How to create a file to list 5 newest posts

[jennypretty]

Hello,
I have a wp blog located under domainname.com/blog/, I like to create a file to list 5 newest posts (title + first 100 characters of the post description) on my homepage domainname.com.
I use PHP on my homepage, so I will include this file on my homepage to show 5 newest posts. On the blog,
Can someone please help me to create a file to list 5 newest posts with first 100 characters of the post description?
I appreciated your help.
Thanks very much and have a nice day.

[Nathan]

Why don't you use an RSS feed plugin to use your RSS feed which is basically a file just like that?

That is what RSS is for, so it should be fairly easy.

You might use this:

RSS Reader - PHP script for displaying an RSS feed on a web page

Your WordPress blog already has a builtin feed.

[jennypretty]

The reason I like to create a file to store 5 newest posts is because I want to include this file on my homepage. I like the homepage to display 5 newest posts automatically. My blog is at blog/ folder.
thanks.

[Nathan]

Right, but if you blog is WordPress it already has that file. It's called something like http://yourdomain/blog/?feed=rss2

You just need to use the PHP reader I told you about to open that file and display the latest five results on your main page. That is the only way I can think of to do what you are trying to do.

[jennypretty]

When I open this file to modify it, there is no code in there. How do I get the completed file to modify it?

<?php
/**
* Redirects to the RSS feed
* This file is deprecated and only exists for backwards compatibility
*
* @package WordPress
*/
require( './wp-load.php' );
wp_redirect( get_bloginfo( 'rss_url' ), 301 );
?>

thanks.l

[Michigal]

Jennypretty,

Are you wanting to show this in the sidebar? Or do you mean you want excerpts of the last five posts on your home page?

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by jennypretty

When I open this file to modify it, there is no code in there. How do I get the completed file to modify it?

<?php
/**
* Redirects to the RSS feed
* This file is deprecated and only exists for backwards compatibility
*
* @package WordPress
*/
require( './wp-load.php' );
wp_redirect( get_bloginfo( 'rss_url' ), 301 );
?>

thanks.l

Right.... you don't open the file directly and copy its contents to the main page. That is why you use the PHP reader code that I told you about.

If you open the file with a plain text editor you aren't going to see anything because that file is generated automatically based on the content of your posts. It is generated when it is requested.

So the PHP reader code that I gave you a link to earlier requests the feed, WordPress generates the file based on the content of the recent five posts, then the reader can be used to print out the results on your main page.

It is slightly technical. Do you know PHP? If not I can help you with it some but I am very busy at the moment. lLt me know, though, if you need help with this.

[Nathan]

Actually why don't I go ahead and do this for you:

PHP Code:

<?php

include "rsslib.php";

RSS_Display("Replace this with the URL of your blog's feed.",5);

?>

Put the above code into the code for your main page where you want the latest five posts to appear. Note that you will have to download:

http://www.scriptol.com/rss/rsslib.txt

Save all that text as a file named rsslib.php in the same directory as the file that you want the latest five post listing in.

[rcraig12]

I never thought of doing it that way. Thats really light wieght as the database doe not need to take a hit when creating the data for the plugin/widget.

thanks alot for that