Webpage auto-refresh

[swamp]

In the header of the html file something as simple as:

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="60" />

Where 60 is the number of seconds between refreshes.

Far too simple.

Much better to include a JavaScript AJAX component to request an update from the server. Much more work. Much more time. Much more invoicing.

[chicane]

Here's the offending line in the Torygraph homepage:

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="300;url=?source=refresh" />

[swamp]

I've actually worked at a major newspaper.

The Telegraph's auto refresh is probably an attempt to boost its ABC ratings. The "?source=refresh" param is a way of filtering out the refreshes from its own internal ratings

[xoggoth]

That looks simpler but this works too:-

http://www.xoggoth.org/pages/hits.html

[Chutney Spoon]

I've actually worked at a major newspaper.

The Telegraph's auto refresh is probably an attempt to boost its ABC ratings. The "?source=refresh" param is a way of filtering out the refreshes from its own internal ratings

Rather than the ABC ratings I'd say it's an attempt to get more ads infront of you. That's also the reason so many news sites split articles into page 1, 2, 3 etc.

[thunderlizard]

That looks simpler but this works too:-

http://www.xoggoth.org/pages/hits.html

That's cheating!

[xoggoth]

I know! That probably only works in IE come to think of it, FF etc. is bit different. I figured out a more general version if anyone wants it.

[thunderlizard]

No, it worked fine in my Firefox.

[NickFitz]

Cue NickFitz and one of his fascinating posts.

No need:

Here's the offending line in the Torygraph homepage:

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="300;url=?source=refresh" />

WHS

They do make one XHR request after the page has loaded to get a bit of JSON containing the data for the "Most Viewed" bit in the right-hand sidebar. Switching tabs on there causes another XHR to get the relevant content, but that seems to be the only Ajaxy stuff on the home page.

[NickFitz]

I know! That probably only works in IE come to think of it, FF etc. is bit different. I figured out a more general version if anyone wants it.

No, it worked fine in my Firefox.

Works fine in Safari 3 on my MacBook