Copyright: Copyright © 1997 - Rhino Software - (414) 593-2753


Net Probe

Net Probe is a site list maintenance utility. It can import ftp and web sites from numerous sources including text, HTML, FTP Voyager files and the clipboard.  It can then check the sites to see if they are alive and if they have been updated. You no longer have to spend hours keeping track of whether your favorite sites on the Internet are up or down or if anything is new; Net Probe can check them all for you in about the time it would take you to check one.  It can also download the content of each web page on your list.  You can even schedule Net Probe to check your site list periodically.  It is multithreaded, easy to use, and cooperates nicely with your favorite ftp client or web browser.

Net Probe is shareware and must be registered after your evaluation period if you decide to use it.  Registration entitles you to 1 year's support via e-mail and notification of future upgrades.  Registration also bypasses those annoying "splash" and "nag" dialog boxes.  For more information click here.

Some topics covered by this help file are:

Registering Net Probe

Technical Support

Contacting Rhino Software

Site Profile Dialog

FTP Search Dialog

Options Dialog

General Options

Connection Options

Logging Options

The Toolbar

Menus

File Menu

Edit Menu

View Menu

Tools Menu

Help Menu

Pop-Up Menu

Customize Toolbar

Rhino Software

P.O. Box 53

Helenville, WI  53137

Phone: (414) 593-2753

FAX: (414) 593-2753

http://www.rhinosoft.com

mailto:sales@rhinosoft.com

mailto:support@rhinosoft.com


Registering Net Probe

Registration of Net Probe is essential to providing you, our customer, with quality inexpensive software.  If you use Net Probe please register.

To register your copy of Net Probe and receive your registration number, press "Purchase" in the "Purchase Dialog" or mail your payment, name, address, and e-mail address to:

Rhino Software

P.O. Box 53

Helenville, WI  53137

Single:	$24.95

2-9:	$22.95 each

10-24:	$19.95 each

25-49:	$17.95 each

50-99:	$14.95 each

100-199:	$12.95 each

200+:	Call

Site Licenses:	Available

Wisconsin Residents, add 5.6% sales tax.

You may also FAX your order to (414) 593-2753.  Use the form found at:

http://www.rhinosoft.com/RhinoSoft/NetProbeOrder.htm

Rhino Software can be reached at:

(414) 593-2753 -and- sales@rhinosoft.com

Please remember to include your name and e-mail address so we can send your registration ID.  We will e-mail your ID within 48 hours.

More information about Rhino Software and Net Probe can be found at http://www.rhinosoft.com


Technical Support

Registered users are able to contact technical support via e-mail.  Technical support issues are usually handled through e-mail only.  We do, however provide technical support by voice when required, but only to registered users.

If you need technical support, write to:

support@rhinosoft.com

We will help you via e-mail as soon as possible.  This service is only available to registered users.


Contacting Rhino Software

You may contact Rhino Software by snail-mail at:

Rhino Software

P.O. Box 53

Helenville, WI  53137

Phone: (414) 593-2753

FAX: (414) 593-2753

For sales inquiries:

mailto:sales@rhinosoft.com

You may also find what you need at our web site:

http://www.rhinosoft.com

Click here for information about technical support.


Toolbar

The Net Probe tool bar allows you to perform many of the common Net Probe commands quickly by pressing a button.

 New

This command creates a new site list.  If a site list is already open and has not been saved since last it was changed, you will be asked if you would like to save the old list before creating a new one.

 Open

Use this command to open a previously saved site list.

 Save

To save the current site list, use this command.

 Cut

If you have any sites selected, they will be copied into the clipboard in text format and deleted from the current site list.  If you paste these sites back into Net Probe, you will lose the site's status, description, and time last checked.

 Copy

This command has the same effect as the Cut command, except that the selected sites are not deleted from the site list.

  Paste

If there are any sites currently in the clipboard, they will be imported into the current site list as if you had used the Import command to import them as text.

 Import

To read sites in from text files, HTML files or FTP Voyager files use this command.  Net Probe uses regular expressions to parse the text that is imported, and can accommodate a variety of formats.  The most common format that Net Probe can read is a URL, such as http://www.rhinosoft.com:80/RhinoSoft/index.htm, while specifying login and password using l: login p: password.  This button is disabled by default

 Export

To write sites to text files.  This button is disabled by default.

 New Site

A dialog will appear which allows you to specify the site's name, description, and other properties.  After completing the necessary information, the site will be added to the list.

 Edit Site

This button brings up the same dialog that was used to add a site and lets you edit a site's properties.

 Delete Selected

The delete command allows you to remove sites from the site list.

 Check All

This command allows you to check all sites on the list.  Sites that have changed since last time they were checked (or sites that have never been checked) will have a light bulb in their name field.  Sites that have not changed, but which are up, will show a green check.  Sites that are bad will have a red X, and sites that have never been checked will have a question mark near them.

 Check Selected

This command allows you to check the selected site.  Sites that have changed since last time they were checked (or sites that have never been checked) will have a light bulb in their name field.  Sites that have not changed, but which are up, will show a green check.  Sites that are bad will have a red X, and sites that have never been checked will have a question mark near them.

 Open Site

Open site allows you to launch your default web browser to the selected web site, or your preferred FTP client to the selected FTP site.  You may change your FTP client in the General Options.

 FTP Search

This command brings up a dialog that allows you to search the Internet for a particular file.

 About

Use this command to display the version number of Net Probe.  If you are using a registered version of Net Probe, your name will appear in this dialog box.


Site Profile Dialog

This dialog allows you to configure an individual site.

Name

Enter a name you want to use to remember the site.  For example, you might enter "Rhino Software" to identify "www.rhinosoft.com/pub/rhinosoft".  Choose a name that is unique to the folder and choose a name that helps you identify the site.  A site name is a required field.

Description

Enter a description of the site that will give you additional information to help you identify what the site contains.  For example, for the Rhino Software site, you might enter "Rhino Software FTP site.  Home of FTP Voyager."  The description is used only for information and is not required.

Site

Enter the Site address.  The site address is used to identify the site to which you want to connect.  Valid Site addresses may be textual (www.rhinosoft.com) or they may be IP addresses (156.46.1.179).  The Site is a required field.  You cannot connect to a Site without entering a Site address.

Default Directory

Enter the directory or folder you want to start in on the remote machine.

Anonymous Login

Selecting Anonymous Login allows you to access an FTP site without specifying a User ID or Password.  The default Anonymous User ID and Password will be used to connect to this site.  If checked, User ID, Password are unavailable.

User ID

Enter your user ID required for logging into an FTP site.  This field is not available when Anonymous Login is selected.

Password

Enter your password required for logging into an FTP site.  This field is not available when Anonymous Login is selected.

Port

This is the port that will be connected to on the remote host.  This will generally be port 21 for FTP and port 80 for HTTP.

Use HTTP

Check this box if you are trying to add a web site instead of an FTP site.


FTP Search Dialog

This dialog allows you to search the Internet for a particular file.

File

This string will be used to match the filename.  Depending on the Search type selected, this may be the exact filename, a fragment of a filename, or a regular expression.

Search Type

If you only know a part of the filename you are searching for, use 'Substring'.  If you have the exact filename you are looking for, use 'Exact'.  If you would like to use a Regular expression, click that box.

Case sensitive

This is an option that allows you to specify whether you want 'file.zip' to match with 'File.zip' or not.

Try exact match first

If doing a substring or regexp search, an exact search will be done first.

Max matches

The maximum number of entries to be returned.


Options

The options dialog allows you to setup options of Net Probe.  The Options Dialog is divided into several pages:

General Options

These options contain general type options used to configure Net Probe, the options found here include the scheduler parameters and the ability to specify a FTP client.

Connection Options

These options contain information used to connect to FTP Sites.  The information found here includes Proxy Server, Port Number, and various timeout values

Logging Options

These options allow you to automate tedious tasks such as exporting lists and downloading web content.


General Options

The following are the General Options available in the Options Dialog:

Check Sites

This list box allows you to choose how often you would like Net Probe to check your sites for you.

Confirm Delete

Allows you to specify whether you would like Net Probe to ask for confirmation before deleting sites.

Open last file

Select this option if you want Net Probe to automatically open the most recent site list when it starts.

Anonymous User ID

Use this field to specify what you would like Net Probe to use as a user ID if none is found when importing or creating new sites.

Anonymous Password

Use this field to specify what you would like Net Probe to use as a password if none is found when importing or creating new sites.

Launch FTP Voyager

If this option is selected, Net Probe will attempt to locate FTP Voyager on your system and use it when opening FTP sites.

Launch another FTP Client

Use this option if you would like to use an FTP client besides FTP Voyager.  You must specify a command line to launch your FTP client.  Use the following substitutions:

%o = port

%u = user

%p = pass

%t = path

%h = host

Customize Toolbar

The toolbar options allow you to choose which toolbar buttons you want to use.  A dialog appears allowing you to remove items from the right side, and add buttons from the left side.  You may also move button positions by selecting move up and move down.

For more information about customizing your tool bar, click here.  For other Toolbar Customization methods, click here.

Select columns to view

This allows you to select which columns you wish to appear in the list view.

List Options

The List options allow you to customize the right-hand pane or "List" view of Net Probe.  The right hand pane shows you files and folders for the selected folder in the left-hand pane or "Tree" view.  The following are the options:

Gridlines

This option allows you to place grid lines or dividers between all items in the pane.  When selected, faint or gray, lines appear between all of the files and folders.  This option is only supported in Details view.

Track Select

This option moves a "tracker" or changes the color of the selection beneath the mouse when the mouse pointer moves over the top of a file or folder.  The item beneath the mouse turns a different color.  If you hold the mouse over the selection without clicking on it, the item becomes selected.

Header Drag and Drop

This option allows you to move the columns in the list view.  If for example, you want the "Modified Date" to appear in the column before "Size", simply click on the "Modified Date" and drag it to the front of the "Size" column, then release.  Now, the "Modified Date" column is positioned before the "Size" column.  Your column positions are saved between sessions.  This option is only supported in Details view.

Full Row Select

This option selects an entire row when any of the contents of the row is selected.  Unlike normal operation, where you must click on the name to select the row, this option allows you to click anywhere on the information for the file or folder.  This option is only supported in Details view.


Connection Options

Ftp Access Type

The Internet Access Type allows you to choose how you want to access the Internet.  The following are the options:

•	Direct Internet Access (default) - access the Internet directly without going through a proxy server.  Also, use this option to access internal FTP sites, or if you access both the Internet and are required to go through a proxy, use the Advanced options for your site.

•	CERN Proxy Access - use the proxy server specified.

•	Pre-Config Access - Access FTP sites the same way as Microsoft Internet Explorer (3.0).

•	UserID = userid@site - use the proxy server specified, but when connecting to a site, use the proxy server for the site name and create a user id "userid@site" for the user ID.  For example, if connecting through a proxy server to Microsoft, the site used would be your proxy server and the user ID, automatically generated by Net Probe, would be "anonymous@ftp.microsoft.com".  In anonymous mode, the password would be "NetProbe@www.rhinosoft.com".  With this mode, you may also specify a password for the proxy server (if your proxy server requires a password).

Ftp Proxy Name

If you're using a proxy server, enter your proxy server name here.

Ftp Port

Enter the port number of the proxy to connect to.

Ftp Proxy Password

If you select the "UserID = userid@site" Internet Access Type, you are allowed to enter a password for your proxy server.  If you leave this field blank, no password will be used.

The format used for the FTP site is <proxy name>:<proxy password>.  Net Probe automatically does this operation for you.

Http Access Type

The Internet Access Type allows you to choose how you want to access the Internet.  The following are the options:

•	Direct Internet Access (default) - access the Internet directly without going through a proxy server.  Also, use this option to access internal HTTP sites.

•	CERN Proxy Access - use the proxy server specified.

•	Pre-Config Access - Access HTTP sites the same way as Microsoft Internet Explorer (3.0).

Http Proxy Name

If you're using a proxy server, enter your proxy server name here.

Http Port

Enter the port number of the proxy to connect to.

Http Proxy Password

This option is not supported for HTTP sites.

PASV Mode

Check this box to always use PASV mode when connecting to an FTP site.

Connection Time-out

The time-out value in seconds to use for Internet connection requests.  If a connection request takes longer than this time-out, the request is canceled. The default time-out is 61.

Connection Retries

The retry count to use for Internet connection requests. If a connection attempt still fails after the specified number of tries, the request is canceled. The default is zero.

Send Time-out

The time-out value in seconds to use for data Internet send requests. If a data send request takes longer than this time-out, the request is canceled. The default time-out is 61.

Receive Time-out

The time-out value in seconds to use for data Internet receive requests. If a data receive request takes longer than this time-out, the request is canceled. The default time-out is 61.

Max Concurrent Threads

The maximum amout of sites that Net Probe will check simultaniously.  If you are having problems with sites timing out, you may want to try lowering this value.  If you have a fast connection and speedy computer, you may want to experiment with higher values.  The default is 10.

Beep when done checking

If this option is enabled, Net Probe will alert you when a checking operation has been completed.


Logging Options

Status

This option allows you to automate the exporting of lists.  If this option is enabled, Net Probe will export the current list to the directory specified whenever the list is checked (either manually or through the scheduler), into a file corresponding to the time of the export.

Web

This option allows you to download the content of an entire list of sites.  When the list is checked, any web sites will have their content stored in the directory specified in a file corresponding to the address of the page.


File Menu

New

This command creates a new site list.  If a site list is already open and has not been saved since last it was changed, you will be asked if you would like to save the old list before creating a new one.

Open

Use this command to open a previously saved site list.

Save

To save the current site list, use this command.

Save As...

To save the current site list with a different name than is currently being used, use this command..

Import

To read sites in from text files, HTML files or FTP Voyager files use this command.  Net Probe uses regular expressions to parse the text that is imported, and can accommodate a variety of formats.  The most common format that Net Probe can read is a URL, such as http://www.rhinosoft.com:80/RhinoSoft/index.htm, while specifying login and password using l: login p: password.

Export

To write sites out to text files, HTML files or FTP Voyager files use this command.

Exit

Use this option to close or exit Net Probe.


Edit Menu

The Net Probe edit menu allows you to perform edit operations for Net Probe.  The following are the commands supported in the Edit Menu:

Cut

If you have any sites selected, they will be copied into the clipboard in text format and deleted from the current site list.  If you paste these sites back into Net Probe, you will lose the site's status, description, and time last checked.

Copy

This command has the same effect as the Cut command, except that the selected sites are not deleted from the site list.

Paste

If there are any sites currently in the clipboard, they will be imported into the current site list as if you had used the Import command to import them as text.

Edit Site

This button brings up the same dialog that was used to add a site and lets you edit a site's properties.

Select All

This option selects or highlights all of the sites and folders in the right hand pane.  Use this option when you want to select all of the sites or you want to select most of the sites.

Invert Selection

This option converts selected sites into deselected sites, and converts deselected sites into selected sites.


View Menu

The Net Probe view menu allows you to perform visual operations for Net Probe.  The following are the commands supported in the View Menu:

Toolbar

If selected, the toolbar is shown under the menu.  This is selected by default.

Status Bar

If selected, the Status Bar is shown at the bottom of the window.  This is selected by default.

Options

Use this command to view or change the options dialog box.


Tools Menu

The Net Probe tool menu gives you many miscellaneous functions.  The following are the commands supported in the Tools Menu:

New Site

A dialog will appear which allows you to specify the site's name, description, and other properties.  After completing the necessary information, the site will be added to the list.

Delete Selected

The delete command allows you to remove sites from the site list.

Check All

This command allows you to check all sites on the list.  Sites that have changed since last time they were checked (or sites that have never been checked) will have a light bulb in their name field.  Sites that have not changed, but which are up, will show a green check.  Sites that are bad will have a red X, and sites that have never been checked will have a question mark near them.

Check Selected

Check Selected is similar to Check All, but only the sites that are currently selected are checked.

Open Site

Open site allows you to launch your default web browser to the selected web site, or your preferred FTP client to the selected FTP site.  You may change your FTP client in the General Options.

FTP Search

This command brings up a dialog that allows you to search the Internet for a particular file.


Help Menu

The Net Probe help menu allows you to get help for Net Probe and allows you to order Net Probe from Rhino Software.  The following are the commands supported in the Help Menu:

Help Topics

This option allows you to search the help file for topics or information that is contained within the help file.

Overview

This option shows you an overview of the help file.  From here you can select topics of interest and view documentation about your selection.

Purchase Net Probe Electronically

This option allows you to purchase Net Probe on-line.  With this option you don't even need to pick up your telephone or visit a web page to purchase your copy.

Ordering Information

This option gives you information about how Net Probe can be purchased and gives you pricing information for Net Probe, including quantity discounts.

Register Net Probe

This option is used after Rhino Software sends you your registration ID.  After you receive your registration ID you enter your name, e-mail address, and your ID here.  When you're registered you will not be annoyed by the initial "splash" dialog or the nag dialogs asking you to register the product.

In addition you will be notified, via e-mail, of updates.  And you will be able to receive e-mail support for up to one year after you purchase.

About Rhino Software Net Probe

Use this command to display the version number of Net Probe.  If you are using a registered version of Net Probe, your name will appear in this dialog box.


Pop-Up File or Folder Menu

Net Probe uses pop-up menus for common file operations.  To access a pop-up menu for a file or folder, move the mouse pointer over the file or folder and press the right mouse button.  The following are the commands:

Open Site

Open site allows you to launch your default web browser to the selected web site, or your preferred FTP client to the selected FTP site.  You may change your FTP client in the General Options.

Edit Site

This button brings up the same dialog that was used to add a site and lets you edit a site's properties.

Delete Selected

The delete command allows you to remove sites from the site list.

Check Selected

Check Selected is similar to Check All, but only the sites that are currently selected are checked.

Cut

If you have any sites selected, they will be copied into the clipboard in text format and deleted from the current site list.  If you paste these sites back into Net Probe, you will lose the site's status, description, and time last checked.

Copy

This command has the same effect as the Cut command, except that the selected sites are not deleted from the site list.

Paste

If there are any sites currently in the clipboard, they will be imported into the current site list as if you had used the Import command to import them as text.

Import

To read sites in from text files, HTML files or FTP Voyager files use this command.

New Site

A dialog will appear which allows you to specify the site's name, description, and other properties.  After completing the necessary information, the site will be added to the list.

Check All

This command allows you to check all sites on the list.  Sites that have changed since last time they were checked (or sites that have never been checked) will have a light bulb in their name field.  Sites that have not changed, but which are up, will show a green check.  Sites that are bad will have a red X, and sites that have never been checked will have a question mark near them.

FTP Search

This command brings up a dialog that allows you to search the Internet for a particular file.


Using the List View

Net Probe allows you to change the order in which items are sorted in the site list.  To change the sort order, click on the column you want to sort by.  Click the column button again to sort in the reverse direction.  Click again to sort in the original direction.

If, for example, you want to sort files by file type, click on the Type column.  If you want to sort by date, click on the Modified column.

Selecting a Single File

To select a single file, click on it.

Selecting Multiple Files

To select multiple files, click on one file, press and hold the control key while selecting another.

To select a sequence of files, click on one file, press and hold the shift key while selecting another file.  All files between the first and second files become selected.


Customize Toolbar

Opens the Customize Toolbar dialog box, where you can add, remove, and rearrange buttons on the toolbars.  This command is available in the View, Options, Toolbar, then by selecting "Buttons" or by double clicking on a "blank" area on the tool bar.

The toolbar contains a set of default buttons.  You can remove buttons for commands that you rarely use, add other buttons for commands that you frequently use, and specify the order in which the buttons appear on the toolbar.

To restore the default toolbar button settings, choose Reset in the Customize Toolbar dialog box.

Customize Toolbar Dialog Box Options

Available Buttons

Displays the buttons that you can add to the toolbar in the active window.  Buttons that are already on the toolbar are not included in this list.

Add

Moves the selected button in the Available Buttons list to the Toolbar Buttons list and adds the button to the toolbar.  The added button appears above the currently selected button in the Toolbar Buttons list and to the left of the corresponding button on the toolbar.

Remove

Moves the selected button in the Toolbar Buttons list to the Available Buttons list and removes the button from the toolbar.

Toolbar Buttons

Displays the buttons from top to bottom in the order in which they appear from left to right on the toolbar in the active window.

Reset

Restores the default button settings on the toolbar in the active window.

Move Up

Moves the selected button up one space in the Toolbar Buttons list and to the left one space on the toolbar.

Move Down

Moves the selected button down one space in the Toolbar Buttons list and to the right one space on the toolbar.