Blog Templates
This blog template download has been updated to use Moveable Type 4.25, the version currently running on the Library's UThink Blog site.
All blogs used for official University business must use the blog templates.
Instructions for the templates
1. Download the blog templates.
The downloads include same three 960-pixel grid variations as the web templates.
2. Link to assets.
There are links in the templates to the assets that are needed for the templates to display correctly.
What are assets? Assets include style sheets, images, search field javascript, and an.htc file.
Where are the links? The links appear in a number of places in the HTML of the templates and also in the CSS files that go with them.
You have two options:
- Beginner:
Leave the links as is. This way you will always have the correct images for the template header and your column background, fonts, and colors will stay the same as the template you chose. If you have advanced HTML skills and want to modify blog styles, you should create your own style sheet, put it on your server, and add a link to your style sheet in each blog template page.
- Advanced:
Change the links. You will need to put all the assets on your server and change all the links from each blog template. This means setting up directories for the images, css, htc, and js files on your server and changing all the links to those assets in both the html and css files in the blog templates. For example, the link in the html to the template style sheet would need to change as follows:
http://a.umn.edu/blog/lib/css/template-002.css
to: http://www.yourURL/your_directory_name/template.css
Note: Style sheets and images should not be uploaded to the blog. Background images don't work using this scenario.
Blog template example
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3. Create a new blog
Once you've downloaded the blog templates and have decided how you want to link to assests, you can sign in to UThink. Use the "Classic Blog" template set, choose any additional "General Settings," and save changes. See the "Create Blog" screen example on the right.
Click on "Design: Templates" in the horizontal navigation near the top of the page. The blog pages to be modified with the new code are in three sections in the Blog Template area: Index Templates, Archive Templates, and System Templates. See the example on the right highlighting the blog templates you'll need to change.
1. Choose your template—Decide which of the three template options you will use for the blog. The template names are based on the columns in a 12 column grid. So the 2.6.4_grid_blog_templates have a two column left navigation, a six column center section, and a four column right section.
2. Make a header graphic for your blog—The graphic will replace the "Department of Long Nomenclature" graphics that act as place holders in the templates. You should use a graphic that identifies your unit and, if appropriate, is the same as the website that the blog is associated with.
3. Copy and replace—Open each UofM blog template HTML doc on your hard drive and copy the source code from the template over the code for each of the corresponding pages in the UThink blog. Be sure to hit "Save" at the bottom of the screen each time you paste your code into the blog.
4. Widgets—The right column of the templates uses the "3-column layout-Primary Sidebar" in the Widget section under "Design." Here you can determine which widgets you'd like to use for your blog. Commonly used widgets include "Search," "Category Archives," "Recent Entries," "Current Author Monthly Archives," and "Syndication."
To change the widgets, go to the "Design" drop down menu, choose "Widgets," and click on the "3-column layout-Primary Sidebar" name. Drag and drop the widgets between the installed and available columns. Be sure to hit “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page.
5. Publish and test—Once you've copied and pasted all nine layouts into the blog and edited the right column widget, save and publish your blog to test it. The circular arrow icon next to the "Tools" drop down in the menu will publish your blog.
Create blog screen
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Blog template screen
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Blog code editing screen
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Template usage restrictions for blogs
- University of Minnesota blog templates cannot be used for or by students or student organizations, or for personal sites.
- University of Minnesota blog templates cannot be used with blogs other than the University Library's UThink blogs.
See the Brand Policy: Trademarks, Logos, Colors, and Seal Brand Policy or contact University Relations if you have questions.