FAQ
14
Picture Pump
This handy program came to the attention of the yGroup Steps_Underground but it is available also on the web, particularly at nonags. To quote from nonags:
Use Picture Pump to retrieve loads of graphic files from the Internet. This tiny freeware program is lightning-fast and easy to negotiate. It generates web addresses automatically using a counter, thus allowing you to retrieve images from almost any web server that uses numbers to index its collections. No matter where the number is located within the URL- in the name of the picture (pic0001.jpeg), or in the name of the page that displays it (page65433.html), or even in one of the parameters for a server-side script used to dynamically load the images (zoom.asp?id=43200) - Picture Pump can retrieve it! Enter a destination and a starting URL. Then follow the instructions for indicating the index figure in the URL and click your mouse to set the wheels in motion. Other features include multithreaded operation, a custom exclusion list, resumed transfers, error logging, proxy support, and authentication on servers that protect their files with passwords.
A member had some difficulty making it work, so I am outlining here the steps to take in a simple pump. To follow the steps, click here for an illustration of the pump, which will open another window. Then return here to continue reading.
Assuming that you want the pictures in a series which starts with:
You would substitute the character @ for the changing numerical part of the *.jpg and enter:
Step 2: Site URL refers
I have not had to touch this yet, but I'm certain I shall eventually.
Step 3: Counter
Although the count begins at 01, I leave it at 0 to give me a chance to watch the action.
Step 4: Template
This tells the program what format the numbers will take, using the symbol @. Since the first pic is called 01.jpg, the template will look like this:
@@
The first @ is for the 0 and the second for the 1. If the first pic was called 001.jpg, the template would be:
@@@
Step 5: Target
This is the name of the folder where you want to pix placed. You can see the folders by clicking on the >> at the end of the window.
Step
6:
Click this button to see how the program has interpreted your instructions so far. It's really not a bad idea, particularly if you are just beginning.
Step
7: 
This button will start the pump. Don't be alarmed if none of the pix appear right away! The pump will continue until the limit (set by the template?) is reached.
As I explore more of the capabilities of this program, more information will be added.