Puppetj,

Looking at your problem the news forum isn't the right place either.  :)  If you are trying to import an xml / rss feed from slashdot you would need to use the XML module.  The news module is for creating your own news for your site and can generate an rss feed of it's own. 

When you install and setup the XML module you will need more than the xml / rss feed coming from slashdot.  This file the .rdf file from there doesn't reside on your file system but is pulled from slashdot as needed when the XML module is accesed by a user.  The other file you will need is a transform file called a XSL file.  This acts like a filter for the rss feed and converts it from xml to html in the style you need.  You have to find one of these yourself or create it as there isn't one that come with the XML module. 

Once all that is set up when you load the page you will see a nice list of news stories from slashdot. 

The news module is for creating your own news for your site and can generate an rss feed of it's own. 

I've been using the RSS module to display RSS news from many different sources since DNNv2.x, so I really have to disagree with your statement.  The RSS module is exactly for that purpose, you find an RSS news source, and use the RSS module to display it on your site.  Now, RSS has matured over the years, and there is a lot to understand about how to go about 'translating' it, which is dependent on the second part of the setup in the module's settings, called the XSL file.  Briefly, there are many types of RSS versions in use, with many variations in structure.  In order to translate and present it within the context of the RSS module, you have to understand its' structure, the RSS version, and the namespaces contained within it. The default xsl for DNN is a simple RSSv0.91 implementation, which is not going to include namespace elements of any RSS document for other types or versions. So, you must create a custom translation xsl file in order to present it.

I've posted several articles on my website, and on the forums with examples of how to go about this type of thing, and Lee has taken some of my effort, and gone into some nice detail about how to learn more about the process.  I can say his tutorials are a must read for newbies into getting most out of RSS, so please give them a read.  As for the slasdot news, I'll take a look ,but if they are in RDF doc, these too can be handled with the proper xsl file, within the  RSS module, I know because I've done it. 

The other misstatement is that the RSS module is for creating your own RSS news file.  This is totally wrong.  There is an RSS method available for all modules to use that creates a simple newsfeed, but that is within the context of using the other modules, not the RSS module specifically.  Ironically, the XML module is very closely related to the RSS module, and if you inspect the code you'll see that they are both pretty simple and uncomplicated.  At the time of their introduction, many believed that an RSS file would be indicated with the file specification .rss, which really never caught on.  So, that's probably why the two modules were seperated out.  I have heard of an issue where news source files references are not being saved properly unless they have the .xml file specifation, but that's a bug.

At any rate, if anyone does have issues with the RSS module presenting a new source feed, please take a look at the file itself, and read Lee's tutorial.  The issues I've seen are mostly a matter of developing a custom xsl to get it in a form to present.  I'll keep a watch out for similar posts, and try to find my rdf xsl to post again.

Cheers,

Actually, I think the original issue he asked about was concerning how to set up the RSS module to be able to display a newsfeed.  The example he gave is an xml, but I believe that the slashdot site offers RSS feeds in RDF format.  That's the point where I think is confusing.  You are quite right in that the example url he gave is better suite to being used in the XML module.  Again, a major confusing aspect of consuming RSS is being able to distinguish between what is really an RSS feed and what is not.  The example URL, when examined is an xml file, but the file extension would not exactly indicate it.  Many RSS feeds are using the .xml file extension, and you need to display the file and look for the  RSS declaration statement to ensure it.

I guess the implication in your statement was that the News (RSS) module was only for use for creating and consume feeds from your site, which is not correct.  I worked on that module, didn't develop it, though, and it is for the purpose I describe.  There is an rss.aspx, in the root folder that handles creation of an internal feel for most of the DNN Core modules.  

 I  believe he is having trouble understanding how to use the News (RSS) module, at least that's what I got from his post.  I'm not implying that you are a newbie, I just offerred the info for the sake of some folks who don't understand what RSS or how to use RSS.  Lee's site offers some good insight.

The News module IS the RSS module I refer to here.  The slashdot RSS newsfeeds are available in this URL: http://rss.slashdot.org/Slashdot/slashdot, which is an rdf RSS feed, requiring a custom xsl. Hope I've explained the comments, and meant no offense, just thought that could clear up some misunderstanding.