Problem

You want to be able to make posts quickly from your browser.

Solution

Set up a QuickPost bookmarklet using the link on the Main Menu.

Discussion

A bookmarklet is a small JavaScript program that can be stored as a URL within a bookmark in most popular web browsers, or within hyperlinks on a web page.

Setting up a QuickPost bookmarklet to post to Movable Type allows you to perform one-click posting and publishing without ever using the Movable Type CMS interface.

Movable Type's QuickPost utility allows you to customize the layout and fields on your QuickPost page. For example, you might want the ability to add excerpts through the QuickPost window. By default, a QuickPost window will always have: a pulldown menu for the weblog to post to, a pulldown menu to select the Post Status (Draft or Publish) of the new entry, a text entry box for the title of the entry, and a text entry box for the entry body.

Click the "Set up a QuickPost Bookmarklet" link under the System Shortcuts found on the Main Menu. Select which fields you would like to see displayed in your QuickPost bookmarklet and click create. Movable Type will generate a small JavaScript link that you can "install" by placing it in your browser's Bookmarks or Favorites toolbar.

After installing QuickPost, you can post from anywhere on the web. When viewing a page that you want to post about, click the "QuickPost" bookmark to open a popup window with a special Movable Type editing window. From that window you can select a weblog, enter your post, and publish.

Setting up QuickPost as a Windows Right-Click Menu Option

If you are running Internet Explorer on Windows, you can install a QuickPost option into the context-sensitive right-click menu. Click on the "Add QuickPost to Windows right-click" menu link that was also generated while creating the QuickPost bookmarklet. Accept the browser prompt to "Open the File." You will then need to quit your browser and restart it before you are able to see the QuickPost link in the right-click menu.