Missing your K1200LT fix by email?

[eljeffe]

Well, we don't have the email delivery of posts working just yet, but we do have an alternative. I have just completed a modification to the RSS Feed capability to offer RSS delivery of all forums to you as individual messages.

If you have a Mail program that handles RSS Feeds (like Mozilla Thunderbird) or an RSS Feed Reader (like FeedDemon), you can now skim many threads without navigating through the site.

RSS Feed Readers:

Windows: FeedDemon - http://www.bradsoft.com/feeddemon/index.asp
FYI: RSS Feed capability will be in Internet Explorer 7.0

Mac OS X: Vienna - http://www.opencommunity.co.uk/vienna2.html
FYI: Safari (10.4+ only) handles RSS Feeds by default.

I am using Thunderbird to get RSS Feeds and it works pretty well. Not quite as well as individual email, but it does allow you to skim a lot of information in a very short period of time.

The link for the RSS Feed is on the main home page at http://www.bmwlt.com (look for the RSS Boards logo)

[scottydawg]

Funny, I actually sent a bunch of NorCal people the link to Feed Demon last week that were asking me at HDDC about an easy way to keep up with post. I have been using it a long time and it ROCKS. I think everyone should at least try RSS, it is an easy to use way to keep up on all kinds of web pages in a very organized way.
FYI, the new version of Windows next year (Vista) will support RSS.

[bobaltic]

I'm using RSSOwl and it works reasonably well also. Do miss the emails though. Many thanks for your efforts....Best, Bob

[jackd]

I'm using RSSOwl and it works reasonably well also. Do miss the emails though. Many thanks for your efforts....Best, Bob

I'm sort of interested in using RSSOwl. The home site says it's a java app and specifies no browser requirement. Does it use or interact with a browser.. If I can use FireFox (if a browser is needed) I might consider giving this a whirl. I don't use Internet Exploder for anything except two apps in my company that will only run with ActiveX. :(

Currently I don't like the restricted topic categories were are using now. Takes too long to make a quick look at the topics.. or maybe I just don't have time to play with the options of this new software. Overall I think the new software has lots of advantages but I don't have the time to seek them out now.. maybe some snowy afternoon.. ;)

[scottydawg]

You do not need a browser to read RSS feeds.

[eljeffe]

I am using Thunderbird to read the RSS feeds. Looks just like email.

Firefox will also read RSS feeds using "Live Links". It's not as easy as using Thunderbird.

[gulfxray]

Thanks for all the work Jeff!

I am going to give FeedReader a go - I think this may be a good way to keep up with things during the day when I am suppossed to be working.. ;-)

[jackd]

Firefox will also read RSS feeds using "Live Links". It's not as easy as using Thunderbird.

That is all I needed.. maybe I will download tomorrow or over the weekend..

Thanks..

[jackd]

If you have a Mail program that handles RSS Feeds (like Mozilla Thunderbird) or an RSS Feed Reader (like FeedDemon), you can now skim many threads without navigating through the site.

Well, I installed RSSOwl and it looks pretty good but... I get this error message when I direct it at www.bmwlt.com (http://www.bmwlt.com)

" or "/>".">This file is no a valid XML File. Error on line 338: Element type "a" must be followed by either attribute specifications, ">" or "/>".

in fact when I select it directly from from the www.bmwlt.com (http://www.bmwlt.com) page with my FireFox browser I get the same error..

If I use Internet Exploder I don't get the error message.

I am using FireFox 1.0.7

[jackd]

Jeff, Not quite understanding how this RSS works I did not know how to direct the RSS news feed. I see that if I copy the link from the BMWLT RSS logo I get that same link you posted. Then when I direct RSSOwl at that link it works... :)

Now I need to figure out how to use this new toy.. :cool:

[bobaltic]

I'm sort of interested in using RSSOwl. The home site says it's a java app and specifies no browser requirement. Does it use or interact with a browser.. If I can use FireFox (if a browser is needed) I might consider giving this a whirl. I don't use Internet Exploder for anything except two apps in my company that will only run with ActiveX. :(

Currently I don't like the restricted topic categories were are using now. Takes too long to make a quick look at the topics.. or maybe I just don't have time to play with the options of this new software. Overall I think the new software has lots of advantages but I don't have the time to seek them out now.. maybe some snowy afternoon.. ;)

Doesn't seem to use a browser, opens a browser window with in Owl to view the actual article. Pretty handy. I just scan the first few lines and then double click to open the article. Hope this helps....Bob

[jackd]

Actually I like RSSOwl. pretty easy on the eyes and works just like a browser. The only thing I don't get to do is use the spell check. Unless I have a config option set wrong I can use anything like a popup that the spellcheck seems to resemble.

[eljeffe]

I have updated the URL for the RSS Feed.

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/new_external.php?type=rss2&postlen=FULL&qty=100&bbcode=PARSE&html=YES

Make sure you update your feed to reflect the new changes

[Buck]

O.k., so I go to RSSOWL.org, and click on <download>. That takes me to a screen with a list of mostly undecipherable(to me) files. What then?

Buck Wilmerding
San Diego

[scottydawg]

Use this one: rssowl_win32_1_1_3.exe (Windows Installer)

[jackd]

I have updated the URL for the RSS Feed.

Make sure you update your feed to reflect the new changes

Mine worked the way it was...??? but I updated it.. :confused:

[Buck]

Scott,

I don't see: rssowl_win32_1_1_3.exe (Windows Installer)

Do you mean this one:

rssowl_1_2_RC1_win32.exe 12-Oct-2005 10:07 4.8M

Buck

[scottydawg]

Buck if you go to this page:

http://www.rssowl.org/download?PHPSESSID=6ff9659bcd04543146bd7fe0786be1a7

You will see the following (I have only copied part of the page just so you are clear on what I am seeing:

Windows

rssowl_win32_1_1_3.exe (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/rssowl/rssowl_win32_1_1_3.exe?download) (Windows Installer)
rssowl_win32_1_1_3_bin.zip (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/rssowl/rssowl_win32_1_1_3_bin.zip?download) (zipped binary package for Windows)
Linux

rssowl_linux_1_1_3_bin.tar.gz (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/rssowl/rssowl_linux_1_1_3_bin.tar.gz?download) (gzip'ed binary package for Linux distributions)
rssowl-1.1.3-0.1.i586.rpm (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/rssowl/rssowl-1.1.3-0.1.i586.rpm?download) (binary RPM for Linux distributions)
rssowl-1.1.3-0.1.src.rpm (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/rssowl/rssowl-1.1.3-0.1.src.rpm?download) (source RPM for Linux distributions)
Mac OS X

rssowl_mac_1_1_3_bin.tar.gz (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/rssowl/rssowl_mac_1_1_3_bin.tar.gz?download) (gzip'ed binary package for Mac OS X)
Solaris

rssowl_solaris_1_1_3_bin.tar.gz (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/rssowl/rssowl_solaris_1_1_3_bin.tar.gz?download) (gzip'ed binary package for Solaris)

[Buck]

Scott,

O.k., 2 different download buttons. I was using the one here:
RSSOwl 1.2 Release Candidate 1 available (http://www.rssowl.org/node/180)

Submitted by bpasero on Wed, 2005-10-12 16:31.
I am quite happy to announce the first release candidate of upcoming RSSOwl 1.2!
Check out some of the cool new features:

Fully customizable Toolbar with new elements like 'History'
New Search Scopes allow for more detailed searches
Cool new look for the HTML Export of News
Quick-Filter added to Preferences Dialog to quickly find settings
Switch on 'Linked Mode' to update selection in your Favorites automatically
Improved Feed-Search and Feed-Discovery
Support for Atom 1.0 Format
Download: http://www.rssowl.org/dl/Integration_Build/ (http://www.rssowl.org/dl/Integration_Build/)
Changelog: http://www.rssowl.org/dl/Integration_Build/changes_in_1_2.txt (http://www.rssowl.org/dl/Integration_Build/changes_in_1_2.txt)

The final release is planned for mid of november. If you encounter any bug, please directly let me know via mail. Thanks!
Ben
2 comments (http://www.rssowl.org/node/180#comment)

Thanks for the help. I'll try it out.

Buck

[Buck]

Scott,

Got it!

Thanks.

[jackd]

Well, I like the new link. everything is formatted better.. Using the RSS feed was good now it's great. :)

[dfinazzo]

Jeff,

Thanks for the heads up on Vienna - once you posted the RSS updating was a breeze

Linking this program lets me browse the site messages very fast . . .

[eljeffe]

Another feature of the RSS Feed is to specify which forums you want to see. The current link shows all posts from all forums. Sometimes you may not want to wade through the 300 or so posts that are made each day, and just want to read messages from certain forums. You can do this by specifying which forms you want to see with the "forumsid" parameter.

For example, if you only wanted to see messages from the K1200LT forum and no others, you would specify "forumids=11"

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/new_external.php?type=rss2&postlen=FULL&qty=100&forumids=11&bbcode=PARSE&html=YES

Another example, if you wanted to see messages from K1200LT, Humor, and Chit Chat, you would specify "forumids=11,17,18"

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/new_external.php?type=rss2&postlen=FULL&qty=100&forumids=11,17,18&bbcode=PARSE&html=YES

Or maybe you just want to see messages from K1200LT, Curve Cowboy Reunion, Chit Chat, and your local region (South Central in this example), you would specify "forumids=11,12,17,25"

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/new_external.php?type=rss2&postlen=FULL&qty=100&forumids=11,12,17,25&bbcode=PARSE&html=YES

Here is a list of all the forums and their associated ID number:

BMW Luxury Touring

11 --> K1200LT
12 --> Curve Cowboy Reunion
22 --> Ride Tales
56 --> Other K-Bikes Discussion
57 --> General R-Bike Discussion
83 --> Technical, Repair and Maintenance

Farkles, Gadgets, and Gear Subforums

51 --> GPS
52 --> iPod/MP3
53 --> Satellite Radio
54 --> Radar Detector
55 --> Intercom
81 --> Lighting
82 --> Ergonomics
58 --> Other Gadgets
65 --> Rider's Gear
66 --> Tires
86 --> Trailers, Sidecars, and Trikes

Site Support

6 --> Test Forum
36 --> Contact the Help Team
39 --> Announcements

Regional Discussion

32 --> Australia, New Zealand, and AsiaPac
33 --> Europe
34 --> Canada

USA Subforums

23 --> North East
24 --> South East
25 --> South Central
26 --> Central East
27 --> Mid West
28 --> Rocky Mountain
29 --> North West
30 --> South West
31 --> Northern California

General Discussion

17 --> Chit Chat
18 --> Humor
20 --> Classifieds
38 --> Surveys and Polls
78 --> Dealer Experiences

Vendor Subforums:

69 --> Just Ride it Accessories
70 --> Highway Ottomans
71 --> KonTour Seats
74 --> Rear Drive
75 --> Nick Plenzick Enterprises
77 --> Derby Cycles

[Buck]

I'm using RSSOWL. I have a favorite labeled BuxK1200LTForums. Under Properties, I put the following as the URL/Path:

http ://www.bmwlt.com/ forums/new_external.php?type=rss2&postlen=FULL&qty=100&forums=11,35,83,51,
52,53,55,58,81,66,36,39,30,20,21,69,70,71,74,75,
77&bbcode=PARSE&html=YES

<Spaces added to prevent truncated link>

But I still get all of the forums. (Why do we have so many forums, anyway?)

[eljeffe]

Because the parameter is forumids, not forums.

[Buck]

Jeff,

Still no joy. I reduced it down to just the K1200LT forum, for testing:

http: //www.bmwlt.com/forums/new_external.php?type=rss2&postlen=FULL&qty=100&forumsid=11&
bbcode=PARSE&html=YES

...but I still get everything.

Thanks.
Buck

[eljeffe]

Sorry about that. My mistake. It should be forumids not forumsid

[Buck]

<forumids>

Cha-Ching! We have a winner!

Thanks Jeff.