From Your Desktop to EE

The Metaweblog API (Application Programming Interface) Module in Enxpression Engine is an interface or "protocol" that will allow other programs to interact with the backend of your publishing system remotely. In practical terms, this would allow you to post an entry to a Metaweblog API-compatible site from an external program.

ExpressionEngine supports the Metaweblog API as well as an extension to it known as the Movable Type API. It is important to understand that the Metaweblog API was originally written without support for comments or trackbacks, with only one entry field. Thus, it is very limited by its own nature in what it can do. The Movable Type API is slightly more flexible in that it supports up to four entry fields.

EE docs on MetaweblogAPI



This is an example post from Ecto, a desktop publishing interface to ExpressionEngine.  Installation for Mac's and Windows, it uses an API to publish right to your ExpressionEngine site from your desktop. A perfect answer to many common issues. The biggest one of which is the limitations of WYSIWYG editors with ExpressionEngines advanced features.

1. WYSIWYG Editor
2. One can publish from their desktop.
3. It's as simple and easy as using any text editor.
4. No need to go on line and login to CP.
5. Save new drafts locally, excellent for off line or remote working (ie: laptop on a plane).
6. Excellent spell checker. (I know you don't need one...right?).
7. Publish live, or set permissions to draft only in EE for authors
8. Settings to notify admin on new posts
9. Many more, which will be added here soon!

OK, It really is easy to use. The Rich Text Editor is an often requested feature, but few developers like them (Me most of all!). Clients often request them, so what to do? Use ecto!

Ecto

To connect with Ecto, you will need the URL provided for your configuration as well as your member login information.

Using this information, Ecto will contact the API server to determine if that user is valid and what weblogs they are permitted to access. It then contacts the API Server and downloads recent entries for all of those weblogs. Ecto does not provide a method for specifying a particular weblog, thus you will receive all weblogs for which your user has access.

Text Formatting

All the normal options, font, size, and color. With xhtml and Web Standards being a requirement, I recommend testing afterwards.

Then maroon. bold, verdana, 12pt, maroon, italic
Test this.  is font size 9.75pt, Tahoma, black, strong, and italic. It also validates.

Images

Ecto has image resizing and thumbnailing otions with upload capabilities. Personally I feel EE has better, but is a choice. Try it out and use your preference.

ExpressionEngine has more than excellent image and thumbnailing capabilities, when publishing from your desktop, You may want to use the one in ecto. These two screenshote demonstrate using ecto's capabilities. I recommend publishing from Ecto and doing the images afterwards from within EE, but both options are available. Ecto also has the option of a plugin (included) to use Flickr, and another for Amazon. Here is the thumb screen. Where it says upload destination at the top, movable type only, EE is using the MT API so this can be used. One can even edit and customize the image code for the images, popup code etc.

This article will be extended and added to as time allows. This is a very useful add on to ExpressionEngine which few know to use to it's full potential.

[composed and posted with ecto]

Part Two of this series will cover using your cellphone/email to post to EE.

One has the default fields enabled, body and extended. For custom field use one will have to do that part from within the EE control panel.

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