Can an RSS Feed be Embedded in AMS

[jimriley]

I'm designing an application that would benefit from have rss news/blog feeds displayed

Is there a way to do this?

Jim

[RizlaUK]

im not really sure, but isent a rss feed basicly a xml file?

[Canter]

You could do it via a web object - just load the url of the rss feed.

[RizlaUK]

im sure iv seen a rss example here somewhere...iv been looking but i can not find it

[FoxLeader]

Yes, there is. You would simply need to download the XML file then use AMS's XML actions to display it by studying the composition of that XML. I'll see if I can find anything.

I'm right now doing a sample. It will just get the first item but it would be fairly easy to make it a loop (except that I don't really understand them so I would need help on that part).

[FoxLeader]

Have a look here:

http://www.indigorose.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13101
http://www.indigorose.com/forums/sho...2&postcount=22

I'll upload mine in a few minutes.

Regarding my code, you're allowed to use it in another app but don't just do a news reader. This would be 60% or more of only my code. Please use your own code, too.

The *.apz is attached. It was done in AMS6, so it's compatible with 6 and 7. Code should be backwards compatible...
All the code is in Global Functions and a little part is on "Refresh" button. I used customs function table, so it's easier
A plug-in could even be done with this!

Any improvements are welcome top be shared, especially to show more that the first item however I don't really know the use of loops, so... masters, please help!

My code:

--##################################
--## Custom Function Informations ##
--##################################
-- Disclaimer: This code might have bugs, but I did all I could to remove most of them.
--You are allowed to use this on a commercial app, however DO NOT USE THIS ONLY AS AN APP. T
-- A linkback/credit is not needed, but would be appreciated.
-- Done by: FoxLeader
--URL: http://www.foxleader.net
-------------------------------------------------------
-- Language Vars:
	--Publish date
		published = "Publié: "
	--Open new's link
		openLink = "Ouvrir la nouvelle"
	--"Downloading" text for status message
		msgDownloading = "Connexion..."
	--"Loading" text for status message
		msgLoading = "Traitement en cours..."
	--Properties of the status text
		RSS_StatusProp = {}
		RSS_StatusProp.Enabled = false
		RSS_StatusPropColor = "FFFFFF" --In Hexadecimal
		RSS_StatusProp.ColorNormal = Math.HexColorToNumber(RSS_StatusPropColor); --Don't change this
		RSS_StatusProp.X = 920
		RSS_StatusProp.Y = 10
		RSS_StatusProp.FontSize = 8
--## Vars:
	--"url" is the url of the (online) RSS feed
	--"dir" is the target directory to download to
-------------------------------------------------------

--[[ Usage:
	Put this (exemple) OnShow or on any button:
		RSS.Get("http://www.indigorose.com/forums/external.php?type=rss", _SourceFolder.."AutoPlay\\Docs\\feed.xml")
	to download the feed. Then, put this (exemple again) where you want it: 
	RSS.Load("Feed", true)
	
	You absolutely need the following objects:
		Feed_Name (Label)
		Feed1_Content (Paragraph)
		Feed1_Title (Label)
		Feed1_Title (Label)
		
	That's it! Any enhancements are welcome. Share them on the forums!
]]

RSS = {}

function RSS.ShowStatus(show, type)
	if show == true then		
		Page.CreateObject(OBJECT_LABEL, "RSS_Status", RSS_StatusProp);
		
		--Types:
			--1 is download
			--2 is loading
		if type == 1 then
			Label.SetText("RSS_Status", msgDownloading)
		elseif type == 2 then
			Label.SetText("RSS_Status", msgLoading)
		end
		
	elseif show == false then
		Page.DeleteObject("RSS_Status");
	end
end

function RSS.Get(url, dir, showStatus)
	--Show the message
	RSS.ShowStatus(true, 1)
	--Download the feed
	HTTP.Download(url, dir, MODE_BINARY, 20, 80, nil, nil, nil);
	XML.Load(dir);
	--Hide the message
	RSS.ShowStatus(false)
end

function RSS.Load(prefix, titleClick, showStatus)
	--Show the message
	RSS.ShowStatus(true, 2)
	
	--[ Will be removed when enhanced as a loop (Start)]
		no = 1
	--[ Will be removed when enhanced as a loop (End) ]
	--Get the feed name
	name = XML.GetValue("rss/channel/title");
	--Show the feed name
	Label.SetText(prefix.."_Name", name);
	
	--Get the first item's values
	title = XML.GetValue("rss/channel/item/title");
	link = XML.GetValue("rss/channel/item/link");
	description = XML.GetValue("rss/channel/item/description");
	pubDate = XML.GetValue("rss/channel/item/pubDate");
	
	--Show the feed's title
	Label.SetText(prefix..no.."_Title", title);
	--Add an OnClick, cursor and tooltip on the title if enabled
	if titleClick == true then
		--OnClick
		linkScript = "File.Open(link, '', SW_SHOWNORMAL);"
		Page.SetObjectScript(prefix..no.."_Title", "On Click", linkScript);
		
		--Tooltip & Cursor
		titleClick_Propert = {}
		titleClick_Propert.TooltipText = openLink
		titleClick_Propert.Cursor = CURSOR_HAND
		Label.SetProperties(prefix..no.."_Title", titleClick_Propert);
	end
	--Show the date
	Label.SetText(prefix..no.."_Date", published..pubDate);	
	--Show the feed's content (description)
	Paragraph.SetText(prefix..no.."_Content", description)
	
	RSS.ShowStatus(false)
end

[RizlaUK]

You would simply need to download the XML file

i tought so

[FoxLeader]

Yep. But Rizla (or anyone else), could you help me on two things?

1st: Add a parameter to select the number of items people want to display then show them (would probably need to look thru the XML, no?)

2nd: Add a way download the XML each specified time (pretty easy) but also to alert when there's new items. I taught maybe just compare each item to see if it has changed...? But you would need the first thing I said for that.

[RizlaUK]

i havent really looked at the code, i will take some time and look now and see if i can do anything



EDIT, ok, if you dont mind im going to tinker with this a little, the functions are not very freeform, certan object and object names are required, it would be better to return a table of results to workwith, i'll have a little play, but i think i can turn this into a nice little RSS LUA action plugin, lol

[FoxLeader]

Thanks mate

[RizlaUK]

ok, this is going to take a little longer than i thought as RSSV1 and RSSV2 have a slightly differant format, so to make a reliable set ov actions i will need to take that into account....i'll get it done, just not tonight :yes

[FoxLeader]

I'll also be following this
I hope what I did was a least helpful !?!?

And the weeks starts again... (Oh yeah, I'm always happy realizing the weekend is almost finished XD)

[rexzooly]

I'll also be following this
I hope what I did was a least helpful !?!?

And the weeks starts again... (Oh yeah, I'm always happy realizing the weekend is almost finished XD)

Thats not true NOOOOOO lol
Ya well week days have to come so it feels better to have a weekend lol

is this a project Feller you want mirroring or this one left out ?

[FoxLeader]

Well, it's not really finished so I'd say you should wait? Or upload it now then update it, do as you feel it

[rexzooly]

Well, it's not really finished so I'd say you should wait? Or upload it now then update it, do as you feel it

i will wait i am busy making things anyway in Pain.net lol