Windows Live Writer - Learn to republish without losing comments

This is a simple step by step, unheard of until now, Windows Live Writer solution to republishing a post to your blog without losing comments.

After a member of the Windows Live Writer team contacted me via email stating this functionality wasn’t available yet, I set about coming up with my own solution for my Blogger Blog problems. To my surprise and delight, it didn’t take all that long.

A word of note: All testing was done on my test blog, so please be advised to do the same thing in order to make sure this solution works for you.

Please, click on the images to view the enlarged snapshots of the whole process.

Step 1: Select post	Step 2: Retrieve post & update

Selecting a post to retrieve is as simple as clicking on the post title, as seen in the “Step 1” and “Step 2” enlarged images. After the post appears make all necessary amendments.

Tip 1: Don't save local draft	Tip 2: Pick a date

The tip here is NOT to utilise the “Save local draft” function as seen in the “Tip 1” enlarged image, as in my testing this will remove your comments if used. The “Save local draft” function is used to save your work prior to publishing.

The other tip is to select a post date, as seen in the “Tip 2” enlarged image. Making it the same as your original posting doesn’t seem to make a difference when it comes to keeping or losing your comments.

Step 3: Republish	Step 4: Post

Once you have made your amendments, select “Publish to blog” as seen in the “Step 3” enlarged image or click on the “Publish” button at the top of the page under the name “File”. Just be careful not to click on “Publish” before you are finished as I did while making this post. Sorry Guys!

The final step as seen in the “Step 4” enlarged image is where Windows Live Writer republishes your post. With all my testing to date, I have managed to save my comments.

Again, just a reminder, DO NOT utilise the “Save local draft” function as you will lose your comments and we don’t want that, do we?

To Max, thank you for the inspiration to write this, as no one would have seen the “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo” YouTube video if you hadn’t mentioned that it wasn’t working.

Useful link:

Windows Live Writer Download Page

To be continued…