PLEASE NOTE: this is work in progress and may refer to features not yet available in mainline vanilla. please use the information contained herein with caution. ask on the vanilla-pudding mailing list if you have any questions.

Vanilla's weblog system knows a thing we refer to as "weblog mode". And there are two such modes:

Day-based blogging refers to a weblog mode with one untitled weblog posting per day. Postings that appear in the day-based weblog are snips that follow a YYYY-MM-DD naming convention.

Item-based blogging is a weblog mode with multiple titled weblog postings per day. Postings that appear in the item-based weblog are snips that follow a YYYY-MM-DD-title naming convention.

Vanilla's weblog system is per default configured to automatically handle both weblog modes in a nice way if you simply stick to the naming conventions. While Vanilla has even more magic under its covers to transparently switch modes if you switch 'em, we suggest that you stick to one mode - helps staying sane, you know.

If you want a pure day-based blogging, don't bother with the item template at all and customize the day template. If you want pure item-based blogging, you should start with a day template containing nothing but [content] and then go on to modify the item template so that it suits your needs.