Any plans to activate RSS feeds?

[DonS]

I think this version of the forums allows for RSS feeds if enabled. Any plans to activate RSS?

http://www.casc.on.ca/forums/faq.php?faq=vb_board_usage#faq_vb_rss_syndication

[ellswrth]

I think this version of the forums allows for RSS feeds if enabled. Any plans to activate RSS?

http://www.casc.on.ca/forums/faq.php?faq=vb_board_usage#faq_vb_rss_syndication
Yes, we're (well) aware it's feasible but we haven't any plans to do that at this time.

It wouldn't take much to convince us to do it. Maybe another response or two to this thread from other people who also want RSS ;)

But thanks for asking - this feedback forum doesn't get much, ah, feedback other than this which aren't working. We (the CASC-OR board) are trying to understand what the typical member wants this website to do for them and it's kind of hard (for me, anyway) to really understand what people want and need. So when someone actually asks us for something it's a big plus no matter what our answer to the question is.

Scott Ellsworth

[JoeT]

Our web site provides RSS feeds as well as links to RSS feeds. It's a great feature, as articles can be presented on multiple web sites either scheduled or randomly.

It would be nice to get RSS activated here, we can share content.

[John Powell]

And for those of us not privy to all the ins and outs of computers, RSS is ... ? :rolleyes:

[DonS]

RSS == Rich Site Summary
http://www.whatisrss.com/

I find it very handy to scan the RSS feeds from multiple sites on one page. Saves me a lot of time browsing around. Like taking a trip without leaving the farm..

When I spot a link that interests me I can click over to the full story/post.

There are stand alone RSS readers and browsers can get RSS extracts. Since I'm rarely on the same computer every day I prefer putting the feeds on a web page so I can get to it from any machine.

;)

[ellswrth]

RSS == Rich Site Summary
http://www.whatisrss.com/

I find it very handy to scan the RSS feeds from multiple sites on one page. Saves me a lot of time browsing around. Like taking a trip without leaving the farm..

When I spot a link that interests me I can click over to the full story/post.

There are stand alone RSS readers and browsers can get RSS extracts. Since I'm rarely on the same computer every day I prefer putting the feeds on a web page so I can get to it from any machine.

;)
How about providing some suggested feed readers and some more detail on how to set them up for the forum members, now that feeds are working :D

Thanks!

[DonS]

The feeds are indeed working, thanks!
Since I'm not on the same computer everyday I prefer to put the feeds on a webpage. Most of the CMS (Content Management Systems) like xoops, drupal, nuke*, etc. either have RSS readers built-in or have modules available. There are also scripts available so that you can incorporate RSS on almost any website. I can help set these up if anyone needs them.

I don't run Windows so I'm more familiar with running RSS on *nix systems. This page: http://blogspace.com/rss/readers has some links to popular RSS readers you can install. There are also RSS readers as extentions for browsers and email clients. Mozilla extentions: https://addons.mozilla.org/quicksearch.php?q=RSS&section=E

Our RSS page at http://spda-online.ca/modules/xhld0/ has a few feeds configured. The list is sorted by date. You can then narrow it to a particular feed such as the CASC forums: http://spda-online.ca/modules/xhld0/index.php?id=14 or to a single forum such as Solo II: http://spda-online.ca/modules/xhld0/index.php?id=15

I have the cache set to one hour and is triggered only if a user hits the page and the cache timeout is reached. This saves bandwidth for everyone and is within one hour of being up to date. The feeds are available to anyone that can reach the page so it is more efficient than each user having their own feed or visiting the destination site.

I hope this helps.

[ellswrth]

The feeds are indeed working, thanks!
Since I'm not on the same computer everyday I prefer to put the feeds on a webpage. Most of the CMS (Content Management Systems) like xoops, drupal, nuke*, etc. either have RSS readers built-in or have modules available. There are also scripts available so that you can incorporate RSS on almost any website. I can help set these up if anyone needs them.

I don't run Windows so I'm more familiar with running RSS on *nix systems. This page: http://blogspace.com/rss/readers has some links to popular RSS readers you can install. There are also RSS readers as extentions for browsers and email clients. Mozilla extentions: https://addons.mozilla.org/quicksearch.php?q=RSS&section=E

Our RSS page at http://spda-online.ca/modules/xhld0/ has a few feeds configured. The list is sorted by date. You can then narrow it to a particular feed such as the CASC forums: http://spda-online.ca/modules/xhld0/index.php?id=14 or to a single forum such as Solo II: http://spda-online.ca/modules/xhld0/index.php?id=15

I have the cache set to one hour and is triggered only if a user hits the page and the cache timeout is reached. This saves bandwidth for everyone and is within one hour of being up to date. The feeds are available to anyone that can reach the page so it is more efficient than each user having their own feed or visiting the destination site.

I hope this helps.
That's great - thanks for sharing it!

[John Powell]

OK Don, so an RSS is something like the links on my MSN home page. When I click on a headline it takes me to a current news, sports or similar story, right? :confused:

[ellswrth]

OK Don, so an RSS is something like the links on my MSN home page. When I click on a headline it takes me to a current news, sports or similar story, right? :confused:
Let me jump in here and confuse things further :)

Without RSS, the forums (and the whole website) are "pull" sources of information. You, the user, have to come here, poke around, and find out what's new.

The forums offer a bit of help in that regard by providing the "New Posts" link on the menu at the top of each forum page which give you a list of the new topics and posts since your last visit. And we (CASC-OR) put most of what's new on the front page of the site so it's more obvious.

But you have to come here and look around first.

RSS feeds "push" information from sources you select to your computer. For most people, you will install a feed reading program of some sort (one I use under Windows XP is called FeedReader and can be downloaded for free at http://www.feedreader.com).

This program runs on your computer and checks sites with feeds to see whats new. When something changes on the site, the site sends out an updated feed. The reader grabs it and presents it to you.

Some readers pop up a window to point out that there is new information while others require you to look at the program window yourself. But in either case, they summarize the new information added and provide you with links you may click to go to the site itself if you want to read further.

A picture still being worth a thousand words, this one might make things more clear ...

[thekid]

are any of these readers 2-way? what I'm asking is could I generate a reply to a thread from one of these readers that posts it to the thread without me having to visit the site?

it would make it alot easier to mask my forum browsing while at work if this was the case :p

[ellswrth]

are any of these readers 2-way? what I'm asking is could I generate a reply to a thread from one of these readers that posts it to the thread without me having to visit the site?

it would make it alot easier to mask my forum browsing while at work if this was the case :pI don't know this as a fact, but I doubt any of them can.

Posting a reply requires a connection to the forum database. Anything external to the forum web server isn't allowed to do that.

[BucketBoy]

Hey, cool!

I use Firefox (as you should be!), and was looking for the little 'satellite dish' icon in the bottom right corner of the browser so that I could click 'add LiveBookmark' for these forums... but I didn't see one.

Found a way around that though: If you don't already have it, add the Firefox Extension called 'Add 'LiveBookmarkThis' from https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=274 - and after installing it (and then closing & restarting FF), add the rss feed from the url that was mentioned previously (from the CASC forum FAQ page): ex: http://www.casc.on.ca/forums/external.php?type=rss - by right clicking the link and choosing 'Add Live Bookmark'. Now choose to add it to your 'Bookmarks Toolbar Folder' and if you've followed the instructions correctly, you'll have the newest CASC forum postings at your fingertips!

Put the mouse over the CASC satellite-dish icon on your toolbar, click once, and see 15-most recent topics!

See screencapture (image attached to this post, should appear below).

NICE!! :D

[Greg F]

I never thought I'd have a need for this, but I did. It seems to be working for me, but I'm still learning about it.

[nowcritical]

I don't know this as a fact, but I doubt any of them can.

Posting a reply requires a connection to the forum database. Anything external to the forum web server isn't allowed to do that.

RSS is a feed, Just like your cable or TV connection to distribute information out and not desigend for information that would be send back to it.

Hope this helps

[ellswrth]

RSS is a feed, Just like your cable or TV connection to distribute information out and not desigend for information that would be send back to it.

Hope this helpsI agree with what you're saying about RSS, Martin, but most cable TV connection is TWO way ... I use mine to connect here! ;)

[nowcritical]

Sorry i should have said like the content that you see on your TV. But even that is changing! LOL