Actually, I should probably call it a REST-like API. I have no doubt the purists will point out that it isn’t a REST API at all. How about we’ll call it an “API accessible via GET requests”.
With that loquacious introduction, I’m happy to announce that, as of version 4.5.18a, you can access screen-scraper via GET requests. Let me just state right here and now that this is alpha functionality and may very well change before the next public release. Use it at your own risk. As with any of our alpha features the documentation is scant, so I’ll simply provide a long list of examples as to how you might use it. Hopefully you’ll get the idea.
You’ll first need to start up screen-scraper in server mode. Once that’s done you can then access a slew of features you’d normally only be able to access via the web interface. Here they are:
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=get_runnable_scraping_sessions
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=get_scrapeable_sessions
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=run_scraping_session&scraping_session_name=Shopping+Site
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=stop_running_scraping_session&scrapeable_session_id=43
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=stop_all_running_scraping_session
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=remove_scrapeable_session&scrapeable_session_id=29
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=reload_settings
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=peek_scrapeable_session_log&scrapeable_session_id=42&num_lines=50
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=get_scheduled_scraping_sessions
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=disable_enable_scheduled_scraping_session&scheduled_scraping_session_id=110&enable=false
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=remove_scheduled_scraping_session&scheduled_scraping_session_id=0
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=set_scheduled_scraping_session&scheduled_scraping_session_id=3&scraping_session_name=Shopping+Site&timeout=123&schedule_date=08%2F20%2F2009&schedule_time=11:22:33&repeat_days=4&repeat_hours=3&repeat_minutes=2&repeat_seconds=1&threshold_time=21&threshold_record_count=43&settable_session_variables=this%3Dthatx%26foo%3Dbar
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=save_settings&default_timeout=89&default_repeat_days=9&default_repeat_hours=8&default_repeat_minutes=7&default_repeat_seconds=6&default_threshold_time=4&default_threshold_record_count=3
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=set_session_variable_on_scrapeable_session&scrapeable_session_id=3&key=foo&value=bap
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=get_session_variable_from_scrapeable_session&scrapeable_session_id=3&key=foo
http://localhost:8779/ss/rest?action=get_memory_usage
As with any alpha feature we appreciate bug reports and feedback. Please don’t hesitate to drop us a line.