Preview Downloader - user manual

Preview Downloader - user manual

1. About Preview Downloader

Preview Downloader is a script that allows you to automatically download all free previews available in iStripper.

Downloading free previews using the iStripper program can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Every free preview has to be downloaded one at a time, which requires a lot of clicking. Downloading card previews that exist in the user's collection requires updating the entire show. The updated show, as well as the shows in queue, are inactive during this time and can not be played. Also, often instead of updating the preview itself, iStripper gets the entire show from scratch. This has a significant impact on the waiting time and unnecessarily consumes the transfer.

Preview Downloader saves time, transfer and patience of the user and reduces the number of clicks from several thousand to more than a dozen clicks! Preview Downloader only downloads missing free previews, not entire shows. While free previews are downloaded, it is still possible to play full shows, because your collection in iStripper is still active.

Preview Downloader works only on Windows systems. It has been tested with Windows 10 (32-bit), Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit) and Windows XP SP3 (32-bit), but should work with Windows Vista and Windows 8. Preview Downloader works the same with each version of iStripper.

For the Preview Downloader script to work properly, the following requirements must be met:

  • Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10,
  • iStripper installed (any version),
  • the data and models folders should be located in a directory to which the path does not contain special characters or diacritics (more about diacritics and special characters),
  • disabled quick edit mode in the console settings (how to disable the quick edit mode),
  • for Windows XP: Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools from Microsoft installed (this add-on is provided with Preview Downloader),
  • Internet access,
  • recommended, but not necessary: account with administrator privileges.

2. Installation

The Preview Downloader comes with an automatic installer that helps the user to go through the installation process. Extract the contents of the downloaded archive to any folder and run setup.bat by double-clicking it.

Depending on where the Preview Downloader is to be installed, the installation process may require administrator privileges. Therefore, it is recommended to install the script using admin account.

2.1. Welcome screen

It contains the initial information. Click the Next button (or press the Enter key) to go to the next step. You can cancel the installation process at any time by clicking the Cancel button (or by pressing the C key) or by clicking the Quit button in the upper right corner of the window (or by pressing the Q key).

2.2. License terms

It is necessary to accept the terms of the license in order to install and use the script. Read the license text (all pages) and click Accept (or press Enter) if you agree with its content. If you do not agree with the license, click the Decline button (or press D). Rejection of license terms means resignation from installation and use of the script.

2.3. Destination path

In the next step you need to specify the path to the directory in which the Preview Downloader should be installed. The default directory is the local application folder of the currently logged user. It is recommended to install the script in the default directory for one main reason: the script will be invisible to other users of this computer. This will prevent other users from figuring out that iStripper is installed on the system.

Click the Browse button (or press the B key) to select a different destination directory. It is possible that the path will be so long that it will not fit in the Destination folder field. The full path will be displayed in the Selected path (full preview) field.

Select the destination directory and click the Next button (or press the Enter key) to go to the next step.

2.4. Start menu shortcut

The installer allows you to create a shortcut to the Preview Downloader in the Start menu. In addition to the shortcut to the script itself, a shortcut to the uninstallation program will also be created. Thanks to the uninstaller you will be able to easily get rid of the Preview Downloader. The shortcuts will only be visible to the user on whose account the Preview Downloader was installed. The shortcuts will not be visible to other users of this computer.

Select Yes, please (or press 1) if you want to create shortcuts in the Start menu. Select No, thanks (or press 2) if you don't want to create shortcuts. The selected option will be marked with a green box.

Click the Next button (or press the Enter key) to go to the next step.

2.5. Desktop shortcut

The installer allows you to create a shortcut to the Preview Downloader on your desktop. The shortcut will be visible only to the user on whose account the Preview Downloader was installed. The shortcut will not be visible to other users of this computer.

Select Yes, please (or press 1) if you want to create a shortcut on your desktop. Select No, thanks (or press 2) if you don't want to create a shortcut. The selected option will be marked with a green box.

Click the Next button (or press the Enter key) to go to the next step.

2.6. Summary

This is the last step. Now you can check whether all options have been correctly configured.

If you want to change the settings, go back by clicking the Back button (or by pressing the Escape key). If everything is correctly configured, start copying files by clicking the Install button (or by pressing the Enter key). The installation will start.

2.7. Additional step

This section applies only to Windows XP users.

The Preview Downloader script, for its proper operation, requires components that are not supplied with Windows XP by default. Windows XP users are required to install Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools from Microsoft. This add-on is provided with the Preview Downloader script. After copying the files, the installer will detect the system version and, if necessary, will suggest installing the add-on.

Click Yes (or press Enter) to install Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools. If the add-on was previously installed, you can skip this step by clicking the No button (or by pressing the Escape key).

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools is also available on the Microsoft website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=18546 (the link will be opened in a new tab).

3. Uninstall

The Preview Downloader has an automatic uninstaller that will delete all script files as well as created shortcuts. To run the uninstaller, select:

Start / Programs / isWorkshop / Uninstall Preview Downloader

When the uninstaller window is displayed, just confirm your decision by clicking the Uninstall button (or by pressing the Enter button).

If you did not create shortcuts in the Start menu when installing the Preview Downloader, go to the installation directory of the Preview Downloader and run the uninstall.bat file by double-clicking it.

NOTE: During the uninstallation, all the components of the script will be deleted as well as shortcuts created by the installer. If you created additional shortcuts to the Preview Downloader, you must delete them manually.

4. GUI

The Preview Downloader script is a batch file that runs on a Windows console. It is an old and primitive technology for today, so the script's appearance is simple and its possibilities are limited. Despite the use of simple technology, the author of the script tried to make it as easy to use as possible, therefore the script was equipped with mouse support. The user can handle the script using the mouse and interactive buttons, as well as using the keyboard (a separate key is assigned to each action).

After running the script, the following window will appear on the screen:

Options available from the main menu:

  • Update previews of purchased shows - download free previews of only those shows that are in the user's collection (full shows have been purchased).
  • Update previews of non purchased shows - download free previews of only those shows that are not in the user's collection (full shows have not been purchased).
  • Update previews of all shows - download free previews of all shows, regardless of whether they are in the user's collection or not.
  • Update previews of selected shows - downloading free previews of shows selected by the user.
  • Continue previous session - resume the previous session if it was interrupted.
  • Set the disk space for previews - change the amount of disk space reserved for free previews.

Additional options available in the upper right corner of the window:

  • Settings - change settings of the Preview Downloader.
  • Help - display short help about the Preview Downloader.
  • About - display short information about the script and its author.
  • Quit - close the Preview Downloader script.

A more detailed description of each of the above options can be found here: User manual.





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