ZDL
How to use ZDL
Tools and functions
Expanding ZDL
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The ZDL command

ZDL is a Bash program, written mainly with the Bash language. Below is a summary of the synopsis, options and other arguments of the command zdl. For more information, consult the specialized sections. ZDL is prepared for the automatic completion of the arguments (use the <Tab> key).

Synopsis

zdl [OPTIONS] [file ...] [link ...] [directory]

Arguments

The order of options and other arguments is not important:

file

File names from which to extract the link. The files must be text or DLC containers or TORRENT files, the latter marked by the extensions .dlc and .torrent respectively (ZDL processes the links in memory in the directory and those in input)

link

URL of files or web pages of hosting, streaming or redirection services (if omitted, ZDL processes those in memory in directory and in files). To download via IRC/XDCC, the link must have the following form (port not necessary if it is 6667): irc://[HOST[:PORT]]/[CHAN]/msg [PRIVMSG]. ZDL also accepts links to xWeasel, with protocol xdcc://.

directory

ZDL start directory and download destination (if omitted, it is the current one)

Options

Short options not followed by values​can be contracted: -ufmd is equivalent to -u -f -m -d

-h, --help

ZigzagDownLoader (ZDL) help

--list-extensions

ZigzagDownLoader (ZDL) extensions list

--aria2

Download using Aria2

--axel

Download using Axel

--wget

Download using Wget

-m [number], --max-downloads[=number]

Parallel download. You can specify the maximum number of downloads to be made simultaneously

--login

Use any registered accounts for the enabled services (configure ZDL)

-u, --update

Update ZDL

-f, --force

Force manual update of ZDL

--clean

Delete any temporary files in the destination directory before downloading

-d, --daemon

Start ZDL in daemon mode (can be controlled with the interactive interface)

-i, --interactive

Launch the interactive ZDL interface for downloads that target the current directory. Managed downloads can be active or recorded in temporary directory files

-l, --lite

Start ZDL in standard output mode lite (mode commands in standard output are valid). It can be configured as the default boot mode.

--open-relink=link

ZDL processes links up to the last URL reachable starting from link, then opens this URL using the configured web browser

--out=program|file

Output the names of completed download files, in two alternative ways:

program

program that can "open" the downloaded file

file

text file in which file names are recorded

--live

It allows to select channels for the download of live broadcasts of some televisions in "live stream"

--mp3
--flac

Convert files (even from video to audio) into MP3 or into FLAC: they depend on FFMpeg/AVConv

--ip

Write the current IP address before performing any other operations

--reconnect

Force the modem to reconnect at the end of each download, using a script/command/program (configure ZDL)

-r, --resume

Recover or download partially downloaded files. It acts in case of homonymy between files (read the manual). It can be configured as the default behavior

--no-complete

Clear temporary files of completed downloads

--no-stop

Start without interruption: skip any automatic update (which requires entering the password) or request to enter new links. Keyboard input is still available

--external-application-button [HREF]

To use ZDL as an external download manager for Firefox, Opera, Chrome/Chromium. The option must be entered in the Arguments field of the External Application Button extension preferences. [HREF] should not be changed.

Graphical user interface (GUI):

-g, --gui

Start the graphical interface in the current directory or in the directory inserted among the arguments, automatically activating zdl –daemon as "core", if zdl has not yet been activated

--path-gui

Before starting zdl, it opens a window for selecting the destination directory, if it is not indicated among the command arguments (useful if "zdl –gui" is started by a desktop icon or a web browser extension, as "External Application Button")

Sockets and user interfaces:

-s [port], --socket[=port]

Start the program by connecting it to a socket. If not indicated, the port is the default one.

--web-ui

Web user interface. Start the program in daemon mode in the current directory or, possibly, in the one passed as an argument, a socket at the default port or, if occupied by another application, at the first free port and the default browser at the user interface address.

IRC/XDCC:

-x, --xdcc

Start the interactive insertion of three data:

  1. the IRC server host (HOST)
  2. the channel to connect to (CHAN)
  3. the private message (PRIVMSG) containing the command XDCC SEND

The download via IRC/XDCC can be done, alternatively and without using options, by entering the information in the link, which must have the following form (port not necessary if it is 6667): irc://[HOST[:PORT]]/[CHAN]/msg [PRIVMSG]. ZDL also accepts links of xWeasel, with protocol xdcc://

-X keywords, --xdcc-search=keywords

Using the https://www.xdcc.eu engine, start searching for files available for download via XDCC. The search result is opened by a GUI, to allow a selection of files to download. The same type of search can be performed from --gui and --web-ui. keywords is the search key and must be enclosed in single or double quotes.

Torrent:

-T file, --torrent-file=file

Torrent file for Aria2: may not have a .torrent extension

--tcp-port=port
--udp-port=port

Open TCP and UDP ports: check the router settings

Filters:

--scrape-url=Web page URL

Extract URLs (links) from the indicated web page and append them to the registered list

--scrape-url

Extract URLs (links) from web pages indicated as link

--url=regex

Process only the URLs (the links) that correspond to the REGEX

--no-url=regex

It does not process the URLs (links) that correspond to the REGEX

--file=regex

Download only files whose name corresponds to the REGEX

--no-file=regex

It does not download files whose name corresponds to REGEX

--no-rev

Do not download files with ’.rev’ extension

--no-sub

It does not download files whose name contains the string ’sub’ (in upper and lower case), it discards the subtitled video files.

Starting with an editor:

-e, --editor

replaces the ZDL input interface with the system default editor or with the one configured for ZDL with zdl -c

--emacs, --emacs-nw

use Emacs or its plain text/non-graphic version

--jed

use Jed, a small Emacs-style editor

--jupp

use Jupp

--mcedit

use the Midnight Commander editor

--mg

use Mg, an Emacs-style micro editor

--nano

use the Nano editor

--vi, --vim

use the Vi or Vim editor

--zile

use Zile, a GNU Emacs-style micro editor

Starting with Proxy:

--proxy

Start ZDL by activating a proxy automatically (the default proxy type is Transparent)

--proxy=t|a|e

Start ZDL by activating a proxy of the user-defined type:

  • t = Transparent
  • a = Anonymous
  • e = Elite
--proxy=IP:PORT

Start ZDL by activating the proxy indicated by the user, for the entire duration of the download (the proxy is automatically replaced only for the links of the enabled services that need a new IP address)

Configuration:

-c, --configure

Configuration interface of ZDL, also allows you to save any hosting service accounts

--stream [parameters] [--noXterm]

To download the stream by incorporating ZDL in new scripts, the generic model of the parameters for the additional components (comply with the order):