Dumb Website Questions
I have been lurking for a while, and I joined a few days ago. I have not yet figured out the best way to do things here, like sharing recipes. Please pardon these dumb website questions:
1. Am I correct that only image file attachments are allowed?
There seems to be no way to upload .pdf, .xls (.xlsx), .doc (.docx), and other non-image file formats. Are all posts, blog entries, etc. only plain text with the formatting done in the browser (along with image files)? No document attachments allowed?
Are other people's spreadsheets all images, too? (... implying that if you want to modify one, you must manually enter the data into your own separate spreadsheet - is that right?)
2. Where can I find more information about how Blogs work on this website? How do you navigate and use them to find what you want or new interesting topics? How does creating your own blog (or blogs???) to share recipes work in practice?
When I click on the "Blogs" link at the top of the page, I see a long page of blog entries starting with a blog entry (Table of Contents?) by DanAyo, followed by a long entry by JonJ, ... The Blogs link does not seem to be organized - it seems like one long page followed by many additional long pages.
If I create a blog, how will it work? How will people find it? Do I create a new blog entry for each separate recipe or project?
3. I have seen spreadsheets in many posts. Is there is a common, standard template or format for general use on this website that people recommend?
I read the FAQs and searched the website before posting these questions. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you can provide.
Edit: Adding this question:
4. What is the easiest way to see new posts/blogs/recipes/entries since the previous visit? I found ".../tracker" which gives a list of new entries, but when I click on them, they take me to the first post in each thread/entry. Is there a way to jump to the first unread post in a given thread/entry instead?
1. Correct. The bad people out there make the web much worse than it should be. Limiting uploads to a few image types makes it harder for them to use the site to distribute hacks.
Yes the nice looking spreadsheets are images. But you can post a not too bad looking sheet by copying and pasting. You can see an example of mine here. It's not pretty but it gets the job done and can be copied and pasted into your own spreadsheet.
You can post a link to an external spreadsheet for example on Google Sheets.
2. The blogs page displays recent posts. I find the list on the front page more useful. I subscribe to the RSS feed from the site using the free feed reader newsblur.com. That way I see new stuff as it appears.
I use Google for search. A query like "site:thefreshloaf.com raisin yeast water" will turn up both blogs and posts.
I notice whenever people post something new and go look at it if it seems like something that would interest me.
When I have posted a blog entry I have gotten comments so other people are doing the same thing.
3. Lots of different recipe formats and not even any agreement on simple things like whether leven flour is included in the total. Best is to include both bakers % and grams so readers can work out which system is being used.
But cups and teaspoons are welcome too. Though, I get confused when I can't determine if an ounce is a volumetric or weight unit. Many people know that there are 2 tablespoons in an (volumetric) ounce and thus assume that 1 tablespoon of anything should weigh 1/2 ounce.
4. A feed reader (like newsblur.com above) is the very best way to see the new stuff since you last looked. I read dozens of sites that way and it takes very little time because I've got my finger on the next button and can speed past the stuff that doesn't interest me.
If you reply to a post you'll get email for each new response (if you wish). I use that too.
I hope this helps.
Not dumb questions at all.
GaryBishop already provided good answers but I'll recapitulate:
1. Correct, attachments have been limited to images. You can certain link to offsite uploads though, so you can put a spreadsheet or PDF on Google Drive, Dropbox, or any other location.
2. Blogs aren't very fancy. They show up under /blog/[username] or all together under /blog. The other difference from a forum post here is that blog entries and comments don't show up in "Recent Posts" and "Recent Comments" at the top of the homepage so they are a little less public than forum posts.
3. I'm not aware of a template, though definitely site users share and repurpose them.
4. /blog shows you all recent blog posts. /posts shows you all recent forum posts. I think /node shows you a combined list off all new blog entries or posts but it is fairly ugly. And, yes, node/feed provides an RSS feed.
I found ".../tracker" which gives a list of new entries, but when I click on them, they take me to the first post in each thread/entry. Is there a way to jump to the first unread post in a given thread/entry instead?
Look to the right in the Replies column. It will tell you how many new posts since you last opened the thread. Click there on new and it will take you to the first new post. From there, you can scan down to find the others. The new ones will be marked with a gold border. But they are only marked when you first open it and will lose the border if you migrate away from the page before reading them all.