How to Choose a Custom Blogger Template to Avoid Problems

So you have downloaded a custom Blogger template from the internet and now you want to customize it to the needs of your Blogger blog (Blogspot blog). Before you expend all that energy check under the hood to make sure the Blogger template isn't a lemon and that you are not going to be wasting your valuable time.

Blogger has been around for some years now and has gone through many changes. Before the most recent default templates were introduced, the choice of default templates was not that great leading many developers to crank out a heap of custom templates to meet the demand of bloggers looking for a theme that matched their blog. The problem was however, that many of these Blogger themes had missing code and many had hard coded fonts, color schemes, gadgets etc requiring coding knowledge to make alterations to the template.

Many of these custom templates are still around to download. Some are good, some not so good. Be aware if you use a custom template on your Blogger blog it will not perform as well as a default template and some may potentially have problems further down the track as Blogger introduces new features. In preference it is usually better to use a default template and customise it to your own specifications. In future posts I will talk a lot about how to go about this so watch this space.

In the meantime if you have downloaded and installed a Blogger custom template and you want to check it out before going ahead with making changes look for these three features immediately on installation of a custom template. If any are missing there are fixes available but it does mean an edit to the template code. Also bear in mind that if gadgets like these are missing the template was probably created a few years ago and it may be better to find something more recent.

1. Check that the Blogger quick edit wrench is working. That is the crossed wrench symbol that appears next to each installed gadget in the Blogger blog sidebar, header and footer when you view your blog and are logged in. The best place to check for this on installation is in the sidebar. Each gadget will have its own wrench symbol if this feature is working properly.
   
   If you really like the template but this feature is not working please check out my instructions to fix this issue Fix the Missing Quick Edit Wrench in Blogger
   
   


2. Check that the Blogger quick edit pencil is working. The quick edit pencil is the pencil that that appears beneath the post in the post footer when you are logged in and viewing your blog. It does not display in post preview mode. It must be enabled under Configure Blog Posts (Go to layout and then click on edit on the blog post gadget). If the quick edit pencil feature in Blogger isn't working once you are sure it has been enabled then try this fix
   
   


3. Check that the Blogger default share buttons are working. These appear in the post footer at the bottom of each post. You can see these in the image above. Make sure these are enabled by going to layout and then clicking on edit blog post gadget and then ticking enable the share buttons option.
   
   
   

Other Blogger Custom Template Checks
Also check that slideshow or image sliders are working first before you do anything else to the template as often template creators do not give instructions about how to get these working. If you are not going to get good support from the template creator think carefully about using the template.

Another factor to keep in mind with custom templates for Blogger is that you may not be able to remove the links below the footer because of copyright reasons. Sometimes template authors put several of these at the bottom of the template which can be annoying.

In this article I have provided a few tips to help you choose a custom Blogger template and hopefully prevent you from investing time and energy in a template that has been poorly coded and may not be worth the effort to customise in the long run.

How to Fix Missing Quick Edit Pencil in Blogger Blogspot

Is your custom Blogger template missing its quick edit pencil at the bottom of your Blogger posts (Blogspot posts)? Don't worry. In this Blogger tutorial I discuss how to show a quick edit pencil icon beneath Blogger posts if it is missing. This is a common Blogger problem among custom Blogger templates but fortunately it only takes a couple of minutes to fix.

This Blogger tutorial follows on from my previous Blogspot tutorial about fixing missing Blogger icons. Check out how to show quick edit gadget wrench in Blogger (Blogspot) for help with this issue.

In my previous Blogger tutorials I have also discussed how to fix many other common Blogger problems eg how to fix a missing embedded comment form in Blogger. Take a look at all my Blogger tutorials on how to fix common Blogger problems (Blogspot problems) here

Fix Missing Quick Edit Pencil Blogger Blogspot
The quick edit pencil is a nice Blogger feature that you would not want to be without. A click on this time saving Blogger icon gives you direct access to your Blogger posts without having to go through "Edit Posts"

So if the free custom Blogger template you downloaded from the internet has no quick edit pencil displaying under your Blogger posts when viewing the actual published post then it can be fixed by taking the following the steps below:

1. Login to Blogger
   
   
2. Go to your Design > Page Elements
   
   
3. Click on the Blog Posts edit button located in the bottom right hand corner of the widget
   
   
   
4. A Configure Blog Posts window will pop up displaying a number of different features that can be turned on and off on your blog posts.
   
   
5. Make sure that Show Quick Edit is checked. Tick the box and save if Show Quick Edit is not already checked
   
   
   
   
6. Now navigate to an actual published post and check whether the quick edit pencil is now displaying in or around the footer of your blog post. Remember that you must be logged into Blogger to see the quick edit pencil - it is not displayed to your visitors
   
   If the pencil is there then that is the end of this Blogger tutorial. The pencil just needed to be enabled. So thank you for joining me today and if you have any other issues with Blogger be sure to check out my how to fix common problems in Blogger tutorials or take a look at the list of all the Blog Know How Blogger tutorials
   
   If the Blogger quick edit pencil is still missing it means that some important code has been omitted from your Blogger template and it will need to be added to get the quick edit pencil to show up
   
   
7. Go to Design > Edit HTML
   
   
8. Back up your template
   
   
9. Check the Expand Widget Templates box by placing a tick in it
   
   
10. Find the following line of code by holding down the CTRL key and F at the same time:
    
    

    <b:includable id='postQuickEdit' var='post'>

    
    
    
11. Check whether the following code is under it:
    
    

    <span class='post-icons'>
<!-- email post links -->
<b:if cond='data:post.emailPostUrl'>
<span class='item-action'>
<a expr:href='data:post.emailPostUrl' expr:title='data:top.emailPostMsg'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='13' src='http://img1.blogblog.com/img/icon18_email.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</b:if>

<!-- quickedit pencil -->
<b:include data='post' name='postQuickEdit'/>
</span> </div>
    

    
    
12. If part or all of the code is missing copy and paste it above :
    
    

    <!-- quickedit pencil -->
<b:include data='post' name='postQuickEdit'/>

    
    
    
13. Save changes to your Blogger template
    
    
14. Go to an individual published post page and see your new quick edit pencil displayed under your Blogger post

Tips and Troubleshooting
If you want to change the Blogger quick pencil icon you can by changing the image. Simply replace the image as depicted in red with the URL address of your own image. If your image is a different size you may have to change the width and height as shown in blue for the image to display correctly

<span class='post-icons'>
<!-- email post links -->
<b:if cond='data:post.emailPostUrl'>
<span class='item-action'>
<a expr:href='data:post.emailPostUrl' expr:title='data:top.emailPostMsg'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='13' src='http://img1.blogblog.com/img/icon18_email.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</b:if>

<!-- quickedit pencil -->
<b:include data='post' name='postQuickEdit'/>
</span> </div>

In this Blogger tutorial (Blogspot tutorial) I have shown you how to fix a missing Blogger quick edit pencil that is not showing. I have demonstrated how to enable the quick edit pencil in Blogger via Page Elements and I have provided you with the missing code in the event that the quick edit pencil code is missing from your custom Blogger template.

Please let me know if this tutorial has been useful for you by leaving your comments and opinions below.

Add a Comments Counter Button to Blogger Blogspot

In this Blogger tutorial (Blogspot tutorial) you will learn how to add a comments counter button to Blogger (Blogspot) to show off the number of comments each of your posts has received.

A comment counter button (bubble) will have the effect of encouraging visitors to comment on your Blogger blog and also help to highlight the credibility of your articles.


Installing this Blogger hack to add a comment counter button only takes a few minutes. The changes needed to add the comment bubble to Blogger while not difficult do involve adding a small snippet of code to your Blogger template in two places. For this reason I strongly urge you to back up your Blogger template before attempting this blogger hack.

Blogger Tutorial Difficulty - easy to medium

How to Add a Comments Counter Bubble to Blogger
A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
The following steps will insert a fully clickable comments counter button on the same line as the post title in Blogger. The comments counter is right aligned by default.

1. Log in to Blogger and the blog you wish to apply these changes to
   
   
2. Select Design > Edit HTML
   
   
3. Click on Download Full Template to back up your template before you make any changes
   
   
4. Check the Expand Widget Templates box
   
   
5. In the CSS Styling section of your Blogger template and just before the ]]></b:skin>
   
   

   .comments-button {
   width : 48px;
   height : 48px;
   background : url(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAtKzKSu1isk_ogKXQ_AjufJKPdBZMhkA9aWct6HpXPlvKNUli1ZVovL62YABdIvpbrlPbslmPSlUG2KJcmwJeLFwt-LDPQQGF2lehA-5MmT2ZuyMB38il5UwmdhdHQ9jsaTysJljwFKE/s200/comment-counter-bubble.png) no-repeat;
   float : right;
   font-size : 18px;
   margin-top : -15px;
   margin-right : 2px;
   text-align : center;
   padding-top:10px;
   }

   
   
6. Now find the following block of code using CTRL key + F
   
   

   <b:includable id='post' var='post'>
   <div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template'>
   <a expr:name='data:post.id'/>
   <b:if cond='data:post.title'>
   <h3 class='post-title entry-title'>
   <b:if cond='data:post.link'>
   <a expr:href='data:post.link'><data:post.title/></a>

   
   
7. Copy this code block:
   
   

   <b:if cond='data:post.allowComments'>
   <a class='comments-button' expr:href='data:post.addCommentUrl' expr:onclick='data:post.addCommentOnclick'><data:post.numComments/></a>
   </b:if>

   
   
8. Insert as follows:
   
   

   <b:includable id='post' var='post'>
   <div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template'>
   <a expr:name='data:post.id'/>
   <b:if cond='data:post.title'>
   <h3 class='post-title entry-title'>
   <b:if cond='data:post.allowComments'>
   <a class='comments-button' expr:href='data:post.addCommentUrl' expr:onclick='data:post.addCommentOnclick'><data:post.numComments/></a>
   </b:if>
   <b:if cond='data:post.link'>
   <a expr:href='data:post.link'><data:post.title/></a>

   
   
9. Save template and then view blog to admire your new comment counter badge.

Tips and Troubleshooting

1. If you prefer you can replace the button image I have provided with your own image. You can find other buttons easily enough by doing a Google search with a term like "speech button icons".
   
   Upload your button to a hosting service such as Photobucket and change the URL address of the image in the CSS styling section. The following example will render a smaller blue button. Note I have reduced the font size to accommodate the change. You may need to play around with the settings to get the font sizing right for your image.
   
   

   .comments-button {
   width : 48px;
   height : 48px;
   background : url(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCESuDqVaLeY9cdRLRXZ2N-VaHdnk7CT23nyCgCkLW-0fcwu3iXiYF3supJppw7Qb_XuiF2Z-McJQal8udJl7ND0PlzSBHjrY-TH-bxacOTkmaJ8mzuSz7MJq9gI4oQ9Hx2mnKTbgj87e/s200/comment-counter-bubble-2.png) no-repeat;
   float : right;
   font-size : 14px;
   margin-top : -15px;
   margin-right : 2px;
   text-align : center;
   padding-top:10px;
   }

   
   
   
2. If you want your comment counter to be left aligned instead of right you will need to change the CSS styling from float:right; to float:left;
   

In today's Blogger tutorial I have covered how to add a comments counter to a Blogger blog (blogspot blog) that will appear to the right of your blog post title. A comments counter is a way to encourage visitors to comment and is a way of showing off the credibility of your blog posts. Good luck! Any comments about installing this blogger hack are most welcome.


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