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Layout: Add A Gadget

We add gadgets using the dashboard "Layout" wizard.





From the "Layout" wizard, find any link to "Add a Gadget".



Choose any one of dozens of interesting and useful accessories, from the Blogger gadgets library.



You might want to note several details, for best results.

The "Add a Gadget" concept has an interesting history.

Occasionally, we see concerned bloggers asking about their inability to add page elements to their blog.

Besides several key settings in the template, there's a naming problem, which surfaces occasionally.
When I go to the dashboard Layout wizard, I'm given the option to "add a gadget" but not to "add a page element." The Add a Page Element button has never been displayed since I started the blog, so it's not something I broke myself.

Long ago, "gadgets" were called "page elements" - and the "Layout" display was named similarly.

Long ago, we used the "Page Elements" wizard.


What everybody may not realise is that what Blogger used to call "widgets" are now called "gadgets", and adding a "widget" (weird term) / "page element" (boring term) is now called adding a "gadget" (descriptive term).

What we used to call the "Page Elements" wizard may be found as the "Layout" link in the dashboard. If you publish the blog using a dynamic template, layout customisations may not be supported - and you may not have "Settings - Layout".

Of course, there could still be cases where the "Add a Gadget" link doesn't appear, doesn't appear where you need it, or doesn't work for you. You still need to be aware of template restrictions, whether intentional or non-intentional.

When you look at the selections in "Add a Gadget", note the author names, carefully. The gadgets that are not attributed as "By Blogger" are provided by third parties, and should be selected with care. If your blog uses a dynamic template, you'll especially want to use gadgets "By Blogger" - and avoid the "HTML / JavaScript" gadget - as gadgets in dynamic templates require specific code, that you will probably not find in third party accessories.

If you must add an "HTML / JavaScript" based gadget, always add it using "Add a Gadget". Do not use "Template" and "Edit HTML". Gadgets added using "Add a Gadget" (including "HTML / JavaScript") can be easily removed, if they go bad. Gadgets added using "Edit HTML" must be removed using "Edit HTML" - and some gadgets will be extremely challenging to diagnose and remove.



Comments

Anonymous said…
Maybe a stupid question, but how do I add a ''gadget'' to a custom blogskin ? I made this myself so I know I should just add blogger tags, but somehow it doesn't work. ...
Nitecruzr said…
Kana,

If you have a custom blogskin, then you (or the creator of the custom blogskin) have to figure out how to make it work. This is a disadvantage of custom, third party code.

It's up to the creator to include compatible code - or not.

Sorry.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2008/08/your-blog-and-third-party-accessories.html
MittLjuvaHem said…
is there a gadget to get IN some rssfeeeds into the blog? like a little portal for a couple of friends blogs - i would reaally want to get my friends posts onto my blogg - collected and updated
Nitecruzr said…
Jennifer,

That would be the Feed gadget.
Thank so very much!

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