| Special note: If your page is on GeoCities, you can also use PopStopper
to add the GeoGuide ad to your pages instead of <NOSCRIPT>...that nukes
your popups with the full backing of GeoCities Corp. In the file fix.ini
that comes with PopStopper, remove the <NOSCRIPT> and replace it with
<!--#geoguide-->. It is strongly recommended that you use <BR>
tags to insert a lot of whitespace before the ad, so that it annoys your
visitors as little as possible.
Example: <br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p> <br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p> <br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><br><p><!--#geoguide--> |
Here is the Readme file for PopStopper!. It is also included in the
.zip file.:
To read this file in Notepad or similar editor, turn Word Wrap on.
Many free Web hosting companies have chosen to implement "pop-up"
ads on their members' sites that pop up in a new browser window and must
be clicked away. In many cases this has been done out-of-the-blue without
the consent of these members. Popups are a scourge that plagues many free
Web pages--yours doesn't have to be one of them!--and makes surfing the
Web an unenjoyable and sometimes hazardous experience (popups can cause
your Web browser to crash). To ensure that surfing your website is a safe
and enjoyable experience for all visitors, this program makes supressing
popups on many free servers a breeze.
WHAT THIS IS
------------
This program inoculates many 'free' homepages against infection
by intrusive JavaScript-based popup ads, by appending code to the end of
the document that foils the script's function. Console ads or "pop-ups"
are advertisements that are now often placed on free Websites to generate
extra revenue for the host, which load in a separate browser window when
a page is opened. These ads are not only intrusive and annoying, they can
also cause browser software like Netscape Navigator or MSIE to crash in
certain situations.
The methods used by this program to protect your files against
popup ads will work on any server that appends the popup script to the
*end* of the HTML document--these include GeoCities, Prohosting and many
other free webspace providers.
HOW TO USE
----------
For safety's sake, be sure to make backup copies of all your files
before you run this program. That way you can easily restore the originals
if you'd like to reverse the changes made.
When you run POPSTOP.EXE it will first ask for a directory. Type
the directory path where your webpages (*.HTML files) are. It will then
ask if you'd like to make backups of all files that are to be inoculated
against popup infection. (You should have done this already; if you haven't,
CHOOSE YES!). PopStopper! will then append the necessary HTML to your pages
to supress popup ads.
REMEMBER: This is an MS-DOS based program. Even if you have Windows
95, always give the file paths in MS-DOS style (8 characters max, no spaces),
NOT Windows long filenames. If you get "file not found" or wierd errors,
double-check to make sure you're using DOS file paths. (To find a DOS path
or filename in Windows 95, right-click the icon of the file or directory
and select 'Properties'.)
Technical nitty-gritty
----------------------
Popup ads are implemented with the window.open() JavaScript function
to display an advertisement in a separate browser window. PopStopper! is
an automated method of inserting HTML code at the end of your document,
before the popup script, that will prevent Web browser software from executing
it.
Blinding the Browser:
There are two preferred methods of making browsers ignore JavaScript:
1) a <NOSCRIPT> tag
This method works by creating a soft of "catch-22" on the browser:
Browsers that support JavaScript ignore anything within a <NOSCRIPT>
section because this material is meant to be displayed only in browsers
that DON'T support JavaScript, in place of the script (this area is often
used by Web designers to display text such as "Your browser does not support
JavaScript; this script will not work", etc.). Browsers that DON'T support
JavaScript (early versions, for example) don't recognize the <NOSCRIPT>
tag and ignore it anyway.
2) a SCRIPT tag that references a nonexistant scripting language,
e.g. <SCRIPT language="Sanskrit">
This method works by making the browser think you're using some
new scripting language it doesn't support. If an unsupported language is
used, the script interpreter will ignore everything within the <SCRIPT>
area, until a </SCRIPT> tag is encountered. Therefore any JavaScript
coming after the <SCRIPT> tag will not be executed.
This program is set up to use the <NOSCRIPT> method by default.
The HTML used is stored in the file fix.ini and can be modified by the
user.
Quick Help
----------
Please read this section before complaining about this software
not working. Some common questions/problems are addressed here.
Q. POPSTOP is giving me file-not-found or wierd error messages when
I enter "C:\My Web Page\With A Really Long Name\" as the location of my
webpages.
A. This is an MS-DOS program and will not recognize Windows long
filenames or paths. Make sure directory/file names you are using are no
more than 8 characters and do not contain spaces or other characters that
are not allowed in an MS-DOS filename.
Q. Does this program support subdirectories?
A. No. It will only inoculate files in the directory specified.
(Besides, many free webhosts don't allow subdirectories anyway.)
Q. Can I distribute POPSTOP? Are there any restrictions on program
distribution?
A. There are only two restrictions on distributing the file:
1. It's FREEWARE. It must be distributed free-of-charge,
excluding the cost of the media itself (e.g. if you are putting it on a
50-cent floppy disk, you can charge 50 cents to cover the floppy itself).
You cannot distribute it for any kind of profit, or in such a way that
you profit from its distribution.
2. It must be distributed in its original, unmodified
form. Don't add things to the .zip file, remove files from it, or make
any changes to the files.
The program is NOT public domain, so I (Bill Webb) still hold copyright
on it. Source code is included for the sake of convenience and curiosity.
If you are familiar with programming, feel free to make changes and improvements
to the program, but don't steal any of the source code, e.g. for use in
another program. Please don't rip code without permission.
Comments, Suggestions, Difficulties, Bug Reports, Eternal Gratitude,
Flames...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feel free to write me (Bill Webb) at bgip@hotmail.com. If you're
having trouble or reporting a bug, be sure to tell me the program version
and any error-message you receive. If you really find this program useful,
donations are always welcome to help cover my junkfood and Taco Bell expenses.
Disclaimers and liability stuff
-------------------------------
This software is distributed AS IS, without any warranties express
or implied. In no event shall the author be held liable for problems arising
from the use of this program, including any program bugs, malfunctions,
acts of God or user mistakes that may occur.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Blocking popup ads on your free webspace,
either with this program or with other methods, may be against
your host's
rules. The author accepts no resonsibility for any difficulties
that may arise as a result of your breaking your host's rules or Terms
Of Service.
All trademarks used in this document are hereby acknowledged as
the property of their respective owners. (Lawsuits suck ass.)
--------------
PopStoppper! README, 1/23/99
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