Using RSS Feeds and Portals Using RSS Feeds and Portals to Disseminate Research to Disseminate Research

InformationInformation

2006 SRA Midwest 2006 SRA Midwest Section MeetingSection Meeting

Rick FrancisThe University of Toledo

University Office of Research

Why Should a Research Administrator Why Should a Research Administrator Learn about RSS Feeds?Learn about RSS Feeds?

Growing # of RSS Feeds for Research Display frequently-updated content --

without the regular maintenance!Flexible applications:

– Your SRO web pages– Portal Channels– Researchers’ News/RSS Aggregators

What Will Be Covered TodayWhat Will Be Covered Today

What is RSS?Examples for Research AdministratorsRSS Feeds in News AggregatorsRSS Feeds on your SRO Web PagesRSS Feeds on Portal ChannelsBuilding Your Own RSS Feed

(Requirements)

What is RSS?What is RSS?RSS = RSS = Really Simple SyndicationReally Simple Syndication

Without going to several sites, you can have updated information from those sites “pushed out” to your web site or newsreader page. The updated information comes to you!

Research-Related ExamplesResearch-Related Examples

American Cancer Society Newshttp://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/NWS_10_RSS.asp

COS Funding News

http://research.utoledo.edu/COSRSS.htm

US Dept of Education

http://www.ed.gov/rss/edgov.xml

Typical Use of RSS Feeds:Typical Use of RSS Feeds:News Readers, AggregatorsNews Readers, Aggregators

Individuals Select a News Reader (e.g. NewsGator, MyYahoo or Enabled Browser

Configure to tasteExample using my.yahoo.com: add pages,

find and add RSS feedsYour assignment: configure one!

Tools for Locating Tools for Locating More RSS FeedsMore RSS Feeds

Syndic8

http://www.syndic8.com

MyYahoo (“Add Content”)

http://my.yahoo.com

NewsIsFree

http://www.newsisfree.com/sources/bycat/

RSS Feeds on Your SRO WebRSS Feeds on Your SRO Web

The Ugly Code Behind the RSS URLXML: Another TLADo not be afraid! Easy tools to display on

your web pages: XML parsers!Use tools to generate the code to paste into

your HTML pages

RSS Feeds on Your Web PortalRSS Feeds on Your Web Portal

You can use the same code generated in the last step (if your campus portal does not parse XML)

Your web portal may permit targeted content by discipline

Using Your Data to Using Your Data to Generate an RSS FeedGenerate an RSS Feed

XML file can be generated by a script on an Active Server Page (ASP)

Coordination required to get (or establish) account info for connection string to access data, and web folder permissions to execute code and write XML file

What: Recent awards; announcements, etc.