Maximum number of simultaneous thumbnail threads
NetVisualize utilizes multithreading to speed the process of thumbnail image generation by allowing multiple thumbnail images to be generated simultaneously. The default number of simultaneous threads is based on auto-detection of the computer's hardware and operating system the first time NetVisualize is run. Increasing the number too much may cause some of the generating images to time-out (i.e. no image will be generated) or the computer may become unresponsive. Decreasing the number may slow the process of generating multiple thumbnail images.
This setting also controls the maximum number of simultaneous threads used for the Validate Links feature.
Thumbnail image compression quality
Higher compression quality preserves the quality of the images, but requires more disk storage space. Lower compression quality conserves disk storage space by compromising the quality of the image. When the compression quality setting is changed, the effect is not retroactive. Images generated or refreshed after the change will have the new compression quality setting, but those generated or refreshed before the change will not.
Maximum thumbnail RAM cache size (in megabytes)
Thumbnail images are stored on the system hard disk and are also cached in RAM to improve responsiveness to the user when displayed thumbnails. This setting limits the amount of RAM that will be used for caching thumbnail images. Increase or decrease the number to change the amount of memory thumbnail images are allowed to use.
Network Utility Command Strings
The command strings used by NetVisualize to activate the Ping, Traceroute, and DNS Lookup utilities are displayed. For Windows NT/2000/XP, the default command strings for Ping, Traceroute, and DNS Lookup are, respectively:
cmd /c ping %d & pause
cmd /c tracert %d & pause
cmd /c nslookup %d & pause
For Windows 95/98/Me, the default command strings for Ping and Traceroute are, respectively:
command.com /k ping %d
command.com /k tracert %d
Note that the DNS Lookup command by default is not available on Windows 95/98/Me because these versions of Windows do not generally have the necessary nslookup program installed. The user must manually obtain and install the nslookup program or a third-party equivalent.
Wherever %d occurs in the string the domain name (without the http:// protocol string, the file name, or the query string) will be substituted. Wherever %u occurs in the string the complete URL of the selected link will be substituted.
If desired, the user can configure each of the network utility command strings to launch a third-party utility instead of the default utility installed with Windows. Simply change the command string to call the name of the executable file (.exe file) of the third-party utility, and include any command line switches or parameters required by the utility in the correct format as specified in the utility's documentation. The domain name or complete URL of the selected link can be passed to the third-party utility by using the %d and %u variables anywhere in the command string as required by the utility.
Browser Path
This displays the path to the web browser executable that will be used when opening new browser windows. It will be automatically initialized to the path of the system's default browser when NetVisualize is first run. If the default browser is changed, this setting may be changed manually to reflect the user's browser of choice. The default paths for some common browsers are as follows:
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape 6\netscp6.exe
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Communicator\Program\netscape.exe
Browsers other than those listed may be used, but the user must manually locate the executable.
Load automatically on Windows startup
If this option is checked, NetVisualize will be started automatically whenever Windows boots up. Otherwise, the user must manually start the NetVisualize program prior to using it.
Start minimized
If this option is checked, NetVisualize will automatically minimize when started.
Allow multiple instances
If this option is checked, it will be possible to open and run multiple instances of the NetVisualize program simultaneously. Otherwise, only the first instance is allowed to run, and other attempts to start the program are prevented. If multiple instances of NetVisualize are run simultaneously, they should not be used to edit the same NetVisualize Favorites File (.nvf file) at the same time. If multiple instances are used to edit the same file at the same time, only the changes from the instance that has most recently saved to disk will be kept, and changes from other instances will be lost. If this option is enabled, in order to disable it all instances of NetVisualize except one should first be closed.
Show Tip of the Day on Startup
If checked, the Tip of the Day will be displayed when NetVisualize is started up.
Hidden Lockdown Options
In addition to the options that are visible on the Advanced tab of the Preferences dialog, there are three hidden options that may be used to lock down (hide and disable) some of the features of the software. This may be useful if NetVisualize is being used in a public setting, such as in a library or in a kiosk, where it may be desirable to prevent the user from performing some functions. To enable these hidden lockdown options, it is necessary to edit the NetVisualize.ini file manually with a text editor such as Notepad. The NetVisualize.ini file is saved in the NetVisualize installation folder along with the program executable (the default installation folder is "C:\Program Files\NetVisualize"). After opening the NetVisualize.ini file in a text editor, locate the line with the text "[AdvancedPrefs]" and then add any combination of the following three lockdown options immediately below the "[AdvancedPrefs]" text, each option on its own line.
Lockdown to Prevent File Saving
To hide and disable the features that permit the user to save files, add the following text on its own line (without the double quote marks) in the "[AdvancedPrefs]" section of the NetVisualize.ini file: "LockdownHideFileSaving=1". This will prevent the user from using the Save feature in the File menu, the Save As feature in the File menu, and the Pack Thumbnail Images File feature in the Tools menu.
Lockdown to Prevent File Exporting
To hide and disable the features that permit the user to export files, add the following text on its own line (without the double quote marks) in the "[AdvancedPrefs]" section of the NetVisualize.ini file: "LockdownHideFileExporting=1". This will prevent the user from using the Export submenu of the File menu.
Lockdown to Prevent Changing Preferences
To hide and disable the features that permit the user to change preferences, add the following text on its own line (without the double quote marks) in the "[AdvancedPrefs]" section of the NetVisualize.ini file: "LockdownHidePreferences=1". This will hide the Preferences menu item from the Tools menu to prevent the user from opening the Preferences dialog. It will also hide the Online, Offline, and Auto Detect menu items from the Tools menu to prevent the user from changing these options.