A few days ago, I explained some of the “so what” of OPML (outline processor markup language) in Using OPML for Thinking, Writing, Publishing. I guess there’s been a pent-up demand for plain-language discussion of OPML, since I ended up getting tons of traffic to that article. (Especially after OPML creator Dave Winer linked to it – thanks, Dave!)
Anyway, at the end of that article I offered my wish list for OPML-related applications, tools, and services I’d like to see. Today I learned of a free online service that, so far, appears to make some of my wishes come true…
Via EirePreneur I learned about OPML Manager. I haven’t had time to explore it fully, but I have determined that this is a pretty easy way to put your OPML files online in a web-rendered form. That is, you don’t just see the ugly code – when you upload your OPML file, you actually see topics and subtopics that you can click on to expand or collapse. You also can use OPML Manager to create new OPML files.
Over at EirePreneur, blogger Tim Watt had this to say about OPML Manager:
“OPML Manager is simply brilliant. As in simple and brilliant. The simplicity is deceptive because its a very powerful enabler. Not only is it a web-based, AJAX enabled OPML editor but, crucially, it’s an OPML host. That means that anyone can now contribute a node to an open directory project like indiePodder or the Open Irish Directory.
“For instance, under the new top level node ‘Local -> Munster -> Limerick,’ I transcluded an OPML Manager built and hosted node called Newcastlewest. If you drill down to the GAA node within, with an OPML/RSS viewer such as Taskable the RSS feed is automatically displayed.”
Oooooh, feeds… even better…
OPML Manager is not perfect. The display is very bare-bones, and the usability is rather klunky. The documentation needs a lot of work. And I’m not clear on how you can make your OPML files public, so anyone can view them. (I’ll probably find that when I play with this more.)
However, it definitely does meet my wish, which was: “An easy to use, standalone, platform-neutral OPML renderer.” From the perspective of a typical nongeeky web user, a web-based service is virtually platform-neutral and standalone – in that all you need to use it is a web browser and internet connection.
So I’ll play with OPML Manager more later and will report back. But I like what I’ve seen so far. If you’re intrigued by OPML’s possibilities, definitely check out this service. And comment below to tell me what you think of it, of course! (Positive or negative. I’m sure it has its drawbacks, even though I’m excited to have found it.)
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