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rmehta
Staff
July 30, 2025

Technical Tip: Import URL list into a Web Filter category

  • July 30, 2025
  • 0 replies
  • 1121 views
Description This article describes how to import a URL list into a web category locally on FortiGate without adding each URL manually.
Scope FortiGate v7.0 and above.
Solution

To import a URL list into a web category locally on FortiGate without adding each URL manually, use the following methods:

 

  1. Local Script Method:

Script the URLs: Each URL should be added to a custom category using the following command format:

 

config webfilter ftgd-local-rating

    edit "www.example.com"

        set rating 140 # Replace 140 with custom category ID

    next

end

 

Batch Processing:

To automate the creation of CLI commands for batch processing URLs into a FortiGate web category, follow these steps:
 
  • Prepare URL List: Start with a plain text file containing all the URLs to add, each on a new line.
  • Use Text Editor: Open the file in a text editor like Notepad++.
  • Find and Replace: Use the Find and Replace feature to format each URL into a CLI command.

For example, if URLs are listed as: 

 

www.example1.com  

www.example2.com  

www.example3.com  

 

Replace each line with: 

 

config webfilter ftgd-local-rating

    edit "<URL>" set rating 140

        next

    end

 

Example Replacement:

 

Use the following Find and Replace pattern in Notepad++: 

 

config webfilter ftgd-local-rating

    edit "\1"

        set rating 140

    next

end

 

Execute in the CLI: Copy the formatted commands and paste them into the FortiGate CLI to add all URLs to the desired category. 

 

Example Output: 

 

config webfilter ftgd-local-rating

    edit "www.example1.com"

        set rating 140

    next

end

 

config webfilter ftgd-local-rating

    edit "www.example2.com"

        set rating 140

    next

end

 

config webfilter ftgd-local-rating

    edit "www.example3.com"

        set rating 140

    next

end

 

  1. External Feed Method:

Host URL List: Place list of URLs in a text file on an external web server.

  • Configure External Resource: Use the FortiGate CLI to configure an external resource to import the URL list:

 

config system external-resource

    edit "external_resource_name"

        set type category

        set category 111 --> Use an appropriate category ID

        set resource "http://server.com/list.txt"

        set server-identity-check none

    next

end

 

Apply in Web Filter: The URLs will be imported into a remote category, which allow or exempt in web filter profile.

 

The External Feed Method is generally more scalable and easier to manage for large lists of URLs.
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