The Proxomitron - Universal Web Filter

Version Naoko-3 (b)

(C)1999 Scott R. Lemmon

The Proxomitron features a powerful HTML text matching engine able
to dynamically alter web pages on the fly. Works with any browser
to eliminate or alter unwanted web content like pop-up windows,
banners, alerts, animated GIFs, auto-play music, sounds, dynamic HTML,
and more. Replace background images with your own, rewrite JavaScripts,
even filter normally hidden HTTP header messages. Over 50 filters
are included, and equally powerful filters can be created. Gain
control over pages you view by selectively replace most any HTML
text or tags. Even customize pages you visit often.

Best of all, it's free! No nags, time limits, or disabled features.
You can use the program as often as you like for as long as you like.

It is in fact "ShonenWare" a concept dedicated to the support of
the one-and-only world famous female power-trio from Osaka Japan:
Shonen Knife -  kawaii creators of the very best music in the world!
To support the program you can optionally "register" it by
purchasing any album by Shonen Knife and emailing me your
impressions

(see help file for details)

BUG SQUISHING AND THE ROLLED-UP NEWSPAPER OF DESTINY PART II

Version Naoko-3b fixes a few more of those annoying buggy critters...

* Very large cookies could cause Proxomitron to crash.
* A few other possible crash causing internal problems fixed.
* Fixed a problem with some web sites that began using encoded HTML.
* Another minor matching rule bug fixed.
* High ASCII in URLs (usually from non-english character sets)
  was causing problems at some sites.
* Proxomitron now handles URLs of http://username:password@website/ 
  format correctly when using Netscape.
* Work-around for a bug in IE5 related to "file://" style URLs
* Log window expanded from 500 to 2000 lines max
* A few filters have been updated including the Banner Blasters and
  JavaScript Banner filters.
* Special config file for Opera users has been added.  

Fixed in version Naoko-3a...

* "Abort" button bug
  Would cause a crash when the abort button was pressed in Win98 or NT.
  It seems this bug has been around since Naoko-2 but almost no one
  reported it.
* A couple matching expression bugs 
  (Probably only something I'd ever notice ;-).
* Command line quotes
  Passing a config file on the command line with quotes now works
  (before it only worked if no quotes were used)



NEW FEATURES IN VERSION NAOKO-3

Several new features have been added since the last release -
here's a brief rundown...

* The Proxomitron's can now live in the system tray
  This was far and away the most reqested feature of all!
* Several new filters and many improvements to existing filters.
* URL match added to HTTP header filters.
  Limit headers to only certain webpages or send/accept
  cookies from only "trusted" sites. Even lets you fix incorrect
  MIME Content-Type headers.
* New Connection Killer replacement code "\k"
  Kill a connection based on URL, content type, size, etc. or
  prevent the rest of a webpage from loading.
* Matching Expression Test window
  Enter some text and quickly see what changes a filter would make.
* Filter debug info can be included in a webpage's source
  See what and where a filter matched in a webpage
* Option to merge filters from one config file to another
  Makes updating configs much easier
* Automatic launching of URLs when config files are loaded.
  Config files can act like bookmarks - load a page with custom
  filters already in place.
* Many of Proxomitron's dialog boxes can now be resized
* Customized edit window context menus
  Be sure to right-click over edit windows - many new options 
  are located there.
* Automatic file URL creation
  Choose a file and have its URL inserted into the replacement text.
* Header filter feature to encode/decode MIME Base64 strings
  Useful for creating webpage and proxy server password strings.
* Comments can be added with external proxy servers
* Proxy list rotation
* "Promiscuous" mode to accept connections from outside hosts
  Removes "localhost" restriction.


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

The Proxomitron is a Win32 program designed to run under
Windows 95/98 and likely runs on newer versions of NT also.  


UPGRADING FROM A PREVIOUS VERSION

You can simply copy over-top any previous installation, but
BE SURE TO MAKE COPIES OF ANY PREVIOUS CONFIG FILES YOU WANT
TO KEEP FIRST! You can also just rename them to something other
than their original names (as in default.cfg to MyDefault.cfg).
Otherwise any changes you made to the default config files will
be lost!  Only the original included config files are replaced,
any configs or other files you named yourself will be safe.

INSTALLATION

This archive file  of the Proxomitron is distributed 
using an installer/uninstaller program. This time around
I've ditched the bloated "InstallShield" for the much smaller
and simpler "Inno Setup" installer (hence the reduced file size).
It's free, and I encourage any programmer looking for a simple 
install/uninstaller for their software to check it out.

The Proxomitron is also released in a zip without any installer -
look for the filename ProxN3.zip (no "i"). The program itself is
the same in either case.

With the installer simply run "setup.exe" a start menu group will
be created and a icon will also be placed on the desktop
(just delete it afterwards if you don't want it).

If you're using the version without an installer, just copy the
files in the zip archive to wherever you like - be sure to include
all subdirectories.

To use the Proxomitron with your web browser you'll also have to
set your browser's proxy option. In your web browser locate the
settings for "HTTP Proxy" and enter a hostname of "localhost" 
and a port number of "8080". Change *only* the HTTP proxy entry,
leave all other entries (like FTP or gopher) as they are. For I.E.
you need to go under "advanced" proxy options to be able to change
these settings individually. Also make sure any "use proxy" checkbox
your browser may have is enabled.

To return your browser to normal operation clear its HTTP proxy
settings and/or deselect the "use proxy" checkbox.

* For more detailed instructions, including step by step
  instructions for Netscape and Internet Explorer, be sure
  to read "Installation and Eradication" in the Proxomitron's
  help file.


FURTHER HELP

Be sure to check the Proxomitron web page for new developments.
The final page may move, but the following URL should always
take you to it...

http://proxomitron.cjb.net/

I can also be reached at the following email address...
(note this has changed since the last release)

proxomitron@apexmail.com

Hope you enjoy the program!

DISTRIBUTION

This version of the Proxomitron is free for non-commercial use and 
may be freely distributed as long as the following conditions are met...

* No fee is charged for the program except to cover the basic
  distribution costs of media and shipping.
* The program and all associated files are only distributed in
  their original archive and are not altered in any way. 
* It is not included as part of another commercial product.
* Absolutely no bison are harmed in the distribution process. ^_^


The Proxomitron may also be included in any software collection
downloadable through electronic means (including web sites, FTP sites,
and Bulletin Board Systems) as long as no fee is charged to gain
access to or download this product.


 The Proxomitron - Copyright 1999 Scott R. Lemmon
(See Proxomitron.hlp for full license and distribution)