How To Display An XML Feed On Your Website

How To Display An XML Feed On Your Website

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) has taken off in a big way. Just as satellite television beams more channels into your home than you can watch- RSS allows to you display an endless amount of other p Contd...

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) has taken off in a big way. Just as satellite television beams more channels into your home than you can watch- RSS allows to you display an endless amount of other peoples content. Whilst RSS XML feeds are plenty- there/' s not as much in the way of clear- simple instruction when it comes to making use of those feeds.

If you/' re one of the webmasters who uses a content management system that makes using RSS XML feeds as simple as specifying a feed URL then you/' re fortunate in that respect. For others- the options available tend to be offered by developers of the software and the usage instructions provided can often be riddled with technical jargon. Many cry- "Use my feed"- but fewer tell you how.

One of the best and easiest ways I/' ve found to show the content from an RSS XML feed on one of my websites is to use a ready made PHP parser. Now- don/' t worry about what that means- just think of it as somthing that someone has already created; a blackbox that makes it easy for you to use content from RSS feeds and display it on your website.
For this guide- I/' ve used MagpieRSS because it/' s compact- works well and is distributed under the GPL- which basically means it/' s free for you to use. Now- MagpieRSS is written in PHP so you/' ll need a compatible hosting account that allows you to execute PHP scripts.

For the purposes of this guide- I/' m assuming you/' ve some level of basic knowledge about websites e.g. you know how to FTP- change file permissions etc. Covering the basics of running a website is beyond the scope of this article.

Instead- let/' s cover what are probably the most difficult steps; displaying the content from an RSS feed on your website.
1. Download the latest stable release of MagpieRSS.
2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file onto your computer.
3. The core files you need from the ZIP package are rss_cache.inc- rss_fetch.inc- rss_parse.inc- rss_utils.inc. You/' ll also need the extlib folder together with the Snoopy.class.inc file inside of it.
4. Create a new file to display your RSS feed. I/' ve called mine- index.php. Inside this file- copy and paste the contents of the file referred to below and save it. 5. Upload all of the files and the folder mentioned in steps 3 and 4 to your hosting account. Put them into the desired location- but ensure that the Snoopy.class.inc file is still within the extlib folder.
6. Then visit the file you created in step 4 using your web browser.

That/' s the basics of it. Once you/' ve got this far- customising the way you present the content of the feed is relatively easy. Just refer back to the MagpieRSS website for guidance on how to do this.

tagged

Related Articles:

• Enhance delivery of your Internet content to end-users with RSS
  The first step in marketing your product is to get your content delivered to end-users. Only then can you communicate to them- sell your products and build lasting relationships with them. While som
  


• What Is This RSS, XML, RDF, Atom, and Feeds Business?
  It/' s been a long day at work and you/' re in no mood to cook dinner or go out. Time to count on the reliable pizza delivery guy. The order is called in and he promptly arrives with smokin/' hot pi
  


• RSS... and WHY Its Being Considered The Newest Player In The VIRAL Marketing Game
  I have a quick question to ask you... "Are you sick and tired of hearing about RSS(Real Simple Syndication) and how it can take your online business to New levels with VERY little effort on your part
  


• How To Make Money Using RSS Feeds
  RSS- (Really Simple Syndication) has become so popular today and is being referred to by internet users as "Pull" Technology rather than "Push" Technology. It/' s difficult to imagine that anyone
  


• 8 TOP Ways To Promote Your RSS/XML Feed For MAXIMUM Exposure
  RSS(Real Simple Syndication) is the new technology on the block and is taking the Internet by storm as Internet marketers are hurrying to incorporate this new form of communication and technology int
  


• NEWS FLASH! Article Directories JUMP-ON The RSS Syndication Band Wagon
  Quick question... do you publish /' Articles/' on a regular basis? I/' m talking like on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. If so- then your in for a real treat. If you haven/' t heard- RSS(Real Simp
  

• Home

Main Categories

• Arts Entertainment
• Business
• Communications
• Computers
• Disease Illness
• Fashion
• Finance
• Food Beverage
• Health Fitness
• Home Family
• Internet Business
• Politics
• Product Reviews
• Recreation Sports
• Reference Education
• Self Improvement
• Society
• Travel Leisure
• Vehicles
• Writing Speaking

Sub Category

• Affiliate Programs
• Auctions
• Audio-Video Streaming
• Blogging
• Domains
• Ebooks
• Ecommerce
• Email Marketing
• Ezine Marketing
• Ezine Publishing
• Forums
• Internet Marketing
• Podcasts
• PPC Advertising
• RSS
• Security
• SEO
• Site Promotion
• Spam
• Traffic Generation
• Web Design
• Web Hosting

Favorite Links

• Free website templates
• Open Web Design
• sNews CMS
• OSWD.org
• xNavigation

 

 

 

 

 

© 2007 www.travelmycity.com.