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PostViaApplication

You can post to SimpleLog via a desktop application using XML-RPC. What follows is simple setup instructions for the most common clients on both OS X and Windows.

If you want to use the BlogThis feature at Flickr, see Post to Flickr in this directory for setup instructions.

Setting up MarsEdit (OS X)

1. In the weblogs drawer, click the + button to add a new weblog. Add the name of your weblog, and the URL to your site. Example:

2. Click 'Add Weblog'. In a moment, MarsEdit will tell you it couldn't download settings and ask you if you want to edit them. Click 'Edit Settings.'

3. In the System panel, change the Software type to Movable Type.

4. In the RPC URL, the same thing as your home URL, but add /xmlrpc/api. Example:

5. In the Blog ID field, enter the number 1

6. Click 'OK'. The panel will close. Now click 'Refresh' in the toolbar and enter your username and password (the same info you use to log in to the SimpleLog admin section).

In a moment, you'll see a list of your posts. You can now edit, delete and post from MarsEdit!

Setting up ecto2 (OS X)

1. If you get the account creation wizard the first time you run ecto, just click cancel and dismiss the following error.

2. Click "Add" in the Account Manager.

3. Enter your site's URL when prompted. Example: http://myweblog.com

4. ecto will attempt to get information about your weblog, but you'll need to clarify a few things when it's done as such:

5. The Access Point should be the same thing as your URL, but add /xmlrpc/api. Example: http://myweblog.com/xmlrpc/api

6. Click 'Next' and then enter your username and password (the same info you use to log in to the SimpleLog admin section).

7. Enter anything for the Profile Name. ecto will get your blog information and then ask you a few questions. UNCHECK ALL BOXES and click 'Next'. Click 'Finish' and ecto will get all of your entries.

If you are asked which mode you want to edit in by default, you should choose HTML. You can also set this via the Preferences.

You can now edit, delete and post from ecto!

Setting up ecto2 (Windows)

If you're not presented with the Profile Wizard, go the Tools menu and click 'Profiles Manger' and then click 'New'.

1. Click 'Next' and then enter your site's URL when prompted and click 'Next'. Example: http://myweblog.com

2. ecto will attempt to get information about your weblog, but you'll need to clarify a few things when it's done as such:

3. The Access Point should be the same thing as your URL, but add /xmlrpc/api. Example: http://myweblog.com/xmlrpc/api

4. Click 'Next' and then enter your username and password (the same info you use to log in to the SimpleLog admin section).

5. Enter anything for the Profile Name and click 'Next'. Click 'Finish' and ecto will get all of your entries.

You can now edit, delete and post from ecto!

Setting up Windows Live Writer (Windows)

Just a note: I don't recommend Windows Live Writer. It doesn't work very well at all. You've been warned.

Cancel any wizards that appear.

1. In the Weblog menu, click 'Add Weblog Account...' and choose 'Another weblog service'. Enter your URL (example: http://myweblog.com) and your username and password (the same info you use to log in to the SimpleLog admin section).

2. Click 'Next.' When asked, choose 'Custom (Movable Type API)' for the type of weblog you're using, and for the remote posting URL use the same thing as your URL, but add /xmlrpc/api. Example: http://myweblog.com/xmlrpc/api

3. Click 'Next' and Windows Live Writer will attempt to get your weblog's details (this takes FOREVER). Eventually, it will error saying that it couldn't download the style template. Just click 'OK'.

4. Confirm the name of your weblog and click 'Finish'.

You can now start adding posts. By default, WLW doesn't download your recent posts from your weblog. Click the 'More' link in the Recent Posts sidebar and select your weblog to get access to other posts.

Again, I suggest not using Windows Live Writer. ecto2 isn't great, but it's better than this.