How to use RSS in Outlook 2007

An RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed is an alert that tells you when your favourite Web site or blog has posted new information. With Outlook 2007, you can set up RSS feeds to deliver to your inbox.

In this quick tutorial, you will learn how to set up an RSS feed in Microsoft Outlook 2007.

In this tutorial, we will be using:

• Microsoft Outlook 2007
• Internet Explorer or other browser

Step 1: Find a feed

To find RSS feeds, look for a link which typically displays as an orange RSS or XML logo on your favourite Web sites. Click the logo to view a feed page which is full of XML code.

Step 2: Copy the URL

In order to subscribe to the feed, copy the feed page URL. Clicking th Subscribe to this feed link will relegate the feed to your Web browser's RSS reader.

Step 3: Subscribe to a feed

To set up the RSS feed to appear in Outlook, choose Tools, Account Settings, select the RSS Feeds tab, and click New. In the New RSS Feed box, paste in the RSS Feed URL, click Add and then OK.

Step 4: Read a feed item

To read a feed, click the feed name in the RSS Feeds section of your Outlook mail folders. Click on a feed in the message list to view it in the reading pane or double-click to open a new window.

Step 5: Find the full text of the article

Most RSS feeds show only a brief description, not the entire article. To view the article, click the view article link in the message to open the article in your preferred Web browser.

Step 6: Cancel a feed subscription

To remove a feed from Outlook, choose Tools, Account Settings, select the RSS Feeds tab, click the feed and click Remove.

Step 7: Manage Outlook 2007 performance issues

Watch how many RSS feeds you add to Outlook. RSS feed items are stored with e-mails in your Outlook PST file. If the file is large, Outlook performance may suffer.

Step 8: Download fixes

If Outlook 2007 is slow because of a large PST file, review this article and download a fix from Microsoft.