Solution to Expandable Post Problem

Latest Update: Great big apologies: I left out one </span> in Step 2 below. I've since added this missing </span> in bold coral pink--you can't miss it.

Previous posts:
September 2004 - Wrote to Blogger Help but it's been days and still no word. Was wondering if anyone knows how to prevent the "Read more here" link from appearing after every single post. I just want it to appear for posts where there actually IS more to read. Ho hum.

16 June 2005- Help from Blogger Help never came. Or, do I recall receiving a message to the effect of, "There is no solution. Live with it."--yeah, maybe that was it.

Anyhow, you may or may not have noticed that I figured it out. Not by myself, but with the aid of the excellent Blogger Forum. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the original thread *, so I am going to have to actually use my brain and attempt to recollect what the heck I did, because Obachan asked, and I'm something of a sucker for a call for help (even if my assistance if often of the incompetent, and sometimes even erroneous, variety). Heh, now you are all terrified to take my advice, yes?

Sadly, I'm all you've got--believe me, I Googled. Okay, let's begin, class [mwa ha ha!].

1. Go to your blogger Template. Right before </style>, paste the following:
   
   <MainOrArchivePage>
   span.fullpost {display:none;}
   </MainOrArchivePage>
   
   <MainOrArchivePage>
   span.shortpost {display:none;}
   </MainOrArchivePage>
   
   <ItemPage>
   span.fullpost {display:inline;}
   </ItemPage>



2. After <$BlogItemBody>, paste:
   
   <MainOrArchivePage><br />
   <a href="<$BlogItemPermalinkURL$>">Read more!</a>
   </MainOrArchivePage></span>
   
   
3. Save your template and republish the blog.



4. Go to Settings, then Formatting, then scroll down the page to find Post Template. Whatever you type in this text box will appear in each new draft. Type in:
   
   <span class="fullpost"></span>
   
   and (in the following line to prevent confusion):
   
   <span class="shortpost">.



5. Here comes the extra work. When you click Create (new post), you'll see both <span class="fullpost"></span> and <span class="shortpost">.
   
   If you write a short post, and don't want the "Read more!" link, then erase <span class="fullpost"></span> from your draft and make sure <span class="shortpost"> is at the very end of your post.
   
   If you write a long post, then erase <span class="shortpost">. Paste <span class="fullpost"> where you want the "Read more!" link to appear, and paste </span> at the very end of your post.

Make sense? God I hope so.

I really am incompetent when it comes to HTML and coding however, so if you follow my directions and things don't work out, I truly recommend asking someone over at the Blogger Forum. The people over there are very nice and almost all my blogging questions have been answered by them.

*I did find a different thread, but the person's suggested solution sounded a lot more complicated than what I do, so I think my way is better.