?RSSMesh tutorial

Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 75

I have downloaded the script for RSSMesh but don't completely understand how to apply this. Is it possible to have a step by step guide for this as the readme text isn't very details and I can't seem to get it to work? I'm sure I'll get there in the end but believe some kind of sticky on this would be useful to new users.

Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1370

damian0612 wrote:

I have downloaded the script for RSSMesh but don't completely understand how to apply this. Is it possible to have a step by step guide for this as the readme text isn't very details and I can't seem to get it to work? I'm sure I'll get there in the end but believe some kind of sticky on this would be useful to new users.

The first thing you have to do is create a configuration file, the sample shipped with rssMesh will work. The easiest way to do this is with http://www.yoursite.com/rssMesh.php?buildConfig . That will display fields to fillin with the needed values. After clicking on "Submit" the new configuration will be displayed. Copy that from the screen into a file and then upload to the webserver to the same directory as rssMesh.php. Then it is used by http://www.yoursite.com/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=newconfig.php

Jim

Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 75

Thanks Jim,

So when I have done this, I take it I then use the RSS2HTML script to display the feed?

thanks

Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1370

damian0612 wrote:

Thanks Jim,

So when I have done this, I take it I then use the RSS2HTML script to display the feed?

thanks

Yes, that will produce a feed that can be subscribed to by feed readers if you choose. And yes, you then can use rss2html.php to convert it to HTML for display on a web page.

Jim

Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 75

thanks again Jim.

Hopefully, this will be my last qestion.

so, after using rssMesh, I come to using rss2html to display my rss file:

Running rss2html.php from your own webserver

Probably the best way to use rss2html.php is to upload it to your own webserver. This gives you two ways to access the script. First, you can setup a link on your webpage to access the script and resulting webpage.

Syntax:
http:///rss2html.php?XMLFILE=&TEMPLATE=&MAXITEMS=

The above URL should all be on one line, with no spaces.

Replace '' with the domain of your website

Replace '' with the full URL to your RSS feed (i.e. http://www.mydomain.com/myfeed.xml)

Replace '' with the full URL to the webpage template you want to use (i.e. http://www.mydomain.com/mytemplate.htm)

Replace '' with the maximum number of items from your RSS feed you want included on the webpage. The MAXITEMS variable is optional. If it is not included, all the RSS feed items will be included.

Sample:

http://www.feedforall.com/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=blog-feed.xml&TEMPLATE=sample-template.html&MAXITEMS=10

so my domain = mydomain.com/rss2thml.php
and Template = mydomain.com/rssMesh_mytemplate.xml

but I can't figre out what the XMLFILe is as my template contains my link to the XML file which is I built using mydomain_myconfig.pho?

I have probably lost you here. But bascally I am trying to display the content of my rss feeds I have merged with rssMesh!

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1370

damian0612 wrote:

thanks again Jim.

Hopefully, this will be my last qestion.

so, after using rssMesh, I come to using rss2html to display my rss file:

So let me make some assumtions:

You are running rssMesh.php as:

Code:

http://www.mysite.com/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.mysite.com/rssMeshConfig.php

Your template is:

Code:

http://www.mysite.com/template.html

So if you plug that into rss2html.php?buildURL

You would get

Code:

?http://www.mysite.com/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=http://www.mysite.com/rssMesh.php%3fCONFIGFILE%3dhttp://www.mysite.com/rssMeshConfig.php&TEMPLATE=http://www.mysite.com/template.html

Jim

Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Christchurch NZ

Thanks for that post it was helpful... but when I try to get my xml using..

http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMeshConfig.php

I get this error..

Parse error: parse error, unexpected '=', expecting ')' in /virtual/thevoicebooth.com/public_html/rssMeshConfig.php on line 15

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMeshConfig.php:3) in /virtual/thevoicebooth.com/public_html/rssMesh.php on line 656
A sample RSS feed template for rssMesh.php, http://www.FeedForAll.com/, by NotePage, Inc. http://www.FeedForAll.com/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us rssMesh.php, http://www.FeedForAll.com/, Copyright 2006, NotePage, Inc. Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:46:19 +1200 Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:46:19 +1200

Sorry to be such a newbie pain in the ar$e!

Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1370

thevoicebooth wrote:

Thanks for that post it was helpful... but when I try to get my xml using..

http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMeshConfig.php

I get this error..

Parse error: parse error, unexpected '=', expecting ')' in /virtual/thevoicebooth.com/public_html/rssMeshConfig.php on line 15

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMeshConfig.php:3) in /virtual/thevoicebooth.com/public_html/rssMesh.php on line 656
A sample RSS feed template for rssMesh.php, http://www.FeedForAll.com/, by NotePage, Inc. http://www.FeedForAll.com/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us rssMesh.php, http://www.FeedForAll.com/, Copyright 2006, NotePage, Inc. Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:46:19 +1200 Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:46:19 +1200

Sorry to be such a newbie pain in the ar$e!

Since it is impossible to view a config file from the web, can you post it so I can look at it, or email to

Jim

Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Christchurch NZ

-sigh- Hi Jim, thanks for the config file, I've downloaded the new rssmesh script and uploaded it.

Here is the address I'm using to generate my 'meshed' html page;

http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMeshConfig.php&TEMPLATE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/latest.htm

As you know the config file contains no reference to the sample xml file; Rssmesh_template.xml

I still only get the content from the RSSmesh_template.xml feed, so I put my information into the 'template' xml, and I get the headers fine, but there is nothing in the xml file - it is not updating!

Help! Again!

Let me know what information you need to dianose the problem.

Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1370

thevoicebooth wrote:

-sigh- Hi Jim, thanks for the config file, I've downloaded the new rssmesh script and uploaded it.

Here is the address I'm using to generate my 'meshed' html page;

http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMeshConfig.php&TEMPLATE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/latest.htm

As you know the config file contains no reference to the sample xml file; Rssmesh_template.xml

I still only get the content from the RSSmesh_template.xml feed, so I put my information into the 'template' xml, and I get the headers fine, but there is nothing in the xml file - it is not updating!

Help! Again!

Let me know what information you need to dianose the problem.

The URL isn't quite right, it should be http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMesh.php%3fCONFIGFILE%3dhttp://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMeshConfig.php&TEMPLATE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/latest.htm . And while debugging you really should set

Code:

$useOutputCaching = 0;

while debugging.

Jim

Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Christchurch NZ

Quote:

The URL isn't quite right, it should be http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMesh.php%3fCONFIGFILE%3dhttp://www.thevoicebooth.com/rssMeshConfig.php&TEMPLATE=http://www.thevoicebooth.com/latest.htm

But have you tried following that URL? All I get is the header info, no items!
The config file has all the correct addresses for the xml files, and they are all live. And the TEMPLATE file is working properly.

And what happens when you change $useOutputCaching to 1? Why use it for debugging?

Cheers

TobyR[/quote]

Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 75

so far, thanks for all the help. I seem to have learned how to use the rss2html to display one feed, so now I'm trying to figure this rssMesh out. So I have the following pages:

www.madforsport.co.uk/index.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/sample-template.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rss2html.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh_Template.xml

the RssMesh ones have been extracted straight in and are unaltered so I am just working on the sample config provided.

I chuck this into the rss2html:

XML:
http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php

Template:
http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/sample-template.php

I get this:

The XML file http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php was SUCCESSFULLY opened

The template file http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/sample-template.php was SUCCESSFULLY opened

URL for the XML file properly encoded:

http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh.php%3fCONFIGFILE%3dhttp://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php

URL for the template file properly encoded:

http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/sample-template.php

Example Usage
Click on link to view results: http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh.php%3fCONFIGFILE%3dhttp://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php&TEMPLATE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/sample-template.php

Server Side Include:

PHP Include:

include("http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh.php%3fCONFIGFILE%3dhttp://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php&TEMPLATE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/sample-template.php");
?>

But the example usage displays a blank page? I would be very grateful if you could point out the blatent mistake I am making.

many thanks

Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1370

damian0612 wrote:

so far, thanks for all the help. I seem to have learned how to use the rss2html to display one feed, so now I'm trying to figure this rssMesh out. So I have the following pages:

www.madforsport.co.uk/index.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/sample-template.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rss2html.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh_Template.xml

the RssMesh ones have been extracted straight in and are unaltered so I am just working on the sample config provided.

I chuck this into the rss2html:

[i]XML:
http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php

This produces a feed with no items. That is not a good place to start.

Jim

Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 75

MacSupport wrote:

[i]XML:
http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh.php?CONFIGFILE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssfiles/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php

This produces a feed with no items. That is not a good place to start.

Jim[/quote]

ok, I made a new config (and also deleted the rssfiles folder) so now I have:

www.madforsport.co.uk/index.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/sample-template.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rss2html.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh_SampleConfig.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh_myconfig.php
www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh_Template.xml

so I have added 2 feeds into my config:

but the example usages still shows blank:

Example Usage
Click on link to view results: http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh.php%3fCONFIGFILE%3dhttp://www.madforsport.co.uk/rssMesh_myconfig.php&TEMPLATE=http://www.madforsport.co.uk/sample-template.php

again forgive my stupidity but to be honest without som sort of idiots guide I'm stuck. or did I take your reply the wrong way and go of on somthing totally unrelated?

thanks alot
Damian

Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 75

been playing about with it, when I try to load the page with myconfig on it, I get this error:

Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_VARIABLE in /websites/LinuxPackage01/ma/df/or/madforsport.co.uk/public_html/rssMesh_myconfig.php on line 9 (the sortoutbypubdate line).

here is the code:

$useOutputCaching = 1;

$outputCacheTTL = 3600;

$XMLTemplate = "rssMesh_Template.xml;"

$sortOutputByPubDate = 1;

$feedList = Array(

// Entry #1
Array("fileURL" => "http://www.teamtalk.com/rss/0,16039,2483,00.xml",
"itemCount" => "4",
"feedTTL" => "3600"
)
,

// Entry #2
Array("fileURL" => "http://www.timesonline.co.uk/rssfeed/rssIndexFeed/0,,4,00.xml",
"itemCount" => "2"
)
);

?>

Is this the cause of the problem?