Enable crossposter to output like the rss feed, if desired

[branchandroot]

Title:
Enable crossposter to output like the rss feed, if desired

Area:
crossposting

Summary:
Enable an option to crosspost truncated entries, according to the syndication level the user has set.

Description:
The crossposter crossposts the full content of any entry, and normally this is just what one wants. But I know there are times I've wished I could set it to crosspost only part of the entry, with a link back to my DW entry--to crosspost a lure, as it were, rather than a full mirror. The RSS feed already does this, as default behavior, and has a few more options besides, depending on how much info one wants to broadcast. So I suggest giving the crossposter the option to post at those same levels (full, cut, summary, and title [http://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqbrowse?faqid=119]), taking its cue from the synlevel that's set.

This would require something new in the crossposter settings, but that interface is still quite simple until you get to the "what does my footer look like" section, so as long as this comes at the top it doesn't seem like it would be option-overload. I envision something like "Crosspost using Syndication Level [checkbox]"; it would be especially useful to make the words "Syndication Level" a link to the Privacy area of settings, possibly adding an anchor to the Syndication Level line for this purpose. Because the default syndication level is to truncate to the cut tag, the default setting for this option should be unchecked.

Ideally, using the synlevel setting will make this easier to implement, both because no new setting option will have to be created and because the syndication level setting is one that at least some of the userbase is already familiar with. It already has its own control in the GUI settings area and won't require messing around with the admin console. This seems like a reasonable way to add flexibility without adding complication.

Poll #6687 Enable crossposter to output like the rss feed, if desired

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 46

View Respondents

This suggestion:

View Answers

Should be implemented as-is.
21 (45.7%)

Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
9 (19.6%)

Shouldn't be implemented.
3 (6.5%)

(I have no opinion)
13 (28.3%)

(Other: please comment)
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[erik]

I'd like this suggestion as-is. I'd like it even more with a level setting independent of the syn-level.

[ciaan]

I think I'd be fine with tying it to synlevel or as its own setting. Though if it's something people want to set for individual entries, rather than globally, it seems like it should be on the entry creation page.

[turlough]

What I was thinking too.

[erik]

I can imagine wanting to set a more restrictive setting on the syndicator than on the cross-poster, is the thing. For example, one might want to syndicate teasers to draw people here, but cross-post full text to LJ for friends there who for whatever reason will not come here to read them.

[ciaan]

Ah, you posted this while I was typing my new comment. That's what I thought of too when I remembered my syn level setting.

[azurelunatic]

I found some shady person mirroring my journal off my RSS feed, but without linkback, making me into content for their ad-farm. As you might imagine, this irritated me. Though I've no objection to my LJ-friends seeing my full entries in most cases. So yes, I'd like the possibility of setting them independently, particularly as my LJ automatically locks new entries.

[ciaan]

Actually, scratch that. I remembered that I have my syn-level set to subject line only for privacy (through obscurity, yes) reasons, but I crosspost full entries between DW and LJ. I wouldn't want to either crosspost only subject lines to LJ or send my full entries out on the general RSS feed. So am changing my vote. I think that the ability to crosspost only partial entries to other LJ-type sites would be useful, but it shouldn't be tied to the RSS syn level. And there could be a default setting for it, but I would also think it would be good to be able to override the default for individual entries.

[cesy]

I think it should either let you crosspost in full (the default), using syndication level (the default if you go to that page to change it) or using a specific crossposting setting.

[kyrielle]

+1

[kerravonsen]

+1