Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

rundy · 2006-03-09 19:03:35

I am looking to create a website, and this is what I’d like to do:

I want to have a main (home) page that will aggregate short summaries from sub-sections on the website. For example the structure would be:

Main
—Topic 1
—Topic 2
—Topic 3
—Topic 4

The Main section would aggreatate a snippet from posts to each sub-section, and would also have it’s own unique posts. The problem is that I want each sub-section to have its own RSS feed so people who are only interested in the one topic can subscribe to only the one, while I want the Main section to only include snippets of the posts in the sub-sections, not the full posts.

Can Txp handle multipule RSS feeds? In my limited knowledge, the only way I can see doing this is creating a different Txp install for reach topic and thus creating a “Summary” in one install, and each Topic in a different install. However, I fear this would become very unweildly as the number of topics began to increase . . . it’s seems crazy to be using 10+ MySQL databases for 10+ Txp installs.

An idea that occured to me is trying to use one Txp install for multipule sites as described here:

http://forum.textpattern.com/viewtopic.php?id=15096

but I’m too ignorant to know if this could work, and if it is really a good idea.

Suggestions anyone?

Rundy

Elenita · 2006-03-09 19:52:31

<blockquote>Can Txp handle multipule RSS feeds? In my limited knowledge, the only way I can see doing this is creating a different Txp install for reach topic and thus creating a “Summary” in one install, and each Topic in a different install</blockquote>

That’s unnecessary: Textpattern is capable of filtering its feeds. The tag builder can create tags for you that limit feeds to a single section, a single category, or a single section and category. If you already have a copy of Textpattern installed, go to the Presentation —-> Pages tab and click on the “Feed to Articles” list (under XML Feeds”).

See also: documentation for <a href=“http://textpattern.net/wiki/index.php?title=Txp:feed_link_/”>txp:feed_link /</a>.

Last edited by Elenita (2006-03-09 19:53:24)

rundy · 2006-03-09 20:04:17

That’s great!

But is there some way of keeping material posted in a sub-section from appearing on the Main (Home) Page?

I want the sub-sections to have their own RSS feed . . . you’ve explained how that can be done. But I also don’t want the main page to carry the full contents of the post to the sub-section, otherwise the main page would be flooded with too much text.

Is it possible to exclude the “posts” in the sub-sections? That way I could create a short snippet post in the Main section with a link to the post in the sub-section. RSS for the Main page would contain the snippet aggregate while each sub-section (and filtered RSS) would contain the full for their individual topic.

Possible?

Thanks for your quick reply.

Rundy

Elenita · 2006-03-09 20:20:53

To clarify: when you say “sub-section,” do you mean area of a site? My confusion stems from the fact that, in Textspeak, those are normally called sections. Sub-sections are something else—namely, a feature often requested but not yet implemented.

Assuming that’s what you mean… it is possible to display only article excerpts on the site’s front page. I’m not sure about excerpts in some feeds while having the full text in others, but it definitely is possible on the site itself.

And, yes, it is possible to exclude all the posts of a specific section from appearing on the front page (controlled through Presentation —-> Sections). If you’d only to like to exclude individual articles, that’s still possible but would probably require custom fields.

rundy · 2006-03-09 20:43:19

I’m trying to be careful what words I use because I realize there is certain “Textspeak.” I have previously played around “Just a little” with Textpattern sometime ago so I’m rusty on the termonology and don’t want to confuse things . . .

I think you answered my question when you said “It is possible to exclude all post of a specific section from appearing on the front page” Basically, I’m looking to filter the front page, and filter feeds.

As far as feeds go, I want a feed for the front page (whatever content I allow on the front page), and a feed for each “section” or “category”, which, if I understand your previous answer, I can get by creating a filtered feed.

I think this means Textpattern can do what I want, and I will need to actually install it and start attempting . . .

Thanks for your help.

Rundy

Elenita · 2006-03-09 21:01:42

<blockquote>As far as feeds go, I want a feed for the front page (whatever content I allow on the front page), and a feed for each “section” or “category”, which, if I understand your previous answer, I can get by creating a filtered feed.</blockquote>

I don’t think it’s possible to create a feed for the front page (because the front page is technically a section, but it never has any items that belong to it—it just pulls things from other places), but I’m not entirely sure on that. Everything else should work beautifully, though.

(And if you do need a feed for the front page items, one quick workaround I can think of is to create a category “displayed on the front page” or similar, add items accordingly, and create a filtered feed for that category.)

Last edited by Elenita (2006-03-10 01:35:11)

rundy · 2006-03-09 21:19:30

Hmmm . . . I’m slightly confused. I figured the unfiltered (or “complete”) RSS feed was for the main (or front) page. Or is there no real relation between the front page and the unfiltered RSS? I basically figured the unfiltered RSS and the main page were doing the same thing.

Not that I’m complaining. I understand your work around, (so I think I can impliment it,) I’m just a little surprised the front page doesn’t “have” an RSS feed.

Rundy

Elenita · 2006-03-10 01:32:34

<blockquote>I basically figured the unfiltered RSS and the main page were doing the same thing.</blockquote>

Nope. The complete feed shows a complete list of all syndicated posts. That is, all sections you’ve chosen to make available via RSS/Atom (again, configurable through Presentation —-> Sections). The front page only shows the articles you’ve chosen to display on the front page.

(In a nutshell: the two are unrelated, and are entirely different options. You can have sections post to the front page that aren’t syndicated, and also syndicate sections that don’t appear on the front page.)

Sorry for not making that clear earlier!

Last edited by Elenita (2006-03-10 01:39:16)

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#1 2006-03-09 19:03:35

Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

#2 2006-03-09 19:52:31

Re: Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

#3 2006-03-09 20:04:17

Re: Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

#4 2006-03-09 20:20:53

Re: Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

#5 2006-03-09 20:43:19

Re: Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

#6 2006-03-09 21:01:42

Re: Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

#7 2006-03-09 21:19:30

Re: Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

#8 2006-03-10 01:32:34

Re: Multipule RSS feeds (And other issues)

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