This user guide will detail what a RSS feed is and how to use it. The guide will also highlight some of the benefits and features of RSS feeds.

• What is a news feed?

  A news feed is simply a web page, optimized to be read by web browsers or ‘feed readers’ rather than the user. A news feed will automatically alert a user electronically when new content is added to a website. Through the use of a news feed, the user will automatically be shown the latest headlines and new multimedia content in one place. These alerts will happen immediately on publication, and the user does not have to visit each individual site. All of the feeds from all of the various sites will be aggregated together.

   

  News feeds are also known as RSS feeds or simply RSS. RSS most commonly stands for 'Really Simple Syndication’. There are a few different methods that can be used to subscribe to a RSS feed.

  
   

  

• Using feed reader software for RSS feeds

  The first method would be using an application called a ‘feed reader’. A feed reader is a piece of software that will automatically review the feeds you have subscribed to and download the new articles from the site(s). The user can then read the articles directly in the feed reader. There are several different feed readers available, many of which are freeware (free to own and use). Here are a few feed readers: RSS Bandit, Tristana, Snarfer and others. The guide will now go through subscribing to a feed using RSS Bandit (installation already completed). For assistance on downloading and installing RSS Bandit, go here.

   

  The first step is to locate the RSS feed that you would like to subscribe to. For example of the ETFO homepage there is a link for RSS feeds. Click on the link.

   

  

   

  The browser will now load the ETFO RSS Feeds page. Click on the link that corresponds to the feed you would like to subscribe to.

   

  

   

  Copy the entire URL from the browser and then open RSS Bandit.

   

  

   

  Click on the arrow on the right side of the ‘New’ tab. A drop down menu will appear. Click on the ‘Feed Subscription’ option.

   

  

   

  Paste the URL into the dialogue box that appears. Click on the ‘Next’ button to continue. Click on the ‘Cancel’ button to terminate the operation.

   

  

   

• Using feed reader software continued...

  A progress screen will now appear showing the user the details of the current operation.

   

  

   

  Another dialogue box will now appear. The title of the feed as it will appear in the feed reader can be edited here. The feed can also be categorized. Click on the ‘Finish’ button to complete the addition. For advanced users, click on the ‘Next’ button to configure the advanced options of the feed. Configuring the advanced options is not necessary to add the feed.

   

  

   

  The new feed will now be shown under the category it was added to. In this case it is displayed under the ‘News’ category.

   

  

   

  The user can click on the feed to display the ‘Feed Details’ screen in the top right window. Notice that all of the new ‘Headlines’ are listed in bold font with the unopened mail envelope icon to the left.

   

  

   

  To view the entire news article simply double click on the headline. The entire article will now be displayed directly in the program.

   

  

   

  Notice that when you return to the ‘Feed Details’ screen the headline that has been viewed is no longer listed in bold text and the open mail envelope icon is now shown.

   

  

   

  You have now successfully subscribed to a RSS feed using a feed reader.

• Using browser-based feed readers

  The second method for subscribing to a RSS feed is the browser-based subscription. The latest version of many browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and others) will allow the user to subscribe to and view RSS feeds directly the browser. This type of subscription uses a ‘dynamic’ bookmark as opposed to a standard or ‘static’ bookmark. A dynamic bookmark will check a site for updates periodically whereas a static bookmark will not. Note: dynamic bookmarks only work on pages configured to use them. All RSS feeds on most sites will support dynamic bookmarks.

   

  The guide will now go through subscribing to a feed using Internet Explorer 7 (installation already completed).

   

  First navigate your browser to the page with the RSS feed you would like to subscribe to.

   

  

   

  Click on the ‘Add’ button at the top  left side of the browser. Then click on the ‘Subscribe to this feed…’ option. If there is a link directly on the page it can also be used but not all RSS pages have this link.

   

  

   

  A dialogue box will now appear to confirm the subscription. The name that the feed will appear as in the ‘Feeds’ section of your browser can be edited here. Sub-categories can also be created under the Feeds section if desired. Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button to complete to process. Click on the ‘Cancel’ button to terminate to process.

   

  

   

  The feed has now been subscribed to. You can view the feed by clicking on the link directly on the page.

   

  

• Using browser-based feed readers continued...

  When you are not on the page but would like to view your feeds go to the ‘Favourites Center’ by clicking on the icon on the top left side of the explorer bar. Then click on the  tab to view your feeds. Or you can simply press CTRL+J. The feed that you have subscribed to will now appear in the window.

   

  

   

  Scroll over the name of the feed and a pop-up dialogue box will appear showing the details of the feed (new items, time of last update etc.).

   

  

   

  Click on the ‘Refresh’ button on the right side of the feed to manually search for updates.

   

  

  Click on the title itself to view the RSS Feed page.

   

  

   

  You have now successfully subscribed to a RSS feed in your browser.

   

• Using an online feed reader

  The third method for subscribing to a RSS feed is through an online feed reader. An online feed reader functions very similarly to a standard feed reader. The main difference is that all of your subscriptions and feeds are stored to your online account and not to your computer or hard drive. This means you don’t have to be at your computer or using the web browser that contains your feeds to access them. This makes online feed readers ideal for accessing your feeds from anywhere at any time (as long as you have access to the Internet). There are several different online feed readers currently available. Here are a few:  Google Reader, News Gator, Feed Lounge and others.
  

   

  The guide will now go through subscribing to a feed in Google Reader (assuming the user has already created a Google account). For assistance on creating a Google account, go here.

   

  The first step is to locate the RSS feed that you would like to subscribe to. For example of the ETFO homepage there is a link for RSS feeds. Click on the link.

   

  

   

  The browser will now load the ETFO RSS Feeds page. Click on the link that corresponds to the feed you would like to subscribe to.

   

  

   

  Copy the entire URL from the browser.

   

  
  

   

  Navigate your browser to the Google Reader website. Sign in to your Google account.

   

  

• Using an online feed reader continued...

  Your personal Google Reader page will now load. It will look similar to this. Click on the ‘Add Subscription’ link.

   

  

   

  Paste the entire URL into the dialogue box. Click on the ‘Add’ button to complete the process.

   

  

   

  The page will now reload. Now under your subscriptions section the new feed will be listed.

   

  

   

  Click on the name of the feed and the headlines will appear in the right window of the browser.

   

  

   

  Click on the headline itself to open a new window and load the article.

   

  

   

  If you go back to the feed you will notice that the headline that has been viewed is no longer listed in bold text. The colour of the background will also change from white to blue. This indicates that the headline has already been viewed. You can also search for new headlines manually by clicking the ‘Refresh’ button.

   

  

   

  You have now successfully subscribed to a RSS feed using the Google Reader online feed reader.

• Benefits and features of a RSS feed

  There are many benefits to using RSS feeds. The main benefit is the aggregation of content from various web sources into a single place. RSS feeds also make it possible for a user to stay updated with multiple web sites in an automated manner. The RSS reader or browser checks the user's subscribed feeds frequently (depending on the user’s preference) for new content and articles. It will then download any new updates and provide the user with an interface to monitor and read the feeds.  RSS feeds can greatly reduce the amount of time wasted ‘surfing’ the Internet. When used correctly, RSS feeds give the user all of the information needed right at your fingertips, quickly and seamlessly.