How To: RSS Feed for TDT.com

[funky dredd]

Hopefully this is in the right discussion area, if not please move it.

Are there any plans on implementing RSS feeds here? I was looking around and didn't see anything so I thought I would ask.

[Matt]

I had a cute little mod going for current news Funky--it was pretty cool but then it caused an error and stop being supported so I had to remove it.

The forum itself has a way to set up RSS feeds in a forum, but I don't know much about it. I would love to use them though and this is the perfect spot to discuss it.

[funky dredd]

I was thinking more for forums and not news. Have a look at this.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205960

Plus you can subscribe to any forum/subforum if you use multiple feeds. :)

[Mike Beck]

what is this....RSS feed?

is it dangerous?

[Darkthoughts]

I was just about to ask the same question :D Well...almost the same :lol:

[Mike Beck]

Whatever it is, I don't trust it.

Darkthoughts, you think it might be dangerous too??

[Darkthoughts]

Not just dangerous but downright vicious!! :o

[Matt]

:lol:

Here is what it is you guys. There is a way (in vbulletin) for us to set up forum for live feeds from other places on the internet. They don't have to be news but can be stuff like entertainment, book reviews--basically whatever is broadcast. So its kind of a robot that posts relevant stuff from the net in real time.


I was thinking more for forums and not news. Have a look at this.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205960

Plus you can subscribe to any forum/subforum if you use multiple feeds. :)

I read that thread funky and it looks like what the person is asking is how he can use his forum to broadcast an RSS feed which is the same thing in reverse.

[funky dredd]

:lol:

Here is what it is you guys. There is a way (in vbulletin) for us to set up forum for live feeds from other places on the internet. They don't have to be news but can be stuff like entertainment, book reviews--basically whatever is broadcast. So its kind of a robot that posts relevant stuff from the net in real time.


I was thinking more for forums and not news. Have a look at this.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205960

Plus you can subscribe to any forum/subforum if you use multiple feeds. :)

I read that thread funky and it looks like what the person is asking is how he can use his forum to broadcast an RSS feed which is the same thing in reverse.
I was looking at doing feeds from here though, not pulling feeds in. That way if I wanted to setup my client to monitor the collectors forum I could do that.

[Matt]

Yep, that is what I was thinking you meant. I have been considering setting up the forum to generate a feed for the rest of the net and this would be a great test.

Let me research it a bit and I will see what I can do.

[funky dredd]

Thanks Matt!

[Matt]

Welp, the thing looks pretty easy. I have enabled the option for XML and RSS (weren't sure if we needed Java)

Here is the documentation on it, hopefully actually using it is easy


Enable RSS Syndication
This setting allows you to enable/disable the RSS 0.91, 1.0, and 2.0 content syndication system.

If you set this option to 'yes', you can call it by going to:
http://www.example.com/forum/external.php?type=rss
http://www.example.com/forum/external.php?type=rss1
http://www.example.com/forum/external.php?type=rss2

(example) There is a news-plugin, 'Good News', for Trillian (http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/) which lets you use RSS feeds to get the latest information posted in your Trillian program.
Enable Podcasting (RSS Enclosure)
This option includes the first attachment of each thread as an enclosure within RSS 2.0 feeds. If the feed is requested with &lastpost=1 appended to the url then the first attachment of the last post in the thread will be included. This is the method by which Podcasting is enabled for your forum. iTunes specific settings are configures per forum in the Forum Manager (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/forum_manager).

The iTunes specific features will be only included if a specific forum is specified via the addition of &forumids=X where X is the forumid.

Enable XML Syndication
This setting allows you to enable/disable the XML content syndication system.

If you set this option to 'yes', you can call it by going to:
http://www.example.com/forum/external.php?type=xml

Thread Cutoff
This value controls how many days in the past that updated threads will be chosen from. Busy forums will want a smaller number. The smallest valid value is 1 day; the default is 30 days.

Cache Lifespan
This setting controls how long thread content will be cached. Valid settings are 1 to 1440, anything else will be treated as the default value of 60.

vBulletin uses a an internal cache system as well as a http cache to lessen the load of calls to external.php.

[funky dredd]

:excited:
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6035/dtxj9.jpg

Now you just need to seperate them so you can pick and choose which forums you want to be RSS enabled.
I had to fool with the link to get it to work so here it is.

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?type=rss

[Matt]

Holy hell Funky, that looks cool as shit.

Great job man, I may have to look into other ways we can use this.

I believe I enabled the entire site so we should be able to pull any thread we like (I would think). I really have no idea how this thing works, but is seriously cool.

[funky dredd]

The code that I posted above looks just to grab the latest new threads. You see older threads because this is the first time I did a sync. But if you seperate them then you can subscribe to just the ones you want (Calvin's Corner, Path of the Beam etc.). It would make it easier that way, just so you don't get flooded with everything from the board.

[Matt]

Hmmm...I will have a look. Thanks for the PM funky.

It looks like we can do it by forum meaning "Calvin's Corner" --would we only want one thread from that forum displayed or the whole thing? Or say...first 5?

[funky dredd]

Well it would be done by new threads, so any new thread would be pushed to the RSS. So if there are 5 new threads it would push those 5.

[Matt]

That sounds pretty easy, I can do that--I am not sure I can boil it down to a thread but we can get it to only do the top five

[funky dredd]

No I mean if I subscribed to Calvin's Corner and there was 5 new threads in Calvin's Corner on my next poll on my RSS Reader I would pick up those 5 new threads. Does that make sense?

[Matt]

Kind of, I have a learning curve here. :lol:

So if you subscribe to Calvin's Corner, you get the 5 newest threads.

What I can't do, I believe, is feed from one specific thread...is that right?

[funky dredd]

Correct on both.

[Matt]

Great! I changed some settings see what you can do with it now and if that is what we are looking for.

[funky dredd]

Do you have the forum id's for those that are enabled?

[funky dredd]

Got it...give me a minute and I will post a couple.

[funky dredd]

Here you go.

Way Station
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=4

Path Of The Beam
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=5

The Oracle
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=6

The Dogan
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=7

Turtleback Lane
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=16

Cara Laughs
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=14

Dutch Hill
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=55

The Dixie Pig
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=17

Calvin's Corner
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=9

The Comic Tower
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=12

The Art Wall
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=54

Towerpedia
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=116

Gilead
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=19

The Baronies
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=20

The Mohaine Desert
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=43

The Manni Village
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=22

Fedic Station
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=24

Castle Discordia
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=27

Thunderclap
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=23

Odd's Lane
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=28

Blue Heaven
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=41

The Clearing
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=57

[funky dredd]

I use RSSOwl which you can at http://www.rssowl.org/ it is free. If you need help setting it up just let me know and I can make a guide.

[funky dredd]

I've tested them and they all work.

[Matt]

That is amazing man. Would you mind explaining to eveyone how this could be used. Can DT.com be brought to your desk top this way or...

something else maybe?

[Daghain]

I may totally have to try that with Towerpedia. But Matt did give me the coll recent changes button. :D

[funky dredd]

That is amazing man. Would you mind explaining to eveyone how this could be used. Can DT.com be brought to your desk top this way or...

something else maybe?

In a way I am bringing it to my desktop, but it's only new threads, any posts below the first post will not show. So if you want to reply to the thread you still have to come to the site. This basically can be used to view the threads, if your like me and are at work (don't want to get caught surfing) you can download the latest threads and then choose to reply (hopefully without being caught) :D. It keeps you from having to come to the site every hour to check to see if new threads have been made. But again this is for any new threads and not existing threads.
It is really simple to setup using RSSOwl and I can provide a guide on how to setup/use RSSOwl.

[Matt]

Perfect. I would love it if you posted a how to. We can place it in the first post of this thread and rename it to...

How to: RSS Feeds

Probably put that explination in there as well. :rock:

[funky dredd]

Will do. It won't be today though as I have to travel in about 30 minutes :(

[Matt]

Sounds great, thank you so much

[funky dredd]

No problem.

[Darkthoughts]

I have a feeds icon on my toolbar that changes colour if there are feeds available on a page.

I also noticed today when I was messing about with my itunes account that you can set up some kind of page where you can link to feeds from your special itunes page...I don't entirely get it - Funky, do you know what thats about?

[funky dredd]

I couldn't tell you about Itunes as I really don't use it. Sorry. I know you can set it up to download podcasts but that's about it. I use other software for my ipod. (itunes isn't the best on Vista).

[Darkthoughts]

I don't have vista. I didn't realise you could use other software than itunes with an ipod!

And btw - I got that Corina track on my ipod too :thumbsup:

[funky dredd]

Yes you can use winamp and a plugin, there's also another one but the name escapes me at this time. So now you can boogey to Corina? :rock:

[Darkthoughts]

Hell yeah :rock: :huglove:

[funky dredd]

Glad I could help with that. :)

[Ari_Racing]

Sorry, is the RSS implemented? I can't find it. Help is very appreciated!

[funky dredd]

Ari I will be posting a how to shortly. I've already created it, just haven't had the time yet to sit down and upload everything.

[Asterisco]

I use Google Reader. It's web, it's easy, and it's very usefull.

[funky dredd]

Steps for setting up RSS feeds for TDT.com

1. Download RSSOwl from http://www.rssowl.org/
2. Install.
3. In the left pane right click RSSOwl (under Favorites) and select “New” and then select “Category”.

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/medium/RSS_1.jpg

4.Name your Category and select “OK”. I named mine The Dark Tower.com

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/medium/RSS_2.jpg

5. 1.Now go to “File” then “New” and click “Favorite”.

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/medium/RSS_3.jpg

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/medium/RSS_4.jpg

6. Now we need to add the URL/Path for our feed, the Title and we need to adjust our category so that the feed gets placed in the correct category. We also want to make an adjustment so that it updates automatically (in order for this feature to work RSSOwl must remain open in the system tray).

7. For this example I am going to use the link for The Way Station. You will need to copy the link for The Way Station and place this in the URL/Path. Next you will need to give it a title in the Title box. I chose The Way Station (that way you know what forum threads you are reading). In the Category area we need to change this to match The Dark Tower.com favorite. By clicking the change button you can make this adjustment.

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/medium/RSS_5.jpg

8. If you want this to update automatically you can click the down arrow for this category and select how frequently you want this to update. You can also place a check mark in the “on Startup” field. What this does is it automatically goes out and gets the feeds when you open up RSSOwl (after a reboot, or if you close RSSOwl).

9. Our next step is to associate RSSOwl with your default web browser. After the feeds have downloaded it will show you only the first post of a new thread which will include a link to that thread on TDT.com.

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/medium/RSS_6.jpg

10. If you click the link it will open up within RSSOwl and the forums will want you to login. I do not use a shared computer and as such have no need to log out of TDT.com (who would want to anyway?). So we need to make an adjustment within RSSOwl to point to our default browser (Mozilla or Internet Explorer). So within RSSOwl go to “tools” and then “Preferences” and you will get a box that has all kinds of adjustments that you can make.

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/medium/RSS_7.jpg

11. For this we are only concerned with changing the browser. So drill down to “Browser” on the left pane and click it. On the right side you are given a choice to change this behavior under the “Use External Browser” field. I use Mozilla so for this example I will do a browse to the Mozilla executable so that I can add it in to this field; by clicking on the “Search” button you are given this opportunity.

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/500/medium/RSS_8.jpg

12. Under the “Misc” you need to select “Use External Browser” and if you want you can place a check mark in “Always open Browser into a new tab” if it’s not already selected and select “Block Popups” if it’s not already selected. Select “Apply” and then select “OK” to return back to RSSOwl.

13. If you are having problems locating your executables for Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox they are located usually under your Program Files.
Internet Explorer - C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
Mozilla Firefox - C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

[funky dredd]

Here are the links for the RSS Feeds, this will be step 7 in the tutorial.

Way Station

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=4

Path Of The Beam

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=5

The Oracle

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=6

The Dogan

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=7

Turtleback Lane

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=16

Cara Laughs

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=14

Dutch Hill

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=55

The Dixie Pig

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=17

Calvin's Corner

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=9

The Comic Tower

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=12

The Art Wall

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=54

Towerpedia

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=116

Gilead

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=19

The Baronies

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=20

The Mohaine Desert

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=43

The Manni Village

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=22

Fedic Station

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=24

Castle Discordia

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=27

Thunderclap

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=23

Odd's Lane

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=28

Blue Heaven

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=41

The Clearing

http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=57

[Daghain]

Wow funky, thanks for that! :D

[funky dredd]

Your welcome. :)

[Matt]

Wonderful!

I do believe I might have to give this a try for my new job. :ninja:

[funky dredd]

I use it all day long :D

[ZoNeSeeK]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This looks awesome, im going to give it a shot!!!!

Thanks funky :)

[BlakeMP]

Whew...

Is there any single feed that collects them all?

[MonteGss]

None of the RSS links worked for me. Safari internet browser(Mac) is also an RSS reader but none of those links worked/updated at all.

[funky dredd]

Links are working, I just opened mine up (see screen shot).
What I would suggest you do is right click on the link and select properties and copy the full link. The links that are posted are truncated (notice the ... in the link), this way you will get the full link and not the trunacted one.

Your welcome ZoneSeek :)

[funky dredd]

Whew...

Is there any single feed that collects them all?

This is the main link, but I don't recall how many you will get.



http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?type=rss

[funky dredd]

I changed the links so they wouldn't truncate. So now just copy the links and put them in your RSS reader.

[MonteGss]

I'll give it another shot...
:)

[MonteGss]

I have another question. :)
Will these feeds (say for The Manni Village, for example) only update for the threads in that forum or will it update if a sub-forum has new posts as well?

[funky dredd]

You will only get new threads, not new posts.

[MonteGss]

Oh! That explains a lot.
*feels silly*

Thanks for your help. I was hoping it was for new posts in those forums...:(
That would help me quickly navigate the threads I'm most interested in. Oh well. Thanks again.

[Daghain]

Picky. :lol:

[MonteGss]

New posts are what is cool. Those happen everyday, not threads! :P

[Daghain]

:lol:

I know.

[funky dredd]

If you did new posts you would have a lot of them piling up in your reader.

[Daghain]

Very true! :lol:

[MonteGss]

If you did new posts you would have a lot of them piling up in your reader.

Oh yes, but if I was only tracking those from Mid-World (which I thought I was doing), it wouldn't be so bad. Those are my personal favorite threads...
The rest of the new posts I can track from the site with "Unread Posts."

[funky dredd]

True. But for people who need to limit there internet activity at work this is a great way to do it. Seeing as you are only downloading new threads your not exactly visiting a site :D

[MonteGss]

True. But for people who need to limit there internet activity at work this is a great way to do it. Seeing as you are only downloading new threads your not exactly visiting a site :D

That is a very good plan. :)
I wish I had internet at work :(

So...I'm guessing that there is no way for me to have RSS of new posts throughout Mid-World then...? Another message board I rarely visit does that so I know it's possible, I'm just not sure how.

[funky dredd]

As far as I know you can't. Maybe they are running some type of hack? I think with the activity here and if there is a hack I think it would be too much and your reader would have to get a lot of new posts constantly to keep up.

[MonteGss]

Hmm, well thanks anyway. I guess I'll keep doing what I'm doing...sifting through everything...like anyone else. :)

[Daghain]

If you click Thread Tools at the top of the page you can subscribe to thread. Go to your User CP and click on subscribed threads to pick how you want to be notified. Mine emails me whenever there is a new Towerpedia! entry.

I don't know if that's going to be easier for you to sift through or not. YMMV.

[MonteGss]

Thanks Daggers. I will definitely keep that in mind...
I'm just being picky is all. I guess I can do it like everyone else. :P

[Daghain]

:lol:

[funky dredd]

Thanks Daggers. I will definitely keep that in mind...
I'm just being picky is all. I guess I can do it like everyone else. :P

You must reform!!!! :shoot:

[MonteGss]

NO!
:P

[Daghain]

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. :lol:

[MonteGss]

Well, I guess it won't be too difficult since I already am. :(

[Daghain]

:lol:

[Matt]

:borg:

[Randall Flagg]

Here you go.

Way Station
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=4

Path Of The Beam
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=5

The Oracle
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=6

The Dogan
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=7

Turtleback Lane
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=16

Cara Laughs
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=14

Dutch Hill
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=55

The Dixie Pig
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=17

Calvin's Corner
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=9

The Comic Tower
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=12

The Art Wall
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=54

Towerpedia
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=116

Gilead
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=19

The Baronies
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=20

The Mohaine Desert
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=43

The Manni Village
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=22

Fedic Station
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=24

Castle Discordia
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=27

Thunderclap
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=23

Odd's Lane
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=28

Blue Heaven
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=41

The Clearing
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/external.php?forumids=57


Bump.