SIMIODE

If you wish to start a blog, here are the steps. You must be logged into your SIMIODE account in order to complete these steps.

Starting a Blog in your Profile

If your profile is set to "private", your blog will not be viewable by others. In order to ensure that your blog can be found by other users, please set your profile to "public". You can check and adjust this setting in your Dashboard at the padlock at the top.

Note: When writing a blog entry, there is an option to set an individual entry to "Private". At this time, if you give someone the direct URL to an individual blog entry, it will be viewable even if the blog entry is marked as "Private".

On a computer browser:

1. Go to your dashboard.
2. Choose "Blog" from the left hand menu
3. Click the "New Entry" button on the upper right hand side.

On a mobile device:

1. Go to your dashboard by pressing the account icon on the upper right and choosing "Dashboard" from the menu.
2. From the dropdown menu, choose "Blog"
3. Scroll down and click the "New Entry" button.

How to Upload a Photo for Your Blog Entry

In order to insert a photo into your blog, you'll either need to be able to access it on the web, or you will need to upload it here. Please be sure you have proper permission to use the image you will insert in your blog.

Under the blog entry itself is a list of uploaded files and a button marked "Browse" and "Upload". If you do not see these buttons, try to scroll down within the section of "Uploaded files".

1. Press the "Browse" button.
2. Choose the file from your computer.
3. Press "Upload". Please be very patient as even a small file takes a long time to upload and be processed by the website. Try to use the smallest file reasonably possible to save time.
4. Make note of the filename as you will need it when you are ready to use the file in your blog.

How to Use a Photo in your Blog Entry

In order to use an uploaded file in your blog, you will need to know your member number. If you are on a computer, you can see your member number in the URL at the top of your screen. The URL will look like simiode.org/members/NNNN where NNNN is your member number. If you are on a mobile device, you might try to copy and past the URL into a notepad or simple editor in order to see the entire URL.

1. Press the "Image" button in the editor.
2. A popup box will appear with 3 tabs. In the first tab there is a space to enter the URL of the image. The URL for an uploaded file is /app/site/members/0NNNN/blog/filename.jpg where NNNN is your member number and is prepended by a zero in the URL, and filename.jpg is the filename of the image listed in your Uploaded files. If you are using an image available elsewhere on the web, just use the URL for that image.
3. While it is optional, it is highly recommended that you fill in the "Alternate Text" entry which will help users with screen readers better interpret your image.

If you wish your image to link to something (i.e. go to another webpage when a user clicks on the image), then go to the "Link" tab of the popup and enter the URL of the webpage you wish to link to. If you choose "Target=New Window" it will open a new window in front of your blog when someone clicks on the image.

How to Write a Blog Entry in a Group

If you belong to a Group that has the Blog feature enabled, you can start a blog entry inside the group. The group manager can control the access of the blog (i.e. viewable by public, registered members, or group members only). Please check with your group manager to learn the accessibility of your group's blog if this is relevant to what you write.

1. Navigate to your group.
2. Choose "Blog" in the left hand menu.
3. Click the "New Entry" button on the upper right hand side. If you do not see this button, but do see stick Announcements for the group, please use the circle x to close the announcements.

Upload Your Photo for a Group Blog Entry

If the photo you wish to use is not available on the web, you'll need to upload it to the Files section of the group. (If you have previously used the image in your personal blog you may use the URL as indicated in the instructions above.)

1. Inside the group, go to the Files section on the left hand side.
2. If a folder named "blog" does not yet exist, it is highly recommended to make such a folder by clicking on the blue + (plus sign) above the list of files.
3. Upload your photo to the blog folder by using the "Click or drop file".

Use your Photo in a Group Blog Entry

Before heading back to the Blog section in the group, make note of the URL of your photo by clicking the down arrow next to the file name. It is recommended that you copy this URL and paste it somewhere for the next step.

1. Navigate back to the group Blog. If you already started an entry, you may edit it now to include your picture. Or, start a new Blog entry.
2. Press the "Image" button in the editor where you are ready to insert your photo.
3. A popup box will appear with 3 tabs. In the first tab there is a space to enter the URL of the image. Use the URL that you copied above in the URL box. If you are using an image available elsewhere on the web, just use that URL instead.
4. While it is optional, it is highly recommended that you fill in the "Alternate Text" entry which will help users with screen readers better interpret your image.

If you wish your image to link to something (i.e. go to another webpage when a user clicks on the image), then go to the "Link" tab of the popup and enter the URL of the webpage you wish to link to. If you choose "Target=New Window" it will open a new window in front of your blog when someone clicks on the image.

If you have any trouble with your blog entries or uploading photos, please feel free to open a Support Ticket and a member of our Technical team will reach out to you.