Xenu's Link Sleuth

Xenu, or Xenu's Link Sleuth, is a computer program that checks websites for broken hyperlinks ["Looking for link validator.", "New Straits Times", May 1, 2000.] . It is written by Tilman Hausherr and is proprietary software available at no charge.

Commercial tools that offer similar functionality include Linkbot, InfoLink, LinkScan, LinkAlarm and Web Link Validator.

The program is named after Xenu, the Galactic Ruler from Scientology doctrine.

Format

Link Sleuth runs on Microsoft Windows. Link verification is performed on links which appear in <a> tags, as well as images, frames, plug-ins, backgrounds, local image maps, style sheets, scripts and Java applets [Haby, Steven., [http://www.curriculum.edu.au/SCIS/connections/cnetw02/43xenu.htm Xenu's Link Sleuth - A Useful Software Package to Find Broken URL Links] , "Connections", Issue 43., 2002., retrieved 3/7/07.] . The program follows links to other pages, and checks the links on those pages also, so it is possible to check an entire site for broken links in one session. Xenu displays a continuously updated list of URLs which can be sorted according to different criteria [Gunther, D., [http://www.en.eun.org/etb/survey/d3.2.pdf Recommendation on Quality Assurance and Selection of resources for the ETB network] , "European Treasury Browser", P. 48., 2002, retrieved 3/7/07.] . The program utilizes a "simple, no-frills user-interface" [McCoy, Linda., [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug242005/cyberspace1310592005823.asp Link Sleuth] , "Deccan Herald", August 24, 2005.] , and can help users understand how certain Web sites are structured [Mruck, Katja., [http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte/3-00/3-00mruck-e.htm Qualitative Research Networking: FQS as an Example] , "Qualitative Social Research", Volume 1, No. 3, December 2000.] . The program has support for SSL Web sites [Mickiewicz, Matt., [http://www.sitepoint.com/newsletter/viewissue.php?id=2&issue=279&format=html Download of the Week] , "SitePoint Tribune", Issue 279., February 5, 2004.] .

Reception, public usage

"Xenu's Link Sleuth" software was called the "fastest link-checking software" by "PC Magazine" ["70 assists for a winning site.(WEB BUILDER'S TOOLKIT)", "PC Magazine", April 23, 2002.] , and "amazingly fast, very accurate" by a University of Wyoming newsletter [ [http://www.uwyo.edu/publicrelations/viscomm/newsletter/june05.htm Visual Communications eNews] , University of Wyoming, June 2005., retrieved 3/7/07.] .

The software was used as a testing tool in a usability study at Grand Valley State University [Grissom, Scott., [http://www.csis.gvsu.edu/~grissom/talks/TrialsTribulations.html The Trials and Tribulations of Usability Testing] , Grand Valley State University, October 8, 2003.] , as well as in a BSc honors study at Staffordshire University [Railton, Trevor., [http://www.akyokus.com/courses/Fall2002/COME441/projects/samplereports/p1/FYP.doc Software Engineering A Web Application?] , Staffordshire University, May 2001.] .

References

Notes

Cited in additional works

*cite book
last = Rossett
first = Allison
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The ASTD E-Learning Handbook
publisher = McGraw-Hill Professional
date = 2002
location =
pages = 500
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 007138796X
*cite book
last = Zhong
first = Ning
authorlink =
coauthors = Jiming Liu
title = Intelligent Technologies for Information Analysis
publisher = Springer
date = 2004
location =
pages = 200
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 3540406778
*cite book
last = Gerrard
first = Paul
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Risk-Based E-Business Testing
publisher = Artech House
date = 2002
location =
pages = 155
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 1580533140
*cite book
last = Reynolds
first = Janice
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Complete E-Commerce Book: Design, Build, and Maintain a Successful Web-Based Business
publisher = CMP Books
date = 2004
location =
pages = 189
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 1578203120
*cite book
last = Slocombe
first = Mike
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Max Hits: Websites that Work
publisher = Rotovision
date = 2002
location =
pages = 121
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 2880465435
*cite book
last = George
first = David
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The ABC of Seo: search engine optimization strategies
publisher =
date = 2005
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 1411622510
*cite book
last = Rüttinger
first = Stefan
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Homepage- Erfolg: Wie Sie im Internet mehr Geld verdienen
publisher = Books on Demand
date = 2003
location =
pages = 140
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 3833006439
*cite book
last = Jendryschik
first = Michael
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Einführung in XHTML CSS und Webdesign
publisher = Pearson Education Deutschland
date =
location =
pages = 250
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 3827324777
*cite book
last = Polillo
first = Roberto
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Plasmare il web
publisher = Apogeo Editore
date = 2006
location =
pages = 186
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 8850325118
*cite book
last = Polillo
first = Roberto
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Il check-up dei siti Web
publisher = Apogeo Editore
date = 2004
location =
pages = 170
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 8850322828

External links

* [http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html "Xenu's Link Sleuth", Project home page]
* [http://foliovision.com/2007/08/24/xenu-link-sleuth/ "Repairing Your Site with Xenu Link Sleuth"]
* [http://whoisde.de/xenu.html "Parse Xenu Link Sleuth Files"]