❓FAQ
Common questions and answers about HiveFB. If you don't find your answer here, check Troubleshooting.
Screenshot placeholder (optional): Where to find:
HiveFB version number
data folder path in Settings (or in Windows Explorer)
General Questions
Is HiveFB legal to use?
A: HiveFB is a tool for personal research and educational purposes. Users must comply with Facebook's Terms of Service and applicable laws. Commercial data harvesting is not intended. Always use responsibly and ethically.
Does HiveFB send my data anywhere?
A: No. All data is stored locally on your computer. No information is transmitted to external servers except for subscription verification (which only checks your subscription status, not your data).
Can I use HiveFB offline?
A: The dashboard works offline once loaded, but scraping requires an internet connection for Facebook Marketplace access. You can view and analyze your existing data offline.
How much storage does HiveFB use?
A: Typically 100-500MB for the application itself, plus storage for your scraped data. Data size varies by number of listings:
100 listings: ~5-10MB
500 listings: ~25-50MB
1000+ listings: ~50-100MB+
Is my Facebook account safe?
A: HiveFB includes built-in delays and break systems to mimic human behavior. However, excessive scraping may trigger Facebook's security. Use responsibly, enable breaks, and don't scrape too frequently.
Scraping Questions
How long does a scrape take?
A: Depends on max listings and scroll speed. Typical times:
100 listings: 10-20 minutes
500 listings: 30-60 minutes
1000+ listings: 1-2 hours
Factors affecting time:
Scroll speed setting
Page load times
Number of listings available
Internet connection speed
Can I scrape multiple search terms at once?
A: Yes! Use catalogues and endless mode:
Create multiple catalogues with different search terms
Enable endless mode
Select all catalogues
HiveFB cycles through them automatically
What if I stop a scrape mid-way?
A: All data collected up to that point is saved automatically. You can:
Resume with a new scrape
View partial results in dashboard
No data is lost
Will Facebook ban my account?
A: HiveFB includes safety features:
Built-in delays between actions
Automatic break system
Human-like browsing patterns
Rate limiting prevention
However, excessive scraping may trigger Facebook's security. Use responsibly:
Enable breaks
Don't scrape 24/7
Space out sessions
Monitor for warnings
Can I scrape while using Facebook normally?
A: It's recommended to avoid using Facebook in a regular browser while scraping, as this may:
Confuse Facebook's systems
Trigger security checks
Cause login issues
Wait until scraping completes before using Facebook normally.
Dashboard Questions
Can I export my data?
A: Yes! Data is stored in multiple formats:
JSON files: In
scraped_datafolderSQLite database: In
databasefolderDashboard view: Browse in web interface
You can copy these files to backup or export your data.
How do I filter listings?
A: Use the filter bar at the top of the dashboard:
Type Filter: All / Vehicles / Items
Price Range: Set min/max price
Search Box: Search by title
Sort Options: Price, Posted, Title
What's the difference between Dashboard and Hot Deals?
A:
Dashboard: Shows ALL listings you've scraped
Hot Deals: Shows only listings priced significantly below average
Hot deals are a subset of your total listings, filtered by price analysis.
How often does the dashboard update?
A: The dashboard refreshes automatically every 10 seconds. You can also:
Click refresh button
Navigate to different page
Data updates in real-time as you scrape
Can I use the dashboard on mobile?
A: The dashboard is optimized for desktop and tablet screens. It may work on mobile but is not specifically designed for it. For best experience, use on desktop or tablet.
Catalogue Questions
How many catalogues can I create?
A: There's no hard limit. Create as many as you need for different searches. Organize them with clear names for easy management.
Can I edit a catalogue after creating it?
A: Yes! Click the edit icon on any catalogue to modify:
Search term
Max listings
Blacklist terms
Break settings
Any other parameters
What's the difference between single run and endless mode?
A:
Single Run: Executes the catalogue once and stops when complete
Endless Mode: Cycles through selected catalogues continuously until you manually stop
Use single run for one-time searches. Use endless mode for continuous monitoring.
Can I pause endless mode?
A: Yes! Click the stop button to pause. You can resume later, though it will start from the beginning of the cycle.
Do catalogues share data?
A: No, each catalogue maintains its own baseline for hot deal calculations. However, all listings are stored in the same database and visible in the main dashboard.
Hot Deals Questions
How is a "hot deal" determined?
A: A listing is flagged as a hot deal if its price is significantly below the average price for similar items in your catalogue data. HiveFB uses statistical analysis to determine this.
Why don't I see any hot deals?
A: Possible reasons:
Haven't scraped any catalogues yet (need baseline data)
Catalogue has too few listings (need 10+ for accurate baseline)
No new listings found since catalogue scrape
Prices are all around average (no exceptional deals)
Solution: Scrape a catalogue with 100+ listings first to establish a baseline.
Can I adjust the hot deal threshold?
A: Currently, the threshold is automatic based on statistical analysis. This may be configurable in future versions. The system uses standard deviation and statistical significance to determine hot deals.
How accurate are hot deal scores?
A: Scores are based on statistical analysis of your data. Higher scores (8-10) are more reliable. Lower scores (1-3) may be incorrectly flagged. Always verify hot deals before acting on them.
Do hot deals expire?
A: Hot deal alerts don't expire, but listings may be sold or removed from Facebook. Check listings regularly and act quickly on high-scoring deals (8-10).
Technical Questions
Where is my data stored?
A: In C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Roaming\HiveFB\
Folders:
database/: SQLite database filesscraped_data/: JSON export filesSettings and configuration files
Can I backup my data?
A: Yes! Copy the entire HiveFB folder in AppData\Roaming\ to backup:
All listings
Catalogue configurations
Settings
Database
Restore by copying back to the same location.
Does HiveFB work on Mac/Linux?
A: The application is primarily designed for Windows. It can be built for Mac and Linux from source, but Windows is the recommended platform.
Can I run multiple instances?
A: No. HiveFB is designed to run one instance at a time to prevent:
Database conflicts
Browser connection issues
Resource conflicts
Data corruption
What if HiveFB crashes?
A:
Data is saved automatically during scraping
Partial results are preserved
Restart the application
Check Console tab for error messages
See Troubleshooting
How do I update HiveFB?
A: Updates are handled automatically by the HiveFB Loader. When a new version is available:
Loader detects update
Downloads new version
Installs automatically
Restarts with new version
You can also manually download from GitHub releases.
Account & Subscription Questions
Do I need a Facebook account?
A: Yes, you need a Facebook account to access Marketplace. HiveFB uses your credentials to log in and browse listings.
Can I use multiple Facebook accounts?
A: Currently, HiveFB supports one account at a time. You can switch accounts in Account Manager, but only one can be active.
What if my subscription expires?
A: The HiveFB Loader will block access until you renew. You can still view existing data, but cannot scrape new listings. Renew your subscription through the web store.
Can I use HiveFB on multiple computers?
A: Yes, as long as you have an active subscription. Each installation is independent. Your data is stored locally on each computer.
Data & Privacy Questions
Is my Facebook password secure?
A: Yes. Credentials are:
Encrypted before storage
Stored locally only
Never transmitted (except to Facebook for login)
Not accessible to external servers
Does HiveFB collect personal information?
A: No. HiveFB only:
Accesses Facebook Marketplace (public listings)
Stores scraped listing data locally
Verifies subscription status (no personal data)
Does not collect usage analytics
Can I delete my data?
A: Yes. You can:
Delete individual listings in dashboard
Clear all listings in settings
Delete database files manually
Remove scraped data folder
Who can see my data?
A: Only you. All data is stored locally on your computer. No one else has access unless you share your computer or data files.
Still have questions? Check Troubleshooting.
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