This is probably the most asked question around here, "how do I display the latest entries on all of my site's blogs?", and I've read a lot about it.

As far as I know, the usual solution is a plugin, MTOtherBlog, WholeSystem, or GlobalListings (all three would do what I want), but they require you to rebuild the page where you have 'latest entries' each time you update a blog.

Now, being that I want to display 'latest entries' in my static index page, I don't know what to do. I've read about Rss feeds and MySQL queries, things I don't know jack about, and I've also seen people talking about SSI and PHP includes. How exactly would they be applied?

The site I'm building will have a static index page with a links sidebar on a frame, which in turn will take you to each blog. I would want to have 'latest entries' on that static index page.

if you plan on doing it w/o rebuilding, i'm afraid your only option will be to read directly from the database and what can only be done in mysql.

the other solutions [ssi,php] require a file with data to include. If you dont rebuild, then old entries are shown.

can i ask why you dont want to rebuild? surely it's not much of a problem 'cos MT rebuilds anyway when you add a new post so i dont understand at all why you want to give yourself a headache.

You could create a new index template that has the latest entries in it, and include this onto your static page.

Still not sure I understood. I use MT as a content management system and I have 8 blogs in the site I'm building, which is an arts e-zine.

My problem with rebuilding is just that whenever I wanted to change the static index page, which features a monthly 'cover', I would have to change the template in each of the 8 blogs. However..

Having in mind SSI or PHP includes, I could have each blog generate a PHP with the latest entries (using any of the plugins mentioned), and then include that PHP file in the index. Thus all blogs would automatically update that file, which would be automatically included in the index. Right?

Still I guess the MySQL solution is the easiest, I mean, people who understand it make it sound very easy. I don't understand MySQL though. Anyone got links?

i havent tried the MTOtherBlog plugin yet... but cant it do this? So you save yourself all the trouble?

another way to do it will be to create an index template each in those blogs you syndicate,

then include then in a php or ssi file.

the mysql method could als save you a lot of time in you're willing to learn [or in this forum, copy & paste]