How to Access a Tumblr Blog Via Windows Live Writer

Windows Live Writer is a blogging app integrated with Windows that allows bloggers to access, manage and post to a variety of online blogs, including WordPress and Blogger, from a single desktop program. Unfortunately, as of August 2011, Live Writer doesn't support Tumblr. You can get around this issue, however, but using a Ping.fm plugin called XPollinate, which serves as a middleman between Live Writer and Tumblr. Once you've set up the plugin, you can access your Tumblr blog from within the program to manage and publish blog posts.

Instructions

1. Open your browser. Navigate to Ping.fm. Create an account by entering your information into the text fields on the homepage; click "Register." A list of available social and blogging platforms appears. Click "Add Network" next to "Tumblr." Enter your Tumblr email address and password, and click "Sumbit." Your Tumblr blogs are now connected to your Ping.fm account.

2. Download and install the latest Windows .NET Framework from Microsoft.com.

3. Download and install the XPollinate plugin from xpollinate.codeplex.com. Double-click the downloaded file, and then follow the on-screen prompts to install it.

4. Click the Windows orb and type "Windows Live Writer" into the search field and press "Enter" on your keyboard to open Windows Live Writer. Click "Tools," then "Options." Click "Plugins." Click "XPollinate" from the list. Press the "Options" button. Locate the Ping.fm key field.

5. Open your Web browser. Enter "Ping.fm/key" into the URL field, and press "Enter." A unique key is displayed. Enter the key into the Ping.fm key field on Windows Live Writer. This connects your Ping.fm account with the XPollinate plugin on Windows Live Writer.

6. Check "Post via Ping.fm." Click your Tumblr blog from the first drop-down menu, and click "OK." Use Windows Live Writer to manage your Tumblr blog via the XPollinate plugin connecting the two.