Editing Shareaza (section)

== Features ==

=== Multi-network ===
Shareaza can connect to [[Gnutella]], [[Gnutella2|G2]], [[eDonkey Network|eDonkey]] and [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]]. Shareaza [[Hash function|hashes]] its files for all networks, and then distributes those hash values on [[Gnutella2|G2]]. This allows Shareaza to download one file from several networks at once.<ref>{{cite web | title = Shareaza features | url = http://shareaza.sourceforge.net/?id=tour | access-date = 2008-08-19 | archive-date = 2008-05-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080505055936/http://shareaza.sourceforge.net/?id=tour | url-status = live }}</ref> When another client connected to [[Gnutella2|G2]] finds such a file, it is given the hash values for all networks and can search on the other networks with their respective hash values, which increases the number of sources and the download speed of the file. Shareaza also uses its G2 network to find more sources for torrents.

=== Security filter ===
The Shareaza client has some basic [[content filter]]s including a forced [[child pornography|child]] and optional [[pornography|adult pornography]] filter, and some other optional filters such as a filter for files encumbered with [[Digital rights management]] (DRM). Shareaza's security filters can also be extended with user-defined keywords and/or IP addresses. Later versions of Shareaza allow for the use of [[regular expression]]s and filtering by [[Hash function|hash]]. These filters increase the chances of getting the files the user wants and decrease the chance of getting malicious or fake files. The file format used for the filters is an extendable [[XML schema]]. The filters are editable inside Shareaza, and can be exported from the application to be shared with others.

=== Plugins ===
[[File:Shareaza screenshot.PNG|thumb|Shareaza running in windowed mode with several activated skins. Widgets include a search window, a bandwidth graph, the upload queue window (upper-right corner) and the neighbours window (center), showing 4 Gnutella, 3 Gnutella2 and an eD2k server connection.]]

Shareaza implements a framework for additional [[Plug-in (computing)|plugins]]. The Shareaza installer ships several plugins. Most of them are used to read and strip off built in [[metadata]] from the files being hashed and convert it to an external XML based format, or to decode [[multimedia]] files for making a preview for other G2 clients. Some others serve the need of a [[media player (application software)|media player]] inside Shareaza, and enhancements of that media player. [[Third-party software component|Third party]] plugins can also be used, for example, ''Sharemonkey'', which will add a link inside Shareaza when downloading or searching copyrighted material from where it can be legally downloaded.

=== Skins ===
The client can have almost all parts of the [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] skinned. This includes bars, icons, as well as backgrounds and buttons. In that way, Shareaza can be completely changed with colors, images, new buttons, etc. A basic list of skins is contained in the Shareaza installer package. Other skins can be downloaded in the community forums or found via a search for .sks (Shareaza skin files) in the [[Gnutella2|G2]] network. The skins are [[ZIP (file format)|zip archives]], renamed with the [[Filename extension|extension]] .sks, containing icons and images, as well as an [[XML]] file which binds the images and colors with the GUI.<ref>{{cite web | title = Shareaza skinning tutorial | url = http://shareaza.sourceforge.net/?id=skindocs%2Fdefault | access-date = 2008-08-19 | archive-date = 2008-04-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080418011931/http://shareaza.sourceforge.net/?id=skindocs%2Fdefault | url-status = live }}</ref>

This feature is also used for [[Internationalization and localization|localization]]. The language files are XML files, like the normal skins, but not zipped. The XML file contains the translations for a certain part of the program. This enables languages to be easily changed, updated and tested without compiling an entire [[Binary file|binary]].

=== Modes ===
Shareaza has three user modes. The first one is for normal users. This mode is the default mode and provides a clean, trimmed GUI. Users will not be able to make major changes to settings in this mode but will be able to make use of the most essential functions, like searching and downloading. The second mode is for [[power user]]s. It provides more access to network and advanced settings but can also break your connection to the networks. The third mode is the windowed mode. In this mode, users can see different tabs (windows) simultaneously, providing a lot of control about the things happening. This mode also makes it possible to personalize the look of the client to perfectly fit the needs of the respective user.

=== IRC ===
Shareaza contains a built-in [[IRC]] (chat) client which allows users to communicate with each other. There are channels in several languages for support and help. These channels are located on the [http://www.p2pchat.net P2PChat servers] and can also be joined by any normal IRC client or via a [[Java (software platform)|Java]] addon on the Shareaza homepage.