integrating rss into your web site

Integrating RSS into Your Web sitePart 1:

Introduction

Michael SauersTechnology Innovation

LibrarianNebraska Library

CommissionInternet Librarian 2007

Introductions

NameLibraryPositionDoes your library use RSS? If so, how?Why are you here?

What is RSS?

Depending on who you ask it stands for either “Really Simple Syndication”, “Rich Site Summary”, or “RDF Site Summary”.

“Really Simple Syndication” is the de facto definition today.

RSS is an XML language for syndicating items on the Internet.

The History of RSS

RSS 1.1 (update to RSS 1.0), RSS 3.0 (a new, independent project), and “Simple Sharing Extensions” (an update to RSS 2.0 by Microsoft) have all been proposed but have had no impact yet.

How does RSS work?

Information Provider

Information Receiver

How does RSS work?

The information provider creates an RSS file.

Users subscribe to the file via an aggregator.

When the author updates the RSS file, the user is automatically notified of the new items and may read them on their schedule.

Are there differentversions of RSS?

Yes. In fact, there are currently eight different versions:RSS 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 1.0, 2.0, & Atom Feeds

Each has different features from the author’s point of view.

Today’s aggregators support all of the versions transparently.

RSS 2.0 & Atom are the most common.

Implications of RSSInformation is received in a single locationInformation is received quicklyThe need to visit the originating Web site is

reducedand…

The possible end of this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0“> <channel> <title>Nebraska Library Commission Blog</title> <link>http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/blogs/NLC/</link> <description>Bringing together people and information</description> <language>en</language> <copyright>Copyright 2007</copyright> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 10 May 2007 07:34:17 -0600</lastBuildDate> <generator>http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/</generator> <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs> <item> <title>New depository directories</title> <description>

<![CDATA[<p>The directories of Nebraska's federal and state depository libraries got a new look recently. Contact names and emails of library staff will be updated automatically when our comprehensive library directory is updated. The depository directories are located at <a href="http://http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/ docs/nefed.asp">http://http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/docs/nefed.asp</a></p>]]> </description> <link>http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/blogs/NLC/2007/05/new_depository_directories.html</link> <guid>http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/blogs/NLC/2007/05/new_depository_directories.html</guid> <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Information Resources</category> <pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 07:28:43 -0600</pubDate> </item> </channel></rss>

What does RSS look like?

How can I find feeds?

Feedster

Bloglines

BlogrollsA list of blogs/feeds read by another blogger

Look for the orange icon…

How do I subscribe to a feed?

Look for the orange iconhttp://www.feedicons.com/

Depending on your aggregator, the subscription procedure may range from copying and pasting the link to right-clicking and selecting “subscribe”.

Podcasts

Uses RSS to syndicate audio content

RSS 2.0 <enclosure>Like adding an attachment to an e-mail

Audio FormatsMP3 (Open Source)AAC (Apple Proprietary)

iPod not necessary

Podcasts in iTunes

Notable Feeds

Librarian.netwww.librarian.net

LISNewswww.lisnews.com

The Shifted Librariantheshiftedlibrarian.com

The Travelin’ Librariantravelinlibrarian.info

Tame the Webtametheweb.com/ttwblog

Unshelvedwww.overduemedia.com

PaperCutspapercuts.tscpl.org

• Gizmodowww.gizmodo.com

• Security Now!www.grc.com/securitynow.htm

• Inside The Net &This Week in Tech (TWiT)thisweekintech.com

• Boing Boingboingboing.net

• Google News• isbn.nu• del.icio.us• flickr

Integrating RSS into Your Web sitePart 2:

Reading Feeds

What is an Aggregator?

An aggregator is a type of software that retrieves syndicated Web content that is supplied in the form of a web feed (RSS, Atom and other XML formats), and that are published by weblogs, podcasts, vlogs, and mainstream mass media websites.-Wikipedia

It’s what you need to retrieve and read RSS feeds.

What are the differenttypes of aggregators?

Standalone ClientsFeedReader, Radio UserLand

PIM add-insPluck, NewsGator, intraVnews

Browser add-insFirefox, Sage

Web-basedBloglines, NewsIsFree

A list is available @http://www.lights.com/weblogs/rss.html

Why do I need an aggregator?

Most importantly it makes the content of the feed readable

Checks for updates automaticallyNotifies you of new informationDisplays only new items for youMay allow you to sort and save information

RSS file in IE6

Atom file w/ associated style sheet

Firefox 2.0

Internet Explorer 7

Types of Aggregators

ClientAdd-onBuilt-inServer-basedWeb-based service

FeedReader (client)

Pluck (add-on for IE)

Firefox 1.5

Netscape 8

IE7beta 2

Feed on Feeds (server)

Bloglines (Web-based service)

Subscribing to a feed

Integrating Bloglines w/ Firefox 2.0

The Bloglines Bookmarklet

Integrating RSS into Your Web site Part 3:

Creating Feeds

How do I create a feed?

Hand-rolledYou type the markup and the content

Semi-automatedYou type the content, software generates the markup.

Fully-automatedYou put the content in your blog and software generates a feed based on that content.

FeedSpring

LimitationsLocal installation limits mobility and posters

to a single computer.No built-in FTP. Must transfer the .xml file to

the server manually.Still in beta (but what isn’t these days?)

RapidFeeds: FeedManager

LimitationsRegistration does not work with newer e-mail

addresses. (Insisted my .info address was invalid.)

Does not allow publishing to another server so if the company disappears, your feed goes with it.

ListGarden

LimitationsDepending of type of server installed on, may

not be secure. (i.e. no passwords on cgi-bin directories.)

LimitationsSolid knowledge of HTML required to get

parsing correct.Works better on pages with simpler layouts.The validation code “will change each month

and you will need to visit this page for the new code.” (Though I’ve found feeds continue to work without updating the code.)

“If you are using this tool to publish an RSS feed from your website, then you must include a visible HTML link to www.wotzwot.com on your site next to the link to your feed like the following: ‘Powered by RSSxl’”

Sabifoo

LimitationsThird party service could disappear at any

time.Doesn’t always work well with Yahoo!

Messenger and AIM.Does not interpret HTML in posts.

Twitter

What are you doing now?Post via:

Web siteClientsIMSMS

Twitter

Limitations140 characters per post

RSS Calendar

LimitationsNo importing from existing calendars

Republishing Feeds

RSS2GIF

LimitationsUh, why? (Someone help me here…)Third party service.Reported several test feeds as “invalid”.

Integrating feed content into your Web site

Grab content from multiple RSS feedsReduce and/or mash itRepublish it on your site

rssviewer

rss viewer

rssviewer

rss viewer

LimitationsThird partyHas a way to combine multiple feeds (feed

combiner) but only those that are pre-programmed

RapidFeeds: MySite

RapidFeeds:MySite

RapidFeeds: MySite

LimitationsRegistration does not work with newer e-mail

addresses. (Insisted my .info address was invalid)

Code supplied is longer than all others as it contains all the CSS. Would want to move that to an external file.

RSS2HTML

LimitationsThird party service.Minimal customization / limited to their

templates / can’t make it look like your site.Did not work well on some feeds and not at all

on others. (No luck with GoogleNews. Mixed results with Flickr.)

Given a URL to embed with, not a script, which forces embedding via iframe.

Feed2JS

LimitationsThird party

(but you can download and install it on your own server which is recommended)

FeedDigest

LimitationsThird party service.Limited to five feeds in free version.

Scrolling RSS News Ticker

LimitationsThird partyShows small advertisement

RSS Scrollbox Widget

LimitationsThird partyShows small advertisement

Ad free, local-hosted version available for $35.

LimitationsThird party

LibraryThing Blog Widget

LimitationsRequires JavaScriptRequires LibraryThing account

Advanced Feed Manipulation

FeedBlendr

LimitationsCould not get OPML importing to work.Third party service could disappear at any

time.“If this blend is not accessed for more than 2

weeks, it will be removed from the database and will need to be recreated.”

FeedBurner

LimitationsSince by using this you get a new feed URL,

it is not recommended you use it on existing feeds.

Your feed will be relying on a third party to work. If the company goes under, your feed will disappear.

Feed Crier

LimitationsOnly three feeds for freeFree version advertisement supportedWorks only with AIM

ZapTXT

LimitationsCan’t handle feeds that require loginsSometimes reports a feed as “not valid” and

there’s nothing you can do about it.Searches on multiple keywords are “OR”

searches. “AND” searches don’t seem to be possible.

Mail2RSS

LimitationsBloglines doesn’t like the RSS2.0 feeds, use

the 1.0 link insteadMail automatically deletes after seven daysFeeds are limited to 20 itemsPotential security issue when using Subscribe

with Bloglines bookmarklet(next slide)

Mail2RSS

RssFwd

LimitationsSome (including me) argue that converting

RSS to e-mail defeats the purpose of RSS.

Feed2Podcast

LimitationsYour feeds are read by a computer generated

voice.Non-English words are not well supported.

Contact information

Michael Sauersmsauers@nlc.state.ne.us

http://travelinlibrarian.info/http://del.icio.us/travelinlibrarian/il2007/rss

integrating rss into your web site

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