Thunderbird

Using RSS

RSS is short for Really Simple Syndication. It enables you to subscribe to information that frequently changes - like the content on a news web site or a blog. You don't need to go to the site or blog to get the latest news. It's pushed to you in what's called an RSS feed. Actually, the feed is pushed to a piece of software called an RSS reader, like the popular Google Reader. But you don't need Google Reader, or any other program, to read RSS feeds. You can do it in Thunderbird.

Setting up Thunderbird to read RSS feeds is a two-step process. First you set up a blogs and news account and then you add subscriptions to that account. Let's look at how to do this.

Creating a Blogs and News Account

Before you can use Thunderbird to read RSS feeds, you need to set up an account for blogs and news feeds. You only need to do this once. Here's how:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows and Mac OS, go to the Tools menu and click Account Settings.
    • In Linux, go to the Edit menu and click Account Settings.

    The Account Settings window opens.

  2. In the bottom left-hand corner of the Account Settings window, click on Account Actions.
  3. From the drop-down menu select Add Other Account. The Account Wizard appears.

    NewAccountSetup

  4. Click the Blogs and News Feeds button, and then click Next.
  5. Type a name for the folder or accept Thunderbird's suggestion of Blogs and News for the name of the folder.
  6. Click Next and then click Finish.
  7. You are taken back to the Account settings window. Click OK.

You now have an account that will allow you to use RSS feeds. Let's add some feeds to that account.

Adding an RSS Feed

Here's how to add an RSS feed.

  1. Do one of the following:
  • In Windows or Mac OS, go to the Tools menu and then click Account Settings.
  • In Linux, go to the Edit menu and then click Account Settings.

The Account Settings window opens. 

  • Click the Manage Subscriptions button to open the Feed Subscriptions window.
  • Click the Add button.
  • Type or paste the URL for an RSS feed in the Feed URL field.

    The feed URL is the web address from where information will be pushed to Thunderbird. A feed URL looks something like this: http://blog.booki.cc/?feed=rss2.

  • Click the OK button. You're returned to the Account Settings window.
  • Click the OK button on the Account Settings window.
  • In the Folders pane, you'll see an icon for the feed that you just added under Blogs & News Feeds. Click on that icon to view that RSS feed.

  • What happens when you need to change an RSS subscription? Let's find out.

    Editing an RSS Feed

    Here's how to change the settings for an RSS feed.

    1. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows or Mac OS, go to the Tools menu and then click Account Settings.
    • In Linux, go to the Edit menu and then click Account Settings.

    The Account Settings window opens.

  • Click the Manage Subscriptions button to open the Feed Subscriptions window.
  • Double-click the folder that contains the RSS feed that you want to edit.
  • Click on the link that you want to edit to open the Feed Properties window.
  • The only option that you can change is the check box labeled Show the article Summary instead of loading the web page. Click this check box to turn this option on or off.
  • Click OK.
  • Close the Feed Subscriptions window, and then click OK on the Account Settings Window.

  • Exporting an RSS Feed

    Why would you want to export an RSS feed? Perhaps you want to have a backup. Or maybe you want to move your feeds to another feed reader. Thunderbird saves feeds as an OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) file. OPML is a type of file that's used to exchange information between feed readers.

    Here's how to export your RSS feeds from Thunderbird.

    1. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows or Mac OS, go to the Tools menu and then click Account Settings.
    • In Linux, go to the Edit menu and then click Account Settings.
  • Click the Manage Subscriptions button to open the Feed Subscriptions window.
  • Double-click the folder that contains the RSS feed that you want to export.
  • Click on the RSS feed that you want to export.
  • Click the Export button.
  • Browse to the folder on your computer where you want to save the OPML file. You can change the name of the file by editing its name.
  • Click the Save button.
  • Close the Feed Subscriptions window.
  • Click OK on the Account Settings window.

  • Importing an RSS Feed

    Have an RSS feed that you or a friend have exported from another feed reader? You can import it into Thunderbird. Here's how:

    1. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows or Mac OS, go to the Tools menu and then click Account Settings.
    • In Linux, go to the Edit menu and then click Account Settings.
  • Click the Manage Subscriptions button to open the Feed Subscriptions window.
  • Click the Import button.
  • Browse to wherever the OPML or XML file is on your computer. XML stands for the eXtensible Markup Language, a type of text mark-up language that's used in the exchange of all kinds of information, including RSS feeds
  • Click on the name of the file and then click the Open button.
    Thunderbird creates a new folder for that RSS feed in the Feed Subscriptions window. You'll start receiving updates from that web site.
  • Close the Feed Subscriptions window, and then click the OK button on the Account Settings window.