RSS Feeds Setup in Outlook 2007

RSS (really simple syndication) Feeds are optional and subscription-based. You select which RSS Feeds to subscribe to and decide which RSS Feeds you want to cancel. One of the advantages of subscribing to an RSS Feed versus signing up for an e-mail newsletter or mailing list is that you do not provide your name, e-mail address, or other personal information to anyone. The content publisher has no way of contacting you, except through the RSS Feeds, as they do not have your e-mail address.

 

This How To will help you setup when RSS Feeds will check for updates. This will minimize their impact on Outlook's performance. We have two recommendations.

1. RSS should not be part of the "All Accounts" group.
2. RSS should be it's own group that will check every 4 hours or 240 minutes.

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Remove RSS from All Accounts group

1. Open Outlook 2007.
2. From the Tools menu choose Options.
3. Click the Mail Setup tab. Click the Send/Receive button.
4. With All Accounts selected, click Edit.
5. In the Accounts pane on the left hand side, select RSS.
6. Un-check(deselect) the Include RSS Feeds in this Send/Receive group box.

   Note: This will place a red "X" over the RSS account.
   

7. Click OK.

Note: If you don't plan to use RSS Feeds within Outlook, you don't need to follow the steps in the next section. You can click Close and click OK to close the Send/Receive Groups dialog box. If you would like to use RSS Feeds, continue with the next steps to create a separate RSS group.

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Add RSS as a Send/Receive group

 

Note: You should still be in the Send/Receive Groups dialog box at this point. If you closed it, repeat Steps 2 - 3 from the first section. These steps will add RSS as it's own Send/Recive Group in Outlook 2007.

1. Click the New button.
2. In the Send/Receive Group Name, delete the sample name. Enter RSS. Click OK.
3. In the Accounts pane on the left hand side, verify that the Microsoft Exchange account is disabled (has the red "X" beside its icon. If not, Un-check (deselect) the Include the selected account in this group box.
4. In the Accounts pane on the left hand side, select RSS.
5. At the top of the dialog box, verify that the Include RSS Feeds in this Send/Receive group box is checked.
6. Click OK.

   Note: You will now edit the settings for the RSS group.
   

7. In the Setting for group "RSS": section, verify that only the middle box is checked and that the 'minutes' box is edited to read 240 minutes.

   (uncheck) Include this group in send/receive (F9).
   (check) Schedule an automatic send/receive every 240 minutes.
   (uncheck) Perform an automatic send/receive when exiting.
   

8. In the When Outlook is Offlinesection, verify that both boxes are unchecked.

   (uncheck) Include this group in send/receive (F9).
   (uncheck) Schedule an automatic send/receive every xx minutes.

9. Click Close. Click OK.

Note: You are now ready to use RSS Feeds in Outlook 2007.

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Add an RSS Feed

 

Note: You need to have the RSS Feed address before you can add it. Normally sites will lists these feeds or you can click the RSS icon on the page to open the RSS Feed within Internet Explorer 7. You can then copy the link from the Address Line.

 

Tip: If you use Internet Explorer 7, press Alt + J to view the feeds available on a webpage. Some site like CNN, http://www.cnn.com/services/rss/, provide an webpage with a list of all their feeds.

 

Note: If you need a feed address, here are two examples.
-- PSU CAS IT eNews: http://psucasitenews.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
-- Ag IT Tech Alerts: http://icttechalerts.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

1. Open Outlook 2007.
2. From the Tools menu choose Account Settings.
3. Click the RSS Feeds tab.
4. Click the New button.
5. In the New RSS Feed box, enter (type or paste) the RSS Feed address.
6. Click Add.
   
   Note: If you enter the address incorrectly, you will see a message about Outlook not being able to connect to the server. Click OK. Re-enter the address and try again. Also, if you try to add the same address twice, you will see an error message as well.
   
   
7. The RSS Feed Options dialog box will appear. In general, you should leave the default settings as is. Do not edit the Delivery Location. If the RSS Feed includes enclosures, for example an MP3 audio or video file, you may want to check the Download choice. If in doubt, leave the Download choices unchecked.
8. Click OK. Click Close.
   
   Note: You can now check your RSS Feed.
   
   
9. In Outlook's list of Mail Folders, locate the RSS Feeds folder.
10. Click the plus sign ( + ) beside the folder to expand it. You should see your new RSS Feeds folder here.
    
    Note: You can manually check for new feeds at any time. Normally you would wait for them to be delivered just like new mail. You will see new feeds appear in their folder as unread items.
    
    
11. To manually check, from the Tools menu choose Send/Receive and then select the "RSS" Group.
12. Wait for the Send/Receive to complete. Then look inside the RSS Feeds folder for new content.