RSS Feeds
In this section:
Overview
You can configure an EchoSystem Server (ESS) so it creates an RSS feed automatically when an Echo is ready for distribution.
Configuration consists of these phases:
Creating the publisher module. The publisher module, which is the main component, defines how the publisher behaves when it is invoked. It appears at the system configuration level.
Instantiating the publisher module for each section. Operating components ("instances") determine which Echoes invoke the publisher. They appear at the section and Echo levels. A section or Echo that makes use of a publisher module instantiates it.
System Settings determine the URL used for RSS feeds
The URL used for RSS Feeds is determined by the Application Network Settings configured in the System Settings page, and whether you are using an internal or an external web server. Briefly, the configurations work as follows:
If you are using an internal web server, and serving "mixed content" (HTTPS for App/HTTP for Content, with or without reverse proxy), the Host Name and Port shown in the Content Network Settings are used for RSS feeds.
If you are using an internal web server and using ALL HTTPS for serving content (with or without reverse proxy), the Legacy Content Host Name and Port (HTTP) are used for RSS feeds.
If you are using an external web server, regardless of how you are serving the content, the Host Name and HTTP port listed in the Active Echo Settings section of the System Settings page are used for serving RSS feeds.
If you are having problems with RSS feeds, be sure to check the appropriate Host Name and Port settings on the System Settings page (keeping in mind that RSS feeds require the use of an HTTP port).
Create the Publisher Module
Log in as an Administrator.
Navigate to Configuration > Publishers.
Click the Add button.
In the Publisher Details section, populate the fields as described in the following table.
In the Enclosure Metadata section, choose the descriptive information that will appear with each entry in the generated RSS feed.
In the Publisher Configuration section, populate the fields as described in the following table.
In the ITunes Group section, use the checkbox to select whether to Enable iTunes Tags for sections published through this RSS feed. iTunes tags are items that appear in the iTunes RSS interface for the broadcast section and are configured on the Edit Section page if this RSS Publisher is selected. See Instantiate the Publisher Module immediately below for Instructions on adding iTunes tags.
Click Save.
Instantiate the Publisher Module
Log in as an Administrator.
Navigate to Schedule > Courses.
Click the name of a course containing a section to be published. The Course Details page appears, listing the course's sections at the bottom of the page as shown in the figure below.
Hover over the section you want to publish.
SectionList_EditButton.pngClick the edit button. The Edit Section page appears.
Near the bottom of the page, click Add Publisher in the Configured Publishers area.
In the box that appears, select the publisher module name you created earlier, as shown in the figure below.
AddPublisher_Section_iTunes.pngSelect the Allow iTunes Subscription box if you want to allow iTunes users to receive the RSS feed from within the iTunes application.
If the selected RSS Publisher has enabled iTunes tags, an iTunes Group section appears, shown in the following figure. These fields are recommended but optional, and relate to how iTunesU presents information on the section to users.
The table below describes the field information requested, as indicated on Apple's iTunesU website for Podcast and RSS feed specifications: http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/specs.html#rss. All fields are limited to 255 characters, except for Summary which is limited to 4000.Click Save.
Notice that the RSS Feed URLs appear at the top of the page.
On the Edit Section page, click Save again.
To immediately use the URLs produced by the publisher, click the title of any Echo, instantiating it from the Echoes list in your ESS. The URLs for the chosen products are listed at the top of the page. If you configured other publishers (Moodle, Blackboard, and so on), these publishers advertise the presentation URLs in their publications.