SmallNews 2.2

SmallNews 

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

SmallNews 2.2 is available for download. The main new feature in this release is a new way of selecting which PDF formats are created. Instead of a whole load of tick boxes, you now select the versions you want to create, and specify a prefix for the output filename of each.

The date is appended onto each filename. Obviously, each format should have a different prefix, or they will get overwritten.
There are 5 PDF formats available:

• Print (A4 page) - 1 columns (this is a new option)
  
• Print (A4 page) - 3 columns (the previous default)
  
• iPad
  
• iPhone / iPod Touch
  
• 6" ebook reader (e.g. Kindle, Sony Reader)

It is now also much easier for me to add new PDF formats to the list, so if you have a particular request, let me know.

For any of the PDF versions to be created, you must have Prince XML installed (as before).

This version also includes a major overhaul to the way site-specific handlers work. There isn't much to see at the moment, but this will make it a lot easier to add new handlers - this with be the focus of the next release.

A few minor changes to the handlers have been made:

• Removed handler for The Times (as it has gone behind a paywall)
  
• Added a handler for the new BBC News design (news and sport feeds from the BBC are now handled differently, as they have different formats)

Finally, there is a new "Test selected" button on the Feeds page which enables the feed selected from the list to be tested independently. This is like the test option on the Settings page, but removes the need for cutting and pasting the feed. This is useful in checking how well a particular feed is handled, without running through the entire creation process.