How to make a Podcasts in iTunes via Drupal

– Summary:

  1. Generate RSS 2.0 (XML file) format for iTunes
  2. Test the XML URL in iTunes (Files -> Subscribe to Podcast…)
  3. Submit the XML URL into iTunes: here

– A little bit in detail:

The Podcasts in iTunes reads RSS formatted file (XML formatted) and shows the contents of it. The detailed info is in Apple’s podcast description and FAQ: For Podcast Makers.

When you use Drupal, you can easily generate the XML file by following modules:

1. Prerequisite

Assuming you already know

  • How to install drupal modules
  • About View Module
  • How to Add new Content Type and the concept of Content in Drupal

2. Add a content with file field.

The first thing you need to do is to have proper content with the file field. Check this out.

In “Content Type”, you can either add New Content Type or Edit existing Content type. Anyway, what you have to do is to check if it has “Field type: File” or  similar field type. If not, you need to add “Field type: File” to add attachment recognizable in Drupal.

Add Content Type or Manage Field

  • Add new field and set the “Type of data to store” as “File”

Adding File Field

  • Set “Label”, “File Extensions”, “File Directory”, and Maximum Upload Size.
  • If allowed upload size is not enough, please refer to increase the upload size in php configuration. In general, upload_max_filesize and post_max_size should be modified to limit the file size. Note that upload_max_filesize is less than post_max_size in general.

Field Configuration

3. Create a View

The next thing is adding a view for the RSS Feed (XML file).

Assuming you’ve installed above modules,

View

  • Select Include an RSS feed and put the xml file name
  • Click “Continue & Edit”

create a view

click feed

  • Set the Format as “RSS Feed – Fields” and Add more Fields you want to show and make sure the MP3 Contents as File Field.

setting view

Format Setting

  • In the “Fields: Content: MP3”, Create a label and Set Formatter as “RSS <enclosure> element” (Important!)

mp3 field

  • Rest of them, you can filter how you want to reveal the view to the iTunes. It’s up to you.
  • Note that if you want to get all items having the MP3, you can specify it as (not null).

4. Check the xml with http://feedvalidator.org

It shouldn’t be perfect, but just check if you miss something else.

5. Test with iTunes

In iTunes, you can test your XML as put the XML URL in “File” -> “Subscribe to Podcast…”

6. Submit it into iTunes.

That’s it. You can submit it into iTunes here.

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6 Comments

  1. This is an excellent tutorial – thank you! As mentioned here the format of the enclosure element should include the length and type of the MP3 file for example
    – enclosure length=”24986239″ type=”audio/mpeg” –
    do I need to enter the length and type – for example as fields? If not how will this info get into the RSS feed?

    Thanks…

    1. Hi Juc1,

      You don’t need to worry about the length and type. If the file is linked properly, the view itunes module will work on this and fill them up automatically.

      Daniel

  2. Hi Daniel,

    Ok thanks so in your article you are uploading the MP3 file to the Drupal node – is there any problem with storing my MP3 files off site so the MP3 file would be a link field rather than a file field ie if my site is example.com I would have a link field where I enter the path to the MP3 file such as http://example-2.com/joebob_050689.mp3

    Thanks…

    1. That’s good question, but I don’t know if it works or not since I am not the designer and have not tried like that. Why don’t you ask the originator or you may try how it works.

      Daniel

  3. Hello,
    I have just missed a phase of the tutorial. Forgive me, I am totally blind, and so cannot see the screenshots.
    After a pair of screenshots, you said:
    *Select Include an RSS feed and put the xml file name
    I lost the previous part. I have to go to admin – structure – views – add new view, then, give the name of view.
    On the combo box saying show “content” “comments” or so … what should I do? If I let it to “content”, after going to Continue and Edit, it gives me an error “style row has no fields”, and does not allow me to create a feed. Should I deactivate the flag “create page”?
    I am a little confused!
    thanks!

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