How to Use RSS Feeds in Outlook 2007

Outlook 2007 has added the ability to access and manage syndicated feeds or websites and blogs that provide "Really Simple Syndication," or RSS feeds. When configured to use RSS, Outlook 2007 will periodically check each site for new information and download it into your personal folder. Using RSS makes Outlook 2007 a more effective news and general information management tool.

Things You'll Need

• Outlook 2007

Instructions

1. Start Outlook 2007. Make sure you have configured an active account.

2. Make a list of the websites and blogs that you want to track. Make sure that they offer RSS feeds of the appropriate type. Outlook 2007 supports a variety of RSS feed types including RSS 0.91, RDF (RSS 0.9, 1.0. and 1.1), RSS 2.0 and Atom.

3. Copy an RSS feed address. Go to a website with an RSS feed that you want to track and click on the syndication link which might be text or an RSS icon. Copy to the clipboard the Internet address of the syndication Web page that opens.

4. Add an RSS feed. Select "File," then "Data File Management." In the "RSS Fields" tab, select "New." Paste the RSS feed address copied to the clipboard into the "New RSS Feed" field. Click "Add." If a dialog appears asking if you want to add the RSS field to Outlook 2007 and you trust the feed publisher, select "Yes."

5. Configure the feed. An RSS Field Options dialog opens providing a number of configuration options. Verify the "Feed Name" and make any desired changes. Ensure that the "Delivery Location" is where you want the RSS feed items to appear, and select a new folder if necessary. In the "Downloads" section, check whether you want Outlook 2007 to automatically download the feed "Enclosure" or any multimedia content that's connected to the feed and if you want the full article to be downloaded as an HTML attachment. Finally, decide if you want to update the field according to the publisher's recommendations or on your own schedule. This should be kept at the default to avoid having your RSS feed canceled by the publisher. Click "OK."

6. Finish the feed. Click "Close" to complete the process of adding the feed. Check that the feed is listed in your personal folder in the "RSS Feeds" folder. The feed will be updated during each "Send/Receive" cycle or according to each feed publisher's recommendations.

Tips & Warnings

• Outlook 2007 shares its RSS feed configuration with Internet Explorer 7. Therefore, if you add a feed to Internet Explorer 7, it will also be added to Outlook 2007, and vice versa. You can also read your feed items in either application.