First Configuration

Overview

After successfully installing the Website Access Restriction Tool, you'll need to configure it for your specific needs. This guide will walk you through the basic configuration process, focusing on environments where browser extensions are not available or desired.

Even without browser extensions, our tool provides powerful website blocking capabilities through system-level settings and configuration files. This guide will help you get started with the initial setup.

Considerations for No Extension Environments

When using the Website Access Restriction Tool without browser extensions, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind:

• System-Level Blocking Only - Blocking will be implemented at the system level, affecting all browsers and applications
• No Real-Time Updates - Changes to configuration may require a system restart or application restart
• Limited Browser-Specific Rules - Rules will apply to all browsers equally
• Dependency on Hosts File - Blocking heavily relies on the system hosts file modification

Configuration File Structure

The Website Access Restriction Tool uses a JSON configuration file to define blocked websites and access rules. The default location of this file is:

C:\Program Files\Website Access Restriction Tool\config.json

Here's the basic structure of the configuration file:

{
  "version": "4.4",
  "blocked_sites": [
    {
      "url": "example.com",
      "reason": "Time management",
      "enabled": true,
      "type": "domain"
    }
  ],
  "schedule": {
    "enabled": false,
    "active_hours": {
      "start": "09:00",
      "end": "17:00",
      "weekdays": [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
    }
  },
  "notifications": {
    "enabled": true,
    "message": "This website is blocked by Website Access Restriction Tool"
  },
  "logging": {
    "enabled": true,
    "level": "info"
  },
  "advanced": {
    "use_hosts_file": true,
    "use_dns_filtering": true,
    "use_network_filtering": false
  }
}

Key Configuration Options

Initial Setup Steps

Follow these steps to configure your Website Access Restriction Tool for the first time:

1. Open the Configuration File

   Navigate to the installation directory and open the config.json file in a text editor with administrative privileges.

2. Add Your First Block Rule

   Edit the blocked_sites array to include websites you want to block:

   "blocked_sites": [
     {
       "url": "facebook.com",
       "reason": "Productivity",
       "enabled": true,
       "type": "domain"
     },
     {
       "url": "twitter.com",
       "reason": "Productivity",
       "enabled": true,
       "type": "domain"
     }
   ]

3. Configure Schedule (Optional)

   If you want to enable time-based blocking, update the schedule section:

   "schedule": {
     "enabled": true,
     "active_hours": {
       "start": "09:00",
       "end": "17:00",
       "weekdays": [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]  // Monday to Friday
     }
   }

4. Save the Configuration

   Save the changes to the config.json file.

5. Restart the Application

   Close and restart the Website Access Restriction Tool for changes to take effect.

6. Verify Changes

   Open the application and navigate to the "Blocked Sites" tab to verify your changes have been applied.

Testing Your Configuration

After setting up your initial configuration, it's important to test that it's working correctly:

1. Open a Web Browser

   Launch any web browser installed on your system.

2. Attempt to Access a Blocked Site

   Try to visit one of the websites you added to the blocked list.

3. Check for Blocking

   You should see a blocked page or error message indicating the site is restricted.

4. Test Multiple Browsers

   Repeat the test with different browsers to ensure blocking works across all applications.

5. Check Logs

   If logging is enabled, check the logs for information about blocked requests.

Common Issues & Solutions

If you encounter problems with your configuration, try these solutions:

Next Steps

Now that you've completed the basic configuration, you're ready to explore more advanced features:

• Advanced Configuration - Explore advanced settings and options
• Basic Setup Tutorial - Hands-on tutorial for common use cases
• Use Cases - Examples of different blocking scenarios
• API Reference - Learn about programmatic control options

If you need further assistance, please refer to our Troubleshooting Guide or FAQ section.