How to Scrape and Capture Social Media with Batch
Three Methods to Collect and Preserve Facebook Profile Content
This feature is in beta and only available to select customers. Reach out to support@page-vault.com for access.
Watch a 5 Minute Demo to Get Started
Overview
Page Vault now offers three powerful methods to collect and preserve Facebook profile content. This guide outlines how to use:
-
Metadata-Only Scrape
-
Scrape and Capture
-
Bulk URL Capture
Each method is designed for different workflows, depending on the volume of content and whether you need full captures or just metadata.
1. Metadata-Only Scrape
Overview:
Collect metadata from up to 20,000 Facebook posts without capturing the actual post content.
Best For:
-
Large Facebook profiles (up to 20,000 posts)
-
Pre-analysis before choosing which posts to capture
-
Exporting data for reports or analytics
Captured Metadata Includes:
-
Post URLs
-
Post date
-
Number of likes, comments, and shares
-
Caption text
Steps to Use:
-
Go to Batch > Social Media in the Page Vault Portal.
-
Select Metadata-Only Scrape.
-
Enter the Facebook profile URL.
-
Edit or accept the default Job Name.
-
(Optional) Add a Case Matter ID.
-
Click Start Scrape.
Details:
-
No login or Facebook credentials required
-
Runs in the background
-
Duration: A few minutes to 1–2 hours depending on profile size
-
You can leave and return later
2. Scrape and Capture
Overview:
Scrape metadata and automatically capture up to 250 posts from a Facebook profile.
Best For:
-
Small to medium-sized profiles
-
Preserving entire profiles without manually selecting posts
Steps to Use:
-
Go to Batch > Social Media and choose Scrape and Capture.
-
Enter the Facebook profile URL.
-
Install the Page Vault browser extension (if not already installed).
-
Log in to Facebook in Chrome.
-
Authenticate using one of two methods:
Browser Auth (recommended):
-
Use the browser extension
-
Sign in to Facebook
-
Click Authenticate and Allow
Advanced Mode:
-
Open the Page Vault Browser
-
Sign into Facebook
-
Click Gear Icon > Copy Cookies
-
Paste cookies into the Advanced Mode field
-
-
Click Start Scrape and Capture
What Happens Next:
-
Up to 250 posts are scraped and captured automatically
-
A live capture table displays:
-
Post URL
-
Date
-
Likes, comments, shares
-
Caption text
-
-
Captures appear in the right-hand panel (tile or table view)
-
You can view, download, or export metadata to CSV
3. Bulk URL Capture
Overview:
Already have post URLs? Capture them all at once—up to 250 at a time.
Best For:
-
Selectively capturing posts identified in a metadata scrape
-
Uploading a curated list of post URLs for capture
Steps to Use:
-
Go to Batch > Social Media and select Bulk URL Capture.
-
Paste your list of Facebook post URLs (maximum: 250).
-
Enter a Job Name.
-
Authenticate using one of two methods:
Browser Auth (recommended):
-
Install the Page Vault Browser Extension
-
Sign into Facebook in Chrome or Edge
-
Click Authenticate and Allow
Advanced Mode:
-
Sign in to Facebook using the Page Vault Browser (PB10)
-
Copy cookies from PB10
-
Paste cookies into the authentication field in the Portal
-
-
Click Start Capture