Frequently Asked Questions

Technical Support

Before you contact technical support review all help topics on this page to make sure your issue hasn't already been answered. You should also take a look at the MySpace Current Issues page to make sure the problem isn't a known MySpace bug.

Technical support should be contacted through the Help menu in Spyder. Doing this automatically performs critical diagnostic tasks that can help solve your problem more quickly.

You can also receive help by contacting help@spyderx.com. Please be descriptive with your problem and include the following information:

  • What version of Spyder you are using.
  • Any error messages you see.
  • Any connection error messages (from the Activity pane).
  • What you've already tried in attempting to solve your problem.
  • Crash reports and system configuration if the problem is a crash or a sample if the problem is a hang.
  • Your system.log file which can be found by opening the Console application.
  • Screen-shots of what you are describing. How do I take a screen-shot?

For hangs please submit a sample. Samples can be obtained by launching the Activity Monitor application in the Utilities folder.

Submitting Bug Reports

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If you are submitting a bug report for a crash you must submit the crash report and system configuration (available when the crash occurs). Use copy/paste to include the text in an email to help@spyderx.com. Also include as descriptively as possible what you were doing when the crash occurred. Include screen shots if relevant or for clarity. You can make screen shots by holding the command-shift-3 keys, or by using the Grab application in your Utilities folder.

If you are submitting a bug report for a hang (when you see the multi-color pinwheel instead of a regular mouse cursor) you must include a sample. A sample can be taken by opening Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder, select the Spyder process and then press the Sample button on the toolbar.

Lost Activation Code

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If you've lost the original email with your activation code sent to you when you purchased Spyder you can have it resent to you at the Activation Code Lookup page. If your email is no longer active you must purchase a new license.

How do I deactivate a license?

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If you need to move your license to a different computer you will first have to deactivate it on the computer you are currently using it on and then activate it on your new computer. You can deactivate a license on your current computer by choosing Spyder > Spyder Licensor from the main menu.

Why is my account being blocked?

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Sometimes there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to people's accounts being blocked. You should definitely not be sending spam messages or spam friend requests to people. With that said some people still report that their account is being "blocked" even though they haven't sent any messages, friend requests, or comments. It appears that MySpace may have some glitches to work out with their recent updates.

MySpace forum topic discussing accounts being blocked and possible solutions.

From: "MySpace.com" <help@support.myspace.com>
Subject: Re: Mail - Security / Spam / Phishing [ref:00D78NrS.50079Qi0g:ref]
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 8:45 AM

Hello,

As mentioned in a previous email, your account was so blocked because prior to your block a number of users manually marked your friend requests/messages as spam.

How to fix this:

To unblock your account, a number of users to whom you’ve sent friend requests or messages must visit their spam folders and specifically mark your messages as “not junk.” This will change your spam status. Due to security reasons, we are unable to disclose the exact number needed to unblock your account. You may want to post a blog or new headline explaining the issue to your friends and ask them to mark the requests and messages as not spam. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, but unfortunately this is the only way to unblock your account and we cannot offer any further information regarding this issue.

Thank you,
MySpace.com

Why are my messages and requests automatically marked as spam?

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This appears to happen when you send messages and friend requests that are frequently marked as spam by the users receiving them. You should make sure you aren't sending spam messages or spam friend requests to people. As mentioned by MySpace having users go to their spam folders and marking the messages and friend requests as "not junk" will change your spam status.

How to Download and Install Spyder

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To download Spyder follow the link below. You will be downloading a compressed Zip file containing the Spyder application.

Download Spyder Now

When the download is completed you can double-click the Spyder.zip file to extract the Spyder application (if it wasn't automatically done for you already). Once the Spyder application has been extracted you may move the application to any location on your filesystem to complete installation, or you may leave it where it is. It is recommended you move Spyder to the Applications folder.

When you have completed installing Spyder you are ready to start using it. Double-click the Spyder application icon to launch Spyder and begin using it. If you haven't yet purchased a license Spyder will run in evaluation mode. You are allowed to try Spyder indefinitely before purchasing.

Spyder for Windows

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Spyder isn't available for Windows. If you want to use Spyder you will need to purchase a Mac.

If you're looking for a Windows Friend Adder you should try Easy Adder.

CAPTCHA Assist Credits Store

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CAPTCHA Assist credits can be purchased from the CAPTCHA Assist Order Page. Typically you can reach the order page from within Spyder, either from the Advanced preferences or the CAPTCHA Assist Activity window. Spyder will alert you when you have run out of CAPTCHA Assist credits and also give you the option to proceed to the order page to refill your key.

How can I upgrade my Basic or Pro license?

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Vist the Online Store and enter your activation code into the text area at the bottom of the page. If you are eligible for an upgrade the store will be updated with possible upgrade options. You can also choose Spyder > Spyder Licensor from the main menu when Spyder is active to open the Spyder Licensor window. Click the Upgrade button in the lower right corner of the window.

Why is my Song Play Increaser running more slowly with the latest version of Spyder?

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A recent update of Spyder improved the Song Play Increaser so it now counts towards the chart rankings. The process to accomplish this is very involved and requires more time to complete. Reverting to the old faster method will simply increase the number displayed and have no other effect.

Song Plays Increaser that Works!

You can now see the difference in your artist dashboard.

User Interface

Sidebar

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The Sidebar (also sometimes known as the Source List) controls which pane will be active in the document window.

Spyder Sidebar window pane

Library

Your library contains the Users source and when selected will allow you to view all the currently imported users from MySpace.

Network

Activity shows you all the current actions you're running or have queued up. The bottom pane shows all the current connections.

Accounts

Any account you've used with Spyder will now be present under Accounts, and each account has its own set of sidebar items unique to that account. Before any data can be shown, you must first synchronize your account. Press the inline refresh button to the right of your account email address to start synchronizing, or choose from the main menu, Action › Synchronize › your account.

Each account has several sidebar items that can be shown by clicking the disclosure button left of the account email address. Account specific sidebar items allow you to interact with different data associated with the account such as: friends, friends requests received and sent, comments sent, bulletins posted or that are scheduled to be posted, events and whether you've sent any event invites, and messages received and sent.

Folders

All user created folders, smart folders, and special folders are stored under the Folders group.

Users in the Black List won't be sent friends requests, and primarily consists of users that you've sent friend requests to or have received friend requests from, or are already friends with. Users are automatically added to the Black List when you send them a friend request. Users can also be added or removed to the Black List manually.

The Strangers folder is the inverse of the Black List, that is you can always send friend requests to users that are in the Strangers folder.

Smart Folders are used to filter users based on certain criteria you choose. For instance you might want to create a Smart Folder to keep track of everyone that lives in a certain city. Several commonly used Smart Folders are already created for you when you first start using Spyder. To create a Smart Folder press the + button in the bottom bar.

Folders are created automatically to help track certain events, such as who your new friends are since last time you synchronized. To create a new folder either drag users from the User Pane to the Sidebar or control-click click on users in the User Pane and choose to make a new folder consisting of the selected users.

Toolbar

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The toolbar contains buttons for searching for users, posting bulletins, uploading pictures, and keeping track of which account you are currently logged in as.

Spyder Toolbar overview


Spyder Search window sheet

Search Button

Pressing the Search button will expose the Search sheet where you can choose from several different search methods for finding and importing new users. You may need to try different search methods to get the results you desire.

Add User Button

Use the Add User Button to import a user. Before you can import the user you must know either their friendID or their profile URL that contains their friendID.

Post Bulletin Button

Not only does the Post Bulletin Button allow you to post bulletins, you can also schedule bulletins to post at a later time or even repeat.

Spyder Search window sheet

Upload Photo Button

You can either take a picture with your attached iSight camera, or upload an existing photo of your choosing. Once you have a photo loaded you can crop or adjust the quality before you upload. An uploaded photo is placed in your default album.

Friend Requests Sent Counter

Keeps track of how many friend requests you have sent. The counter will automatically reset after 24 hours, or you may press the button to manually reset the counter.

Comments Sent Counter

Keeps track of how many comments you have sent. The counter will automatically reset after 24 hours, or you may press the button to manually reset the counter.

Messages Sent Counter

Keeps track of how many messages you have sent. The counter will automatically reset after 24 hours, or you may press the button to manually reset the counter.

Selected Account or Login Button

If you have an account selected (from the Account menu) then this button will show you what that account is. If you then press the button the account will be logged out and the button title will change to Login. When the button displays Login and you press it you will be presented with a dialog to login to MySpace. If the login is successful the account will automatically be synchronized.

You can use the Login button or Login… option in the Account menu to add accounts to Spyder.

Bottom Bar

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The Bottom Bar contains a button to add new Smart Folders, and displays the current count of items for whichever sidebar item is selected.

Spyder Bottom bar overview

User Pane

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The User Pane displays users per your sidebar selection.

User Pane Toolbar


Spyder User Pane Toolbar overview

Back/Forward Button

Use the Back/Forward Button to move through the friends history. Double-clicking on a user will show you their imported friends. If they have no friends it means you haven't imported them yet.

Refresh Button

Use the Refresh button to re-import a user's details, if more than one user is selected all users will be re-imported.

Import Friends Button

Use this button to import the friends of another user.

Send Friend Requests Button

You can only send friend requests to users that aren't in the Black List. Remember you can always send friend requests to users that are in the Strangers folder.

Send Comments Button

You can only send comments to users that are friends with the currently selected account. Try selected Friends under the account that is also the title of the Selected Account Button.

Friend Requests Pane

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The Friend Requests Pane displays users that have sent you friend requests. You can choose to accept or deny these requests.

Friend Requests Toolbar


Spyder Friend Requests Pane Toolbar overview

Deny

Press the deny button to reject friends requests sent to you. You must have some of the users selected before you can deny their requests.

Approve

Press the approve button to become friends with the users you have selected. Once accepted the users are added to your friends and placed in the Black List.

Sent Comments Pane

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The Sent Comments Pane shows you all the comments you have sent. You can delete sent comments by selecting them and pressing the delete key.

My Events Pane

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The My Events Pane shows you the events you have imported and the users you've sent event invites to. You must import your events before you can send event invites. Importing events can be accomplished by clicking the button right of the My Events sidebar item, or choosing Get Events for Account from the Action menu.

Messages Pane

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The Messages Pane displays your incoming or sent messages, depending on which sidebar item you have selected.

Messages Toolbar


Spyder Messages Pane Toolbar overview

Reply

Press the reply button to reply to a message someone sent you. You can only reply to one message at a time, and you cannot reply to messages you have sent.

Delete

The delete button will delete messages from your user library and from MySpace. However, if you have the option key pressed when clicking the Delete button the messages will only be deleted from the user library and will be re-downloaded next time you synchronize.