|
DOWNLOAD
BLInk!
Although I wrote this as an experiment in creating
an off-line blog tool that feels good to use on a TabletPC, I have been using
it as my main blog writing tool for the past two years on my non-tablet
computer, which is the one that I work on every day. - Julie (Dec 2006)
Updated Dec 2006:
-
Blog post now contains UPC time, rather than
depending on the hosting blog software to determine the time.
-
Recompiled as a .NET 2.0 application.
FEATURES
-
Blogging UI designed
for easy use with stylus
-
Create and embed basic ink drawings.
-
Write blogs off line.
-
Post immediately or save post to edit and post at a
later time.
-
Embedded images uploaded automatically when post is
uploaded.
-
Works with Metablog or Blogger API enabled online
blogs
REQUIREMENTS
-
.NET Framework 1.1
-
For inking features: Tablet PC Operating System
HOW IT WORKS
This application has a
simple HTML interface based on a
component written by Nikhil Kothari . As you enter text, it gets
converted to standard html. Any formatting eg: hyperlinking, etc. also is
converted. You can view the current HTML at any time by clicking on the “HTML”
button. To go back to the design view, click on that same button which will
then have the name “DESIGN”. Entering text can be done via the keyboard or the
Tablet PC Input Panel. Inking can be done by opening the BLInk! Ink Drawing
Tool (using the  icon). This is a
basic drawing tool for creating images. If you require more elaborate drawings,
create them using another application and just add the image as you would any
other image to your post.
The name “BLInk!” comes from the natural combination
of the words Blogging, Ink and Link: BLInk!
SETUP
Before you can use BLInk!, you will
need to modify some settings in the Options. Here are some screen shots to help
you. Please note that you can only post to blogs that use either the Blogger
API or MetaWeblog API. Examples of this are
.TEXT or dasBlog applications.
Note that the Blogger API does not allow for post
TITLES or CATEGORIES. MetaWeblog will include these items in your post.
Note that your settings are encrypted (to conceal
your passwords) and stored in the user's Application
Data folder, most commonly in C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local
Setttings\Application Data\The Data Farm\Blink. Although version folders will
be created, nothing will be stored in them.
CREATING YOUR ENTRY
TEXT – Ink and Handwriting Recognition
Use the TabletPC Input Panel to write your text and the Tablet’s internal
handwriting recognition will transform that to text in the form. You can also
type directly into the form if you have your keyboard available.
TEXT Formatting
There are some basic formatting icons available: Bold,
Italic, Underline, Font Size,
Font Style, Font
Color, Font Strikethrough.
Hyperlinking
Hyperlinking occurs by selecting your text or image and clicking on
the hyperlink icon. If you prefer to specify a target (_blank, new, etc) or any
other parameters, you need to do that manually in the HTML window.
INKing
The Ink icon will open up BLInk's Drawing Tool window. This window
uses The Data Farm's ColorPicker and PenThickness controls.
This window can be resized. The icons allow you to
select a color, choose a thin, medium or thick pen, ooint or stroke erase and
undo/redo ink strokes.
When you finish your
inking, click on that form’s Insert & Save Locally button. Your ink will be
converted to a GIF image file using a file name that you will be asked to
supply and the image will also be embedded into your post. A tag will be
inserted into your HTML with the SRC parameter pointing to the newly created
GIF file.
The image will be uploaded and along with the
post and the html will by modified automatically. The FTP Uploading
functionality is performed using an
FTP component, written by Vick Soulios, that is available on
GotDotNet. As of December 2004, this component has been downloaded nearly
12,000 times from GotDotNet and there are a slew of rave reviews that have been
posted there.
INSERT IMAGES
You can insert images
into your post from your computer. If you need to specify formatting (width,
height, etc.) you will need to do that manually in the HTML window. Inserting
images that are already on the web needs to be done via html. <img src=" (http://location)"/>
SAVING & RETRIEVING YOUR BLOG ENTRY
If you are not online (or you would like to finish
up your entry at a later time) you can save your posts to your computer's hard
drive and retrieve it at another time to post. Selecting File/Save from the
menu or clicking on the Save Post icon on the upper toolbar will store
your entry. Selecting File/Open from the menu or clicking on the Open
Post icon on the upper toolbar will open the Retrieve Posts window where
you can select a saved post.
The default location of the stored posts is in the
user's Application Data folder, most commonly in C:\Documents and
Settings\[username]\Local Setttings\Application Data\The Data Farm\Blink.
Although version folders will be created, nothing will be stored in them. You
can change your Options to have the posts stored in a different location.
REMOVING POSTS FROM STORAGE
When you retrieve an entry and
then post it to your blog, you will have the option to remove it from storage.
To remove it without posting, retrieve the
post and then click on the Delete icon on the upper toolbar.
POSTING YOUR BLOG ENTRY
You can post your entry directly
from the entry screen by clicking on POST TO BLOG button. Remember that if you
have embedded an image from your computer, it will be uploaded using the FTP
settings and the entry will be automatically modified to reflect the images
online location.
CAVEAT
This is a non-commercial application. It has been written as proof of
concept for blogging with ink while retaining two of the most important
elements of weblogging: legible text and hyperlinking. Your feedback is welcome
to jlerman@thedatafarm.com. I will
continue to write about my experiments with TabletPC development in my own
weblog at www.julialermaninc.com/blog.
THANKS
Special thanks to Scott Watermasysk,
creator of .TEXT, who gave me some help with coding against the Blogger
and MetaWeblog APIs. Also, as noted above, thanks to Nikhil Khotari and Vick
Soulios for their components. Peter Rysavy
inspired me greatly to turn this project from an experiment into a fully
functional application. And of course, thanks to all of the great support
and sample applications from the Tablet Team at Microsoft. To learn more about
writing Tablet PC applications, visit msdn.microsoft.com/tabletpc.
Have fun!!
Julie
|