How to generate and then use a list of URLs?
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 6:38 pm
The most popular request we've got for features in the next release is a way to combine the two steps of making a list of URLs with one process and then using that list of URLs to load source documents for another process.
Currently, this is performed in two steps, as demonstrated in the SEC Example on the Examples Page.
In the first step, collect the URLs you want to use as sources. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as from one webpage, or as the result of a Google API search. The "Extract Links" processor object preset in the toolbar will help you make pages full of links, but you may need to process them with the "Fix URL" processor to make them absolute links instead of relative, and/or do other processing on the links (like grep'ping them for certain terms).
Once you've made a list of the URLs you want to use, you have several options, including the "URL List File" and "Links on Page", either of which can be used to load lists of URL links that you've collected, depending upon your output.
See the Tools > Source Objects page for descriptions of these Source Objects. |
Q: Does Anthracite support searching text in PDF Files?
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 9:59 pm
A: Yes, but currently only in conjunction with the free "pdftotext" software from FooLabs. Update: As of version 1.4, Anthracite uses the PDFKit built into MacOSX Tiger to seamless enable the extraction of text from PDF files on the web or on your local disk. The third-party pdftotext software is no longer required.
After installing pdftotext, use Anthracite's UNIX Command Source Object to extract the text from PDF files that contain text (as opposed to PDFs of scans and pictures), then use the output of that Source Object to feed a processing chain. For an example, see Anthracite Example: Summarizing Legislation. |
Scheduling/Automating an Anthracite Document
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:03 pm
Q: How do I automate an Anthracite process?
A: There are at least two ways to automate or schedule the processing of your Anthracite documents.
One is to use Apple's iCal to schedule your documents to run.
Another is to run Anthracite from a cron job. |
Q: Why Doesn't Anthracite Support Files of Type XYZ?
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 9:57 pm
A: The most likely answer is, "We don't know about file type XYZ...yet." There are two possible solutions, 1) send a request for file type XYZ along with information on how we can parse it OR 2) use the UNIX Source Object to craft your own parser for the file type, data from diverse sources can be piped into Anthracite using the STDOUT of any command. |
Q: What About Processing Image Data?
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 10:01 pm
A: Sorry, Anthracite is not currently designed to process image or binary data, but that may be a future direction for the software. In the meantime, you can certainly try it using UNIX Commands for Sources and Processors, but there are no guarantees that it will work (don't forget the onerous license). |
Also, have you seen this?
Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 2:17 pm
This is the clue about the easter egg, and also sample output from it:
http://www.metafy.com/anthracite/testing/egg/
(be sure to view source on those pages if you want a good laugh!) |
How to Manage Passwords?
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 7:45 pm
Password fields in Anthracite make use of the MacOS X Keychain, so if you need to work with or otherwise manage your passwords, you can use the "Keychain Access" application in Applications > Utilities. |
What's with the Name "Anthracite" ?
Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:56 pm
Anthracite is the highest quality of coal that is mined, which seemed like a fitting metaphor, and it gives me a chance to pay a minor homage to my childhood in West Virginia. |
How do I create a conditional branch?
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 2:13 am
See:
Conditional Output in Anthracite using UNIX+Perl
For information on how to configure a conditional output processor. |
"Can't Save Document" error with sample docs
Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:13 pm
When you use the Sample Documents provided with the distribution disk image, you will get a "Can't Save Document" error if you try to use the standard Command-S save option, because the disk image is locked.
Instead, you should use "Save As..." to save the document to your local disk. You can also copy the samples to your local disk before working with them, although the samples use material on the disk image, so it must be mounted when you are using the samples.
You may also get this error when there are permissions problems saving a file, and the Save As option should work then, too. |
Disk Image Sample Docs REQUIRE Disk Image
Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:15 pm
When you use the Sample Documents included on the distribution disk image, please note that they depend on sample sources that are on the same disk image, so it must be mounted on your Desktop for you to use the samples, which expect to find it there. |
Anthracite FAQ on Website
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 9:56 pm
Be sure to check out the ever growing list of Frequently Asked Questions on the website at:
http://metafy.com/support/faq/
(last updated on 6/14/04) |
AppleScript Error: NSReceiverEvaluationScriptError
Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 5:24 pm
If you're working with Anthracite and AppleScript and/or Automator, you may encounter an error called
NSReceiverEvaluationScriptError
This error indicates that AppleScript or Automator could not find some Anthracite resource that you specified in your script, for example, you ask for "Result 1" of a document, but there are no result objects in the document. Other cases that might trigger this error include trying to run a document if no document is open (or you ask to run document 2 but only one document is open), if you try to retrieve results from an empty object, specify an object that doesn't exist, etc.
Basically, this message means "AppleScript couldn't find what you asked for" but for some reason it says NSReveiverEvaluationScriptError, instead.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch if we can help you implement AppleScript control of your Anthracite processes. |
Working with HTML Tables
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 5:35 pm
A few folks have asked for more information on how to use the "Tables" Processor Object, so there's a new page of documentation available in the examples:
Extracting Voting Data from HTML Tables |
Immediate Trial Expired Message after Download
Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:06 pm
Problem: User downloaded previous Anthracite version for trial period at some point in the past but only used it once, has now downloaded the latest version and it immediately says "Trial Expired"
Explanation: The "two-week trial" period is indeed designed to be a continuous two-weeks from the first use of the software. That is, it is expected that the user will try 1.0.x and decide if they wish to purchase the software, when 1.0.y comes out a few months later, it does not "reset" the trial so that the user can get another two-weeks, or the remainder of any "unused" time from the first trial use period.
Solution: If you encounter this problem (as has been reported on the user message board and via e-mail), please contact us at support@metafy.com and explain your situation and we may provide you with a temporary use key. Otherwise, we hope that users will make the maximum use of their two-week trial period as designed, and then decide that Anthracite is a valuable addition to their software library and purchase a license to help us continue to develop the product.
We certainly appreciate every Mac user's interest in our software, so please contact us if you would like to request additional time to evaluate the software. We grant such requests regularly.
More importantly, Thank You to the growing list of customers who have chosen Anthracite, we hope to continue to provide you with innovative, high quality software and support.
Joe
Joe at Metafy.com |