From 025e7eebcecd0c8ac382b37c32e25e7516751540 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: hal9 Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 03:23:46 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Fixing merge conflict in Quickstart section. --- doc/source/user-manual.sgml | 214 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----- 1 file changed, 188 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc/source/user-manual.sgml b/doc/source/user-manual.sgml index 336cfa57..798d439d 100644 --- a/doc/source/user-manual.sgml +++ b/doc/source/user-manual.sgml @@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ + ]> + +Quickstart to Ad Blocking + + + Ad blocking is but one of Privoxy's + array of features. Many of these features are for the technically minded advanced + user. But, ad blocking is surely common ground for everybody. + + + This section will provide a quick overview of ad blocking so + you can get up to speed quickly without having to read the more extensive + information provided below, though this is highly recommeneded. + + + First a bit of a warning ... blocking ads is much like blocking SPAM: the + more aggressive you are about it, the more likely you are to block a few + things that were not intended. So there is a trade off here. If you want + extreme ad free browsing, be prepared to deal with more + problem sites, and to spend more time adjusting the + configuration to solve these unintended consequences. + + + Secondly, a quick note on Privoxy's + actions. Actions in this context, are + the directives we use to tell Privoxy to perform + some task relating to HTTP transactions (i.e. web browsing). We tell + Privoxy to take some action. Each + action has a unique name and function. While there are many potential + actions in Privoxy's + arsenal, only a few are used for ad blocking. Actions, and action + configuration files, are explained in depth below. + + + Actions are specified in Privoxy's configuration, + followed by one or more URLs to which the action should apply. URLs + can actually be URL type patterns that use + wildcards so they can apply potentially to a range of similar URLs. + + + When you connect to a website, the full path of the URL will either match one + of actions as defined in Privoxy's configuration, + or not. If so, then Privoxy will perform the + action accordingly. If not, then nothing special happens. Futhermore, web + pages may contain embedded, secondary URLs that your web browser will + display as it parses the original page's HTML content. An ad image for + instance, is just a URL embedded in the page somewhere. The image itself may + be on the same server, or a server somewhere else on the Internet. Complex + web pages will have many such embedded URLs. + + + + The actions we need to know about for ad blocking are: block, handle-as-image, and set-image-blocker. + + + + + + + + block - this action stops + any contact between your browser and any URL patterns that match this + action's configuration. It can be used for blocking ads, but also anything + that is determined to be unwanted. By itself, it simply stops any + communication with the remote server. If this is the only action that + matches for a particular URL, then Privoxy will + display its own BLOCKED page to let you now what has happened. + + + + + + handle-as-image - + forces Privoxy to treat this URL as if it were + an image. Privoxy knows about common image + types (e.g. GIF), but there are many situations where this does not apply. + So we'll force it. This is particularly important for ad blocking, since + once we can treat it as an image, we can make more intelligent decisisions + on how to handle it. There are some limitations to this though. For + instance, you can't just force an image substituion for an entire HTML page + in most situations. + + + + + + set-image-blocker - + tells Privoxy what to display in place of + an ad image that has hit a block rule. For this to come into play, + the URL must match a block action somewhere in the configuration. + And, it must also either be of a known image type, or + match an handle-as-image + action. + + + The configuration options on what to display instead of the ad are: + + + +    pattern - a checkboard pattern, so that an ad + replacement is obvious. This is the default. + + + + +    blank - A very small empty GIF image is displayed. + This is the so-called invisible configuration option. + + + + +    http://<URL> - A redirect to any URL of the + user's choosing. + + + + + + + + +]]> + + + + Starting <application>Privoxy</application> @@ -6732,6 +6891,9 @@ Requests Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA. $Log: user-manual.sgml,v $ + Revision 1.115 2002/05/16 16:25:00 oes + Extended the Filter File chapter & minor fixes + Revision 1.114 2002/05/16 09:42:50 oes More ulink->link, added some hints to Quickstart section -- 2.39.2