It is strange how you use something day in and
day out for years and are quite happy with it.
Then one day you notice something not quite right, and cannot rest until
you have put it right.
This week it was the index to this blog. Right from the start I have used the labels
function on the right of the blog as an index.
I am not quite sure, but I think it was Bob Cordery of Wargaming Miscellany
Blog, Conference of Wargamers (COW) and the series of books about Portable
Wargaming fame who suggested it. Bob
gave me some excellent advice when I started blogging, and I am sure that was
one of his suggestions.
Anyway, it has served me well for eleven
years. But last week I was looking for
an old blog and could not find it in the index.
Worse still I realised what a shambles it had become. Each time I wrote a blog I listed it under
one of the existing subjects, or else just added a new one. Recently I have been writing a lot about my
ongoing 1813 campaign, and have used the name of the current campaign phase on
the index. The result was along list of
campaigns, with little indication of what the blog entry was about.
So on Tuesday I sat down and wrote a new index
on excel. I just listed each subject on
the existing index. Then I chopped and
changed them about, added new subjects and put them in alphabetical order
within subject groups.
It sounds easy, but not when you consider that
I have 807 blog entries. Each one had to
be opened and given a new reference number and sometimes name. Worse still once I started opening them I
wanted to read them again!
It has only taken two days to complete, but it
was pretty full on. I enjoyed doing it,
and am pleased with the result. As with
most things to do with blogging, we do it for our own satisfaction. I do not expect anyone else to actually use
the index, but for me it makes the blog seem more complete.
If any of you serious bloggers are looking for
a summer project, whether due to lockdown or retirement, I would strongly recommend
it.
I wish you could select labels within labels. Unless I'm missing something you can only go down one level. Certainly requires some discipline when using labels. I tend to stick to period, rules, brands and occasionally theme or subject.
ReplyDeleteBut it certainly pays off.
Hi SOY
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
I think you can overcome the "labels within labels" problem to an extent
I have used general headings and then sub headings. For example
40 - Wargame - Nostalgia
41 - Wargame - Rules
But it does require planning it all ahead, and then leaving gaps in the numbering to allow you to add sub headings to the same subject later.
I think your system of periods, rules brands etc is pretty well the accepted standard. And more than adequate for purpose.
regards
Paul