Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Programming Discussion : Capture Screenshot of site automatically with PHP? Anyone know how?

[PhilG]

Hello,

I run Host Approval (www.hostapproval.com) and as you can see on the frontpage I have a list of 4 featured web hosts. These 4 hots get a title, text and a screenshot of the their site. Each month or so these change and I have to manually create the picture, which can be quite a drain on me and I wish to automate it. My problem is I dont know how to automatically capture a website layout into a graphic (using php).

I know this can be done but have never been able to find out how. If you have any suggestions please do post a reply, I will be very greatful!

[Burhan]

A possible solution (if you are on linux) is to use a combination of groff (to convert html to postscript) then to use convert (from imagemagick) to convert the postscript to gif/png/etc.

You can use file() fopen() and its brothers to grab the files -- and then use them to as inputs to groff.

[m-b]

Another tool would be kwebdesktop.
Unfortunately it's usually not installed on a webserver (as X and KDE) ...

And I haven't found out how to install it 'standalone' without all the other crap.

Michael

[Rich2k]

Originally posted by fyrestrtr
A possible solution (if you are on linux) is to use a combination of groff (to convert html to postscript) then to use convert (from imagemagick) to convert the postscript to gif/png/etc.

You can use file() fopen() and its brothers to grab the files -- and then use them to as inputs to groff.

Cool I've been trying to figure this out for ages. I'll give it a try later.

[Burhan]

There is also html2ps that you can use (and skip all the groff nastiness). That script (requires PERL) directly converts html to postscript.

You'll need a few modules/programs installed on your server, but they are not that exotic (or difficult to find).

[Rich2k]

Ooh very nice.

I'm looking to bundle some software like this with a package I have.

This looks like just the thing. I'll have a play.