integrating rss into your web site (il2008)

Integrating RSS into Your Web sitePart 1:

Introduction

Michael SauersTechnology Innovation

LibrarianNebraska Library

CommissionComputers in Libraries

2008

Introductions

4

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

What is RSS?

5

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

6

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?

7

Information Provider

Information Receiver

How does RSS work?

8

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?

9

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…

10

11

htt

p:/

/ww

w.f

lickr

.co

m/p

ho

tos/

shift

ed

/49

16

66

80

5/

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?

12

How can I find feeds?

13

Google Blog Search

Bloglines

BlogrollsA list of blogs/feeds read by another blogger

Look for the orange icon…

How do I subscribe to a feed?

14

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

15

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

16

Notable Feeds

17

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



Commission Computers in Libraries

2008

Integrating RSS into Your Web sitePart 2:

Reading Feeds

What is an Aggregator?

19

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?

20

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?

21

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

22

Atom file w/ associated style sheet

23

Firefox 3.0

24

Internet Explorer 7

25

Types of Aggregators

26

ClientAdd-onBuilt-inServer-basedWeb-based service

FeedReader (client)

27

Firefox 3

28

Firefox 3

29

IE7

30

Feed on Feeds (server)

31

Bloglines (Web-based service)

32

Subscribing to a feed

33

Integrating Bloglines w/ Firefox 3.0

34

The Bloglines Bookmarklet

35




2008

Integrating RSS into Your Web site Part 3:

Creating Feeds

How do I create a feed?

37

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

38

FeedSpring

39

FeedSpring

40

FeedSpring

41

FeedSpring

42

FeedSpring

43

FeedSpring

44

FeedSpring

45

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?)

ListGarden

46

ListGarden

47

ListGarden

48

ListGarden

49

ListGarden

50

ListGarden

51

LimitationsDepending of type of server installed on, may

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

Feedity

52

Feedity

53

Feedity

54

Feedity

55

Feedity

56

Feedity

57

LimitationsWorks better on some Web pages than on

others.

NotesBe sure to take advantage of the refine feature

for more accurate results.

rss

58

rss

59

rss

60

rss

61

rss

62

LimitationsGenerally works better than Feedity but has no

ability to refine the results.

Twitter

63

Twitter

64

Twitter

65

Twitter

66

Limitations140 characters per post

Google Calendar

67

Google Calendar

68

Google Calendar

69

Google Calendar

70

Google Calendar

71

LimitationsNone to speak of

BenefitsNow sync-able with OutlookCan also embed calendar into site

Feedmysearch

72

Feedmysearch

73

Feedmysearch

74

Feedmysearch

75

Feedmysearch

76

LimitationsNone to speak of




2008


Republishing Feeds

Integrating feed content into your Web site

78

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

Feed2JS

79

Feed2JS

80

Feed2JS

81

Feed2JS

82

Feed2JS

83

Feed2JS

84

LimitationsThird party

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

feed.informer

85

feed.informer

86

feed.informer

87

feed.informer

88

feed.informer

89

feed.informer

90

FeedDigest

91

feed.informer

92

feed.informer

93

feed.informer

94

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

Scrolling RSS News Ticker

95


96


97


98


99

LimitationsThird partyShows small advertisement

RSS Scrollbox Widget

100


101


102


103


104

LimitationsThird partyShows small advertisement

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

Grazr

105

Grazr

106

Grazr

107

Grazr

108

Grazr

109

Grazr

110

LimitationsThird party




2008


Advanced Feed Manipulation

IM Feeds

112

IM Feeds

113

IM Feeds

114

IM Feeds

115

IM Feeds

116

IM Feeds

117

LimitationsIMs tend to come in without any formatting.

i.e. a single large block of text.Seems to randomly not like valid RSS feeds.

Pingie

118

Pingie

119

Pingie

120

Pingie

121

Pingie

122

Pingie

123

Pingie

124

LimitationsDoesn’t like feedburner feeds

ZapTXT

125

ZapTXT

126

ZapTXT

127

ZapTXT

128

ZapTXT

129

ZapTXT

130

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

131

Mail2RSS

132

Mail2RSS

133

Mail2RSS

134

Mail2RSS

135

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

136

RssFwd

137

RssFwd

138

RssFwd

139

RssFwd

140

RssFwd

141

RssFwd

142

RssFwd

143

LimitationsSome (including me) argue that converting

RSS to e-mail defeats the purpose of RSS.

Feed2Podcast

144

Feed2Podcast

145

Feed2Podcast

146

Feed2Podcast

147

Feed2Podcast

148

LimitationsYour feeds are read by a computer generated

voice.Non-English words are not well supported.

FeedJournal

149

FeedJournal

151

FeedJournal

152

FeedJournal

153

FeedJournal

154

FeedJournal

155

FeedJournal

157

LimitationsMust manually regenerate each issue

Contact information

158

Michael [email protected]

http://travelinlibrarian.info/http://www.delicious.com/travelinlibrarian/

il2008/rss