Forums - Print Thread - RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!

Forums
» List all forums
» » Forum: Announcements
» » » Thread: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!

Print at Sep 15, 2025, 10:55:20 AM

Posted by support at Mar 27, 2005, 12:59:29 AM

RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
We are pleased to announce that RSS feeds are now available for your public calendar events!

The link can be found on the small "XML" button at the lower-right of any public calendar view (for example, http://www.localendar.com/public/sample)

For those unfamiliar with RSS, it is a Web content syndication format. Its name is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication. You can read these files in a program called an aggregator, which automatically collects news from various websites and provides it to you in a simple form. It is also possible to include RSS feeds in some blogs.

If you have friends or family who use an RSS reader, then sharing your RSS link is an excellent way to keep them up-to-date with your calendar. As always, your feedback is welcome and will help us improve this feature.
----------------------------------------
Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by Blackwelder at Mar 27, 2005, 11:55:54 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
How can I remove the XML button! This is causing confusion for my students using my calendar and problems for me. Also - why aren't my HTML links on my calendar not working any more? Everything was working fine yesterday?
----------------------------------------
Ralph Blackwelder
GMC/Brenau Faculty
GMC@RalphBlackwelder.com
Brenau@RalphBlackwelder.com

Posted by support at Mar 27, 2005, 9:16:11 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
Sigh - you can't please everyone sad

. That XML link is everywhere these days!

And those are some dedicated students! The feature only rolled out at 1AM on Easter Sunday, and by 7AM they're already confused wink

You can disable the link by including the parameter rss_link=false in your published calendar URL (we may eventually make it a preference)

for example:

http://www.localendar.com/public/sample?rss_link=false
or
http://www.localendar.com/public/sample?style=M1&rss_link=false

( note how when rss_link is the 2nd or higher parameter it starts with a & instead of a ? )

As to why the HTML links on your calendar are giving you trouble; nothing changed there. I was able to use all of your regular and mailto links w/ no problem. Did you recently install any pop-up blocking software?
----------------------------------------
Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by agbellschool at Mar 29, 2005, 10:35:31 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
RSS Questions:

1. Why does the button say xml not rss?

2. Why do only the current month's events come through the feed?

Posted by support at Mar 29, 2005, 11:10:30 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!

1. Why does the button say xml not rss?

While there are RSS buttons, the XML one we've displayed is by and large the standard.

e.g.,
http://www.cnet.com/4520-6022_1-5115040-1.html?tag=cnetfd.ft
http://www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/index.html
http://news.yahoo.com/rss

Why do only the current month's events come through the feed?

That was an implementation decision we made. Just as the public calendar only displays a month's events max, so does the rss feed. Otherwise, where would it stop? If you had an event that repeated every day for the next 5 years, should all those occurrences come back in the feed?
----------------------------------------
Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by sirreid at Apr 1, 2005, 11:54:32 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
I tried adding my calendar[XML] and even this forum discussion [XML]to 2 different RSS Readers (Thundderbird/Pluck), but they do not recognize the XML tag as a valid RSS feed. Is there something I need to do further?

The 2 entries I tried to add to myRSS readers are

My calendar
http://www.localendar.com/public/sirreid?style=M3
This forum discussion
http://www.localendar.com/lcf/lcforums/rss?forum=5

Posted by sirreid at Apr 1, 2005, 2:43:08 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
If anyone needs further clairfication on what RSS technology is about, here is an article I published

Called "RSS is a Double Edge Sword "

Posted by GerryRhodes at Apr 2, 2005, 3:48:24 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
Dear Marc - I'm using the dynamic calendar with the code you described. It works fine for the current month (the XML button is not displayed) but the XML button shows up when I go to months other than the current month. Any ideas?
Thank You

Posted by support at Apr 4, 2005, 9:42:14 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
You probably have a cached page in your browser showing your calendar before we added this feature. If you're using IE, under Tools->Internet Option->Settings, click "Every visit to the page"
----------------------------------------
Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by CherokeeCountyNC at Apr 6, 2005, 4:17:27 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
This is an outstanding addition to the services Localendar.com offers.

I was able to subscribe to the feed through bloglines.com and My Yahoo! with no problem. Now, to start syndicating my calendars on my other sites.

Thank You!

(The only quibble: repeating events only show once in the month view.)

All the best,

JD
----------------------------------------
John L. Dilbeck

http://JohnDilbeck.com
http://CherokeeCountyNC.com/
http://AYearFromNow.com
http://SyndicateYourAd.com

http://ISucceedByHelpingYouSucceed.com

Posted by support at Apr 7, 2005, 10:00:57 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
Thanks for the positive feedback smile

(The only quibble: repeating events only show once in the month view.)

Hmmm - I know we tested that and it was working correctly (we try to get things right the first time wink

)

Is it possible that the other occurrences were in the past, so your rss reader ignored them? Or are there >1 upcoming occurrences so only the first is shown?

There is actually an rss tag called "publish date" which may be interpreted specially by some readers. And I've also read that some readers ignore upcoming events. If possible, can you scan the raw xml and tell me if you see multiple events? If not, I'll take a look at your feed.
----------------------------------------
Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by CherokeeCountyNC at Apr 7, 2005, 2:48:51 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
JD said:

(The only quibble: repeating events only show once in the month view.)

Marc said:

Is it possible that the other occurrences were in the past, so your rss reader ignored them? Or are there >1 upcoming occurrences so only the first is shown?

There is actually an rss tag called "publish date" which may be interpreted specially by some readers. And I've also read that some readers ignore upcoming events. If possible, can you scan the raw xml and tell me if you see multiple events? If not, I'll take a look at your feed.

It is case number 2: there are >1 upcoming events with only the first shown.

I checked the actual xml file and both occurences are, indeed, there - although bloglines.com and My Yahoo! both show only the first. I have not had time to check it with other feed readers, yet.

It's even more complicated than I thought. The actual recurring item (recurs every other Saturday, this month on April 9 and April 23) is in my johndilbeck calendar, which is imported automatically into the cherokeecountync calendar.

Both raw xml files have the two events included (identical except for the "k=xxxx" parameter, at least on first glance), so you're right on the money, so to speak.

It look like you did get it right the first time!

Thanks!

All the best,

JD
----------------------------------------
John L. Dilbeck

http://JohnDilbeck.com
http://CherokeeCountyNC.com/
http://AYearFromNow.com
http://SyndicateYourAd.com

http://ISucceedByHelpingYouSucceed.com

Posted by CherokeeCountyNC at Apr 19, 2005, 11:38:02 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
Marc,

I've been busy with other things and turned my attention back to this today.

I'm testing the feed -- along with other feeds for comparison -- at:

http://johndilbeck.com/carptest.php

For the localendar feed, I've tested it using CaRP, and both javascript and php with the aid of RSS Digest, and, while the feed shows up, the links to the events don't.

After comparing the different feeds, I notice that all the others put the link in the link component of the item, and you're putting it in the guid component.

After looking at the RSS 2.0 specs, it seems to be ambiguous on this topic.

Would it be possible to populate the link component and the guid component with the data you're shoing in the guid now?

Also, would it be possible to populate the channel link to point to:

http://www.localendar.com/public/CherokeeCountyNC

rather than:

http://www.localendar.com/

I know your priority lies with fixing the problems related to the change of datacenters, so I don't mind waiting.

Thanks,

JD
----------------------------------------
John L. Dilbeck

http://JohnDilbeck.com
http://CherokeeCountyNC.com/
http://AYearFromNow.com
http://SyndicateYourAd.com

http://ISucceedByHelpingYouSucceed.com

Posted by support at Apr 20, 2005, 6:25:22 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
You've been so helpful testing and explaining the feeds, how can we not squeeze these in smile

And thanks for understanding re the database issues. I think we have a push going in tomorrow night, and we'll try to get these changes in!

BTW, I've renewed your subscription asof today, and upgraded you to premium webmaster. Just a little surprise thank-you for being one of the more active forum (and site) contributors. cool

Thanks again,
----------------------------------------
Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by support at Apr 20, 2005, 9:04:48 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
OK-

Changes that address your feedback are going in tonight (4/19). We've also made fixed the feed to accomodate special XML characters (&,<,>,",',etc)

Also, HTML used in the event title and description will no longer be stripped out from the RSS feed. cool

Try it out and let me know how it works for you.
----------------------------------------
Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by CherokeeCountyNC at Apr 22, 2005, 5:44:22 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
Hi Marc,

Thanks for all the help -- and a special thanks for upgrading and extending my account. That was a very unexpected, but welcome, surprise!

I've updated my page at:

http://johndilbeck.com/carptest.php

and moved the calendar feed to the first section.

It's looking and working just like I want.

Anchor tags don't seem to be active in the description field, but I would prefer that they aren't. I'd like someone to click the title and go to the localendar.com popup to see the full data with links.

Thanks, again. This is great!

All the best,

JD
----------------------------------------
John L. Dilbeck

http://JohnDilbeck.com
http://CherokeeCountyNC.com/
http://AYearFromNow.com
http://SyndicateYourAd.com

http://ISucceedByHelpingYouSucceed.com

Posted by egsaucla at Jun 17, 2005, 5:12:44 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
I have my interactive calendar embeded within a frame on my page,
with ?rss_link=false at the end of the URL. this does work in removing the XML link the first time a user hits the calendar, but reappears when the uses naviagtes the interactive calendar to the next month or week view. Can you please pass this variable along to subsequent requests?

Posted by ethelfred at Jul 26, 2005, 8:09:10 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
Greetings the XML file has been off and on sporadically. This is the longest it has been down. The error below is being generated for your sample on your website and I presume all customers. Folks are using the feeds. Please help us get it repaired. Thanks. Local calendar is great.

The XML page cannot be displayed
Cannot view XML input using XSL style sheet. Please correct the error and then click the Refresh button, or try again later.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only one top level element is allowed in an XML document. Error processing resource 'http://www.localendar.com/public/sample

<script>
-^

Posted by CherokeeCountyNC at Aug 1, 2005, 7:29:19 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!

Greetings the XML file has been off and on sporadically. This is the longest it has been down. The error below is being generated for your sample on your website and I presume all customers. Folks are using the feeds. Please help us get it repaired. Thanks. Local calendar is great.

The XML page cannot be displayed
Cannot view XML input using XSL style sheet. Please correct the error and then click the Refresh button, or try again later.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only one top level element is allowed in an XML document. Error processing resource 'http://www.localendar.com/public/sample

<script>
-^

Yes, I'm seeing this, too.

My feed for the month is not updating because of a script attached to the end of the XML feed.

Leaving off the angle brackets, here is what I'm seeing at the end of the feed:


/channel
/rss


script
window.onload=function(){
	if(!NiftyCheck())
	    return;
	roundMergeLegend();
}
/script

I'm guessing here, but I think this may be an artifact of adding the color-coded legend for merged calendars. If the script were moved outside the XML generation code, it may fix the problem.

Of course, you know your code better than I do, Marc!

Hope this helps locate and solve the problem.

All the best,

JD
----------------------------------------
John L. Dilbeck

http://JohnDilbeck.com
http://CherokeeCountyNC.com/
http://AYearFromNow.com
http://SyndicateYourAd.com

http://ISucceedByHelpingYouSucceed.com

Posted by support at Aug 1, 2005, 4:21:07 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!

I'm guessing here, but I think this may be an artifact of adding the color-coded legend for merged calendars.

There's the RSS expert cool

and such an astute observation, too.

That would indeed have been the cause. Can you try it now and see if it's ok?
----------------------------------------
Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by CherokeeCountyNC at Aug 2, 2005, 4:19:57 AM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
Hi Marc,

Everything seems to be working with my RSS feed, now.

Thanks!

All the best,

JD
----------------------------------------
John L. Dilbeck

http://JohnDilbeck.com
http://CherokeeCountyNC.com/
http://AYearFromNow.com
http://SyndicateYourAd.com

http://ISucceedByHelpingYouSucceed.com

Posted by templeemanuel at Aug 17, 2005, 7:12:41 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
I would also like to cast a vote in favor of the RSS feed publishing more frequently than the current month. If we add events to our calendar that take place next month, I'd like RSS subscribers to see those events as soon as they are updated on the calendar.

I'm not sure the current approach is the best.

Any help?

Posted by corpevents at Feb 21, 2006, 8:17:44 PM

Re: RSS 2.0 Calendar Feeds Now Available!
Hi,

Have read the forums re the RSS feed, we have 4 questions:-

1. What we would like to achieve is to display today + 7 days, so for example when someone visits the site they can see what is coming this week. Your other reponses seem to suggest we need to hardcode the date range in the URL, which doesn't work for this.

2. How often is the feed update, as we have one event at the end of Februray which doesn't show in the feed.

3. Also why does the feed display the words "published on"in front of the date of the event, clearly its not the publish date of the item, rather it is th event date.

4. The day shown on our Calenda is always 1 day behind, we are in Australia, is this because your server is in a different time zone? We have set the time zone to EST.

Thanks

Craig