Dan Antion

Giving Up Classic?

I have been using the Block editor for well over a year. I find it annoying, but since I write my posts in Microsoft Word, the annoyance is minimal. On the other hand, most of my posts include more than a few photos. The gallery options in the Block Editor have proven to be less than acceptable. I’ve tried, but they either don’t show up in the preview, or the captions are a mess, or the captions aren’t anywhere to be found. So, I’ve continued to use a Classic Block in which to create the tiled mosaic gallery I prefer.

It seems that holding onto that option may be untenable.

Three times this summer, I’ve had to switch to a different kind of block – after my post has gone live – because the gallery in the classic block has failed to work as advertised. The most recent time was last Thursday. The captions on my doors were not readable when I stepped into the slideshow (technically called the carousel). The option I switched to is the one where the captions are plastered on top of the thumbnail images and those images are all the same size – not my favorite.

The option I want to use is the new mosaic gallery. That’s the one that doesn’t show up when I press the preview option. If in fact that option does work, you will see two galleries today. They will be similar, if not identical. If the new gallery works, I may switch to it, if the Happiness Engineers can fix the preview feature. How long could that take? Haha, I slay me…

Update – I worked with a very nice Happiness Engineer this morning. The gallery does appear in the post, but it still doesn’t appear in the review window. They are working on it.

The forecast said “clear and sunny” – oh well
I wanted to try for a better version of this but Maddie had a different idea
The apple tree
Almost time to try one. They are starting to fall.
It almost looks like a musical score
“Are you the guy my cousin told me about?” – Yes, but I can’t feed you in the park.
In the park they forage for stuff to eat.
Blurry, bee and blossom
The Rose of Sharon bushes are still blooming, but slowing down.
Hi Smokey
“What? Bags of trash – again! Why is my cot standing against the wall?”
“That’s better”
Maddie. That’s my hoodie. That means that’s where I was sitting.
Come on MiMi. It’s time to wake up.
Hang on bunny. One click for River. OK, you can go now.
Half staff for the Marines lost in Afghanistan

84 comments

  1. It doesn’t seem to have worked Dan when I’ve viewed on my phone. I know what you mean though ..it takes me extra long to do posts now because of the block
    So now I’ve just stick to the same formula of just two photos at a time or image. Mosaic doesn’t keep the captions so it’s best just to write in paragraph block. Gallery only seems to look good if the photos are all the same size

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  2. I fear the day when Classic is no longer an option; I have enjoyed blogging a lot but I think I’d have to stop. All good things come to an end, yes? Sometimes even bad things come to an end (we hope). I love your observation about the musical score! And another lovely apple shot. The photo of Maddie on her cot is a true feel-good picture; she does appear to be the empress of all she surveys. Her placid demeanor is proof she doesn’t watch the news — the flag at half-staff is a poignant closing.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  3. All works well on my desktop iMac computer, Dan. I see the captions under each photo when hovering my mouse over them, although to read the longer captions, I have to click on the photo. That’s not a problem for me, though.

    I spoke with the happiness engineers last week about the Classic editor. The Classic block isn’t going anywhere and will always be a part of the Block editor. The old Classic editor will only be available to those who used it before the introduction of the Block editor but only for those who have a paid WordPress plan. However, new users will only be able to use the Classic editor via the Classic block.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  4. I ranted against the block editor for a year, but it’s actually quite user friendly on my iPhone. Of course I don’t use captions and galleries. I figured I’d better get used to it because I know they’re going to ditch classic before long.
    waves hello the the bunny

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  6. I’ve only gone back to Classic once when I wanted to take a page from ‘public’ to ‘private’ and for the life of me couldn’t do it in the Editor. There were a few choice words used due to the frustration and amount of time that simple click took me. I’ve been using the editor block gallery, and the most annoying thing to me is I can’t center the part of the photo I want to show so half the time I just quit trying and delete those photos. Maddie loves Dad even if it is his hoodie. :-)

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • I am getting tired of compromising because they “fixed” what wasn’t broken and left us with a less capable system to use. I use the editor. If the galleries worked as they should, it would be fine – but -they – don’t.

      I’ll send this to them in a little while.

      Maddie does like laying where we were sitting.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. You do of course know that most of what you said went right over my head. But that’s OK I don’t do nearly as much as you guys do. Are usually just have one photo maybe two and classic works for me for everything. I like when Oddment in your comments said: classic goes, so do I. That might be me as well.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  8. I see one “gallery” or slideshow of 16 images on my Windows desktop.

    I have to agree with you when you commented “why is it so hard?” Coding (or whatever the proper term is) for multiple platforms/devices isn’t anything new. It’s not rock science. Then again, maybe it is?

    Good luck!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • It really isn’t hard, Maggie. We did it all the time where I worked. If I didn’t have a device, I send friends an email asking “can you go here and try this?” I get emails like that from my daughter when they add stuff to their company website. I tested on iPhone/iPad, Windows 7, Windows 10 and Macs. I tested Firefox, Chrome, Safari and whatever browse Microsoft had at the time. We didn’t have Android devices, so that’s when I would ask a friend. It’s standard procedure in good development shops.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. I only see one gallery, but it looks great, Dan. I want all things right in MaddieLand, so glad her porch was fixed up for her. Some bloggers say they like Block because of the photo options they have…I wouldn’t know. I stick with Classic. I post one photo–two on a rare occasion, so it works for me. The option I do like, that I think is in Block, is that sliding option for photos. You know the one I mean with the arrow in the middle and you can see two different views of the same photo? It’s pretty cool. But not enough to make me switch from Classic.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Thanks for reporting in, Lois. I like the Block Editor well enough to use it without problems (but I don’t write in the editor). If things worked as they should, it would be fine. But it’s been around for over two years, and it still doesn’t work as advertised.

      Were you guys affected by the storm? Are you OK?

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      • That town where Ida hit is about 2-1/2 hours west of me, so we are on the wrong side. We have been under tornado warnings all day yesterday and today. So much rain, but I cannot imagine what the people in LA are going through. I have been through Cat 2 and 3 hurricanes, but Ida was Cat 4. Some people rode it out….I hope they survived.

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

  10. Dan, why is it that doing good things is so damn hard while doing bad things is incredibly easy? Like food, the stuff that’s good for us tastes bad, and the stuff that’s bad for us tastes good!

    I’m glad Maddie was able to rest on her cot. Looking at that trash again must’ve exhausted her! I love the ‘music notes’ in the sky and Smokey with his peanut because, ya know, they’re in such short supply at your place. 🤗

    Old Glory at half staff is a beautiful picture, but so heartbreaking. Another tragedy in a world full of tragedies.

    As for your hoodie, you’ve heard the saying, “You snooze, you lose”. Maddie’s version is, “ You leave, you lose”.
    Ginger

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Working with this editor is like eating chickpeas and lima beans, Ginger. I think we may have solved the problem.

      Maddie always takes my spot on the couch when I leave. Damn bladder :(

      She was happy to sit (we sat for almost an hour) but she gave me a grumble about those bags.

      I hope you have a nice week, Ginger. The engineers are working on this as we speak.

      Like

      Reply

  11. Hi Dan – as long as you’re there and posting – I’ll be happy … then I’d love to be more ‘with it’ – but I just keep going in my simple way … Blogger has its moments … but oh well if I can connect I’m happy to do so. I enjoyed these photos and the captions … cheers Hilary

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Thanks Hilary. I appreciate your visiting and your comments. I wish Blogger was better about notifications, but I’m on WordPress, so I dare not speak of notification issues ;-)

      Like

      Reply

  13. You slay me too😁I’ve tried everything but what is in the preview rarely shows up on the published post especially in the reader. Text all wonky no matter how I try to correct it.😵‍💫

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  14. This feels so much like a New Coke/Classic Coke story, except the New WP creators weren’t open to saying, “Hey guys, we effed up and we’re going back to the classic formuls for now. Sorry about that.” I don’t try too many galleries anymore because I don’t have the time or patience. It’s stupid.

    What is not stupid, Dan, is your willingness to keep trying and adjusting so that your blogging friends and fans can continue to see sll of your lovely photos. Especially those of the furry ones. Happy Classic Monday!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Thanks Mary. I just want to get this back to being easy. I remember when the hard part about blogging was thinking of something to say.

      If WordPress was responsible for Coke, we’d all be drinking Pepsi.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  15. More WordPress woes. 😞I hope you can get to where you want to be with the blog, Dan. Your photos are beautiful. I love the apple tree, es, time to eat some! Hello bunya. It would seem Maddie is making a statement about her cot being indisposed for her use. How inconvenient for a queen. And a beautiful queen at that. 😉

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • I had the cot tipped up to the wall because we were expecting rain. I didn’t want the queen to have a wet bed. I could have gone out ahead of time, but the last time I did that, she got so excited, she piled the rugs up in front of the door and I had to fight my way in.

      The bunnies around here are getting pretty big. I am going to yank one of those apples tomorrow. I hope you have a great week.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • WP is trying to say I am not following you. Suddenly when I use WP to sign onto your post for liking and comment, my iPad says uncertain page? 🤦‍♀️I hope your week is great too Dan. Let me know how that apple is. 😉

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

        • You might have to “re-follow” me, but it should be the last time you have to do it. Otherwise, try reloading the page. That’s what I do.

          There are two problems, one, your being dropped from my followers, is the one they think they’ve fixed. The second problem is WP inability to remember who you are when yo get to my site. That affects all of us and they haven’t solved it yet.

          Like

          Reply

  16. I feel your pain, Dan. I had all sorts of trouble trying to figure out how to lay out the images for my book covers service page.
    The photos today are a delight. I got tickled at how satisfied Maddie looks to be on her cot. That’s an especially appealing one of the apples. No pun intended, but now that I did… :)
    Hugs on the wing!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  17. Untenable? Between your all in testing and forgetting to include the saturation of coffee index into the formal test script on a Monday I might add I am mostly sure that you jumped right from untenable all the way to untwentyable. Just sayin. Ignoring for the moment the coffee saturation index things appear normal – direct URL access outside the reader using Chrome in Windows 10. How anything appears normal in Windows 10 is a horse of a different color and is definitely outside of the scope of the standardized test script. As for those musical crows pour another coffee and pay close attention to the wings. The piece becomes completely obvious once you catch the beat. Happy Monday Dan. PS I will get the tab on Saturday you have earned it.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  18. I see two sets. The top set shows the captions when you mouse over the photo, the bottom doesn’t. Both show captions when you go into slideshow mode. Nice photos. I’m still on classic and hope I can stay there.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  20. Dan – I don’t seem to have any problems with Block Editor – not that I really understand it. Like you, I work the draft in Word. I am so glad that you are persevering! I enjoy your photos!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  22. Your gallery looks great on my laptop. I would like to try the various photo layout options but the little icons WP uses to to illustrate each one makes no sense to me. And, now that you’ve said that there isn’t a preview option, I may just stick with one photo at a time. WP really needs to get its act together.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  26. A lot of great light in those outdoor photos – especially not clear and not sunny, and also the ‘hang on’ bunny :)
    I bet you remember I hate the block editor. I am glad the Happiness Engineers are nice, but I am full of resentment regardless. I wonder how it would go if I tried copy paste from Google Docs. I shouldn’t have to do that tho. It should just work well. shrug

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • It would probably work. I cut and paste from Word, It automatically creates a new paragraph block at each paragraph break, but the text and some of the format (bold, italics, etc.).

      I’m glad you like the photos. It’s always good to see you :-)

      Like

      Reply

  27. I’ve been working with the Block Editor long enough to feel reasonably comfortable with it. At times it misbehaves, but for the most part it’s okay. Still wouldn’t mind having the Classic Editor instead, though.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Add your thoughts or join the discussion. One relevant link is OK, more require moderation. Markdown is supported.

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.