3. RSS
The Really Simple Syndication (RSS) option
provides the ability to subscribe to a feed based on the current search
query. This is similar to setting an alert, but instead of receiving an
SMS or e-mail notice each time an item in the document changes, an RSS
feed is established. Unlike alerts, which use a push-based model for
notifying the user about changes to a search result set, RSS employs a
pull-based model. Where alerts cause an e-mail to be pushed to a user's
phone or e-mail when content changes, RSS allows users to decide when
they want to pull and review changes to a result set from an RSS feed
reader.
In regards to search, RSS feeds can push
notifications to a user if content within a search result set changes.
As information within the set feed is updated, it will download to the
user's local computer for access through RSS-compatible programs.
Examples of RSS-compatible programs include Microsoft Outlook 2010, the
Feed Headlines gadget in Windows 7, and Internet Explorer. These
RSS-compatible programs allow for the aggregation of several feeds and
can provide a consolidated view of tracked information. As needed, a
user can access an RSS feed reader and view any changes to the content
of a search result set.
Setting an RSS feed is similar to establishing
an alert. To set an RSS feed for the current query, select the RSS
button after executing a query (Figure 11).
Figure 11. RSS button location
This will navigate the user to a page that
displays the currently set RSS feeds and the ability to subscribe to
the newly desired feed (Figure 12).
Figure 12. RSS feed list
Clicking the title of the RSS feed navigates
back to the search result set for that query. Selecting “subscribe to
this feed” allows the user to enter a name for the new feed and select
the location where the feed will be created (Figure 13). After a feed is created, it is added to the common feed list.
Figure 13. Subscribing to a new RSS feed
To view a subscribed feed in Internet Explorer, select the Feeds tab in the Favorites Center (Figure 14).
This tab can be accessed by clicking Favorites and then Feeds. All
feeds the current user is subscribed to can be found under this tab.
Selecting a feed will navigate the user's browser to the chosen feed in
SharePoint.
Figure 14. Viewing subscribed feeds in Internet Explorer
To change the properties of a feed after it has
been created, select “View feed properties” on the right-hand side of
the feed list. Doing so will open the window in Figure 15.
The feed name, frequency of the user's computer checks for updates, and
maximum number of updates to be stored can all be configured. Depending
on the frequency of content updates within the search result set,
system performance, and available storage space, the update schedules
and archive options may need to be considered. If content frequently
changes within a feed, frequent checks for updates will cause additional
load on the user's local machine, connection bandwidth, and host
servers. Setting a large number of items to be archived will require a
larger amount of storage space.
Figure 15. RSS Feed Properties dialog
