RapidWeaver FAQ - Blogging and WordPress
Blogging on the road? I really like RapidWeaver blogs but the problem is that I’m planning to go on a trip through Europe and want to keep my friends and my family updated. I don’t want to take my computer with me. Can I update a blog from an internet café? From the office?
The answer is “no” in about 99% of the cases. The only way to update a RapidWeaver blog is to have your .rwsw file (where RapidWeaver stores its data) with you. You need to have access to a Mac. Also the Mac must have the same RapidWeaver version on it as you used to build your website. Finally the Mac has to have internet access (which might be the minor problem).
Not many internet cafés have Apple computers. Not many of them have RapidWeaver installed. So the only way to update your blog while you’re on the road would then be to have your own computer with you and try to get a wireless spot somewhere. But who wants to take the computer on a trip across Europe or wherever to be able to update a blog? I don’t.
The solution is called WordPress.
Bottom line (for once at the top of the page): I would recommend you to use WordPress to build the Blog of your website and RapidWeaver to build the rest of it (photo galleries, other pages) taking the best of both.
Chapter 1: What does WordPress allow me to do?
Chapter 2: How can I have a WordPress blog?
Chapter 3: How do I install WordPress on my own server? And how do I use it?
Chapter 4: How do I integrate the WordPress blog into my RapidWeaver website?
4.1 If you host your blog on WordPress.com
4.2 If you host your blog on your own server
Chapter 1: What does WordPress allow me to do?
Here are a few features or reasons for which I recommend you to use WordPress:
1. That’s what I call Real Blogging! Add posts from wherever you are no matter what computer you have access to. Only requirement: a computer with internet access. There’s also a wonderful app for the iPhone which allows you to post to your Blog on-the-go in a tremendously easy way.
2. Schedule your posts. If you’re away for a while you can write the entries before leaving and set a publishing time so they will be automatically published while you’re away.
3. You can designate people allowed to collaborate on your Blog which means that they not only can add comments to it but also entries.
And of course you can do a lot more with it. You can to anything else you do with a website too.
Chapter 2: How can I have a WordPress blog?
There are basically two ways:
- WordPress.com: The blog is hosted by WordPress and you don’t have to pay for the hosting. This is not recommended since due to security issues it’s almost not customizable at all (except domains) meaning it doesn’t let you post HTML codes which are needed for a lot of things.
- WordPress.org: The blog is hosted on your own server/hosting hence your website or blog will be highly customizable since it lets you post any HTML code you want and it will be much easier to personalize it. That’s highly recommended!
Chapter 3: How do I install WordPress on my own server? And how do I use it?
You can read all you need to know about the installation process of WordPress and how to use and customize your Forum at my other website WordPressFAQ.org. If you don’t have a hosting yet have a look at the Hosting and FTP applications FAQ first.
Chapter 4: How do I integrate the WordPress blog into my RapidWeaver website?
4.1 If you host your blog on WordPress.com
Go to Wordpress.com and sign up for a free account.
2. You get a blog and the url address to that blog
3. You can now link it from your website using a simple link, making a Redirect to it or embed the blog page into your RapidWeaver created website with an html snippet and using an iFrame. I would recommend you to embed it with an iFrame so the changes are visible on your website and it would look like it is part of the website.
4. You may increase the content width of the website you embed the blog to by going to the Inspector=>Page tab=>Layout=>Increase the number displaying in Content width
4.2 If you host your blog on your own server
The best way to integrate a WordPress blog and an RapidWeaver website is:
1. Go to RapidWeaver and add a new page to your website called Blog
2. On that page add a Redirect to your Blog
3. On your WordPress blog add a page for each of the pages displaying in your RapidWeaver site’s navigation. Except for the order of the pages your WordPress and RapidWeaver navigation will now look alike.
4. On each page on your WordPress (except the one with the blog) add a redirect to the matching RapidWeaver page
This way going back and forward between your WordPress blog and your RapidWeaver website will be seamless and you can take the advantages of both:
- WordPress: the perfect Blog.
- RapidWeaver: The graphically good looking website, photo pages, ...
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