Rich Text Editor

When you compose a post or a page for your blog, you utilize an editor to make it easier to add multimedia, formatting, links, and more. Typepad uses the opensource TinyMCE 4.2.5 editor which offers both Rich Text and HTML editing.

Rich Text vs. HTML Editing

The Post and Page editor gives you the option to compose in an WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) environment or by using code. Most will use the Rich Text editor which will allow you to see the content you are adding, including images and formatting, as it will appear on the published blog.

When to use the HTML editing option? If you prefer to edit your posts using code, you would click to the HTML tab and select either Markdown or Convert Line Breaks. Additionally, you may need to use the HTML tab to add HTML code for widgets, ads, and other embedded elements. Learn more.

Rich Text Editor

The Rich Text editor offers over 30 buttons and drop-down menus which allow you to apply formatting, insert multimedia, and more. Hover over any button to see the description as shown in the below screenshot.

Most of the options in the drop-down menus are also available as quick use buttons in the horizontal toolbar.

Insert

The Insert options allow you to add multimedia, including audio, video, and images, links, special characters, and more.

• Insert/Edit Video: Enter the URL or embed code for videos hosted at Vimeo, YouTube, and other video hosting websites. Learn more. For information on uploading videos to your Typepad account and embedding, see the article on uploading video files.
• Insert Audio: Upload and embed audio files. Learn more.
• Insert Image: Upload and embed photos in the body of a post or page. Learn more.
• Insert Link: Add an active link to the body of a post or page. Learn more.
• Special Characters: Insert accented letters and other special characters.
• Horizontal Line: Adds a solid line within the post or page body.
• Anchor: Inserts an anchor at the specified location. Learn more.
• Page Break: Inserts a page break within the post. The content above the page break will appear on index pages followed by a Continue reading link to view the extended post entry. Learn more.
• Nonbreaking Space: Adds   as a nonbreaking space to the post or page.

View

The View menu provides you with options for displaying hidden content to help you organize the post or page while you are composing. The hidden content will not display on the published blog only in the compose window. You can also select to view the editor in Full Screen mode or open the source code for quick edits in a pop-up menu.

Format

The Format menu provides you with the standard formatting of Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikethrough, Superscript, and Subscript. Additionally, you can use the Clear Formatting option to remove any applied formatting from highlighted text.

Additional Formats are also available:

• Headers: Apply headers 1-6 to a selected section of text. The smaller the number of the header, the more important the text should be considered by search engines. Header 3 (H3) is the most common for headings in the body of the post. By default, the post and page titles are H2.
• Inline: Apply inline formatting, including Bold and Italic, to selected text.
• Alignment: Apply Left, Center, Right, or Justify alignment to selected text.

Table

The Table menu gives you the option to embed a table within the body of a post or page.

Use the Insert Table option to select the number of rows and columns of the table. You can drag the handles around the table in the Body window to expand the cells. The Tables menu has additional options to set the properties of the entire table and individual cells, rows, and columns.

Tip: Select to show Visual Aids from the View drop-down menu to see the outline of the table's cells in the Body window for easier editing of cells.

Additional buttons of note in the Rich Text toolbar:

• Blockquote: Intents selected text as a quote and applies special formatting.
• Bullet List: Insert an unordered list with circle, square, or disc style of bullets.
• Numbered List: Insert a numbered list with default numbering or alpha, Greek, or Roman numerals.
• Decrease Indent
• Increase Indent
• Font Family: Select a style of font from the drop-down menu. If not selected, the default font family set for the design will be used.
• Font Size
• Text Color: Select a color to apply to the font or select Custom to enter a color code.
• Background Color: Select a color to appear behind the font or select Custom to enter a color code. The background color should dramatically contrast with the font color for the best reading experience.
• File: Click the File button which looks like a folder to upload and embed a download link to a file. Most file types are supported for uploading in this way. Example file types: PDF, DOC, TXT Learn more.

Restore Content

The Restore Content button at the end of the toolbar is an important tool to use in case you happen to lose your work due to an internet connection interuption, browser or computer crash, or mistaken closure of a browser window. When you return to the Compose page for your blog, click the Restore Content button to see the most recent versions of a post or page available and choose one to restore.

Please note cookies must be enabled in your browser in order for the restore feature to work. Clearing browser cookies will remove any previously saved versions.

HTML Editor

The HTML editor allows you to compose your post using HTML and other code. It is not recommended unless you are familiar with code or need to add complex code, like script, to your post or page.

While some formatting buttons are available in the toolbar, not all Rich Text options are available when working in the HTML editor. Multimedia can be uploaded and inserted using the toolbar buttons. Clicking a formatting button in the HTML, Convert Line Breaks, or Markdown will automatically place the necessary HTML within the body of the post or page.

There are 3 options for editing with HTML:

• HTML: The default HTML tab allows you to use standard HTML. Paragraphs will not automatically be inserted.
• Convert Line Breaks: The Convert Line Breaks editor automatically inserts paragraphs without the need to use HTML though all other formatting will be added with HTML.
• Markdown: The Markdown editor allows you to use the markdown formatting shortcuts within the post. Learn more.

Important Notes

• For optimal performance, please make sure you are using a supported browser. Learn more.
• To move to a new line, rather than a new paragraph, use the Shift and Enter keys. Using Enter will create a new paragraph in the Rich Text and Convert Line Breaks editors. Learn more.
• In some cases, the default font used for the blog design will show in the editor. In other cases, the editor will use a default font (Arial). You do not need to override the default editor font to the font used in the blog design. Your posts will use whatever font is set for your theme, unless you specifically override it using the font controls in the editor.
• In some browsers, text needs to be selected before formatting is applied. The formatting options must be applied to selected text, rather than "turned on" before you type.

Updated 19 October 2015

Not quite what you are looking for? Check out these other articles:

• If you are looking for more font family options, check out the article on applying Google Web Fonts.
• For tips on making additional design changes with CSS, see the Custom CSS article.
• To create a custom, responsive design, you can use the Design Lab and choose for dozens of fonts for posts and pages.