How to install a new template using the HTML code
October 23, 2007 Filed under: Blogger Templates, Customize your Blogger Template, Free Blogger Templates 2 Comments
The Blogger templates offered here are now available in either XML or "template code" format in the Templates section of this site. To learn how to install the XML templates, take a look at this tutorial which explains the process in detail. For those who prefer to copy and paste the code for new templates, here are some tips to help make the process easier.
The template code for each template can be found on the download page in the "templates" section of this site inside a scrolling "iframe" section. To use this, you will need to paste the entire section of code into the Edit HTML section in your Blogger dashboard, instead of the code which is currently there.
Often readers contact me because they have experienced errors when installing new templates in this way. Usually such errors are caused because a part of the template code has been left out when copying, or because a part of the old template still remains.
The method I use to install the HTML code for new templates prevents the dreaded "your template could not be parsed" error code from appearing by ensuring all of the new template code is copied, and none of the old template remains in the Edit HTML window when the new template is installed. This method uses keyboard shortcuts, which simplifies the process, and is also much faster than other methods too!
How I install template code
- Fisrt, make a backup of your existing template in case you decide to revert back to this later on.
- When you have decided on the template you would like to install, put your cursor inside the scrolling iframe box which contains the template code (it doesn't matter where, as long as it's inside this box!). Then hold CTRL (or CMD for Mac users) and press A. This should highlight all of the text within the scrolling box. Then while this text is highlighted, key CTRL/CMD + C, which will copy all of the highlighted text to your cliploard
- Next, go to Template>Edit HTML in your blogger dashboard. Check the "expand widget templates box" and again, place your cursor inside the box containing your template code.
- Once again, key CTRL/CMD + A to highlight all of the text within this box. Then key CTRL/CMD + V. This function will paste the new template from your clipboard over the existing template, which ensures the old template is completely removed.
- You can now preview your new template to ensure you like the new appearance before saving it. Using this method, if you decide you don't like the new template, you can simply click the "clear edits" button, and your old template will still be in place.
I hope this method works well for you too. It certainly is worth giving this a try if you have experienced error messages when trying to paste the html code for a new template.
Please feel free to leave your comments and opinions below.
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My name is Amanda Fazani and I write Blogger Buster to help other Blogger users make the most of their Blogger blogs.
I tried to download the super custom template by following the install a Blogger template using the HTML code method as described. Blogger provided the following message:
Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: The document type declaration for root element type "html" must end with '>'.
I couldn't find the cause for this error message in your code.
Any ideas??
For Gator Bingo: I haven't yet uploaded an HTML version of the Super Custom template. I think the problem is most likely that you've tried to copy and paste the content of this XML file as HTML (as they are slightly different in the mark-up code).
To install the XML template, you would need to download this file to your computer, then install using the "Install a new template" feature in the Edit HTML page of your blog. You should be able to save the XML file if you right click the link and choose "Save As..".
If you prefer, I could send you the HTML code for the Super Custom template which you could copy and paste as HTML code. Let me know by sending me an email, then I'll be able to send this as a text file for you to use.
Hope this will be helpful to you!
Best wishes,
Amanda