ZDL
How to use ZDL
Tools and functions
Expanding ZDL
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Modes

ZDL can be used in different ways:

Standard output mode (default and lite: -l, --lite).

Two different standard output modes are available: the default one, which punctually informs the user of each operation performed, communicating the relevant data of the downloads in progress and the lite mode, extremely compact in the representation of the downloads and silent with respect to extraction and analysis processes. The second mode can be started with the option -l (--lite) or configured as default through the configuration interface: zdl [-c|--configure]. It is particularly suitable for the user who uses ZDL as an alternative browser downloader, for example through the Flashgot extension.
The standard output modes are equipped with a Readline and accept the following commands, expressed in key combinations:

M-i

start interactive mode. The standard output of the terminal is transferred to another mode, without however suspending the activities of the previous mode, which proceed silently.

M-e

start the default editor (Editor). As for the previous command, the activities are not suspended while using an editor to manipulate the list of links to be processed.

M-c

clears information (temporary files) of completed downloads.

M-q

allows the exit from ZDL without interrupting the downloaders, which continue to record useful data for a ZDL restart: downloads can be controlled through the functions of an interactive mode but, in the event of interruptions, they must be processed using standard output or daemon modes or through GUI or WebUI.

M-k

kills all processes started in the directory, without deleting temporary files.

Interactive mode (-i, --interactive).

Allows manual control of downloads (Check downloads: recovery, deletion, shutdown, reboot ...) and other operations, described in the same interface. It does not process links and it is only a client: to start the download it is necessary to run an instance server of ZDL, like standard output or deamon modes. The latter can be started from the same interactive mode.
This mode of use is the one that provides more information on the state of downloads. Its screen is automatically updated every 15 seconds or manually by typing any key.

Daemon mode (-d, --daemon).

It silently handles all processes related to a directory and can be controlled manually via interactive mode. It is independent of the terminal in use, which can be closed without consequences. It is, in the full sense, the server mode of ZDL: the daemon mode is always waiting for new links to be processed and ends only for user intervention, through an interactive interface. The daemon mode consumes less resources than other modes.