These applications are there to facilitate file downloading with MONICA. As of this release there are two helper applications which are currently in beta test stage. These helpers are appropriate for advanced users only. You do NOT need to use these applications to use MONICA, and these are to be regarded as BONUS applications for registered users. Other Helper applications ( including a FTP Loader ) are planned.
2. MONICA HTTP LOADER
2.1 What is it?
MONICA HTTP Loader is a program that will download a web page and attempt to show you the files and other pages referenced by that page. These are shown in a listbox, from which you can drag URLs to the main MONICA application for placement in the download queue.
Typically you would use this helper when you have found a web page referencing a lot of files that you wish to download. Load the page in MONICA HTTP Loader and then drag one or more links to MONICA.
Effectively this helper is a kind of "blind browser" - you can see the links, but not the page itself. You would therefore normally have looked at the page in a normal browser before loading it with MONICA HTTP Loader.
INFO: This helper does NOT parse Java. If you load a page and no links are shown, this might be the reason.
INFO: Please note that this application is still being developed - it is not perfect! I would welcome ideas to enhance it.
2.2 Usage
When the program opens your cursor is in a field waiting for you to type in a web page URL. Type in a HTTP URL and press enter, and the program will attempt to load the page. Various items of information are shown in the bottom portion of the screen.
INFO: The URL must be a HTTP URL that will load a HTML page. You cannot use a FTP or Hotline URL here.
If you have checked the "Sort List" checkbox, the Loader will sort the links once the page is loaded.
If you have checked the "Show Graphics" checkbox then the list will show linked .jpg and .gif files, otherwise these are not shown.
Once the page has been loaded the links are shown in the main box. You may select one or more items in this list and drag them to MONICA or any other application. If a link is a link to another page, you may double-click it to load the next page.
Pages you have loaded are listed in the popup control at the top left so that you can easily re-load a page. The Loader caches approximately 20 of the most recent pages.
2.3 Buttons
Clear Cache:
This will delete all cached pages.
Load File:
This will allow you to load a local HTML file off your disc drive for link extraction. Local files are NOT cached.
New Window:
This opens another Loader window.
Abort:
This will attempt to abort a page load. You cannot abort a load while Open Transport is still doing a DNS lookup as this tends to be a bit dangerous in terms of crashing!
Quit:
This quits the application - all HTTP Loader windows will close.
Close:
This closes this HTTP Loader window.
2.4 Tips
Keep an eye on the status information. If you get a "404 - Not Found" or other error, it will be shown there.
Many website use frames that can make it difficult to track down the real links. If this Loader shows no links from a page you know to be full of links, try, in your normal browser, to "Open Frame in New Window" so as to find out the real URL of the page having all those lovely links!
3. MONICA HOTLINE LOADER
3.1 What is it?
MONICA Hotline Loader is a program that allows you to connect to a Hotline server so as to see what files are available for download, and to facilitate loading links to files into the main MONICA queue.
It is NOT a Hotline client. Repeat - It is NOT a Hotline client. It is NOT GOING TO BE a proper Hotline client. You cannot chat, send messages, read and post news etc etc.
INFO: Please note that this application is still being developed - it is not perfect! I would welcome ideas to enhance it.
"Hotline is a really great net program from Hotline Communications ( www.hotlinesw.com ). If you don't already use it I really recommend it.
While MONICA can now download files from Hotline servers I wish to state a few things about this, and Hotline etiquette. Firstly, MONICA is NOT a full Hotline client and is NOT meant to replace using the Hotline application. MONICA only downloads files, she does not allow newsreading, messaging, chatting etc. Consequently I suggest the following unless you wish to incur the wrath of the Hotline server admins:
1. Connect using Hotline not MONICA.
2. Request permission from the admin to use MONICA to download files.
3. If refused - then use Hotline to get the files. If granted - well then you know what to do ;).
4. Remain connected with Hotline itself ( for chat, messages etc )."
If I get too many complaints about users abusing Hotline servers I will be forced to add some special character onto the nickname to enable server bots to kick MONICA Hotline users.
3.3 Usage
MONICA Hotline Loader is not a simple program, but I have endeavoured to make it relatively simple to use.
The main screen is loosely divided into two sections. At the top are controls for connecting to Hotline servers, at the bottom controls for connecting to Hotline Trackers.
3.3.1 Hotline Servers
To connect to a Hotline server, enter the site address in the "Site" field, the port, your nickname, your login and password if required, and your chosen icon number. Then press the "Connect" button. Progress and information are shown in a diagnostic box so that you can see what is going on. Provided the connect and login are successful, you will be shown the main "Files" listing in the listbox at top left. If any files are shown you may select and drag these to the main MONICA application for placement in the queue. If folders are shown, you may double-click on a folder to load that folder's file list.
Folders are added to the popup control at the top left to facilitate re-loading. At this stage the folder lists are not cached.
When you have finished loading files you may disconnect using the "Disconnect" button. You may then, if you wish, enter a site description and add the site to a list of Favourites using the "Add Site" button. To remove a site from your favourites list, display it by choosing it in the popup control at top right, and press the "Delete Site" button. These Favourites are stored in a file and are available whenever the program is run.
INFO: Please note that there is NOT much point adding a site with a dynamic IP to the Favourites ( for obvious reasons! ).
3.3.2 Hotline Trackers
This Loader can also load Hotline Tracker listings to facilitate connecting to Hotline Servers.
To load a tracker listing enter the tracker IP address or DNS name in the "Tracker" field and press the "Load Tracker" button. If the Tracker is taking forever to load you may abort the load by pressing the "Abort Load" button.
If all goes well you should be presented with a site listing.
You may also keep a list of favourite Trackers. To add the currently displayed Tracker to the Favourites list, press the "Add Tracker" button. To remove one from the list select it in the Tracker popup control and press the "Del Tracker" button.
INFO: This Loader only loads ONE tracker at a time.
To connect to a site listed in the Tracker list, double-click it and its information will be transferred to the Server fields at top right. You can then connect by pressing the "Connect" button.
You may search the Tracker listing by entering a search string in the "Search For" field and pressing "Search". Please note that this will only search from the currently selected server DOWN the list. To search the complete list, highlight/select the first tracker in the list before searching.
3.3.3 Other Issues
Please understand that the Hotline protocol is not publicly documented and seems to change from release to release. There are also some servers running unofficial server software, and some of these servers behave slightly differently to the official Hotline products. I have endeavoured to work around some of the funnies, but to a large extent I am working in the dark ( my ability to read hex quickly has improved though! ). So there will be incompatibilities.
