MultiImageDownloader (Revisited) v2

MID is a program that helps users to download image files from the internet. It was
originally created to read Google search engine output and download images directly
from source. Inevitably, things changed and MID stopped working.
This is MID Revisited, a total rewrite and much improved version. It can now handle Bing
and Yahoo image searches in addition to Google.
MID is not a browser. A browser must be used to create a search and show the result
page. MID uses the HTML from the result to extracts links to source image files so they
can be downloaded directly from their location.
Using Internet Explorer as the search browser with MID is the best and easiest option as
code can be easily extracted directly from the browser. It may be possible to use any IE
based browsers with equal success - Maxthon certainly works.
There are three options for loading HTML into MID for it to read. Either:
a. copying it directly from within Internet Explorer
b. by pasting in the search URL from the browser and downloading it from source
c. select 'view source' in the browser, copy it then paste it into MID.
Having scanned the HTML and created a list of links, multiple threads running in parallel
are used to download image files. The maximum number to be used can be specified,
the optimum number depending on system resources. Most systems can handle
between 20 and 30 threads.
Using MID
Use your browser to search for images using either Google, Bing or Yahoo adding
whatever search criteria you require.
If using Internet Explorer (or other IE based browser), once the page is complete,
run this program by clicking on 'Read HTML' to read the browser HTML source from IE.
If you have more than one search in multiple tabs, it will read from all.
If using other than IE, copy the URL from the address bar at the top of the browser,
paste it into the 'Browser URL' box in MID then click on 'Load HTML' (See Known
problem below)
OR
Select 'View source' in the browser, select and copy all then click on 'Paste source'.
Pasting in the URL can be the most problematic as often the browser URL doesn't reflect
the search results.
You can then 'Parse links' when that button is enabled.
The left URL box will have the list of image links. The total number is shown in the
'Files:' label.
Select the 'Download folder' and the 'Maximum threads' to use.
Click on 'Download' once it is enabled. Downloaded files will be listed in the right box.
FAILED download URLs will also be listed.
The number of active threads and file download progress are both shown in text and by
progress bars.

'STOP' will halt downloading but will complete active threads.

'Pause' will pause downloading but will complete active threads. 'Resume' will restart
downloading.
Double-clicking in either box will open the selected file/links.
There is a right-click popup menu in the URL list box to enable some processing of links.
NOTE: You may have to wait for threads to complete or time-out before the program can
be closed.
Known problems.
When running consecutive Google image searches neither the URL nor the HTML
source is updated in the browser. If you change to "Web" then back to "Images" the URL
and source are then updated. This does not happen with either Bing or Yahoo.
Installing MID
This is a single file program and does not require installation. MID is portable and can be
run from a USB drive. Extract mid2.exe and this file to a folder of choice. I suggest you
create a desktop shortcut if saved on disk. To uninstall, delete files plus shortcut if
created.
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Product and service names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.
Use of a search engine may be subject to T&Cs. Downloaded images may be subject to
copyright.
It is probably inevitable that search engines will change the search URL or some part of
the page in the future. In which case this program may no longer work.
As far as I am aware, this program will work with any language and any version of
Windows. If it doesn't I'd appreciate an email.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED SOLELY AS-IS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY
INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE USER
AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE AUTHOR HARMLESS FROM AND
AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO USE OF THE
PRODUCT.
If you don't agree, don't use it!
This software is FREEWARE and permission is granted for anyone to use this software
for their personal use. Though FREEWARE the author retains copyright of the code and
authority should be sought to include it in any library offered to the public.
Copyright by Brian Shepherd.
email at http://chesterway.co.uk
October 2009 - January 2014