Update 12/09/09 - I have just switched hosting providers and as a result the MoveableType plugin mentioned in this article no longer works. However, I switched to the MetaWeblog plugin and functionality was restored. No idea why this is the case, but I am pleased to have a workable solution.

Original This blog, along with the main website it resides in, runs under Joomla with the blogging aspect taken care of by MyBlog from Azrul. Recently I wondered how easy it would be to use it with Windows Live Writer as I quite fancied being able to work offline.

I did a bit of searching and found a number of articles that got me part the way there but there were still a couple of niggling issues so having worked them out I thought I would post something here.

Firstly I have made a few assumptions – a) you have Joomla installed and know how to install new extensions b) you have MyBlog installed c) you have Live Writer installed.

With the housekeeping out of the way we can get started with downloading the MovableType XML-RPC 2.2.1 plugin from Joomler!.net – this file will give Joomla a MovableType API and the version is correct at the time of writing.

When that is downloaded it is now time to log into the administration part of your Joomla installation and upload the package using Extension Manager.

Using Plugin Manager ensure that both XML-RPC – Joomla and XML-RPC – Blogger API plugins are disabled and that the XML-RPC – MovableType API plugin you have just installed is enabled.

Now click on XML-RPC – MovableType API in order to edit the parameters. I have made 2 specific changes to the default as shown in the image below. 1) I have set the default category to MyBlog/MyBlog 2) I have placed the plugin in single category mode. You could use Live Writer to post to all parts of your Joomla installation, but I just want to work with my blog. Don’t forget to save the changes.

The next step is to navigate to Site : Global Configuration : System and ensure that Enable Web Services is set to Yes. Again save if necessary.

We are now finished with making changes to Joomla and can now move onto getting Live Writer setup. Go to Tools : Accounts : Add and click Other blog service.

Enter the address of your blog – in this case it is the same as your Joomla installation. Also enter your Joomla username and password and click remember if you like.

The next stage is to select the blog type. Select Movable Type API from the drop down and enter the remote posting URL in the form http://yourjoomlainstallation/xmlrpc/index.php and click Next.

If everything has been successful Live Writer will now go off and pull some information from your blog. You will be asked if you would like your theme detected. I have had little success with this so suggest that you answer No to this question. Now enter the blog nickname and click Finish.

You should now be able to post with Live Writer. Have fun and happy blogging!