I downloaded the trial version of WebRecorder to use with Macro Scheduler as I've been creating scripts for web pages and this product appears to do it a lot quicker (and more reliably). I think it has great potential, but I've encountered problems with every web page I've tried it on. I want to purchase it, but I hope future updates are in the works because it's difficult to work around these issues.
Here are a few of the problems I've had:
1) Using the DLL to extract tag text causes an "Access violation at address XXXXXXXX in module 'IEAuto.dll'" every time the script is run, on every web page I've tried.
2) No info as to what functions are available (and what they do) in the DLL.
3) Some web page parts seem to record text input fine (it appears in the recorded script), but it will not write it out upon playback - just moves to the next step.
4) Some web pages refuse to be recorded - small windows pop up saying "Action cancelled:Internet Explorer was unable to link to...." and nothing (logon id's, passwords, etc.) is recorded - although the window recovers and goes on.
These are a few examples of the problems I've run into. The product works great about half the time, but I'm hoping that percentage will improve in the future?
Anyone else have similar problems, or will there be a new improved version released soon?
Thanks!
Problems using new add on product WebRecorder
Moderators: JRL, Dorian (MJT support)
Hi,
It is impossible to guarantee that WebRecorder will manage to record 100% of webpages 100% of the time correctly. But we certainly strive for more than 50%! Extensive testing on a mulititude of pretty complicated websites proved satisfactory and while some manual tweaks are often required WebRecorder still saves heaps of work. It has been used successfully in many Intranet environments and in Enterprise environments where the ERP client is a web client to automate Enterprise solutions.
I'll look at the text extract function. It sounds like there is an issue there.
We are committed to continually refining the product and to help us do that it would help us if you could provide details of the website you are trying to record so that we can run a record against the same scenario and determine whether there is a problem or if there is just a limitation with that particular site that can't be overcome. Would you be able to provide such details?
I would wager that anything WebRecorder has difficulty with you may struggle to automate manually with plain VBScript. What WebRecorder is particularly useful for is taking away the guesswork with form fields and variable names and avoids having to study the source of the page. IEAuto.DLL also allows you to automate deep within frames which is impossible with plain VBScript due to script site vulnerability limitations.
As with all macro recorders it also helps to build the script up in small manageable chunks.
It is impossible to guarantee that WebRecorder will manage to record 100% of webpages 100% of the time correctly. But we certainly strive for more than 50%! Extensive testing on a mulititude of pretty complicated websites proved satisfactory and while some manual tweaks are often required WebRecorder still saves heaps of work. It has been used successfully in many Intranet environments and in Enterprise environments where the ERP client is a web client to automate Enterprise solutions.
I'll look at the text extract function. It sounds like there is an issue there.
We are committed to continually refining the product and to help us do that it would help us if you could provide details of the website you are trying to record so that we can run a record against the same scenario and determine whether there is a problem or if there is just a limitation with that particular site that can't be overcome. Would you be able to provide such details?
I would wager that anything WebRecorder has difficulty with you may struggle to automate manually with plain VBScript. What WebRecorder is particularly useful for is taking away the guesswork with form fields and variable names and avoids having to study the source of the page. IEAuto.DLL also allows you to automate deep within frames which is impossible with plain VBScript due to script site vulnerability limitations.
As with all macro recorders it also helps to build the script up in small manageable chunks.
MJT Net Support
[email protected]
[email protected]
Unfortunately the websites I'm having difficulties with all require a logon id/password as they are customer sites (so I can't provide you website information to test with due to security reasons). Hopefully I can find an example where I don't need to log in (although the problems always occur after the login is completed). I was able to record logging into my mail server and checking my email without a hitch, works great on that one.
If you could look at the extract tag text part, that would be great. Every time I save off the text from a tag (using the indexed variable built into the software) the program blows up on me (during playback, not during the recording process).
Thank you!
If you could look at the extract tag text part, that would be great. Every time I save off the text from a tag (using the indexed variable built into the software) the program blows up on me (during playback, not during the recording process).
Thank you!
