How to Redirect Your Personal Home Page to Your Blog @ Penn State
I. Introduction
II. What you need
III. Time Required
IV. Creating the HTML file
VI. Verifying your job
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I. INTRODUCTION
Do you know that once you request a Personal Web Space to build your Blog @ Penn State, you are also creating a personal home page? Yes, when you apply for web space through blogs.psu.edu and the request is approved, you are given a personal URL (www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID) with a default page which is automatically published at the Penn State Directory (See Figure 1).
The following instruction set will help you to redirect your personal URL (www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID) to your blog's home page. Making this quick modification will:
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II. In order to complete this task, you will need
NOTE: the current instructions were written for Windows and Mac users of any version. Current instructions for any other operating system are not available at the moment.
Needing help to find your blog's URL? For details how to find your blog's URL, go to the Troubleshooting section.
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III. Time required
Approximately 10 to 45 minutes. Time depends on method of input used and Internet connection speed.
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IV. Creating the HTML file
This section will guide through creating a HTML file using a program that is installed with your operating system. This procedure can be done WITHOUT Internet connection. For MAC Users, follow instructions of Section A. For Windows users, skip to Section B.
Section A. MAC USERS
1. Open
. You can find this program in the Applications folder.
2. Change the type of text document by going to Format > Make Plain Text (Figure 2). You will notice that the default toolbar and ruler will disappear.
NOTE: The document must be saved in PLAIN TEXT FORMAT. Failing to do so will invalidate the file.
Figure 2. How to change the type of text document in TextEdit screenshot.
3. Type the following information in the new file. If you are using the on-line version of the instruction set, you can COPY and PASTE the code into your file. Figure 3 shows you how this HTML code looks like in plain text.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title></title>
<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="0; url=[URL]">
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
4. Replace [URL] with your blog's URL. Refer to Figure 3.
5. Save the document with the name index.html and in a directory easy to find (Example: the desktop).
NOTE: typing index.html will open a warning message (Figure 4). Select "Use .html" option.
6. Close the document.
Skip to next stage, uploading your file
Section B. WINDOWS USERS
1. Open . You can find this program in the Accessories folder.
2. Copy the following information in the new file. If you are using the on-line version of the instruction set, you can COPY and PASTE the code into your file. Figure 5 shows you how this HTML code looks like in plain text.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title></title>
<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="0; url=[URL]">
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
3. Replace [URL] with your blog's URL. Refer to Figure 5.
4. Save the document with the name index.html and in a place easy to locate (Example: the desktop).
NOTE: type index.html in the File name box and click the Save button (Figure 6). Leave the file type as it is. Failing to do so will invalidate the file.
Figure 6. Screenshot of the "Save As" window. Note what has been written in the File name box and the Save as file type selected before clicking the "Save" button.
5. Close the document.
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Before uploading the HTML file, it is NECESSARY to do a quick TEST at the index.html file.
NOTE: From this section on, available Internet connection IS required.
WARNING! If you are NOT REDIRECTED to your blog's page, CHECK THE TROUBLESHOOTING section before continuing. Failing to do so will consume valuable time.
3. Open your web browser and go to http://explorer.pass.psu.edu/ (See Figure 7).
NOTE: You will be requested to log in your PSU account.
4. Double click on [www] folder. You will notice that the [blogs] and [images] folder will appear in the white box (Figure 8).
5. Click on the
icon. The following window will pop-out:
6. Click on "Browse..." and look for the index.html file you saved in your computer. Notice that under "Upload as", the index.html file name will appear (Figure 9).
7. Click on the button.
NOTE: A warning will appear (Figure 10). Click on OK.
8. Log out from Pass Explorer.
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This procedure will ensure that the document works once they have been uploaded into Penn State Access Account Storage Space (PASS).
Section A. Testing from the Penn State Directory
1. Go to http://www.psu.edu/directory/. You can do it through your current browser window or a new one.
2. Search for yourself. Once you have found your information in the Penn State Directory, you may see the predetermined www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID URL (Figure 11).
3. Click on the URL. If everything is correct, you should be redirected to your blog's home page. If you are NOT REDIRECTED to your blog's page, CHECK THE TROUBLESHOOTING section.
Section B. Testing from the address bar
REMEMBER: PSUID stands for your Penn State Access Account ID. For more information, visit THE ITS KNOWLEDGE BASE and ITS ACCOUNT SERVICES.
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Section A. Updating the URL
If you need to change the URL in the future and you still have the index.html file saved in your computer, you can open it following these steps:
1. Open your default text editor program using the procedure presented in Section A or B of Creating the HTML document part of this instruction set.
2. Click on File and click on Open. The Open... window will appear.
3. Search for the index.html document in your computer. Then, click on Open.
4. Edit the URL.
5. Save, test and upload and verify as before.
Section B. Adding a pause and a message
If you wish to add a message like:
1. Open the index.html file through the procedure presented in the previous section.
2. Modify the information marked in RED:
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title></title>
<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="5; url=[URL]">
</head>
<body>I'm graduating soon, so this URL will go out of service in May 2010. As a result, you are being redirected to my new website. Make sure to bookmark it before closing the web browser.
</body>
</html>
NOTE: The number means how long the pause will be:
3. Save, test, upload and verify the file as before.
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Can I use another text editor program?
Yes. You can use any other text editor program, as long as you can save the file in filtered HTML language. This means that the file is adjusted to be read as an HTML document. Check the software you plan to use for this option.
How do I obtain my blog's URL?
You obtain your blog's URL through the View Site button located in your Blogs @ Penn State Dashboard (Figure 12).
Figure 12. Screenshot of what your Blogs @ Penn State Dashboard. The red box encloses the "View Site" button.
Is there another way to open Notepad.exe?
For older versions of Windows or Windows Vista with Classic Start Menu view:
1. Click on the Start button.
2. Click on Run. The Run box will appear.
3. Type notepad.exe.
4. Click on OK. A new Notepad.exe window should pop-out.
For Windows Vista with Default Start Menu view:
1. Click on the Start button.
2. Type notepad.exe in the search bar.
3. Press the Enter key. A new Notepad.exe window should pop-out.
Is there another way to open TextEdit.app?
1. Click on a place on your desktop.
2. Press and release the Shift+Apple+F keys at the same time. This should open the Search box.
3. Type textedit.app on the search field. A search result will appear (Figure13).
My web browser refreshes automatically without loading my blog.
Open the file and verify that at the end of the URL, you have the quotation symbol. That line should look like this:
If there's no quotation symbol, add it, save the file and upload.
My web browser shows HTML code instead redirecting me to my blog.
Check if you made any deletions or character insertions by mistake. If so, correct the error and save.
What is the advantage of using Notepad (Win) or TextEditor (Mac)?
There is no particular advantage. This guide was written to be used by anyone using the same text program that your operating system uses to open many vital files. Hot it is a program used by your operating system, it SHOULD BE ALREADY INSTALLED in your computer.
IX. For Further Reading
In case you are interested in reading more about PASS Explorer, HTML and other things you can do with the Personal Web Space at Penn State, you can check the following sites:
II. What you need
III. Time Required
IV. Creating the HTML file
A. Mac UsersV. Uploading the HTML file to Pass Explorer
B. Windows Users
VI. Verifying your job
A. Testing from the Penn State DirectoryVII. Going Further
B. Testing from the address bar
A. Updating the URLVIII. Troubleshooting
B. Adding a pause and a message
IX. For Further Reading
- Can I use another text editor program?
- How do I obtain my blog's URL?
- Is there another way to open Notepad.exe?
- Is there another way to open TextEdit.app?
- My web browser refreshes automatically without loading my blog.
- My web browser shows HTML code instead redirecting me to my blog.
- What is the advantage of using Notepad (Win) or TextEditor (Mac)?
- Why should I redirect my personal homepage to my blog?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. INTRODUCTION
Do you know that once you request a Personal Web Space to build your Blog @ Penn State, you are also creating a personal home page? Yes, when you apply for web space through blogs.psu.edu and the request is approved, you are given a personal URL (www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID) with a default page which is automatically published at the Penn State Directory (See Figure 1).
Figure 1. Modified screenshot of a default personal home page, which is not available for modification through your Blogs@Penn State Dashboard. Click on the image for a larger view.
The following instruction set will help you to redirect your personal URL (www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID) to your blog's home page. Making this quick modification will:
NOTE: PSUID stands for your Penn State Access Account ID. For more information, visit THE ITS KNOWLEDGE BASE and ITS ACCOUNT SERVICES.
- Redirect users from the Penn State Directory to your page
- Provide you with a shorter and easier URL to remember
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II. In order to complete this task, you will need
- A Computer with Internet connection
- Your active PSU ID account
- Your active blog's URL
NOTE: the current instructions were written for Windows and Mac users of any version. Current instructions for any other operating system are not available at the moment.
Needing help to find your blog's URL? For details how to find your blog's URL, go to the Troubleshooting section.
________________________________________________________________________________________
III. Time required
Approximately 10 to 45 minutes. Time depends on method of input used and Internet connection speed.
________________________________________________________________________________________
IV. Creating the HTML file
This section will guide through creating a HTML file using a program that is installed with your operating system. This procedure can be done WITHOUT Internet connection. For MAC Users, follow instructions of Section A. For Windows users, skip to Section B.
~~~~
Section A. MAC USERS
1. Open
. You can find this program in the Applications folder.2. Change the type of text document by going to Format > Make Plain Text (Figure 2). You will notice that the default toolbar and ruler will disappear.
NOTE: The document must be saved in PLAIN TEXT FORMAT. Failing to do so will invalidate the file.
Figure 2. How to change the type of text document in TextEdit screenshot.<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title></title>
<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="0; url=[URL]">
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
Figure 3. Screenshot of how HTML code looks like in plain text format. Note that [URL] has been highlighted for instructional purposes of step 4.
4. Replace [URL] with your blog's URL. Refer to Figure 3.
5. Save the document with the name index.html and in a directory easy to find (Example: the desktop).
NOTE: typing index.html will open a warning message (Figure 4). Select "Use .html" option.
Figure 4. Screenshot of the warning message that should appear after saving the index.html file.
6. Close the document.
Skip to next stage, uploading your file
~~~~
Section B. WINDOWS USERS
1. Open . You can find this program in the Accessories folder.
2. Copy the following information in the new file. If you are using the on-line version of the instruction set, you can COPY and PASTE the code into your file. Figure 5 shows you how this HTML code looks like in plain text.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title></title>
<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="0; url=[URL]">
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
Figure 5. Screenshot of how HTML code looks like in plain text format. Note that [URL] has been highlighted for instructional purposes of step 4.
3. Replace [URL] with your blog's URL. Refer to Figure 5.
4. Save the document with the name index.html and in a place easy to locate (Example: the desktop).
NOTE: type index.html in the File name box and click the Save button (Figure 6). Leave the file type as it is. Failing to do so will invalidate the file.
Figure 6. Screenshot of the "Save As" window. Note what has been written in the File name box and the Save as file type selected before clicking the "Save" button.5. Close the document.
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V. Uploading the HTML file to PASS Explorer
Before uploading the HTML file, it is NECESSARY to do a quick TEST at the index.html file.
NOTE: From this section on, available Internet connection IS required.
- Locate the index.html file in your computer.
- Double-click on the index.html file. Your web browser will open and you should be redirected to your blog's home page. Once you have proven this, you are ready to upload the file to the Penn State Access Account Storage Space (PASS) through the PASS Explorer, a web based tool that allows you to replace the default e-portfolio page placed for you at www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID.
WARNING! If you are NOT REDIRECTED to your blog's page, CHECK THE TROUBLESHOOTING section before continuing. Failing to do so will consume valuable time.
3. Open your web browser and go to http://explorer.pass.psu.edu/ (See Figure 7).
NOTE: You will be requested to log in your PSU account.
Figure 7. Screenshot of the Pass Explorer start page.
4. Double click on [www] folder. You will notice that the [blogs] and [images] folder will appear in the white box (Figure 8).
Figure 8. View of what happens when you double click on the [www] folder.
5. Click on the
icon. The following window will pop-out:Figure 8. Upload Files window.
6. Click on "Browse..." and look for the index.html file you saved in your computer. Notice that under "Upload as", the index.html file name will appear (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Upload Files window after selecting the file to upload.
7. Click on the button.
NOTE: A warning will appear (Figure 10). Click on OK.
Figure 10. Upload Files window after selecting the file to upload.
8. Log out from Pass Explorer.
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VI. Verifying your job
Section A. Testing from the Penn State Directory
1. Go to http://www.psu.edu/directory/. You can do it through your current browser window or a new one.
2. Search for yourself. Once you have found your information in the Penn State Directory, you may see the predetermined www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID URL (Figure 11).
Figure 11. Screenshot of what your Penn State Directory Entry should look like. NOTE: The illustration is for educational purposes and the real of certain individuals is not limited to the fields shown.
3. Click on the URL. If everything is correct, you should be redirected to your blog's home page. If you are NOT REDIRECTED to your blog's page, CHECK THE TROUBLESHOOTING section.
~~~~
Section B. Testing from the address bar
- Type www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID in the address bar. You can do it through your current browser window or a new one. If everything is correct, you should be redirected to your blog's home page. If you are NOT REDIRECTED to your blog's page, CHECK THE TROUBLESHOOTING section.
REMEMBER: PSUID stands for your Penn State Access Account ID. For more information, visit THE ITS KNOWLEDGE BASE and ITS ACCOUNT SERVICES.
________________________________________________________________________________________
VII. Going Further
1. Open your default text editor program using the procedure presented in Section A or B of Creating the HTML document part of this instruction set.
2. Click on File and click on Open. The Open... window will appear.
3. Search for the index.html document in your computer. Then, click on Open.
4. Edit the URL.
5. Save, test and upload and verify as before.
~~~~
Section B. Adding a pause and a message
If you wish to add a message like:
- "You are being redirected... Please Wait" or
- "I'm graduating soon, so this link will go out of service in May 2010. As a result, you are being redirected to my new website. Make sure to bookmark it before closing the web browser."
1. Open the index.html file through the procedure presented in the previous section.
2. Modify the information marked in RED:
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title></title>
<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="5; url=[URL]">
</head>
<body>I'm graduating soon, so this URL will go out of service in May 2010. As a result, you are being redirected to my new website. Make sure to bookmark it before closing the web browser.
</body>
</html>
NOTE: The number means how long the pause will be:
- 0 = no pause
- 1 = 1 second pause
- 2 = 2 seconds pause
- 3 = 3 seconds pause and so on...
3. Save, test, upload and verify the file as before.
________________________________________________________________________________________
VIII. Troubleshooting
Can I use another text editor program?
Yes. You can use any other text editor program, as long as you can save the file in filtered HTML language. This means that the file is adjusted to be read as an HTML document. Check the software you plan to use for this option.
~~~~
How do I obtain my blog's URL?
You obtain your blog's URL through the View Site button located in your Blogs @ Penn State Dashboard (Figure 12).
Figure 12. Screenshot of what your Blogs @ Penn State Dashboard. The red box encloses the "View Site" button.~~~~
Is there another way to open Notepad.exe?
For older versions of Windows or Windows Vista with Classic Start Menu view:
1. Click on the Start button.
2. Click on Run. The Run box will appear.
3. Type notepad.exe.
4. Click on OK. A new Notepad.exe window should pop-out.
For Windows Vista with Default Start Menu view:
1. Click on the Start button.
2. Type notepad.exe in the search bar.
3. Press the Enter key. A new Notepad.exe window should pop-out.
~~~~
Is there another way to open TextEdit.app?
1. Click on a place on your desktop.
2. Press and release the Shift+Apple+F keys at the same time. This should open the Search box.
3. Type textedit.app on the search field. A search result will appear (Figure13).
Figure 13. A screenshot of the Mac search box. The search field is located at the upper right corner. The TextEdit application has been highlighted for instructional purposes. Note that the "Kind" field states "Application"
4. Double click on TextEdit.app. Note that the kind of file should say "Application" (See Figure 13.)
4. Double click on TextEdit.app. Note that the kind of file should say "Application" (See Figure 13.)
~~~~
My web browser refreshes automatically without loading my blog.
Open the file and verify that at the end of the URL, you have the quotation symbol. That line should look like this:
<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="0;url=http://www.personal.psu.edu/PSUID/blogs/blogname/">
If there's no quotation symbol, add it, save the file and upload.
~~~~
My web browser shows HTML code instead redirecting me to my blog.
Check if you made any deletions or character insertions by mistake. If so, correct the error and save.
~~~~
What is the advantage of using Notepad (Win) or TextEditor (Mac)?
There is no particular advantage. This guide was written to be used by anyone using the same text program that your operating system uses to open many vital files. Hot it is a program used by your operating system, it SHOULD BE ALREADY INSTALLED in your computer.
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Why should I redirect my personal homepage to my blog?
By redirecting your personal homepage to your blog, people that search you by the Penn State Directory will be able to arrive to your blog, instead of a dead end.
By redirecting your personal homepage to your blog, people that search you by the Penn State Directory will be able to arrive to your blog, instead of a dead end.
And the best of all, is the URL advantage. By doing redirecting your personal home page to your blog @ Penn State, you will have a URL easier to remember and with a professional look!
- Faculty members: Faculty members might like to make a special blog for this purpose, where they post the courses taught, sample course syllabus and some information of their professional interests. In this way, students planning to schedule a course may find more information about the Instructor by searching them through the Penn State Directory.
- Students: Take advantage of the Penn State Directory and the blogs @ Penn State to build a web résumé and publish your most outstanding schoolwork. This will be an excellent add-on to your paper résumé, where potential employers can go and take a look at your work in more detail.
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IX. For Further Reading
In case you are interested in reading more about PASS Explorer, HTML and other things you can do with the Personal Web Space at Penn State, you can check the following sites:
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