--- Snap2HTML ----------------------------------------------------------------
Freeware by RL Vision (c) 2011-2017
Homepage: http://www.rlvision.com
Portable:
- Just unzip and run
- Settings are saved in the application folder
Free Open Source Software:
- Source code available at GitHub: https://github.com/rlv-dan
--- About --------------------------------------------------------------------
This application takes a "snapshot" of the folder structure on your
harddrive and saves it as an HTML file. What's unique about Snap2HTML is
that the HTML file uses modern techniques to make it feel like a "real"
application, displaying a treeview with folders that you can navigate to
view the files contained within. There is also a built in file search and
ability to export data as plain text, csv or json. Still, everything is
contained in a single HTML file that you can easily store or distribute.
Exported file listings can be used in many ways. One is as a complement
to your backups (note however that this program does not backup your
files! It only creates a list of the files and directories). You can
also keep a file list of e.g. external HDDs and other computers, in case
you need to look something up or to save for historic reasons and
documentation. When helping your friends with their computer problems
you can ask them to send a snapshot of their folders so you can better
understand their problem. It's really up to you to decide what Snap2HTML
can be used for!
--- Search -------------------------------------------------------------------
The built in search box accepts the following modifiers:
Wildcards * and ? can be used. * matches zero or more characters. ? matches
exactly one character.
Prefix your search with > to search only the current folder. >> searches
the current folder and its sub folders.
Tip: Search for * to list all files. This is especially useful together with
the export functionality to get all data out of the html file.
--- Linking Files ------------------------------------------------------------
Linking allows you open the listed files directly in your web browser.
This is designed to be flexible, which also sometimes makes it tricky
to get right. Here are some examples that shows how to use it:
-> Link to fully qualified local path
Root folder: "c:\my_root\"
Link to: "c:\my_root\"
Use snapshot from: [anywhere locally]
-> Link to relative local path
Root folder: "c:\my_root\"
Link to: "my_root\"
Use snapshot from: "c:\snapshot.html"
-> Link to same folder as snapshot is saved in
Root folder: "c:\my_root\"
Link to: [leave textbox empty]
Use snapshot from: "c:\my_root\snapshot.html"
-> Link to a web server with mirror of local folder
Root folder: "c:\my_www_root\"
Link to: "http://www.example.com/"
Use snapshot from: [anywhere]
-> Link to a relative path on a web server with mirror of local folder
Root folder: "c:\my_www_root\subfolder"
Link to: "subfolder/"
Use snapshot from: "http://www.example.com/snapshot.html"
Notes:
Only files can be linked. Folders are automatically linked to browse the
path in the snapshot.
Different browsers handle local links in different ways, usually for
security reasons. For example, Internet Explorer will not let you open
links to files on your local machine at all. (You can however copy the
link and paste into the location field.)
--- Command Line -------------------------------------------------------------
You can automate Snap2HTML by starting it from the command line with the
following options:
Simple: Snap2HTMl.exe "c:\path\to\root\folder"
Starts the program with the given root path already set
Full: Snap2HTMl.exe [-path:"root folder path"] [-outfile:"filename"]
[-link:"link to path"] [-title:"page title"]
[-hidden] [-system]
-path:"root folder path" - The root path to load.
Example: -path:"c:\temp"
-outfile:"filename" - The filename to save the snapshot as.
Don't forget the html extension!
Example: -outfile:"c:\temp\out.html"
-link:"link to path" - The path to link files to.
Example: -link:"c:\temp"
-title:"page title" - Set the page title
-hidden - Include hidden items
-system - Include system items
Notes: Using -path and -outfile will cause the program to automatically
start generating the snapshot, and quit when done!
Always surround paths and filenames with quotes ("")!
Do not include the [sqaure brackets] when you write your command
line. (Sqaure brackets signify optional command line parameters)
--- Template Design ---------------------------------------------------------
If you know html and javascript you may want to have a look at the file
"template.html" in the application folder. This is the base for the
output, and you can modify it with your own enhancements and design changes.
If you make something nice you are welcome, to send it to me and I might
distribute it with future versions of the program!
--- Known Problems ----------------------------------------------------------
The finished HTML file contains embedded javascript. Web browsers (especially
Internet Explorer) may limit execution of scripts as a security measure.
If the page is stuck on "loading..." (with no cpu activity - large files may
take a while to load) this is probably your problem.
One user reported needing to start Snap2HTML with "Run as Administrator"
on Win7 Basic, otherwise it would hang when clicking on the browse for
folders button.
Internet Explorer may fail to load very large files. The problems seems
to be a hard limit in some versions of IE. I have seen this problem in
IE11 myself. Being a hard limit there is no easy solution right now.
Large file tables can be slow to render and appear to have hung the
browser, especially in Internet Explorer. The same can happen when
navigating away from such a large folder and freeing the memory.
--- Version History ---------------------------------------------------------
v1.0 (2011-07-25)
Initial release
v1.1 (2011-08-11)
Added tooltips when hovering folders
Bugfixes
v1.2 (2011-08-18)
Fixed some folder sorting problems
Better error handling when permissions do not allow reading
v1.5 (2012-06-18)
Added command line support
Files can now be linked to a target of your choice
Option to automatically open snapshots when generated
Several bugfixes and tweaks
v1.51 (2012-07-11)
Improved error handling
v1.9 (2013-07-24)
Major overhaul of HTML template
MUCH faster HTML loading
Reduced HTML size by about 1/3
Folders are now also displayed in the HTML file list
Added option to set page title
Application now saves it settings (in application folder)
GUI enhancements: Drag & Drop a source folder, tooltips
Many smaller fixes to both application and HTML
v1.91 (2013-12-29)
Smaller change to hide root folder when linking files
v1.92 (2014-06-12)
Fixed various bugs reported by users lately
Slight changes to the internals of the template file
v2.0 (2017-04-22)
Added export functionality to get data "out" of the HTML
Export data as plain text, CSV or JSON
Added support for searching with wildcards
Search can be limited to current folder and/or subfolders
Breadcrumb path is now clickable
Current path is tracked in URL. Copy URL to link directly to that folder
Opens previous folder when going back after opening a linked file
Data format was tweaked to give slightly smaller output
Fixed some bugs concerning filenames with odd characters
Many other tweaks and fixes to improve the HTML template
--- End User License Agreement -----------------------------------------------
RL Vision can not be held responsible for any damages whatsoever, direct or
indirect, caused by this software or other material from RL Vision.