Using ActiveDesktop to embed RSS and other useful info
Sorry this page isn't fancier, but I just whipped it up so that something is out there to help people.
Microsoft's ActiveDesktop doesn't seem to get much respect, but I've always found it rather useful. Here's what my desktop looks like:
Using ActiveDesktop to embed RSS and other useful info
I have some common links in the upper right corner of the screen, but more importantly I have some useful forms embedded in the lower right, and some RSS and Atom feeds -- in this case NetFlix and Google's Gmail. The forms give me quick access to some things I use a lot, and the NetFlix feed I particularly like because I can keep up with what's coming next.
Here's the big picture plan: You make an html file on your local computer, and in that file you put the code to display the RSS NetFlix feed and whatever else. So how do you get that nifty RSS feed embedded in your web page?
There's a fabulous RSS-by-JavaScript builder where you give it the URL to a feed, and it gives you a link to a JavaScript that will pull the feed, format it, and give it back to you. Their servers are doing the pulling for you, which is awfully nice of them.
For a NetFlix feed, log in to the NetFlix RSS page and look for the feed that reads "Most Recent Rental Activity" (or any other feed you're interested in). The URL will look something like this: http://rss.netflix.com/TrackingRSS?id=P94543673899212117465634563924354. Note the long number that identifies your activity (I made up this particular number).
Paste that URL into the appropriate place in the RSS-by-JavaScript builder and set other parameters that you want. Click Preview. If you like it, click Generate JavaScript.
You'll get code that looks like this:
<script language="JavaScript" src="http://jade.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/feed/feed2js.php?src=http%3A%2F %2Frss.netflix.com%2FTrackingRSS%3Fid%P94543673899212117465634563924354 8246&chan=title&targ=y" type="text/javascript"></script> <noscript> <a href="http://jade.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/feed/feed2js.php?src=http%3A%2 F%2Frss.netflix.com%2FTrackingRSS%3Fid%P94543673899212117465634563924354 18246&chan=title&targ=y&html=y">View RSS feed</a> </noscript>
Now paste that into the html file you have on your local computer, and double-click the html file to open it in Internet Explorer (need to use IE). In IE's address bar (has the 'e' icon with a document behind it), do a right-click-drag to the desktop. When you release the right mouse button, you'll get a menu. Select Make Active Desktop Item. Now you'll be able to arrange the page as it's embedded in your desktop.
You'll probably want to format the feed. The builder site has a page on how to style your output that gives you good templates. I can't remember the name of the template that you see in my desktop picture.
Oh, you might want to add this line under your <head> tag: <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="7200;rss.html" /> where rss.html is the name of this file you're editing.
If you're interested in the forms I have embedded, I'll just provide that code for you. You can fiddle with it as you see fit. Enjoy. Make sure you right-click on this link and select Save Target As.
Questions? Email me at robertharder.alt at mac d*t com.