Creating RSS files for your Web site (4/5) - exploring XML

A full-fledged RSS example

The easist way to create your own RSS file is to take a full-fledged example like the one below and modify it to reflect your own content. Feel free to borrow the one below and adapt it to suit your needs:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?> <rss version="0.91"> <channel> <title>eXploringXML</title> <link>http://exploringxml.com</link> <description>Free tutorials, examples, and tools for XML at WebReference</description> <language>us-en</language> <copyright>Copyright 2000, internet.com.</copyright> <managingEditor>mclassen@internet.com</managingEditor> <webMaster>webmaster@internet.com</webMaster> <image> <title>eXploringXML</title> <url>http://webref.com/xml/art/logo.gif</url> <link>http://exploringxml.com</link> <width>88</width> <height>31</height> <description>Free tutorials, examples, and tools for XML at WebReference</description> </image> <item> <title>Editing XML: Addendum</title> <link>http://www.webref.com/xml/column8/addendumA/</link> <description>More XML Editors</description> </item> <item> <title>WAP: The Web for Cellphones and PDAs</title> <link>http://www.webref.com/xml/column12/</link> <description>The Web on Aethernet</description> </item> </channel> </rss>

This example shows the most widely used tags for the eXploringXML channel at WebReference. To keep it short it only contains two items, but naturally you can add as many as you like.

Publishing your RSS file

Now that you have created your own RSS file just put it somewhere on your Web server and you are done! Just note the URL and the next article will explain how to let the world know about your new exciting offering.

Keep in mind that you should update the RSS file every time you put new material on your Web site. Whether you maintain the RSS file by hand or write a small tool that creates RSS from your HTML depends on your Web site layout, and your preference of course. An outdated RSS file is of little value.