$(cpicName) Help - Website Scanner

's Website Scanner allows you to pull images, web pages, and files off websites automatically. The Website Scanner will automatically download files from any website you specify. will follow links on the site, allowing you to point the Scanner at a homepage and download the entire site. | -->

Why Use the Website Scanner? The Website Scanner allows you to download large numbers of files in a very small amount of time. can download any type of file, and can be limited to download only certain file types.

Traditionally, if you wanted to grab many files off a website, you had to click on each file and save it individually. Using the Website Scanner, you just point at the website and let it go.

The Website Scanner can be an invaluable tool for many different uses. Using the Website Scanner, you can:

- Download all the pictures off a website
- Make a mirrored copy of a website on your computer
- Grab an entire set of music or video files

's Website Scanner also allows you to use multiple connections to the website for faster downloads. This greatly increases the speed at which you can download files.

Scanning a Website Scanning a website requires only a few steps. Files which are downloaded during a website scan are saved on your computer.

Starting a Website Scan

1. | Open the Website Scanner by selecting Download Web Sites from the Website Scanner menu under Internet.
2. | Specify the URL of the website you'd like to download from.
3. | Specify the folder to save the downloaded files in.
4. | Provide a username and password for the website (if required).
5. | Set any other options desired (discussed below).
6. | Click the 'Start' button to begin.

Options and Configurations The Website Scanner has many options which allow you to control which files are download, and how they are saved.

Website
The website options allow you to specify the starting URL for the scan and how much of the site you would like to download.

Starting URL - The starting URL is simply the web address of the page you would like to start your scan on. In many cases, this will be the main page of the website. If you are only interested in a particular section of a website, try entering the URL of that section's main page.

Depth - The depth defines how many levels deep the scan will go. If set to one, the Website Scanner will grab anything which is one click away from the starting URL. If set to a higher number, such as 100, the Website Scanner will go 100 levels deep into the site, downloading everything that fits your criteria along the way.

Connections - The connections box specifies how many connections can make to the website at a time. Higher numbers here will allow for more files to be downloaded at a time. Some ISPs and network configurations may not allow multiple connections. If you encounter problems scanning websites, try decreasing this number.

Saving Location
The saving location tells where to save the files that are downloaded. You may type in a folder location, or use the 'Browse' button to select a folder.

File Sizes
File sizes set the size limits for files which are downloaded. File size limits are specified in bytes.

Min - The minimum file size sets the limit for the smallest file that will be downloaded. If the Website Scanner encounters a file that is smaller than this size, it will not be downloaded.

Max - The maximum file size sets the limit for the largest file that will be downloaded. If the Website Scanner encounters a file that is larger than this size, it will not be downloaded.

File Types
The file type options control the types of files which are downloaded. This list contains the filename extensions of the files you would like to download.

To add a file type to be downloaded, simply add it's file extension to this list. To prevent a file type from being downloaded, remove it's extension from this list.

Options
There are several options available to let you control how scans websites.

Follow links off the main server - When checked, the Website Scanner will scan any other websites which are linked to from the starting website. When this option is not selected, will only follow links which link to other pages or files on this website.

Get images off the main server - When checked, will download images which are located on other websites, if those images are linked to from the starting website. If not selected, will skip images which are located on other web servers.

Maintain directory structure - This option will recreate the layout and organization of the web site on your local computer. If the website is organized into sub directories, will automatically create those sub directories on your computer, under the folder specified in 'saving location'. When not selected, will place all downloaded files in the folder specified under 'saving location.' This option should be turned on if you are using the Website Scanner to make a copy of an entire website.

Download images only - When checked, the Website Scanner will ignore everything on the website except for images.

Authentication
Authentication is used to allow to scan websites which require a username and password, such as membership based sites. If the site you are scanning requires a username and password, enter them here.