So I’ve spent some more time using BlogEngine.Net.  While I STILL wish I had a simpler front-end experience now that I’ve broken down and cracked open the source code, I’m able to make some of the changes I wanted.  Unfortunately, I also realized today that my Web Hosting provider (Network Solutions) has only maed BlogEngine.Net ver. 1.1 available for my site while the BlogEngine.Net team is on release 1.5.  So some of the frustration I’m dealing with may simply be result of using an initial software release.

Nevertheless, I recognize that all the time I’m spending updating code and stylesheets could be spent doing something else . . . like working on my book!

More on that in future posts.  (MUCH more!)

I also confirmed that the blog post editor (ast least ver. 1.1), does not work on the iPhone/iPod Touch.  When I click into the editor pane using Safari, the keyboard disappears.  I suppose I could draft my posts and paste them in, but them I’m back to wasting time trying to "work the tools" instead of actually working with them.

Ugh!

I’m in the process of trying out new blogware for my site. 

This is BlogEngine.Net!

So far, not impressed.  I’ve worked with many site development tools over the years, written my own code, etc. For this site, I need administration tools which are very point-and-click, drop-and-drag. We use SharePoint at work for the blogs and collaboration spaces I manage there.  And while SharePoint has its disadvantages, once you know what they are and come up the learning curve, you can create some powerful, user-friendly sites.

So far, I don’t see any way to add controls (widgets) from the Admin console.  The various controls I DO want are spread across different stylesheets that only show up when I change themes.  Oh yeah, and I use Firefox (A LOT) and right now this post is being entered into an edit panel which is forcing me to scroll left and write to see my text because it’s running off the screen in both directions!  (I’ve confirmed this behavior using Internet Explorer and Safari using my iPod Touch as well.)

Nice! {not}

I also appear to be stuck with the original Admin ID I chose when I installed the software and see no way to edit or add new admins.  Oh and BlogEngine, this is 2009.  I know I’m not the only person in the world with a hyphenated last name.  Please update your software to allow "-" in the Admin name!

I’ll quit here for now.  I think I may have already seen enough.