Friday, October 12, 2012

How To Truncate Your Blog...and a Big Thank You

First off, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your comments and kind words about my stolen posts. Your thoughtfulness means the world to me. If you missed my post earlier this morning, you can click here to read it. I know the world is 99% good...it's the other 1% that needs a kick in the rump. Lol

Several of you have asked how to truncate a post, so what better time than now, since it's all fresh in our minds. I know how to truncate and will show you below, but I am experimenting with this post to see what actually shows up on a feed or blog reader in reference to the pictures I add and where I chose to truncate it. This is my first time doing this, so we'll see what it looks like !!

I am randomly adding my blog button as a picture before the truncate, just to see what it looks like.





Now here's how to truncate your blog...

Write your post as you would have before, but with truncating (or shortening) you will start with an opening paragraph then your post will "break" into 2 parts and the human reader will have to "click" over to the second half.

This motion of clicking to the second part is what the trolling automated computer program can't do. It's similar to the word verification that some blogs have for commenting. Spamming computers can't "read" that word verification and type it in, therefore that can't leave you a message or comment spamming your blog.

Once you have written the opening paragraph for your post..

  • put the cursor where you want the post to "Break" or "Truncate"
  • go to the top tool bar and click on the icon that looks like a ripped piece of paper
  • click on that and it will truncate right where your cursor was.
  • after you have clicked on that break button, a gray dotted line will appear
  • begin typing the rest of your post below that gray line and that's the section that the "Human" readers will see when the click the link below the post.
  • when you preview you post you will not see the truncated version. 

Here are 2 screen shots to show you...


After you click the "jump break" icon, the gray dotted lines will show. Type the rest of the post below that.




I hope this helps some of you who are contemplating changing your blog post to a truncated version. This is my first time publishing one, so I hope it works!!

I also wanted to show you how to change the words for "read more here", but Blogger is having issues with saving any changes to your layout, so I'll show you another time.

By the way...you have my permission to link to this post and the other post to spread the word about this!!

Thanks again for your thoughtfulness and your kind comments,
~Karen~

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65 comments:

  1. I was waiting for your FAFF post this morning, and almost had a heart attack when I read about Blog Scraping. I literally stopped what I was doing, and truncated my blog...then blogged about it!! You should stop by my blog and see how mine turned out (by googling, etc). Thanks so much for all the information you provided in BOTH posts, and good luck!! :)

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  2. It'll take more than scrapers, and truncated posts to get rid of me!

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  3. So sorry you had this bad experience, Karen, and thank you for sharing this "how-to."

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  4. Thanks for sharing this. I've been concerned about the privacy issues here on Blogger, since it was so easy to stay more private on Multiply. This may be one way to discourage people from stalking. I don't advertise on my site, because my blog is more like info about my day, for my friends. Thanks again for letting us know about this!

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  5. Thanks for showing us how to do this. I can't believe that people would stoop so low as to steal other peoples blog posts for their own financial gain. Thanks also for continuing your wonderful blog. You provide so much useful information and inspiration.
    Ali x

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  6. Thanks for the instructions Karen! I was wondering what that broken looking button was on my blog post now I know. Moving forward I will be truncating all my posts.
    Have a wonderful weekend :-)

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  7. This is very good information. I enjoy your blog a lot. I don't mind a extra click :O).

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  8. Dear Karen,
    normally I dont read english Blog
    And I write never never never answers in English
    I only look at the pictures
    if I'm interested I try to understand and use
    automatically Translater

    But
    there is your Blog
    you and your wonderful ideas
    you and my school for right blogging

    here a big thank you

    and now you yes you get an English!!! answer
    from me ;-)
    I was shocked to read about your stolen posts
    Grrrrrrrrrrrrr
    I'm sorry I havent the right bad and angry words in your language
    and this words are not for writing down
    I feel yery sorry and I understand if you are angry!!!!!!!!!!!!

    But think about this, they take your posts
    because your writing so wonderful interesting and lovley Posts!!!!

    Very long text for me ;-)
    Bye
    and I`ll be back ;-)

    Saphira from Germany

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  9. I will rarely click on a jump to read a truncated post. I'll probably keep following this blog and I get the reason you're doing it but in my experience it takes a lot longer to blog hop when I have to click through. I have a history of slow internet connections and although I have dsl now, I still have to wait a bit and clicking to the rest of the post just takes longer than I'm usually willing to spend. Unfortunately, if a lot of people follow suit, my reader will get a lot shorter.

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  10. Thank you for such a fast response to our how to request! Was this post truncated? Because in my google reader the full post showed up, below your button and all.

    I hope I can figure this out using my wordpress platform. Keep up the great work!

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  11. I read some of the links and am not clear if you're truncating on your blog pages or only in google reader. I don't read via google reader (I use the 'next' button) so maybe it won't be an issue for me anyway. This post was not truncated for me. In the meantime, thank you for the information. I have always watermarked my photos but I think I'll add the 'this blog belongs to' info at the end of each of my blog posts.

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    Replies
    1. This post was truncated on my Google Reader but not on the post itself.

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  12. The earning money aspect of stealing posts has just never occurred to me, so thank you for the info and I am sorry it happened to you! I read your blog in Google reader and this post was not truncated, just to let you know. Thank you for your work, I am your recent follower but I enjoy it very much!

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  13. Hi Karen. I love what you do. I must be incredibly naive as I had no idea in the world that anyone would do a thing like this. It is sad that not everyone works with honesty and integrity. I love what you do and would never look elsewhere. I too did not find this blogpost truncated - I use blogspot.com. But I have often wondered why people did that, sadly now I know. Keep up the good work, I will read you no matter what. regards Karen - from New Zealand

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  14. Sorry to hear of your blog being scraped, another blog I read has had her felt sewing kits being replicated and sold... The world is full of people wantng to make a fast buck on the back of other peoples hard work. I shall watch with interest to see if truncating solves your problem.

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  15. So Karen, you truncate each post that you write?? Also did you mention how to find out if your blog has been stolen by scrappers??

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  16. Thanks for the lesson on truncating just in case I ever need it.

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  17. Hey all (and Karen)...to solve the problem of our blogs here at Blogger, being scraped on an RSS feed or Google Reader, go here...it will allow you to truncate feeds in RSS....

    http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/08/how-to-truncate-your-rss-feed-on-blogger.html

    Hope this helps!! :)

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  18. Great tips Karen.

    Am I missing something in your post as I'd like to check out the sites that have been copying your posts. I may have missed the link.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  19. There is always someone out there trying to freeload off the backs of the doers. This blog scraping is disgusting! I am sorry it happened to you. I am wondering if I am being scraped and am also wondering how you find out. I have a google search set for my blog and it has turned up a couple of different links using my blog name but with different endings, one ends in .ca instead of .com and the other ends in .de instead of .com. When I clicked on the sites I seemed to have been taken to my blog, but now I am wondering. Thank you for making us aware of this and sharing info on truncating posts. I am angry about this also! BTW, I will continue to follow your blog!

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  20. Obrigada por nos mostrar como faz,e um clic a mais não doeu nada.Boa sorte beijo grande.

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  21. Thanks so much for this how-to!! When my son heads to bed tonight I'll get on my blog and change to this 'truncating'.

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  22. Hi Karen, I'm so glad you shared this. With blogs I'm not very familiar with, I might be hesitant to "click over" unless I was really curious about or interested in the content. But I definitely don't mind with excellent blogs like yours. And even more so now that you've explained what can happen and why people might use the truncating function. So...thanks for sharing...as with so many others I learn so much from you. I'll be back with an extra click!!

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  23. I am stunned! I read your blog every week & would really miss it. I don't mind the extra click & now that I know why, I won't mind as much on other blogs who have started truncating theirs. I had been getting "comments" from your site that were all about insurance, finances, etc., but I just marked them as spam. Hope you are feeling better. I know you did feel like crying & maybe throwing a few things!

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  24. I had the same issue with them linking me up to x-rated site. I'm still getting anonymous comments. I might have to switch up to word verification??
    I'm sorry your going thur this also :( I love your blog!! Thank you for sharing how to truncate!!

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  25. Wow, it amazes me what people will steal.

    I have seen pins on pinterest that look like a great idea and after I click it takes you to some porn or other horrible site. I wish people would check their pin before they repin.

    Truncate I'll still be here just don't do those awful word verifications, I hate those!!

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  26. Karen, Thank you so much for sharing this information. I am very new to blogging and had no idea about scrapping or truncating. I'm grateful to learn at this early stage and will update my blog now.

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  27. Thanks so much for the how-to!
    You're awesome!

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  28. thank you! I don't think my blog was being invaded, but you just never know. I don't use the blogger compose thing to write my posts, so I wasn't sure how to do it with Windows Live Writer, but I just figured it out. Thanks for the 'heads up'.

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  29. Thanks for the tutorial! I don't think I put anything on my blog that anyone would find worth stealing, LOL. If these losers would use their "powers" for good, the world would be a much better place!

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  30. Dear Karen,
    I feel the "Road to a Friends Home is Never Far" and having to "Click" an extra click to get to my Friends Blog is Never Hard!!! I will follow you anywhere.

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  31. Thanks for the heads up. I can't believe this is happening. I didn't realize you are from RI - my old stomping ground! Good luck with truncating. Hope it works!

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  32. Just be sure to "hook" the readers before the break so that you pique interest and give them a good reason to click over!

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  33. Thanks for explaining. That would scare me also. It is so frustrating that things like this happen in our world. Believe me -- an extra click will not scare me off.

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  34. A number blogs I read have been having these problems. It's just sad that these losers get away with this. I find myself wondering if it might help to contact the companies paying for ad space on these blogs. Is that behavior something they want to be associated with?

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  35. Thanks for sharing. So sad to see you hurt this way. You are so lovely and generous. We can only do what we can and remember that eventually the person behind the evil deed will be called to account.

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  36. I have several other blogs I follow that you have to click For The Rest of the Story, and it's no big deal. I would think that the Scraping programs look for some parameters on stealing blogs - you have an enormous following, great advertisers, 3.5 million hits, and consistent posting, etc. What's your feeling on whether these programs would steal blogs that have less followers, less posts, no advertisers? I'm outraged and angry for you as well as many of the others.

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  37. I get your posts through email and if I had to click a hundred times extra I would. Wouldn't dream of missing anything. Thanks for letting us know and I suppose if it protects you it protects us as well. If they stole your FAFF post does that mean they can do the same to bloggers who posted their links. This is all very new to me and need to look into blogging more safetly.

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  38. Karen, I just read these posts - I am so sorry this happened to you - this is awful! I am so glad, though, that you are not quitting blogging! Hugs!

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  39. Sorry for what happened.

    I personally don't like truncated postings. I like the whole post to be right there. .... Just my preference!

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  40. I had noticed that several of my favorite blogs were going to truncating. Now I know why. Don't worry. I can easily do that extra click for a blog that I thoroughly enjoy. Thanks for all that you share with us.

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  41. I used to not like truncated posts because I read everything in Reader but understand COMPLETELY why you have to do this. Now I used the Google Reader Bookmarklet (under settings > goodies) in your reader settings (little cog over to top right of Reader screen). And I can click to the next blog post in my reader just as quickly as reading right in reader.

    Truncate away! You haven't lost me. :)

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  42. Thank you for the information. Not that my little blog is so important, it is mainly my quilting diary. But I do not want someone else to gain from it.

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  43. Thanks for the info Karen. I just published my first truncated post, and I've linked back to your blog so others can get the information too. :0)

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  44. I am so sorry that there are people and computer programs out there to ruin good and kind and creative people's efforts. I am just sick at the way what is so fun and creative (and time-consuming on your part) can be stolen. I'm sorry you have to truncate but I'll happily click as many times as I have to to read your great posts. Keep it up - I am kind of addicted. :-)

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  45. While I am never happy to encounter truncated posts, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Thanks for another great tutorial! I use google reader all the time and tried the 'next' bookmarklet that a few people mentioned. The problem for me with that is that it automatically marks them read and I sometimes like to leave some unread for some reason that I might need to go back to it. Can't figure out how to change that!

    Also, you wrote "when you preview you post you will not see the truncated version." But, then what is the point of previewing the post? How can we see what the post is going to look like before pressing publish, if it's truncated? Is there another way that I don't know about?

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  46. Thanks so much for the tutorial on block scraping. I worked over 30 years in and around computer systems and honestly forgot how low people can go. I immediately truncated my blog The RA Quilter & Ama.

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  47. Thank you for all the info and explanations. People should know that scraping is exactly like stealing! Taking credit for someone else's efforts. Maybe if enough of us truncate our blogs, the scrapers will get discouraged. One can hope.
    You won't lose me, Karen... I'll be happy to double click.

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  48. I will never begrudge someone truncating a post to protect his/her content!

    What hardship is it to click through (*really*)? If your connection is THAT slow, then you're probably used to it by now. ;)

    And, if someone complains about clicking through, chances are they've never had content stolen. It's just about as invasive and hurtful as if someone broke in to your car and stole something out of it (that is, maybe not quite as invasive and hurtful as breaking into your home, but still a violation).

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  49. I'm so sorry to hear your work was stolen, but I want to thank you for sharing this information with us so we can take steps to protect our content, too. I love your blog, and it (along with a few others I follow) is what motivated me to jump into the blog pool. You do wonderful work and have great information to share, and I truly appreciate it!!

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  50. Thank you so much, Karen! This is so helpful and eye-opening. My mom and I have enjoyed getting "acquainted" with you through your wonderful blog!

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  51. May I post this on my blog: Boocoos Blogthingy at http:// boocoos.blogspot.com? Spamming drug dealers almost took me down. I will truncate in the next few hours, and would love my blogging buddies to know about this. It's a life changing event for me and I thank you so much.
    Boo

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  52. Unbelievable is all I can say....What Next.
    Thanks so much Karen for all your Useful info on truncating.

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  53. thank you so much for all the information that I will now put in practice while linking back to your blog. This all blog scraping is disgusting really but then... Thanks again and don't let those evils bother your creativity.

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  54. Karen, thank you so much for your blog! I just started following you, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your tutorials. I just used this tutorial to truncate my blog post, and it worked great! I am a new blogger, and you inspire me beyond words! Thanks so much!
    Lori

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  55. Thank you so much for all of your tutorials. They have been SO helpful. Sorry about what you have been through. You are so talented and I will continue to follow your blog. So inspirational! Thank you! :)

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  56. Thank you so much for these easy instructions!
    Lynnie

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  57. Thanks for this Karen. I've just found my blog completed copied on another site. I couldn't believe it. I only have a handful of followers. Thanks again for your wonderful advice.
    Ali x

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  58. This is just what I was searching for and I knew your blog would likely have a tutorial! I so appreciate this as a newer blogger. Thank you so much!!!

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  59. Thanks Karen for this great tutorial, I have done this on my blog and will blog about the reasons in my next post and will mention your tutorial and post the link to your blog.

    I was wondering, did you get chance to do a tutorial showing how to change the wording of "read more here" as I would love to know how to do this?

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  60. Hi Karen,

    Ignore last email, I have worked out how to do it! lol

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  61. I'm so glad I came across this post. I've always wondered how you "truncate" a blog, I never even knew the name. This was most helpful as were a few other blogs you've written. I've read several today and they had good info.

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  62. Thank you for this tutorial. I was ready this morning to pull the plug on my blog. A reader sent me a comment and directed me here to find out more about truncating your posts. Have you noticed a change with scrappers since you started to truncate your posts?

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  63. Karen.... interesting post. I know about the break thing in Blogger, but my question is...this only breaks the post ON the blog...you click the link to get there... and it takes you to the blog page with the short portion of the post and you click to "read more" and it takes you to the full post. However...my problem is...when I publish a post... the WHOLE post goes to the member in an email...they read the whole post in their email, enjoy it and then delete and move on. They don't actually go to my blog to read the post....or anything else! I was wondering if there is a way to truncate the post in the email, so the viewer reads the intro of the post and get interested and then go to my blog to read the rest... and hopefully more posts and other things i have on my blog. Is there a way to do that? Thanks for any help!
    Cheri
    fabricandmemories.blogspot.com

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