2.1: Using PHP

Warning!

In order to invoke screen-scraper from PHP, screen-scraper needs to be running in server mode. If you'd like a refresher on how to start up screen-scraper in server mode go ahead and follow that link, then come back here.

Run the Script

Your PHP code will need to refer to screen-scraper's PHP driver, called remote_scraping_session.php. You can find this file in the misc\php\ folder of your screen-scraper installation. You'll want to copy the file into the directory where you plan on putting the PHP file that will invoke screen-scraper.

Download the shopping.php file and then save it in the same directory where you copied the remote_scraping_session.php file. Rename the file from shopping.php.txt to shopping.php.

Open up your web browser and go to the URL corresponding to the shopping.php file (e.g, "http://localhost/screen-scraper/shopping.php"). You'll see a simple search form. Type in a product keyword, such as bug, then hit the Go button. If all goes well the page will take a little while to load (it's waiting as screen-scraper extracts the data), then it will output the corresponding products.

Troubleshoot Problems (if any arise)

If that didn't go quite as you expected here are some things to check:

• Make sure screen-scraper is running as a server, and that nothing is blocking its ports (such as a firewall running on your machine).
• If you're running screen-scraper on a different machine than the one your PHP file resides on, make sure that screen-scraper is allowing connections from the PHP machine. In the screen-scraper workbench click on the (wrench) icon, then on the Servers button, and check the Hosts to allow to connect includes the IP address (or perhaps just the first part of the IP address) of the PHP machine. You might also try blanking that property out entirely, which will allow connections from any host. When developing, this is usually the easiest approach.
• Ensure that the permissions on the shopping.php and remote_scraping_session.php files are such that your web server can execute them.
• Check screen-scraper's log folder for a Shopping Site log file. If you find one it means that screen-scraper is at least receiving the request. Open the log file in a text editor to see if you find any error messages.
• If you still can't seem to get it to work feel free to post to our forum.

Understand the Script

Assuming that test worked, fire up your favorite PHP editor and open the shopping.php file in it. The file is pretty heavily commented, so hopefully it makes sense what's going on. If not, try reviewing the PHP documentation or posting to our forum.

View the Log

When you invoke screen-scraper as a server it creates log files corresponding to your scraping session in its log folder. Take a look in that folder for your Shopping Site log file and take a look through it. It should look similar to what you see when you run scraping sessions in the workbench.