do I expect you to survive without the visual editor? Seriously - so easy. The major things are still there.

It just doesn’t hold your hand entirely. But people, there is some basic mark-up you need to know if you’re blogging, period. Remember, you’ve already taken the step to ditch your blogging training wheels, this is just part of the joy ride.

<b>This makes bold text.</b>
<strong>This makes strong text.</strong>
<em>This makes text in italics.</em>
<i>So does this.</i>
<strike>This puts a line through your text - as if you're marking-out.</strike>
<u>This underlines your text.</u>
<ins>So does this.</ins>
<blockquote>This sets off a blockquote.</blockquote>

So let’s put it into play.

This makes bold text.
This makes strong text.
This makes text in italics
So does this
This puts a line through your text - as if you’re marking-out.
This underlines your text.
So does this.

This sets off a blockquote. And this will vary considerably depending on how your CSS is written for blockquotes.

And all of those things can be done by typing, highlighting and pushing a button - even without the Visual Editor. See? I’m not trying to kill ya here.

Bulleted and/or Numbered lists aren’t something to be scared of either.

An ordered list is a list with numbers. You begin it with <ol> and end it with </ol>. The ol stands for “Ordered List.” Each item to be set off by numbers should be INSIDE the <ol></ol> tags and begin with <li> and end with </li>.

So, it looks like this in code.

<ol>
<li>First thing on the numbered list.</li>
<li>Second thing on the numbered list.</li>
<li>Third thing on the numbered list.</li>
</ol>

And the bulleted list is the same, but instead of using <ol> and </ol>, you use <ul> and </ul>. Why? Because that stands for “Unordered List” - which is what a bulleted list is.

The only thing that trips up some people is the desire to SEE THE POST before they publish it. Hey, I suffer from the same ailment, but guess what? YOU CAN SEE it without the visual editor turned on. How? Save the post by clicking ‘Save’ to the right of the post box, but don’t publish it, and click the “View this Post” button, above ‘Publish Status’.

Yes, THAT easy.

I’m viewing something I just created using the Visual Editor and don’t see how it could be very helpful.

Check out what the Visual Editor says it is supposed to look like…

but then if I hit the “View” button in the top right corner it shows it really looks like this:

Which isn’t what I want either. And yea, I know it can be “toyed” with until the cows come home, but who has time for it?

The other thing that irritated me was the blockquote function. If you hit return, it automatically assigns a new set of these <p></p> … and you’ll be double spacing all the live long day. How this renders with blockquotes can be seen at left.

So, in the Visual Editor you cannot hard return within blockquotes - what a pain.

I could go on, but seriously, it is HARDER to learn how to finnagle this thing then it would be to hand code. The glorious thing is you don’t have to hand code with the Visual Editor turned off. You highlight and press a button, just like when the Visual Editor was on…it’s just a little less pretty.

Plus, a good number of helpful plugins won’t play nicely with it either.

So, TURN IT OFF.

Like, right now.

Yea, I’m waiting.

Good.

Now I can invite you to my imaginary snark party.

60 Responses to “Purify your WordPress experience”

1. tHeSocKmOnKeY

   Ha. Learned this the hard way, but found it earlier in the month. Visual editor was stripping out all of my line breaks. Good advise to the wise :)

   >thrice-worn underwear)
   note to self: change after two days.

   tHeSocKmOnKeY

2. WordPress Wednesdays » Blog Archive » Are you looking for some good clean fun?

   [...] in luck then because this week’s WordPress Wednesdays is all about Purifying Your WordPress Experience. There is a nasty hooligan lying deep within your Dashboard that needs to be ripped from his hiding [...]

3. Kuky

   Thank you. Every single time I’d post I’d click the code tab and always think how annoying that I always had to do that. Duh!! I didn’t know I could change it.

4. Kerflop » Newbie on Wordpress?

   [...] Wordpress? Or maybe your somewhat experienced. Either way, read and execute this very easy way to purify your Wordpress experience. [...]

5. Zoot

   I used to do tech support for a blog network that ran 400 blogs, the FIRST THING we did was uncheck that box. Or else I got nine-million emails a day from people complaining about their page getting screwed up because of that box.

   In other words? AMEN.

6. DanaB

   What a handy tutorial, I put it to use right away!

   Thanks so much!

   ~~

   *hope you’re feeling much better!*

7. Solomon Broad

   Maybe it’s just me, but my layout has never been screwed up, and I use the Visual Editor. My posts always look how I want them to look.

   Am I just one of the lucky ones?

8. bethany actually

   I think I got frustrated with the visual editor and turned it off the first time I tried to write a blog post. Excellent advice.

9. sherry

   If I remember correctly, WP didn’t even have that option way back in the early days. Then when I decided to use WP again, I was wondering why on earth they would put something in that is so useless and hideous. Any time I have a blog anywhere, that’s the first thing I do - get rid of the Visual Editor.

10. Andrea

    Oh dear God I hate that button. I run a blog hosting service and seriously have to explain how to add links to webpages and images. The Visual Editor does not help humanity in the slightest.

11. chocolatechic

    Does this work on the free wordpress blogs too?

12. ashpags

    Hooray for snark parties! And for Heather sharing her infinite wisdom! =)

13. witchypoo

    No big. I compose offline, and plop the post into code view anyway. So far, I haven’t had trouble with my WP plugins. But who wants a bloated back end?

14. Brea

    I do SO wish I’d found this a bit earlier this week. Several of my plug-ins weren’t working because I had that dumb little box checked. Hooray!

    Also, random question that I can’t seem to figure out — when I insert a pic, I want it to be between paragraphs of text. Such as:

    blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

    PICTURE

    blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

    But every time I insert a pic my text wraps all the way around it. :( Thought maybe you could help!

15. OMSH

    Brea - It is your CSS. Your image is styled to align left and it doesn’t clear to the right, so the text only knows to wrap around it.

    You’ll need to write classes into your stylesheet so you can have it centered, aligned left, or even aligned right (depending on the size of the photo).

16. SmockLady

    YAY! I always do that too. I HATE (spit and sputter in its face) the visual editor.

17. Angella

    I don’t know if I can do it! I’m weak!

18. Ember

    I think I love you.

19. OMSH

    chocolatechic - I honestly don’t know…want to be our tester?

20. chocolatechic

    Sure.

21. Sleeping Mommy

    Thank you ma’am. I just did it.

22. Elizabeth

    I can answer chocolatechic’s question:

    On your Wordpress.com dashboard, click the Users Tab and then select Your Profile. Under Personal Options you’ll see this–

    Use the visual rich editor when writing

    with a box next to it, uncheck it. And there you go!

23. OMSH

    Thanks Elizabeth!

24. Lindy

    Okee dokee I don’t know what you said exactly but…. baaaaaa I did as I was told.

25. mommyknows

    Thanks … for a change … I had it right already :) Updating my site and it has been a daunting task!

    MK

26. Steph

    I love you. With all of my black and tarry little heart. I have looked and looked for how to turn that stinking visual editor off, and I’ll tell you — no luck finding it. Everyone I’ve asked said, “It should be an option under Options > Writing. If it’s not there, so sorry, Charlie.”

    I could kiss your face right now, except that would be creepy and weird. But would you, for the love of Mike, put up some kind of donate button for those of us who think you oughtta earn something for this teaching?!?

    You have so made my day. My week even.

    Signed,
    Strongly Opposed to the Visual Editor but Too Dumb to Think of Editing Users.

27. Jummy

    Thanks Heather! I had already done all these (although I think unchecking the two latter boxes was a fluke or default on my end).

    Long live WordPress Wednesdays!

28. OMSH

    Steph - You are probably the 4th or 5th person that has suggested that to me - not so sure though.

    Eventually I may put a Starbucks button up.

29. SmockLady

    Starbucks? Starbucks? Oh, OMSH, you break my heart. It should be a Sonic button. (Oh, and I want one too. You know, just because it’s Sonic and I like my Cherry Coke in 44 fashion.)

30. OMSH

    SmockLady - It would, I swear, but only YOU can refill your card at SONIC. Can you believe that nonsense? They don’t have it set up right - that or I’m an idiot…which is very possible.

    Ah, it is 11:30 and I already want a cherry coke; addiction is futile.

31. SmockLady

    No, you are not an idiot.
    Just publish your sonic card number:
    http://tinyurl.com/36njhf
    My hubby has refilled mine this way before.

32. Steph

    Put up your Amazon wishlist. Or your Carole Axium wishlist. SOMETHING so that those of us who are super-grateful for these WPW can say thank you…without having to harness our ADD long enough to actually remember to ask you for your address, what you want, etc. :grin:

33. OMSH

    Oh my goodness SmockLady - I do believe you just made me a happy woman. Dangit, I don’t have that card you sent me anymore. Will get a new number.

    Steph, breathe in and breathe out. heh heh I’ll put up something soon. :)

34. SmockLady

    :)

35. Steph

    You better, or I’ll just randomly find something over at Etsy. I’m pretty sure Carole has your address. This should scare you given that I’m someone who thinks pinupgirlclothing.com is an actual fashion guide. :grin:

36. Jenny

    Knew this. ;) But loved this post anyway. I think everyone should know. ;)

37. Shannon

    You have done it you have pushed me over the edge. I went and got a wordpress account. I am still figuring out how it all works but it can be through my host and I think I have set it up right? Who knows.

38. OMSH

    Steph - I will, I will.

    Jenny - Yep, EVERYONE!

    Shannon - You will NEVER regret it - even when you mess something up and freak out and want to ring my neck. heh heh

39. Shannon

    Oh I think I just screwed it all up….. my cpanel is GONE!

40. Steph

    Shannon - I’m nowhere near OMSH as far as WP skills go, but I’m online and willing to help. You can e-mail me, if you’d like - steph@quirkyblogger.com.

41. OMSH

    Shannon - You can’t have lost your cpanel. Are you breathing…make sure you’re breathing!

42. ukrainiac

    I have a free wordpress blog, and have just, somewhat fearfully, turned off the visual editor and the other thingy.

    I do thank you for giving me that push. And I pray that I can live up to your confidence in us newbies! (I copied your codes into word so that I can find them quickly…maybe they’ll become second nature down the road…)

43. Shannon

    don’t ask how I did it but I found it. but now it looks different. oh wait she gave me more sql’s. Crap now it is gone again! Pass the tissues, please!

44. Shannon

    no it is back and now looks right. I like my host, she is great and helpful. Now I got to figure out all this.

45. OMSH

    Good! If you ever find a web host you love AND they have good customer service, STICK WITH THEM. They are few and far between! :)

46. all said and done » Blog Archive » Starred Posts: late Jan- early Feb

    [...] Purify your Wordpress Experience - Heather, Oh My Stinkin Heck [...]

47. LizP

    Sadly Yahoo 360 does not allow for all of this lovely fancy stuff. Fortunately they have a “see HTML” button so you can edit the raw html. They promise that they are migrating to Wordpress.

    Your words are wise though! It is much easier to learn a bit of html than it is to use the nasty programs written to write it for you. In the olden days of the internet when Net Objects Fusion came out I had the opportunity to visit them to discuss v. 2.0 (with a bunch of other people). When they asked my opinion I told them that using their program was harder than using html. Funny, I was never asked back.

48. Carole

    Shall I assume all the angels are singing on my wordpress since is was She who did it for me?? LOL

49. MidlifeSlices™

    I’m thinking this might make me learn some HTML code. Thanks!
    Just in case I really screw up, can I turn everything back on and get it back to normal at any time?

50. Mr. OMSH

    I’m sorry, can you repeat all that? I was asleep…

51. mommymae

    i’m having a problem getting a button put in my wordpress blog. there is a small blue question mark box and it links to the busy little quilting bee, but you can’t see the button that small fox created for it. i tried to read the faq, but gave up when i couldn’t figure it out after about 142 tries. what do i do?

52. OMSH

    Carole - Oh yea, baby … bet on it.

    MidlifeSlices - Uh huh. :)

    Mr. OMSH - Go back to sleep baby - this ain’t your thing.

    mommymae - A button? Is this related to your editor? I’m confused.

53. mommyknows

    I’ve always had this turned off (you must have done it).

    However, I just wanted to say, I have followed ALL of your tutorials and you are a great teacher. So many ‘how to’ posts out there, just don’t stinkin’ work. Yours always do :)

54. JackieW. transplanted Okie (Buried in Legos)

    I’m in ….

    Is this where we ask questions ?

    I read about wordpress updates. Are those automatic or do I need to manually update my wp blog ?

55. OMSH

    JackieW - If you are in need of a different sort of tutorial than this one, feel free to write and ask. Typically comments are for questions regarding the tutorial posted above the comments.

    If you installed your WP blog using Fantastico, that is the same way you will upgrade. If you manually installed, you’ll have to manually upgrade.

56. Kerry

    YIPPEE! Wordpress Wednesdays are back.

57. Hey, Mrs. Wilson! » My Favorites

    [...] this post changed the way I write blogs. amazing it [...]

58. KYouell

    Is it just me and Chrome or do the comments get skinnier and skinnier?

    I know, it’s a diet! Last one to comment is the thinnest!

59. OMSH

    KYouell
    Eh?

60. KYouell

    Ah, maybe it’s just me. I’ll send you an email with 2 jpgs attached so you can see what I see.

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