Summary : each of the individual properties of agents, directories and addresses can be edited as a whole or separately. Fine tuning is part of eCatch.

Presentation - Back to the top !

As a broad rule, eCatch organizes into a hierarchy all data :

• each time an element is created, the software copies by default the properties of the containing element (its parent properties).
• modifying an element property does not bring about any other change for other elements (nevertheless, an inactive parent prevents page contents from being refreshed).

When selecting the list view, you can highlight one or several elements with the purpose of editing grouped properties : changes apply to selected elements only in case you notify it to the software.

Though all data are organized into a hierarchy, all properties are not processed similarly :

• making an element inactive leads to the fact descendants are inactive too.
• download depth level is decremented by one for each descendant generation. (except for frames).
• a given directory date corresponds to the date of the latest file stored in that directory (no matter how deep you captured).

The different fields - Back to the top !

• The "Active" checkbox : if this option is unchecked, the element and the corresponding contained elements cannot be updated during downloads.
• The Element name input field : eCatch calls by default "New address " a new element. Once you start downloading, the page title (in case you deal with a html page) replaces that default option.
• The Parameters index tab
  • URLs and the document address.
  • Grab images : if this option is checked, images are downloaded too.
  • How to process this file : "Only information" allows to verify without loading the file if a change occured. That option is not effective with the 10 % servers that don't provide size and date information to eCatch.
• The Refresh index tab.
  This thumb index enables you to check what update frequency option is to be applied to documents; the purpose is to monitor whether a change occurs or not. Out of 100% pages, 10% have to be downloaded entirely before eCatch is able to compare them with older ones.
  • Systematic : document is verified each time you connect (in case the agent which contains the document is opened).
  • Automatic : eCatch assesses automatically what date will be applied to a future verification. The estimates are based upon the average period in-between two updates : let's assume for instance the 1rst and the 10th of a month you update a document, then, eCatch will assess verification is to be launched on the 16th (60% of the period in-between both updates), as well as on the 19th (100% of the period inbetween both updates). In case the document is not updated yet, eCatch will keep on verifying it every 3 days (1/3rd of the period in-between both updates).
    Only if read : eCatch does not pay attention to changes in a page untill you haven't read it.
    When that option is checked, eCatch adapts itself gradually to the indivual use you make for each document : to put it in a nutshell, it is enough you read regularly a document to have eCatch verifying it as regularly.
  • Only once : document is downloaded a first time and then only on demand (each time you select "refresh").
  • Scheduled : if you check this option, a dialog box appears and asks you whether you want to verify pages so many days after last verification happened or not; then, you might tell the software to keep on verifying every "0 to n" days. For instance, in case you know a page only changes once a week, select a 6 days waiting period before verification starts (do imagine page update comes earlier !), then a 0 days waiting period may be convenient to be sure your software upgrades the document.

• The Depth level index tab.
  This thumb index enables you to determine all options appliable to a complete download (be a crafty, read merely the first captured page once it is downloaded and then click subsequent links according to what most interests you).
  • Depth level : in case it is superior to 0, as soon as eCatch downloads the page, the software analyses links and generates new addresses decremented by one.
  • Follow server address : this option, if checked, allows to narrow the number of links to be captured so that advertisings and external pages are not downloaded.
  • Only selected files : specifies which files, according to their format, are to be downloaded.

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