Distributing information about published DITA content as RSS

Definition

A family of web feed formats written in XML and used in content syndication by enabling applications like RSS readers to find out when new information is available on a website.

Usage

Since creation of output from DITA source files is automated by using Ant, it is possible to create or update RSS information about the output at the same time the output is produced. The RSS file can then be uploaded along with the output so its availability can be known to those subscribed to the RSS feed.

For example, an Ant build could create a file like this to announce the availability of a new version of the output:

<?xml version='1.0'?>
<rss version='2.0'>
<channel>

<title>DITA OT User Guide</title> 
<copyright>Copyright (c) 2006 Anna van Raaphorst. All rights reserved.</copyright>
<link>http://www.mysite.com/ditaug.html</link>
<description>DITA Open Toolkit User Guide 1.3</description> 
<language>en-us</language> 
<lastBuildDate> Wed, 15 Aug 2006 15:14:30 PST</lastBuildDate>
<item>
<title>DITA OT User Guide 1.3</title>
<link>http://www.mysite.com/ditaug.pdf</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Aug 2006 15:14:30 PST</pubDate>
<description>
Get the latest version of DITA OT User Guide.
</description>
</item>
  
</channel>
</rss>