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I'm in need of a software that automates simple repetitive (logic) tasks on a website.

Note: I've looked into some of the website automation libraries out there like Geb and Cucumber but these libraries seem to be focused on automating testing for developers. Meaning they have some of the functionality that I need but they also require access to the files of the website (i.e. running a Geb script in the back-end). Unfortunately, all I have to work with is the front-facing user application site of the site.

An example of what I need the software to do:

  1. Click the first link in a specific column of a table on the page.
  2. On the new page that has been opened (a pre-filled HTML form) follow a set of logic:
    • If certain fields are non-empty, clear other fields
    • Otherwise, click some buttons
    • Etc.

Note: These actions will sometimes result in popup windows appearing as a result of the actions been performed which then actions will need to be taken on these new popups.

Does such a software exist that suits my specific requirements?

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    Would solutions like selenium or phantomjs be solutions you'd look at? They'd take a fair bit of programming time on your end of course. Would that be ok as part of the solution? – Eric Renouf Sep 27 '16 at 19:04
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    @EricRenouf I've briefly looked into selenium but I was under the impression that it is the backbone behind the libraries I've already mentioned (and thus needed access to the actual files). I haven't heard about phantomjs yet but I'm looking into it right now. The most important part of my question is that I do not have access to anything but the visible side of the web app. Meaning, I can't add any files/scripts into the application itself (therefore the software I'm looking for must be able to be run externally of the website it's modifying). – Paul Warnick Sep 27 '16 at 19:11
  • I don't know those libraries, so I'm not sure what it means to need the files. Selenium automates a browser so makes Web requests then let's you interact with the page it gets back – Eric Renouf Sep 27 '16 at 19:51
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There are a whole bunch of different tools you could use depending on need. Here are a couple:

  • Selenium (mentioned by Eric)

    Would require a client to be running.

  • PhantomJS (also mentioned by Eric)

    Can be run under Node.JS as a server but is command line/programming so no GUI. Certainly handles multiple windows.

  • iMacros

    This has been knocking around for years, it has paid and free versions and works in the browser. Pretty easy to use. I'm fairly sure - but not 100% - that it will handle multiple windows.

Depending on what platform you are running on, you could probably use an OS automation tool such as AutoIT for Windows.

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  • I would say Selenium. i would also note while AutoIt is an excellent app, it could only automate a browsers menus (I suppose it could clcik at x-y coords, but it can't select browser controls by name as it can for Windows) – Mawg says reinstate Monica Jul 30 '19 at 12:18

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