New in rss with some questions.

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New in rss with some questions.

johniem

11:04 am on Nov 13, 2009 (gmt 0)

Hello all...I'm new to rss and want to create rss feeds for a new multi category web site.
I want to update every rss category when an article is published on the site for this category.
My questions is:
1.When i complete my code for rss (and upload it on my server), i have to create rss files for every category with some default articles in it? When a user publish an article it's better to update the current rss for this article's category or replace it with a new rss file with this only one article in it?
2.What happens if a user subscribe at this time for this rss feed?He will loose all the content that was in this rss at the begining?
3.I'm a bit confused on how i will start the rss service in my site and not how i will update it.

I will appreciate any answer on my questions...

Thanks in advance.

piatkow

2:00 pm on Nov 13, 2009 (gmt 0)

Its probably best if you give us some technical information about your site. Are you using a content management system or blogging package or is it a static site build with PHP or HTML?

How you will update it depends on the answers to my original questions. I believe that some CM software has feed generation capabilities built in and there are a number of options right through to hand coding your rss files in Notepad.

johniem

2:18 pm on Nov 13, 2009 (gmt 0)

Everthing is writen in php and i have create my own cms to update content and control services that site offers.
My idea is to add an item in rss when an article is been published. I think i have figure out a way to begin implement rss to my site, by creating the xml files per category with only the first basic structure and just the last 2 articles for every category.
Then upload them to the server and start fill them dynamically. I have set a limit to 10 items per category and when an rss has 10 items and a new article needs to be inserted, the oldest one will be removed.
An other question i have is if a user subscribe to an rss, lets say just with firefox, how and when firefox will inform the user for a new update?

bill

2:20 am on Nov 14, 2009 (gmt 0)

Make sure you have one combined feed as well. Some potential subscribers may want it all.

1.When i complete my code for rss (and upload it on my server), i have to create rss files for every category with some default articles in it? When a user publish an article it's better to update the current rss for this article's category or replace it with a new rss file with this only one article in it?

I think you've figured this out, but you'd want more than one article in a feed. I have some feeds with hundreds of items in them. It's up to you and the frequency of your updates.

An other question i have is if a user subscribe to an rss, lets say just with firefox, how and when firefox will inform the user for a new update?

That varies. Feed readers will normally have a set update interval, but that can often be customized by the user. You could expect anything from almost real-time updates to hours or days between pings.

johniem

5:36 pm on Nov 14, 2009 (gmt 0)

Thanks a million for your replies guys. And the time you spent for them,they were really helpfull.
One more though..
Which tag i have to use for update frequency?

bill

11:53 pm on Nov 14, 2009 (gmt 0)

Which tag i have to use for update frequency?

Have you followed the RSS 2.0 specs [cyber.law.harvard.edu]? There are several optional channel elements that may affect update frequency. The ttl, skipDays and skipHours elements let publishers offer guidance regarding a feed's frequency of updates. However, support for ttl is arguably sparse with most feed readers/aggegators. So you can suggest an update frequency, but don't count on everyone following that suggestion the same way.