Joomla Remote Blogging with the MetaWeblog API and ScribeFire

Using Joomla, XML-RPC, MetaWeblog and ScribeFire

Introduction

Blogging can be a real pain in the neck, especially if you have to deal with the supplied editor in a CMS system. Seems like every other site I've ever written a blog post for had some quirky little editor with special codes and conditions I needed to worry about. But you can avoid having to use the default editor if the site is setup for remote blogging via XML-RPC. This article will step you through setting up Joomla for remote blogging.

Gather the Troops

For this to work in Joomla you'll want to download two key plugins for Joomla:

• Real Simple Discovery - Helps client software find services needed to read, edit, or "work with" weblogging software.
• MetaWeblog API - Allows posting to Joomla! remotely using blog editors like ScribeFire.

I use FireFox and ScribeFire for blogging but you can use any MetaWeblog API compatible blogging editor including Windows LiveWriter. I like ScribeFire since it's an add-on to my favorite browser FireFox. Simply download the ScribeFire add-on and install from the Tools/Add-ons menu in FireFox. I'll step you through the connection to Joomla after we install the plugins.

Configure Joomla for XML-RPC

We need to configure Joomla to allow XML-RPC connections. To do this follow the steps below:

• Login to the Joomla administration area
• Go to the Global Configuration
• Click on the tab labeled "System"
• In the System Settings group click the radio button labeled "Yes" next for the "Enable Web Services" setting
• Click the "Save" button
• Go to the Plugin Manager under the Extensions menu
• Select "XMLRPC" from the Type dropdown list on the right side of the Plugin Manager screen
• Disable the two core plugins "XML-RPC - Blogger API" and "XML-RPC - Joomla" and any others that may be installed

Next we'll install the plugins.

Install and Configure the XML-RPC plugin

Use the Extension Manager to install the "metaWeblog XML-RPC API" plugin then do the following:

• Go to the Plugin Manager under the Extensions menu
• Select "XMLRPC" from the Type dropdown list on the right side of the Plugin Manager screen
• Edit the "XML-RPC - metaWeblog API" settings by clicking the Plugin Name in the list or checking the box next to the "XML-RPC - metaWeblog API" name and clicking the Edit button.
• In the Details group click the radio button labeled "Yes" for the Enabled setting
• In the Plugin Parameters select a category from the list for the "Default category" setting. This will place new posts here by default if a specific category isn't selected.
• Click the radio button labeled "Use the Frontpage category" for the "Post articles in the front page" setting. This forces the poster to select the Frontpage category if they need a post to show up on the frontpage.
• Click the "Save" button

Next we'll install the Real Simple Discovery plugin.

Install and Configure the Real Simple Discovery plugin

Use the Extension Manager again to install the "Real Simple Discovery" plugin then do the following:

• Go to the Plugin Manager under the Extensions menu again
• Select "System" from the Type dropdown list on the right side of the Plugin Manager screen
• Edit the "System - Real Simple Discovery (RSD)" settings by clicking the Plugin Name in the list or checking the box next to the "System - Real Simple Discovery (RSD)" name and clicking the Edit button.
• In the Details group click the radio button labeled "Yes" for the Enabled setting
• In the Plugin Parameters select "MetaWeblog" from the list for the "Preferred API" setting. Should be the only one available since we disabled all the others previously.
• Click the "Save" button

Next we'll connect ScribeFire to the blog

Connecting ScribeFire to a MetaWeblog enabled Joomla site

If you haven't done so already install the ScribeFire add-on in FireFox using the Tools/Add-ons menu.

Submitting via XML-RPC involves setting up your remote client to access the Joomla submission URL at http://YourDomainHere.tld/xmlrpc/. The MetaWeblog API and Real Simple Discovery connects Joomla with your external editor for submission. Any editor that uses this protocol should be able to connect to a Joomla site with these plugins setup correctly.

I'll use ScribeFire which is a plugin for FireFox as I've mentioned. The steps for your editor may be different but the API settings should be the same/similar. Once you've opened ScribeFire (F8) click the Launch Account Wizard button. If you already have blogs setup then just click the Add button and do the following:

• Enter http://YourDomainHere.tld/xmlrpc/ in the Blog URL field, replacing "YourDomainHere.tld" with the appropriate domain name for your Joomla site.
• Click the "Next" button.
• Select "Custom Blog" from the drop-down list
• Click the "Next" button.
• Select "MetaWeblog" for blog system type
• Enter http://YourDomainHere.tld/xmlrpc/ in the API URL field, replacing "YourDomainHere.tld" with the appropriate domain name for your Joomla site.
• Click the "Next" button.
• Type in your Username and Password
• Click the "Next" button.
• If you successfully completed the steps above then you should be presented with a dialog that has your name and the Joomla URL listed. Click the button labeled "Next" and then the button labeled "Finish". You'll be ready to go.

Just create articles as you normally would in ScribeFire. When you submit the blog entry be sure to select the an appropriate category from the Categories tab. When you're done editing click the "Publish" button. Your entry might not be immediately visible if you don't have the appropriate access level in Joomla. An Administrator will need to approve the post and make sure all the settings are correct.