Internally at RSSBus, we have used RSBScripts and Templates for more than just publishing content over HTTP. We have used them to generate source code and other documents, we have used them to test RSSBus operations, and we have used them to automate tasks by scheduling scripts. Much of this is accomplished using the RSSBus Console.

RSSBus Console is a console executable that executes RSSBus operations.  It makes it possible to execute scripts by double clicking them in the file manager; it helps RSBScripts to be used as simple utilities that can be scheduled using the Windows Scheduler (we will expand more on this in a later blog post); and it serves as an exploratory playground to discover connectors, understand their usage, invoke remote operations etc..

Based on feedback from several of you, we have decided to release a minor version upgrade to RSSBus Desktop which now includes the RSSBus Console. We believe that it will help you get more out of your RSSBus deployment.

The syntax to use RSSBus Console is as follows:
rssbus.exe operation -[parameter name] [parameter value] ... -[parameter name] [parameter value]

A URL to an RSS/ATOM feed, name of an operation in a connector library, or a script are all operations in RSSBus. Thus any of them can be invoked using the syntax above. We list a few examples to  get you started:

Get a remote RSS/ATOM feed. These are natural operations for RSSBus.
:: rssbus.exe  http://news.google.com/?output=rss

Invoke an operation from the connector library with parameters.
:: rssbus.exe  smtpSendEmail -from con@rssbus.com -to info@rssbus.com

Invoke a script with parameters. The extensions .rsb and .rst are mapped to rssbus.exe which allows scripts to be executed on the command prompt.
:: s3ListObjects.rsb -bucket mybucket

Get help for an operation in the connector library.
:: rssbus.exe  smtpSendEmail --help

Get help for a remote operation. RSSBus treats remote operations on the web and those installed locally in exactly the same way.
:: rssbus.exe  http://mysite.com/myservice.rsb --help

Create an HTML page from the results of an operation.
:: rssbus.exe  s3ListObjects.rsb -bucket mybucket -@html > s3list.html

Please send your suggestions or questions to support@rssbus.com. We look forward to hearing from you.