vBa CMPS: Customizable RSS feed module

[alyster4k]

Sure thing. Thanks for the quick reply. Nothing stood at me though with minimal changes made...

<?php

// optional function to modify each item as needed (must be a unique name)
function rss_modify_rssdata($item_number, &$rss_item)
{
global $vboptions;

// do any data modifications needed at this point.
$rss_item['DESCRIPTION'] = vbdate($vboptions['dateformat'], strtotime($rss_item['PUBDATE']), $vboptions['yestoday']);
$rss_item['DESCRIPTION'] .= ' <span class="time">';
$rss_item['DESCRIPTION'] .= vbdate($vboptions['timeformat'], strtotime($rss_item['PUBDATE']));
$rss_item['DESCRIPTION'] .= '</span>';
}

// All the information about each feed is defined here
// 'feed' => location of the rss live feed
// 'cache_age' => default value for cache refresh if not specified in feed
// 'maxitems' => maximum # of items to display regardless of how many are in the feed
// 'randomize' => if 'true' then 'maxitems' items will be 'randomized' if fewer than total item count
// 'template' => the 'master' template to be used
// 'templatebits' => the template used for each record of the file
// 'callback' => an optional function to use to process each item

$rss_feed_array = array (
feed => '<?php

// optional function to modify each item as needed (must be a unique name)
function rss_modify_renntech($item_number, &$rss_item)
{
global $vboptions;

// do any data modifications needed at this point.
$rss_item['DESCRIPTION'] = vbdate($vboptions['dateformat'], strtotime($rss_item['PUBDATE']), $vboptions['yestoday']);
$rss_item['DESCRIPTION'] .= ' <span class="time">';
$rss_item['DESCRIPTION'] .= vbdate($vboptions['timeformat'], strtotime($rss_item['PUBDATE']));
$rss_item['DESCRIPTION'] .= '</span>';
}

// All the information about each feed is defined here
// 'feed' => location of the rss live feed
// 'maxitems' => maximum # of items to display regardless of how many are in the feed
// 'randomize' => if 'true' then 'maxitems' items will be 'randomized' if fewer than total item count
// 'template' => the 'master' template to be used
// 'templatebits' => the template used for each record of the file
// 'callback' => an optional function to use to process each item

$rss_feed_array = array (
feed => 'http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/rss.xml',
maxitems => 7,
randomize => false,
template => 'adv_portal_rss',
templatebits => 'adv_portal_rennbits',
callback => ''
);

require ('./modules/rssfeed.php');

unset($rss_feed_array);

?>
',
cache_age => 60,
maxitems => 7,
randomize => false,
template => 'adv_portal_rss',
templatebits => 'adv_portal_rssbits',
callback => 'rss_modify_rssdata'
);

require ('./modules/rssfeed.php');

unset($rss_feed_array);

?>

[roscoe36]

Is that just a bad copy and paste job by you or does your file really start to repeat itself halfway through? Your posted code wraps at line 25.

// 'templatebits' => the template used for each record of the file
// 'callback' => an optional function to use to process each item

$rss_feed_array = array (
feed => '<?php

// optional function to modify each item as needed (must be a unique name)
function rss_modify_renntech($item_number, &$rss_item)

It's wrapping here

$rss_feed_array = array ( 
feed => '<?php

My suggestion is to download the files in the first post and open it in a pure text editor. Make only the changes to the feed location and TTL.

See if that will work.

[alyster4k]

You're right on the ball, roscoe. I must've had some crazy cut-n-paste episode because all I use is notepad usually. That did the trick. Thank you! It looks pretty bare there in the center. I'm pondering moving it to the side or adding more material like the description to fill up some room. Any hints on this?

[roscoe36]

Depends on what content is in your feed. I'm using 760 fixed with only a left and center column on my CMPS. I actually have 4 feeds right now, each with 3 headlines and then a CMPS custom page that displays 10 articles from each feed (my NEWS page).

Best of luck!

[alyster4k]

The feed (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas.../local/rss.xml) shows decent article descriptions ("More people are dying violently in Kansas City this year, and not just because of the spike in homicides.") under the titles. Can I add these in the module? What's the link to your site if I may ask?

[disco4me]

Roscoe,

I'd like to see your site if you would post your URL.

Thanks

Depends on what content is in your feed. I'm using 760 fixed with only a left and center column on my CMPS. I actually have 4 feeds right now, each with 3 headlines and then a CMPS custom page that displays 10 articles from each feed (my NEWS page).

Best of luck!

[alyster4k]

Anyone have a hint for me on the descriptions?

[Tom M]

The adv_portal_rssbits template already includes the $rss_item[DESCRIPTION] field. If the template hasn't been modified then the description should be showing for you.

[alyster4k]

That's where I need to look then and modify it then. Thanks, Tom!

[alyster4k]

Anyone else manage to put this in a collapsible and/or scrolling block yet? I can do it after some toying but I'd rather not reinvent the wheel here.

Tom, I added a "target="_blank"" reference for the HREF's in the templates to have the news open up in new windows too.

[diceman]

i can't get the feed to work. nothing at all apears ???

bestdamngamblingforum.com

[roscoe36]

Did you follow the instructions exactly?

create the cache dir? chmod it to writeable?

What version of VB and CMPS are you running?

[diceman]

yeah i created the cache directory.

what would the absolute path look like?

[roscoe36]

Depends on your server OS. Ask you host, or server admin. They should be able to sort you out.

Or maybe it is in your vB config file too. I don't remember.

[diceman]

thanks.....

[dstephan]

Hi, I'm trying to get this work too. I get this error. Any ideas?

Warning: main(.modules/rssfeed.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /modules/SSC.php on line 34

Warning: main(.modules/rssfeed.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /modules/SSC.php on line 34

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required '.modules/rssfeed.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/dstephan/public_html/forums/modules/SSC.php on line 34

[ryuuchida]

This is a nice hack! One question though: if I want multiple feeds, is this just a matter of renaming the rssmain.php and editing the rss feed url?

[Tom M]

This is a nice hack! One question though: if I want multiple feeds, is this just a matter of renaming the rssmain.php and editing the rss feed url?

Pretty much. If you have a callback that modifies the data then you'll need to rename that as well. If you will be using the same templates then copy the rssmain.php to a new file and create the CMPS module that makes use of that file. The whole process only takes a couple of minutes after getting things set up the first time.

[ryuuchida]

That's a very quick response, thanks! I'll try it and see how it goes.

[ryuuchida]

Okay, I put two rss modules on the same page, each with different php input file but with the same templates and the page won't load. (I tried it with different templates and it didn't work either.) I am doing something wrong or is this just not possible?