Web recorder doesn't capture input

[timz]

I am scraping a web page which allows a search on one of three possible criteria. The page has a radio group to indicate which criteria is being used for the search and then a text field to enter the search string. AA records the selection from the radio group and the pressing of the submit button, but not the search criteria itself.

The page uses javascript to submit the request, but I am unable to see how to indicate the search criteria for automating the task.

Thanks.

[forumsupport]

Hello,

Is it possible for you to send the URL of website at http://www.tethyssolutions.com/ask-the-expert.htm so that one of our Automation experts will get in touch with you to help you resolve the problem?

[philkryder]

Originally Posted by timz

I am scraping a web page which allows a search on one of three possible criteria. The page has a radio group to indicate which criteria is being used for the search and then a text field to enter the search string. AA records the selection from the radio group and the pressing of the submit button, but not the search criteria itself.

The page uses javascript to submit the request, but I am unable to see how to indicate the search criteria for automating the task.

Thanks.

so, am I correct that you have 3 radio buttons that allow you to set the search criteria such as:

O - Alpha
O - Beta
O - Gamma

And you want to be able to determine which of the 3 is "clicked"....

this might be ugly....

Can you read the URL into the clipboard?
It may be that the search criteria is in the URL and is parseable....

Report back whatever you learn.

This is a good trick to know...

Phil

[forumsupport]

Hello,

Before clicking on Submit button, use extract data command to get status of three radio buttons and save the status in some temporary variable say, $Prompt-Assignment$. Then check if $Prompt-Assignment$ includes 'Checked' then insert the criteria selected in some variable say $Criteria$. Text format of commands would appear as follows,

// For first radio button
Extract data from Control type : Radio Button, Webpage : to $Prompt-Assignment$
Variable Operation : "" To $Prompt-Assignment$
If $Prompt-Assignment$ Includes "Checked" Then
Variable Operation : Alpha To $Criteria$
End If

// For second radio button
Extract data from Control type : Radio Button, Webpage : to $Prompt-Assignment$
Variable Operation : "" To $Prompt-Assignment$
If $Prompt-Assignment$ Includes "Checked" Then
Variable Operation : Beta To $Criteria$
End If

// For third radio button
Extract data from Control type : Radio Button, Webpage : to $Prompt-Assignment$
Variable Operation : "" To $Prompt-Assignment$
If $Prompt-Assignment$ Includes "Checked" Then
Variable Operation : Gamma To $Criteria$
End If

[timz]

First my apology for the late reply to the assistance provided -- I have been away from the office.

Thanks to Phil and to forum support for their replies.

The first thing to report is that AA Web Recorder is now capturing the input I previously had indicated was not being captured. If I hadn't tried it repeatedly before without success I would concede that somehow it may have been user error, bit I don't believe that to be the case. The only thing which seems likely is the page itself has been updated.

Nevertheless, I followed the support suggestion (with slight alteration) and was able to discern which button in the radio group was actually checked.

Here is what worked:
// For each button
Extract data from Control type : Radio Button, Webpage : to $Prompt-Assignment$
If $Prompt-Assignment$ Equal To "Checked" Then
Variable Operation : Alpha To $Criteria$
End If

I deleted the line: Variable Operation : "" To $Prompt-Assignment$ and changed the 'Includes "Checked"' to 'Equal To "Checked"'. This was necessary as the values returned were "Checked" and "Unchecked" so both values returned TRUE when "Includes" is used.