RSS of single calendar events .. how?

Squiz Matrix Support
1

Hi everyone,


I'm sure there must be a way of doing this, but I just can't figure it out. I want to create an RSS list of upcoming single calendar events, showing 20 events in date order, where the event_start_date is today or in the future.



The RSS asset needs a asset list.

A normal asset list can't order the events based on a date relative to todays date.

An Upcoming Events asset can't be used by the RSS

A search asset, or a Whats New asset allows me to restrict the results date range, but again only using normal asset dates (date created, date published) not the event start date.



So, how do get an asset list - that the RSS asset can use - that will list future events based on event startdate relative to today's date?



Thanks!

Charlie.





** Feature request for Matrix (if its not already in newer versions) - please can What's New asset listings use dates that are event dates and metadata dates, not just the default asset dates. I could use that in a lot of situations in my sites! **

2

Couldn't you just use a Rolling Calendar Page for this? It can start from "today" and go into the future how you are wanting. Are you needing to limit it by days or by items listed?

3

[quote]
Couldn't you just use a Rolling Calendar Page for this?

[/quote]



Hi Nic,



I can use a rolling calendar page to get the right events, but my RSS feed won't accept that as a listing engine to use. When I use the picker, only asset listings, search pages, and What's New asset types are highlighted, Upcoming events or Rolling events can't be picked.



The only workaround I can think of, is to set up something like a rolling calendar page or upcoming events list, and format it to be an RSS feed, and give it a new paint layout and no design so the whole page becomes an RSS feed. Just is a bit of pain, when the RSS asset does all that for you.



Charlie.

4

[quote]
Hi Nic,



I can use a rolling calendar page to get the right events, but my RSS feed won't accept that as a listing engine to use. When I use the picker, only asset listings, search pages, and What's New asset types are highlighted, Upcoming events or Rolling events can't be picked.



The only workaround I can think of, is to set up something like a rolling calendar page or upcoming events list, and format it to be an RSS feed, and give it a new paint layout and no design so the whole page becomes an RSS feed. Just is a bit of pain, when the RSS asset does all that for you.



Charlie.

[/quote]



My advice is to never use the RSS Feed asset. It is too limiting.



My suggestion was to use the Rolling Calendar page to build your own RSS feed. It is very easy, just do something like the following:



Design Parse File:


Rolling Calendar Page Contents:

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    
      
    %globals_date_F% %globals_date_Y%
    
    %globals_asset_url:1183%
    Calendar events at Pacific Union College
    %event_list%


Time Unit Format: 

    %time_unit_event_list%


Single Calendar Event Format:

       
      
      
      %event_start_datetime_d%
      %event_start_time_12h%
5

Hi Nic,


Well that certainly cuts down my work having your template to work from! Looks like that's the way to go. I quite like the RSS feed asset - its easy, and if I'm feeling lazy its great to get an RSS feed up and running in less than 5 minutes, but I do agree that this way gives you more control.



Thanks,

Charlie.

6

Nic beat me to it!