Using RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

Why Use RSS?

RSS continually delivers the latest news directly to your RSS reader (also known as a News Aggregator). You can include any RSS feed from any website to create a single access point for all of your favorite web content. RSS feeds have an URL just like a web page, except that it is written in XML code, and ends in .rss or .xml. RSS feeds are marked on most web pages with a red logo that either says XML or RSS. For example, the RSS feed for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry is located at http://pubs.acs.org/wls/alerts/rss/jmcmar.rss. By subscribing to this feed, you will be notified of the latest articles published in the journal as they are added.Each ACS journal has a similar RSS feed.

What is an RSS Reader?

RSS Readers allow you to view RSS feeds as standard content and alert you of any updates. Some RSS readers are stand alone applications that you download to your desktop. Others plug directly into your browser or e-mail software. There are a variety of free and commercial RSS readers or "news readers" available with new versions appearing constantly. Different news readers work on different operating systems, so please take this into consideration when choosing your reader. For a list of RSS readers see http://allrss.com/rssreaders.html. Two recommended RSS readers can be downloaded by following the links on the ACSMEDI Homepage.

How do I get Started?

1. If you do not already have a way to access RSS feeds you will need to download an RSS Reader. Most of the latest browsers have a built-in RSS reader - try clicking on the red RSS or XML logo, and if your browser is so equipped, it will open an RSS window. You can then navigate as you would on a regular web page. For access to various stand-alone RSS readers, follow the link above, or download one of the suggested readers found on the ACSMEDI homepage.

2. If you already have an RSS Reader, visit the web page you are interested in, and find the RSS info by clicking on the "RSS" or "XML" button.

3. When you click the RSS or XML button you might see a page containing code. Don't worry, you're on the right page. Copy the URL from your browser into your RSS Reader and add it as a new subscription. If you do not link to a new page scroll over the XML button, right click your mouse button and select "Copy Shortcut" to add the URL to your RSS Reader.

4. Each time you start your news reader, the list for each of your subscriptions will be updated automatically, and you will have continual real-time access to the latest news. There are a wide variety of RSS feeds out there on a countless topics such as news, sports and technology. Your RSS reader may be able to generate a list of all available RSS feeds automatically. When you visit a web page, look for the red icon to get the RSS feed address.