How to Use RSS
This document will cover the basics about what RSS is, how it can be useful for you as a developer, and how it can be useful for you as an mrc customer.
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a key component to the Web 2.0 movement. Imagine there are numerous sites you like to check daily for updates. RSS allows you to “Subscribe” to each page. There are many different ways to subscribe. For instance, Google Reader and My Yahoo allow you to add them directly to your portal page, allowing even greater one stop shopping. There are also downloadable programs such as FeedReader that allow you to subscribe to these RSS feeds. When a new feed is available, FeedReader will automatically notify you that there is a new message. Lastly, programs such as Internet Explorer 7 allow you to subscribe to RSS feeds similar to bookmarks. Whichever option you choose, RSS feeds greatly improve your productivity as you only need to visit one site to get all of your news updates.
As a developer, consider creating your own RSS feeds so your end users/customers can be notified when, for instance, new products are added to your catalog. The uses for RSS feeds for you are unlimited. Please click here to learn more about using mrc Reports to create your very own RSS feeds.
Please see below on how to take advantage of our RSS feeds as an mrc customer. We have created two RSS feeds for our most requested documents: “Recent Updates to m-Power/mrc-Productivity Series” and “Recent Enhancements to m-Power/mrc-Productivity Series”.
Note: — This document will walk you through the subscription process to the Updates RSS. Follow the same instructions for the “Enhancements” feed by replacing updates.xml with enhance.xml in the description below.
Note: — The documentation below only lists some of the ways to subscribe to RSS feeds. Feel free to use whatever RSS reader with which you are the most comfortable.
Subscribing to the Recent Updates to m-Power/mrc-Productivity Series with Google Reader
Requirements: Must have a Google Account.
Go to http://reader.google.com.
On the left side of the screen, click “Add Subscription” and enter this URL: http://www.mrc-productivity.com/mrcjava/feeds/updates.xml
Click “Add”.
Congratulations! You have successfully subscribed with Google Reader. You can also add the Enhancements feed. Simply check back here, and any time there is an update, Google Reader will display that.
Subscribing to the Recent Updates to m-Power/mrc-Productivity Series with My Yahoo
Requirements: Must have a Yahoo! Account.
Go to http://my.yahoo.com and log in.
Click the “New Page” then click “Add RSS Feed”.
Enter this URL: http://www.mrc-productivity.com/mrcjava/feeds/updates.xml and click “Add”.
Congratulations! You have successfully subscribed with My Yahoo. You can also add the Enhancements feed. Simply check back here, and any time there is an update My Yahoo will display that.
Subscribing to the Recent Updates to m-Power/mrc-Productivity Series with FeedReader
Requirements: Must download application to client.
Download and Install Feed Reader from here: http://www.feedreader.com/.
Open Feed Reader and click “New”.
Then, enter this URL: http://www.mrc-productivity.com/mrcjava/feeds/updates.xml and click “Ok”.
Congratulations! You have successfully subscribed with Feed Reader. You can also add the Enhancements feed. Any time there is an update and Feed Reader is active, you will see a message like this near your task bar:
Subscribing to the Recent Updates to m-Power/mrc-Productivity Series with Internet Explorer 7
Note: Internet Explorer 6 does not support RSS feeds natively.
Direct your browser to the Recent Updates Page:
Click the RSS Feed Icon 
.
Click the “Subscribe to this feed” link.
Click “Subscribe” to the Pop Up Window.
Any time you wish to check the updates, simply press CTRL+J in Internet Explorer and it will take you directly to all of your saved feeds, similar to bookmarks.
