Make A Custom Pages Index For Your Blog

Even earlier Blogger added static pages every bit a spider web log feature, spider web log owners bring been shout out for how to brand hidden or kind pages for their blogs.

When static pages, together with the Pages index gadget, were added, people started shout out for nearly indexing label searches together with external links inwards the Pages gadget.

There are several solutions to the demand to bring a Pages gadget that indexes archive / label searches, together with external URLs. Each solution has its advantages, together with disadvantages.

If you lot desire a Pages gadget for your blog, that indexes to a greater extent than than but static pages, you lot bring ii basic choices. Each pick gives you lot dissimilar possibilities.

1. Replace the Pages gadget amongst a linklist. You tin index whatever URLs that involvement you, inwards a linklist.
2. Use the Pages editor, inwards the dashboard Layout page, which lets you lot add together URLs of your choice, straight to the Pages gadget.

I've been advising people for several years, how to brand a horizontal index bar for the blog.

With most Blogger templates, the Tabs department contains CSS that displays whatever linklist positioned there, horizontally. This gives you lot the pick of using "Add a gadget", together with creating a linklist every bit an XML based "Linklist" - or 1 created every bit an HTML based "HTML / JavaScript" gadget - together with both choices bring advantages.

Use an XML based linklist.

If you lot hold back at the card bar on this blog, you'll come across how the active card push "lights up" when selected. The "Selected" characteristic is a CSS tweak - together with requires that you lot role a linklist that's XML based.

I created the card bar here, using "Add a gadget", together with tweaked the template code. The default Pages gadget is XML based - together with does non require the latter tweak.

Use the Blogger supplied Pages gadget.

As an alternate to using a linklist gadget, you lot could role the Pages gadget.

If you lot role the Pages Editor, together with you lot position the Pages gadget inwards the proper position, your blog, when displayed using a dynamic template, volition populate the dark card bar amongst your Pages list. When that happens, the dynamic persuasion card volition live on displayed every bit a drop-down list, at the far left of the card bar.

The Missing / Invisible Pages Index Gadget

Occasionally, a weblog possessor wants to add together the Pages Index gadget to the blog, but merely can't.

I become to add together it - too I encounter "Already Added" - but where is it?

The outset thing to check, when this happens, is the "Show pages as" selection inward the dashboard Pages display. Sometimes, you'll uncovering "Don't show" selected. Other times, you'll uncovering "Top tabs" - but the template may lack the code which houses the "Top tabs" gadget. This volition survive a occupation for older templates, installed earlier the Pages index gadget was offered - too every mo unopen to 3rd political party templates.

Try selecting "Side links" (or alter from "Side links", to "Top tabs", too dorsum to "Side links") - too encounter if the gadget shows up, inward the sidebar. Each fourth dimension yous alter the setting, striking "Save arrangement".

After each change, sentiment the blog, to verify success. Remember to clear cache, too restart the browser, each fourth dimension yous sentiment the blog.

Once yous larn the gadget to exhibit upwards inward the sidebar - too if it matters - alter the selection to "Top tabs", too encounter if it shows upwards there. If not, you'll accept several options.

• If the template came from a 3rd party, change dorsum to a touchstone Blogger template.
• Upgrade the template, to a newer version.
• Set the Pages Index dorsum to "Side links".
• Reset the widget template.

>> Top