Read and validate a JSON file, then use Puppeteer to visit each URL and save a uniquely named screenshot. The example below expects a file named urls.json with a top-level urls array of strings; it processes entries sequentially, waits for network idleness, and continues if one URL fails.
Prepare the JSON input
Create urls.json in your project directory:
{
"urls": [
"https://example.com",
"https://news.ycombinator.com"
]
}This shape is an assumption for the script, not a Puppeteer requirement. Each entry should be an absolute HTTP or HTTPS URL. The script checks the JSON structure and URL scheme before opening a browser, and skips invalid entries with a useful message.
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Install Puppeteer and save the script
In a new Node.js project, install Puppeteer, which works best with its downloaded Chrome for Testing browser:
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npm init -y
npm install puppeteerSave the following as capture.js beside urls.json. It reads the file as UTF-8, creates an output directory, and saves one PNG per valid URL. Index-based names prevent URLs with the same hostname from overwriting one another.
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const fs = require('node:fs/promises');
const path = require('node:path');
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
async function readUrls(filePath) {
let text;
try {
text = await fs.readFile(filePath, { encoding: 'utf8' });
} catch (error) {
throw new Error(`Could not read ${filePath}: ${error.message}`);
}
let data;
try {
data = JSON.parse(text);
} catch (error) {
throw new Error(`Invalid JSON in ${filePath}: ${error.message}`);
}
if (!data || typeof data !== 'object' || !Array.isArray(data.urls)) {
throw new Error('Expected a JSON object with a "urls" array.');
}
return data.urls.map((value, index) => {
if (typeof value !== 'string' || value.trim() === '') {
return { index, error: 'URL must be a non-empty string.' };
}
let parsed;
try {
parsed = new URL(value.trim());
} catch {
return { index, error: 'Not a valid absolute URL.' };
}
if (parsed.protocol !== 'http:' && parsed.protocol !== 'https:') {
return { index, error: 'Only HTTP and HTTPS URLs are supported.' };
}
return { index, url: parsed.href, hostname: parsed.hostname };
});
}
async function main() {
const inputPath = path.join(__dirname, 'urls.json');
const outputDir = path.join(__dirname, 'screenshots');
const entries = await readUrls(inputPath);
await fs.mkdir(outputDir, { recursive: true });
let browser;
const failures = [];
try {
browser = await puppeteer.launch();
for (const entry of entries) {
if (entry.error) {
console.error(`Entry ${entry.index + 1}: ${entry.error}`);
failures.push(entry.index + 1);
continue;
}
// Use a new page per URL so page state does not carry between captures.
const page = await browser.newPage();
try {
await page.setViewport({ width: 1365, height: 900 });
await page.goto(entry.url, {
waitUntil: 'networkidle2',
timeout: 30000,
});
const filename = `${String(entry.index + 1).padStart(4, '0')}-${entry.hostname.replace(/[^a-z0-9.-]/gi, '_')}.png`;
const outputPath = path.join(outputDir, filename);
await page.screenshot({ path: outputPath });
console.log(`Saved ${outputPath}`);
} catch (error) {
// Avoid echoing the full URL, which may contain credentials or tokens.
console.error(`Entry ${entry.index + 1} failed (${entry.hostname}): ${error.message}`);
failures.push(entry.index + 1);
} finally {
await page.close();
}
}
} finally {
if (browser) await browser.close();
}
if (failures.length) {
console.error(`Failed or skipped entries: ${failures.join(', ')}`);
process.exitCode = 1;
}
}
main().catch((error) => {
console.error(error.message);
process.exitCode = 1;
});Run it and find the screenshots
- Put
urls.jsonandcapture.jsin the project directory. - Run
node capture.js. - Open the generated
screenshotsdirectory. Files are named with a zero-padded input index and hostname, such as0001-example.com.png.
Sequential processing is deliberate: it is simple and limits simultaneous browser work. The script continues after an individual navigation or capture error, reports failed or skipped entry numbers, closes each page, and closes the browser in a finally block. A failure to read or parse the input, or to launch the browser, stops the run.
Choose when a page is ready
waitUntil: 'networkidle2' follows the readiness choice shown in Puppeteer’s screenshot guide, but it is not proof that every application has finished rendering. Puppeteer’s screenshot guide demonstrates the basic launch, page, navigation, screenshot, and close sequence. The network-idle API resolves after the network is idle for the configured idle period; pages with polling or persistent requests may not reach that condition promptly.
- Use a navigation event such as
domcontentloadedwhen the initial document is sufficient and you will explicitly wait for application content afterward. - Use network idle for pages whose relevant resources settle, while retaining a timeout for pages with long-lived network activity.
- Wait for a page-specific selector when a known element signals that the content you need has appeared. For example, after navigation, call
await page.waitForSelector('[data-report-ready]', { timeout: 15000 });using a selector that actually exists on your target page.
Client-rendered data, fonts, animations, consent prompts, and remote assets can change what appears between runs. If consistent captures matter, choose an application-specific ready signal and control the viewport and other page state.
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Choose viewport, full-page, or clipped output
The script sets a 1365-by-900 viewport and takes a viewport screenshot. Change the viewport dimensions to suit the layout you want to inspect. To capture the full page instead, change the screenshot call to:
await page.screenshot({ path: outputPath, fullPage: true });Full-page output can be much taller and larger than a viewport capture. Puppeteer’s screenshot options also include type, clip, omitBackground, and quality. The file extension can determine the image type; use a matching extension when changing formats. quality applies to supported lossy formats, not PNG. See the Page.screenshot() API for option details; fullPage defaults to false.
Browser setup and batch-size trade-offs
Managed Chrome
The example uses the puppeteer package and its managed Chrome for Testing download. Puppeteer says this is the browser setup it works best with.
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- BROAD COMPATIBILITY – Works with both Windows and Mac devices, be it laptop or computer
Using puppeteer-core
If you use puppeteer-core, configure executablePath or channel when launching. Puppeteer does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary browser versions; consult the launch API documentation and use a compatible browser installation.
Scaling beyond sequential runs
For a larger batch, bounded concurrency can reduce elapsed time, but every active page uses browser and machine resources. No universal safe number of parallel pages is established; measure with your pages and environment, and keep a limit rather than opening a page for every URL at once.
Node’s promise-based readFile reads the entire file into memory. That is convenient for a modest URL list; for unusually large inputs, use a streaming design rather than buffering the complete JSON document. See Node.js file system documentation.
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- IRIScan Express, portable scanner : scans color and black and white documents a blazing speed up to 8ppm simplex. Color scanning won’t slow you down as the color scan speed is the same as the black and white scan speed.
- IRIScan Express mobile scanner is powered via an included micro USB 2. 0 cable allowing you to use it even where there is no outlet available. Plug it into you PC or laptop and you are ready to scan. USB cable provided. AC Adapter not provided and not needed.
- IRIScan flatbed scanner uses a simplex scanning mode allows for quick and straightforward scanning of single-sided documents. IRIScan with its full portable features is the ideal document scanners for computers.
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- Receipt scanner and card scanner with Additional features include scanning business cards directly to Outlook, photo scanning, and receipt scanning for efficient document management
Troubleshoot common failures
- “Could not read”: Check that
urls.jsonis in the same directory ascapture.js, or updateinputPathto the right location. - “Invalid JSON”: Check commas, quotation marks, braces, and the closing brackets. JSON does not allow comments or trailing commas.
- Expected a “urls” array: Use the documented example shape, with a top-level object containing
urlsas an array. - Entry skipped: Supply a non-empty absolute URL beginning with
http://orhttps://. - Navigation timeout: The site may be slow or maintain network activity. Increase the
timeoutif appropriate, use a different navigation readiness event, and wait separately for the content selector you need. - Screenshot is blank or incomplete: The page may render important content after navigation. Wait for a meaningful selector or application-specific signal before capturing.
- Browser launch error: Check that installation completed and the managed browser is available. With
puppeteer-core, provide a validexecutablePathorchannelfor a compatible browser. - Output file overwritten: Retain the input index in each filename or use an explicit unique ID per entry; a hostname alone may repeat.
Or skip the browser setup
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For a URL, make one request (replace YOUR_API_KEY and the target URL):
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Puppeteer take a full-page screenshot by default?
No. Set fullPage: true in page.screenshot() to request full-page output.
Best Value
- Scanner type: Document
- Connectivity technology: USB
- With Auto Scan Mode, the scanner automatically detects what you're scanning
- Digitize documents and images
Can I capture only part of a page?
Yes. The screenshot options include clip; use the Page.screenshot() API documentation for its supported shape and behavior.
Can a JSON file contain just an array of URLs?
Yes, but this example expects an object with a urls property. Change the validation and mapping to match a top-level array if that is your chosen schema.
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