Web Browser - Extract source
Declaration
<AMWEBBROWSER ACTIVITY="exsource" SESSION="text" RESULTVARIABLE="text" />
Description
Extracts an HTML source and places the result in a variable.
NOTE:
- The Web Browser action is not backwards compatible with the Web Browser (Legacy) action.
- Automation with the Web Browser action is only compatible with Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browsers.
- You must update the specified browser to the latest version and install it on the target system to ensure the Web Browser action functions correctly.
- Unlike other session-based actions where sessions are optional, the Web Browser action requires the use of a session as each created session explicitly links to a specific web browser instance (you can create a session using the Web Browser - Create session or Web Browser - Open activity). A single task can support numerous sessions; however, since Web Browser activities are performed interactively (and not in the background), each session must run concurrently to avoid sending interactions to the wrong browser window.
Practical usage
Used to extract the HTML source, which is the web page's raw programming code. You can normally view the source by right-clicking on a page and choosing View source.
Parameters
Browser
Property | Type | Required | Default | Markup | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Session name | Text | Yes | BrowserSession1 | SESSION="mySession" | Specifies
the name of an existing session to associate with this activity.
Numerous sessions can exist within a single task which allows activities
to be performed on several web browsers simultaneously. NOTE: Sessions are supported in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browsers
only. Firefox does not require a separate extension to be installed with this version of the Web Browser action. |
Store HTML source in | Text | Yes | (Empty) | RESULTVARIABLE="myVar" | The name of the existing variable to use to populate the HTML source. |
Example
NOTE:
- Copy and paste the sample AML code below directly into the Task Builder Steps Panel.
- To successfully run the sample code, update parameters containing user credentials, files, file paths, or other information specific to the task to match your environment.
Description
This task extracts the source of www.fortra.com and then displays it in a message dialog.
Copy
<AMVARIABLE NAME="theSource" VALUE="" />
<AMWEBBROWSER URL="https://www.fortra.com/product-lines/automate" BROWSER="firefox" SESSION="BrowserSession1" />
<AMWEBBROWSER ACTIVITY="exsource" SESSION="BrowserSession1" RESULTVARIABLE="theSource" />
<AMSHOWDIALOG>%theSource%</AMSHOWDIALOG>
<AMWEBBROWSER ACTIVITY="close" SESSION="BrowserSession1" />