Subsections


4.5 Story Syndication (RDF)

Many sites syndicate their headlines so other sites can link to their latest content easily. Scoop can fetch headlines from any number of other sites and allows users to choose which of those headlines they would like to see in their sidebar.

Scoop can also create its own RDF feeds, and instead of just the headlines it includes the story's introduction as well.

All of the variables referenced below should be in the RDF category of Site Controls.


4.5.1 Fetching Headlines

RDF feeds to be fetched regularly are handled using the RDF Admin Tool (A.13), and managing them requires the perm rdf_admin (A.12.29). Enabled feeds are fetched on a schedule set in the rdf_fetch cron item (A.14).

If the variable use_rdf_feeds is on, then users may select from the enabled feeds for display in their sidebar. RDF feeds can be either added directly or submitted by users with the perm submit_rdf (A.12.38). Submitted RDF feeds must be approved by the admin before users can see them.

Some RDF feeds include images, such as their site logo, in the feed; the variable rdf_use_images determines whether or not Scoop will display that image with the RDF feed. Similarly, some feeds include text inputs, such as a search box that directs to the RDF source site; the variable rdf_use_forms determines whether or not Scoop will display that form with the RDF feed.

RDF feeds all include a different number of headlines, some of them quite large. You can restrict the number of headlines displayed with the variable rdf_max_headlines; this number can be overridden by a user preference if the user wishes to see more headlines.


4.5.2 Publishing Headlines

Scoop creates its RDF feed on a schedule set by the rdf cron item (A.14).

The number of headlines included is determined by the number of stories posted either to front page or section in a certain time, set by the variable rdf_days_to_show, up to a maximum set in the variable rdf_max_stories.

Some meta-information can be included in the RDF file created, all set by variables. The copyright notice is set by the variable rdf_copyright; the RDF creator and publisher default to the site name as set in the variable sitename unless the variables rdf_creator and rdf_publisher are set, respectively. If you wish to include your site logo in the RDF feed, enter its full URL--including the http://--into the variable rdf_image. You should probably only include a small, button-sized image, just to avoid annoying the admins of other sites; they may reject your feed altogether if you include a large image.

Finally, the file that the RDF feed is saved to is set in the variable rdf_file. This must be an absolute local pathname; the file must be writeable by the Apache server's user; and the file must be accessible from the internet.

If you are using a location-based install, add an Alias line by the images Alias as below (the images Alias line is shown for reference):

Alias /scoop/ "/www/scoop/html/"
Alias /scoop/images/ "/www/scoop/html/images/"

Then stop and start Apache. Paths should be adjusted as necessary for your setup. This will allow files in the scoop/html directory, such as robots.txt, backend.rdf, and dynamic-comments.js to be fetched normally.


janra
2004-03-26