Last week when we had a major snow and ice storm something happened that caused our Internet and cable connection to fail. I was stuck and wasn’t able to work on my sites for hours, nor was I able to entertain myself by watching TV.
I spent some time reading, and shoveling some of that snow, but I also sat down and tried to write out a few posts using Notepad. I knew I could just paste whatever I’d written into my blog whenever I got my internet connection back, but it got me thinking…
You know – WordPress should make an off-line mode.
The only way I can post in my blogs is when I’m online. I can write up a post and save it as a draft, schedule it for future publishing or publish it right away. The one thing that I can’t do is write a post while I’m off-line.
People still use dial up. Not many … but it’s still used, and the internet does stop working for some people from time to time.
WordPress should have an off-line mode where you could save whatever you were writing on your computer .. but as soon as you either turned “Online” mode back on in wordpress or made a connection via the internet it would save whatever you’d written in your database.
Writing my post out in notepad wasn’t that bad, but I didn’t have access to the formatting controls that I normally would have if I’d been writing my posts directly in WordPress. You know- being able to add an image, or links easily.
Just an idea for you WordPress, if you’re listening! Create some kind of off-line mode in the form of a desktop application that could be used to write and format posts while off-line.
Yes I know that there are other desktop blogging applications I could use, but all of the ones that I’ve tried so far require an internet connection. In my opinion that seems to defeat the purpose of having the software installed on your computer in the first place.
So what do you say WordPress?
Hi, I just found your blog, and I really like it. Your site is nicely designed and I love your writing style. I’ll be back.
Mother Jones, RN
Serious?
Ever discovered WP allows you to post via email?
Just read the manual.
Try find at google search engine,many new program develop everyday.
Do you make your blog by yourself?
Franky did you even read the post?
How can you send a post to WordPress via email when your INTERNET CONNECTION is DOWN?
So yeah, I’m serious.
When the connection is DOWN, as in totally out, even an offline modus will not help you. How will you get it ONline?
I mean seriously.
Any system can be installed offline, but you NEED an internet connection to get something ONLINE.
You can be serious, but try first to make some sense in this case.
Post by(cell) phone is another option. Even 4-5 years old phones allow you to send an email in WAP modus. Needed connection time with normal 2G : 2-30 seconds if your cache stores your email login/PW. Otherwise maybe 2 minutes.
Lots of different ways, but you’ll NEED a connection. Your site/WP is ONline. You are OFFline, you’ll have to find a mix. And a connection. Any kind of will have a possibility.
We managed it 5 years ago, when broadband was less stable.
Why can’t you understand that I mean a desktop application that is set up like WordPress? Is that so hard to understand? Read paragraph 7 and please stop talking to me like I’m an idiot. I assure you that I’m not.
Of course I know that WP is an ONLINE application. In fact most of the publishing blog applications that I’ve found and tried only seem to work if you have an internet connection. I just think that this would be something good for WP to develop.
Your cell phone idea is a good one, but I wouldn’t use it unless my internet connection was down for 24 hours or more. Cell phone charges for data transmission are just too high were I am.
Hey Tricia,
Nice idea. I think it could even be accomplished via a plug-in, rather than a separate standalone software application that the WordPress team has to develop. I suspect that a tech-savvy WordPress programmer could create this without too much trouble. If you’ve got friends in the community who create WP themes or plug-ins already, you should pitch this idea to them. And you wouldn’t need a new piece of software, you could still use your browser.
Here’s how I imagine it functioning:
– Once the plug-in installed, you can perform a one-time set-up of your preferences, under Options –> Working Offline. Here, you can set which folder you’d like WordPress to save your site files to on your local computer.
– You can also specify settings like “leave all images on server†and “do not download themes or plug-ins.â€
– There would be two ways to do business with the “Work Offline†mode: you either start online or start offline. Starting online is for when you have control over your internet connection, and just want to work offline to save by-the-minute dial-up fees or something. Starting OFFLINE is for when your net connection is just completely unavailable.
– To start online, along the very top panel, right beside the link to “View Site,†you could have a check-box link that says “Work Offline.†Once checked, you’d be prompted to specify which files you’ll need for this session. You can exclude entire categories, months, or even specific posts or pages.
– All files that you need will be downloaded to your local computer. All WordPress admin site files will be stored in your browser cache.
– Disconnect from the net. You can now work offline, navigating your entire WP Admin Panel. Saving a ‘draft’ just stores a copy to your local computer.
– To start offline, in the options panel, click the (imaginary, yet-to-be-developed) button that says “Create desktop shortcut.â€
– This would cache all the admin files, download the page & post data you need, just like the first time. This time, however, it creates a desktop shortcut that takes you to a cached copy of WP admin panel in your browser. You can navigate like before, all files get saved locally, and…
– When you’re ready to publish your changes, make sure you’re connected to the net, and uncheck the “Work Offline†box from the top panel. WP confirms with you that you want to publish all the changes you’ve made.
– Viola!
Does this fit the idea you have?
Get Xammp : http://apachefriends.org (didn’t check the url, but should be correct).
Allows tyou to install a localhost with apache, mysql and php. (and anything you like).
But you’ll have to learn how to work with dbases if you really want to use it to serve your purpose.
Sorry, I really don’t see the benefit of this.
I’d rather use Thunderbird and as soon as TB has discovered that I am online again, the entry is send and posted.
Maybe I know too much. Your though IMO really makes no sense. Why not use any of the offline editors that are available? Ecto, the former Performancing editor for FF (think it’s called Scribefire now). And what is wrong with using notepad/wordpad. Hell even use Word (or the blog option in Word 2007 if you have Office 2007).
Localhost, will not make it easier, really not. And it won’t connect either as soon as you’re online again.
Also apps such as above mentioned editors support in many cases a multitude of plugins already. Btw, Flock can work offline.
(I think Franky likes you)