Microsoft Windows Live Writer (a blogging tool)

Introductory Note: This is a Windows application and there is no Mac version; at least not at this time.

I had never even heard of Windows Live Writer until I posted a frustration about source text created in MW Word having all the CR/LFs stripped out of it when previewed in a post/reply text box!

You see, I have always liked to compose my posts outside of those two text boxes! Just habit I suppose but it did give me a backup in case something went wrong and I had the spelling checker and grammar checker as well to help avoid the more stupid errors (the grammar checker is not the best in the world but it often points out misplaced words which otherwise would have gone undetected! Very useful for me)!

Of course we now have a spelling checker but there is no grammar checker and the spelling checker does not check as you type (or autocorrect) and is slow to respond when you request suggestions (via a left key press). Additionally, the reply window is still very small. I understand it will be increased in size in the not too distant future.

Regardless, our Admin (Todd) replied and suggested trying Windows Live Writer (amongst others) as an alternate to Word.

Here is the thread: http://www.nscale.net/forums/questions-administrators/2007/08/06/question-re-wysiwyg-editor-posts-and-response

So I did a little investigating only to discover that Live Writer is in Beta mode right now. Here is a review you may find interesting: http://paulstamatiou.com/2006/08/14/review-windows-live-writer-beta/

The vast majority of users seem to be very happy with it! Check the entries in this forum: http://digg.com/software/Introducing_Windows_Live_Writer_2

It does require Windows XP SP2 or Vista (along with Microsoft .NET 1.1 or later) as a pre-requisite. Since it is free I decided to try it and went ahead and downloaded from here: http://get.live.com/betas/writer_betas

The download is about 5.5 MB but will require an active internet connection during the installation. You can execute the install program directly or save it for later. (I saved it just to be sure I had a copy on hand).

Installation is pretty straight forward. It will ask you for a few selections and for a couple of these I just guessed, choosing what would seem like a default or a more general setting. It seems to have worked OK! You will also be asked for the host of your blog which is our URL: http://www.nScale.net

It is essentially a blogging tool providing direct access to your blog where ever it (or they) may be! It seems to follow the MS Office style overall and has a Vista appearance with its transparent splash window!

Basically you can compose your blog entry here with all WYSIWYG capabilities including spell checking as you go and auto correction. Still no grammar checker though!

When you have finished, just click or select Publish and the blog entry will be added to the currently active blog!

Very neat really!

I haven't found any way to post directly to an active thread but if you find one, please let us know! None-the-less I now use it to compose my thread posts and just copy and paste! Works wonderfully!

BTW, this blog entry is being published directly from Windows Live Writer!

Note: There are already quite few plug-ins already available. Check:

http://wlwplugins.com/

Hope you try this application out!