JS Feed Manipulation

**WB Pete** · Nov 17, 2003 08:05

Is it possible to manipulate a js feed? The feed is for an entire article... I would like to create an 2-5 line abstract for my home page from that feed?

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" TYPE="TEXT/JAVASCRIPT"
SRC="http://www.tv-now.com/js/news.js"></SCRIPT>

**MikeFoster** · Nov 17, 2003 11:25

That js looks like this...

Code:

<!--
var msg = '<center>\n';
msg = msg + '<BR><p><i>Celebrity News: Monday, November 17</i>\n';
msg = msg + '<p><b>Anthony Stewart Head:</b> The man who helped Buffy Summers survive\n';
msg = msg + etc...
document.write (msg);
// -->

I haven't actually tried this, it's just an idea:
You could redefine the document's 'write' method with one of your own - then you can parse out what you want from the msg variable and display it. For example:

Code:

<div id='myNewsElement'>
<script type='text/javascript'>
var nativeDocWrite = document.write; // Save a ref to native method
document.write = myDocWrite;
function myDocWrite(msg) {
  // parse msg and display abstract
}
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='...news.js'>
// Bring in the news feed.
// When it calls document.write, myDocWrite will be called
// instead of the native document.write() method.
</script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
document.write = nativeDocWrite; // Restore native method
</script>
</div> <!-- end myNewsElement -->

**WB Pete** · Nov 17, 2003 14:10

Thanks, I'll try... Sounds like a longshot?

**MikeFoster** · Nov 17, 2003 14:31

Originally Posted by WB Pete

... Sounds like a longshot?

It worked for me in Opera7 and IE6. It should work in any browser as long as document.write is not read-only.

**WB Pete** · Nov 17, 2003 15:21

I should've said... It's a longshot for me! I'm not proficient in js, i'm more of a designer. Can anyone create this js for me... I can send you WB Posters/T-shirt or something.

The feed is from a 3rd party I have no document/server control.

**xDev** · Nov 18, 2003 06:35

Originally Posted by MikeFoster

I haven't actually tried this, it's just an idea:
You could redefine the document's 'write' method with one of your own - then you can parse out what you want from the msg variable and display it.

Mike,

That's ingenious! I would of never thought of something like that

Inside the function its only a matter of splitting up the string and
outputting abstracts using document.writeln().

WB Pete, I'll see what I can come up with. Unless Mike wants to have
a go at displaying the snippets!

-xDev

**WB Pete** · Nov 18, 2003 07:19

Great! I have some movie DVD's for whomever too!

**xDev** · Nov 18, 2003 07:26

How's this?

HTML Code:

<html>
<head>
<title>TVNow NewsFeed Parser</title>
<style type="text/css"></style>
</head>
<body>
<!-- START myNewsElement -->
<div style="font: 9pt verdana, sans-serif;">
<script type="text/javascript">
var nativeDocWrite = document.write; // Save a ref to native method
document.write = myDocWrite;
function myDocWrite(msg) {
  // parse msg and display abstract
  var msg = msg.split("<p>"),
   block = new Array(),
   header = "<a href=\"http://www.tv-now.com/daily/news.htm\""+
	" target=\"_new\">"+msg[1]+"</a>";
  for(var i = 0, idx = 2; i < msg.length - 2; i++, idx++)
  {
	block[i] = msg[idx].split("\n");
  	block[i] = "<p>"+block[i][0]+" ... </p>";
  }
  document.writeln(header+block.join(""));
}
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
	src="http://www.tv-now.com/js/news.js">
// Bring in the news feed.
// When it calls document.write, myDocWrite will be called
// instead of the native document.write() method.
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write = nativeDocWrite; // Restore native method
</script>
	<div style="font: 7.5pt verdana, sans-serif";>
	<strong>Copyright 2003: TVNow Syndicated News
	</strong>
	<br />Your source for complete entertainment
	<br />Visit
	<a href="http://www.tv-now.com/"
	target="_new">TVNow</a> soon.
	</div>
</div>
<!-- END myNewsElement -->
</body>
</html>

Short and sweet

Take everything between the start and end html comments and put it anywhere within your page.

-xDev

**WB Pete** · Nov 18, 2003 08:57

Wow! Your da man! Can i be so bold to ask for a slight tweak? Can you trim this down to 3-5 lines with a "br" instead of a "p"?

I'm going to email about specs for gifts!

**WB Pete** · Nov 18, 2003 09:23

Dang it! I forgot to ask if you can leave out the "Celebrity News: Tuesday...", i'm going to create my own html page within my site that uses the full js feed, i will hardcode a link to the html page near the NewsFeed absract (your code)

Can you also delete... "Copyright 2003: TVNow Syndicated News Your source for complete entertainment Visit TVNow soon."?

**xDev** · Nov 18, 2003 09:42

WB Pete,

How bout this?

HTML Code:

<!-- START myNewsElement -->
<div style="font: 9pt verdana, sans-serif;">
<script type="text/javascript">
var nativeDocWrite = document.write; // Save a ref to native method
document.write = myDocWrite;
function myDocWrite(msg) {
  // parse msg and display abstract
  var msg = msg.split("<p>"),
   block = new Array(),
   dia = "- ";
  for(var i = 0, idx = 2; i < msg.length - 2; i++, idx++)
  {
	block[i] = msg[idx].split("\n");
  	block[i] = "<br>"+dia+block[i][0]+" ... ";
  }
  var str = block[0]+
  	block[1]+block[2]+
  	block[3]+block[4];
  document.writeln(str);
}
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
	src="http://www.tv-now.com/js/news.js">
// Bring in the news feed.
// When it calls document.write, myDocWrite will be called
// instead of the native document.write() method.
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write = nativeDocWrite; // Restore native method
</script>
</div>
<!-- END myNewsElement -->

5 lines, starting at the top.

-xDev

**MikeFoster** · Nov 18, 2003 09:44

Thanks xDev.

Looks like you did the majority of the work tho. Great job!

At first I was really stumped, because I knew he could not insert code between the assignment to msg and the call to write... but after I got this idea I realised... that's exactly what we did!

this is way too much fun

**xDev** · Nov 18, 2003 09:56

It was a very cool idea Mike... never seen it done before. Makes sense though when I think about it, you can assign your own function to just about anything in js. Can be used on a number of feeds that do the same thing. The one's that don't link to an xml file but just give you a js file to link to. I seen a couple of places like this and now I have a method to chop it up, take away their (sometimes stupid) markup and display the info how I like!

It's a good thing there's 2 methods (3 or 4 if using the DOM) to write in js as well

Maybe WB Pete wouldn't mind sending the 2 of us a DVD

I don't usually take anything for helping in the forms but ... The Matrix Reloaded is out on dvd and a WB movie isn't it??

-xDev

**WB Pete** · Nov 18, 2003 10:11

This is perfect! You are too savy!

I can hook you both up! Of course anything WB is easy... We just recieved "Finding Nemo" DVD's too!

**MikeFoster** · Nov 18, 2003 10:33

Originally Posted by xDev

It was a very cool idea Mike...

I have to admit, even tho I thought of it, it is pretty slick

Originally Posted by xDev

It's a good thing there's 2 methods (3 or 4 if using the DOM) to write in js as well

Yes, but don't forget that you can still call nativeDocWrite().

Originally Posted by xDev

Maybe WB Pete wouldn't mind sending the 2 of us a DVD

I don't usually take anything for helping in the forms but ... The Matrix Reloaded is out on dvd and a WB movie isn't it??

Yep, I'm a Matrix nut too

. I don't know a programmer who isn't

WB Pete, a gift isn't required, we are glad to help you. But if you are so inclined

)) then send a PM to xDev and I. Thanks.

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