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What Is an Active Channel?
An Active Channel is a Web site that has been enabled for Webcasting to information-receiving programs such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0. The mechanism that makes this possible in Internet Explorer 4.0 is the Channel Definition Format (CDF) file. The CDF file provides an index of resources available in the channel and a recommended schedule for when the channel should be updated on the user's computer.
A typical CDF file contains a top-level CHANNEL element to define the channel itself, along with ITEM elements to specify the actual contents of the channel. Subsequent occurrences of the CHANNEL element define subchannels and allow publishers to create a hierarchy for the channel. The TITLE and ABSTRACT elements can be used to describe the contents of each item or channel element. Publishers may also want to use the LOGO element to associate an image with each item in the channel, as well as with the channel itself.
Web Publisher's Perspective
Web publishers can give users a better browsing experience by offering their content in a channel. A channel can be created that Webcasts the following items to a browser:
- Branded icons and logos representing the Active Channel in the desktop Channel Bar.
- A sitemap describing the content available in the Active Channel.
- Web pages containing text, images, and ActiveX™ Controls. These pages can have a special use associated with them, such as appearing in a screen saver or Active Desktop item.
A traditional Web site can be viewed as an Active Channel with a minimal amount of work by the Web publisher. These are the required tasks:
- Create logo images to be displayed in the desktop Channel Bar and Channels Explorer Bar.
- Create a CDF file listing the resources (logo images, descriptions, and HTML pages) of the channel.
- Post the CDF file on an HTTP server and place a button linked to the CDF file on the existing Web site. Users who click this button will add the channel to their desktop Channel Bar and select a subscription option for the channel.
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