WordPress Basics Handout

Managing a Site in WordPress

1.     Logging in

  • navigate to your site (http://yourblog.academic.wlu.edu)
  • select Log In under Meta menu
  • input username and password
  • or, navigate directly to site admin area (http://yourblog.academic.wlu.edu/wp-admin)
  • input username and password

2.     Appearance Tab

  • Themes: choose from available themes; preview and activate
  • Widgets: drag available widgets to sidebar to enable functionality
  • Menus: create various menus and activate them; organize pages
  • Theme Options: access and edit theme-specific options; background, header, fonts, colors, sidebars, page appearance, etc.

3.     Plugins Tab

  • View and activate/deactivate available plugins
  • Request needed plugins from Academic Technologies

4.     Users Tab

  • All Users: view and manage access for users; highlight and Edit to change
  • Roles: Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor
  • Add New: add new user; email for existing user; username and password for new user. 
  • Your Profile: edit name, contact info, biographical info

5.     Tools Tab

  • Import: import content from another system (when enabled)
  • Export: can export your site content to another WordPress instance

6.     Settings Tab

  • General: change title and tagline, date and time info
  • Writing: set default categories, enable remote (mobile) publishing
  • Reading: set front page options; latest posts (blog) or static page (website)
  • Discussion: manage comment settings

 Editing a Site in WordPress

 1.     Editing your profile

  • click Profile on left menu
  • change first, last names; add in contact info; change passwords

2.     Creating a new page/post

  • click Page on left menu
  • select Add New from submenu, or click Add New at top of page

3.     Editing an existing page/post

  • click Page on left menu
  • hover over desired page title and click Edit when it appears underneath

 4.     Working with pages: Page/Post information

  • add title text
  • set visibility options (leave draft as private until you are ready to make public)
  • select desired parent page to aid in website structure
  • for posts; select desired
  • select desired template (always select “Sidebar Template”)
  • set featured image if desired (this becomes the page header image in many themes)
  • allow or deny comments and trackbacks

5.     Working with pages: the Rich Text Editor

  • can type in text directly and then format with existing style buttons
  • can paste text in from word or other text files using “Paste as Plain Text” or “Paste from Word” options
  • use “Blockquote” button to indent and alter style of quoted material
  • insert links by highlighting desired link text and clicking “Insert/edit link” button
  • use Format dropdown menu to format different text styles (headings, paragraphs, etc.)
  • change text color and insert symbols
  • when done click on Update button

6.     Working with media: Uploading and inserting images

  • in edit page area, click on “Upload/Insert” icon above text editor
  • drag-and-drop or select files from your computer, link to web-based files, or link to previously uploaded content in Media library
  • Pick alignment, desired size, and “Insert Into Post”

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