Blogger Magic - Adding Label Search URLs

One of the simplest ways to make a blog useful is to add label searches.

Adding label searches, in page / post text, is not easy - unless you know how to build the URLs. Here's a label search from this blog.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/search/label/Blogger%20Magic

All that I want, when using that label search, is to add another reference to my "Blogger Magic" post series.

"Blogger Magic" emphasises how easy it is, to use Blogger. How easy is it, to remember that syntax - to add a label link? Maybe, a "Blogger Magic" reference, in this post?

When you read a blog post, that has label references, look at the bottom of the post.

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Please note the advice, at the bottom of the post.

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Look in the post footer, for the "Labels" section.

Here's the bottom of another post, from this blog.

Here's the bottom of this post.



Note that not all blogs will provide a "Labels" posts section. That is an owner choice.

Look at a label link, in the "Labels" section of the post - when provided.

There's the bottom of two of my "Label Search" posts - "Blogger Magic - A Blog Within A Blog", followed by this post "Blogger Magic - Adding Label Search URLs". Now, look at the Labels links.

In most blogs, the Labels links would be labeled "Labels". I call mine "Topics". As owner of this blog, that is my personal choice.

Also, in most blogs, the "Labels" section will be found, in the post footer. Some blog owners have chosen to position their "Labels" in the post header. This, too, is their choice - and carries with it, some risk.

See "Label Search"?



Look in the browser status area, when hovering over the link caption.

Look at the "Topics" section. See "Label Search"? Hover the mouse cursor, over the "Label Search" link.

See the label search URL, in the browser status area?



Look in the browser status area, when hovering over the link caption.

Hover the mouse over "Label Search", and look in the browser status area.

blogging.nitecruzr.net/search/label/Label Search

For a blog using an HTTPS redirect, you might see a slightly different URL.

If this blog uses the "HTTPS: Redirect" option, you might see it slightly differently.

https://blogging.nitecruzr.net/search/label/Label%20Search

Click on either of the above 2 links. OK, I cheated with the second link - since this blog, right now, does not support HTTPS - and I obviously don't want you looking at an HTTPS Error display.

Whether HTTP - or HTTPS - is in use, there is the label search link.

Whichever you see - and decide to use - with your blog, there is a label search URL. Now, get a label search URL from your blog - and use the URL, in another page or post in your blog.

This post opens many links in new tabs / windows, intentionally.

BTW - and if you have clicked on any of the links above - and since you have apparently read to this point - I have to warn you that many of the links, above, are intentionally coded to open in a new tab / window. That is necessary, based on the nature of the links in this post.

Many of the links in this post are clickable, simply to illustrate to you the content in label searches - as opposed to links which lead you to additional information in the blog. So as not to lead you away from this post, you should not lose context after clicking on a link - as long as you simply close the new (illustrative) tab / window.

My sincere apologies, if my seemingly gratuitous opening of new tabs / windows inconveniences or offends you.

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Some #Blogger blog owners want to use label search URLs, in page or post text. Getting a label search URL is easy enough, when you look in the post label search section - which is generally in the post footer.

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Blogger Magic - Disable The HTTPS Redirect

SSL has been an option, for BlogSpot published blogs, since late last year - and we still see occasional questions, in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue, about its use.

When I saved my post, I saw the error message

This page contains HTTP resources which may cause mixed content affecting security and user experience if blog is viewed over HTTPS.

I clicked "Fix" - and the error message went away. Should I have to go back and "fix" all my old blog posts, this way?

This blog owner will be better off, with "HTTPS Redirect" disabled.

Until HTTPS availability, for all Internet content and services, becomes a consistent reality, there will be problems with Blogger blogs - and confusion, as in the example.

Custom domain publishing is the most vulnerable Blogger feature, with blogs using "HTTPS Redirect". It's not the only possible complication, though.

Some blog owners will be better off, not enabling "HTTPS Redirect" - or if enabled, they will need to disable it.

HTTPS Redirect can be easily disabled.

"HTTPS Redirect" is not difficult, to disable. Go to the dashboard Settings - Basic page.

Click on "Yes".

Select "No".

And, the option is disabled.

And the owner won't see the confusing "Fix" / "Dismiss" options.



Now, you can publish the blog, to a custom domain. With "HTTPS Availability" not optional, blogs, with essential features that don't provide SSL, will still have unsatisfied readers who will demand HTTPS.

Some blogs would be better off with "HTTPS Availability" as an option.

You cannot eliminate all confusion, until SSL is uniformly available.

I will note, however, that disabling the redirection will not eliminate reader concern, from "Mixed Content" alerts - nor will it prevent owner confusion, from Post Editor warnings. As long as SSL is (may be) involved - automatic redirect or not - and until every Internet feature and service uses SSL consistently - there is going to be some confusion.

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Some #Blogger blog owners will need to disable the "HTTPS Redirect" option, to publish their blogs as they need. Right now, "HTTPS Redirect" is an option - and "HTTPS Availability" needs to be an option also.

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Not All Plugins And Third Party Code Support SSL

With Blogger now providing (optional) HTTPS, on all blogs, we're seeing a few anxious reports in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue.

I'm getting an error, on one of my plugins.

This content is not yet available over encrypted connections.

What can I do?

The answer won't be encouraging.

Don't enable "HTTPS Redirect", on your blog.

This won't mean that the plugin will work, if your readers choose to use SSL, to access your blog, unfortunately.

One of the reasons why it is taking Blogger so long to get SSL working, is that they have to allow for our blogs, using non Blogger code.

Too many Blogger blogs use non Blogger code that does not support SSL.

One of the reasons, why all websites don't have HTTPS yet, is they have to wait for other websites to provide it.

It's similar to the game of Pickup Sticks. You can't (shouldn't) upgrade your blog, until your accessories and plugins support SSL.

Somebody else may depend upon content from your blog - and his website can't be upgraded, because his website throws a Mixed Content alert, because of his link to your blog. And a third website must wait, for him to upgrade his website.

Your blog may use a plugin that does not provide SSL access.

For plugins that don't support SSL, you may have to choose between having a broken plugin - or dropping use of those services, until they, too, can upgrade. Or don't force HTTPS.

Don't enable the "HTTPS Redirect" option, if you use plugins in your blog, that don't support SSL.



Be patient - and work on blog content.

Be patient. Encourage the websites, that you depend upon, to enable SSL on their service - then you can do the same, with your blog. And keep publishing your blog.

Encourage Blogger to restore the "HTTPS Availability" option. Make SSL access optional, for each blog - not forced SSL optional.

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With #Blogger having enabled HTTPS on all BlogSpot published blogs, blog owners are seeing problems caused by non Google websites that don't offer SSL yet. The "HTTPS Redirect" option really should be "HTTPS Availability", again.

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/2HV3zzclGCg

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/9rp4vZhBAhQ

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/p3DlfKBszTM

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/QMFbAsOvvdc

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Music Is Personal - And Player Choice Will Be, Also

Some blog owners decide to include music, to accessorise their blogs - and the first thing they ask for is instructions.

Please give me step by step instructions, to add music.

They don't consider that adding music, for any blog, will be their personal choice - and a music player will be personal too.

The choice of music player needs to be based on the music library provided.

You will probably want your music choice to match the blog content.

Some one who wants to provide classical music won't want to add a music player, published by a disco / techno website. Similarly, if you want to decorate your blog with country music, you will not be pleased by a player provided with a jazz website.

Each music website will provide their own player, to accompany their music library - and their own installation instructions, to install their player. You will probably be provided HTML / JavaScript code, by the website - so you will want to add an HTML / JavaScript gadget.

Position the player so it is convenient and visible, to your readers.

You will want the player controls to be visible - so you should position the new gadget, in a convenient and visible location, on the blog.

The one suggestion, that is consistently provided, is that you should choose a player that lets your readers choose whether to listen to the music. Please, don't use any player that only provides "autoplay".

The choice of music will be yours - and some readers will choose to view your blog. But some will choose to not listen to your music - and unless you want to limit reader population to those who can listen as they view, you will want to make the music optional.

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Some #Blogger blog owners want to decorate their blogs with music - and they request detailed instructions for adding a music player. Music players are individual to the website providing the music - and the smart blog owner will choose the website, for one offering an appropriate music library.

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