View University CalendarsView University DirectoriesSearch the SiteGo to the SitemapGo to the Homepage

RSS Feed Readers

RDF Site Summary, or Rich Site Summary, or Really Simple Syndication, is a lightweight XML format for distributing news headlines and other content on the Web. RSS serves as an alternative means of accessing the vast amount of information that now exists on the internet. Instead of the user browsing websites for information of interest, the information is sent directly to the user. RSS allows a person's computer to fetch and understand the information, so that all of the lists that person is interested in can be tracked and personalized for them. To download and begin using RSS, follow the appropriate instructions below.

Windows instructions | Mac OS X instructions | Additional information

Instructions for Windows Users:

Download

    1. Go to: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=70179
    2. From the Latest File Release list,click Download from the Binaries row.
    3. Click on the FeedReader290Setup.exe file in the Binaries list.
    4. If a "Opening FeedReader290Setup.exe" window appears, click Save File. (If the window does not appear automatically, click on Mirror in the bottom center of the page. From the Mirror list, ensure that a North America location is selected and click ok. Then the above window should appear. Click Save File.)
      • Note: The website might be blocked from downloading the file. If this happens a warning toolbar will appear at the top of your browser window. Click the toolbar and choose Download File.
    5. Navigate to where the file should be downloaded to.
    6. Once the file is downloaded a download complete prompt will appear. Click Open.
    7. A security warning prompt might appear. Click Run.
    8. The Setup FeedReader wizard appears. Click Next.
    9. Choose "I accept the license" on the public license window and click Next.
    10. Read the agreement and click Next.
    11. Navigate to the place to install the FeedReader. Click Next.
    12. Click Next at the program shortcuts window.
    13. On the Additional Tasks window make your selections and click Next.
    14. Click Install to finish the process.
    15. Click Finish to exit the wizard.

Using FeedReader

When you open Feedreader for the first time, a list of news feeds will appear along the left edge. Select and delete any feeds you don’t want to read. The program is organized similarly to many e-mail applications: folders/RSS feeds along the left column, subject headings along the top, and the content of the posting at the bottom.

To Add a Feed

    1. Using your preferred web browser (Explorer, Firefox, etc.), go to a website that contains the link to the feed you want to subscribe to (look for the orange XML or RSS button).
    2. Click on XML or RSS.
    3. To copy the URL, Right click on the URL line and choose Copy (or press Ctrl-C).
    4. Go back to Feedreader.
    5. Click the Add new Feed icon (or press F2).
    6. To paste the URL, Right click on the URL line and choose Paste (or press Ctrl-V).
    7. Click Next.
    8. Name your feed and file it in the appropriate folder.
    9. Click Finish. Your feed should now appear in the left column.

Instructions for Mac Users:

Download

    1. Go to http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/
    2. Scroll to the very bottom of the page to the “NetNewsWire Lite” section and click the Download NetNewsWire Lite link.
    3. A file will be saved to your download folder.
    4. Double-click the file ending in .gz to uncompress it.
    5. Double-click the file ending in .dmg to mount the NetNewsWire Lite disk image on your desktop.
    6. Open the NetNewsWire Lite disk image and drag “NetNewsWire Lite” to your Applications folder.

Using NetNewsWire Lite

When you open NetNewsWire Lite for the first time, a list of Macintosh news feeds will be listed along the left. Select and delete any feeds you don’t want to read. The program is organized similarly to many email applications: folders/RSS feeds along the left column, subject headings along the top, and the content of the posting at the bottom.

To Add a Feed

    1. Using your preferred web browser (Safari, Firefox, etc.), go to a website that contains the link to the feed you want to subscribe to (look for the orange XML or RSS button).
    2. Control-click or right-click on the link and select Copy Link.
    3. Go back to NetNewsWire Lite.
    4. Click the Subscribe button at the top of the window.
    5. Select Edit-Paste or press Command-V to paste the URL.
    6. Click OK. Your feed should now appear in the left column.

 

Lawrence University, PO Box 599, Appleton, WI 54912 (920) 832-7000 Contact Lawrence