WebDriver
This page is still a work in progress.
The W3C WebDriver API is a platform and language-neutral interface and wire protocol allowing programs or scripts to control the behavior of a web browser.
Introduction
WebDriver API
WebDriver enables developers to create automated tests that simulate user interaction. This is different from JavaScript unit tests because WebDriver has access to functionality and information that JavaScript running in the browser doesn't, and it can more accurately simulate user events or OS-level events. WebDriver can also manage testing across multiple windows, tabs and webpages in a single test session.
WebDriver UDF
The WebDriver UDF allows to interact with any browser that supports the W3C WebDriver specifications. Supporting multiple browsers via the same code base is now possible with just a few configuration settings.
Requirements
The following UDFs need to be installed - independant of the Browser you try to automate:
- JSON UDF
- WinHTTP UDF
- WebDriver UDF from github
One of the following Drivers needs to be installed - depending on the Browser type and version you try to automate:
| Browser | Download Link | Latest Version / Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | 80.0.3987.16 / 2019.12.19 | Follow this link to select the correct version depending on the Chrome version you run! | |
| Edge | Microsoft | 81.0.370.0 | |
| FireFox | github | 0.26 / 2019.10.12 | Firefox version ≥ 60 is recommended Note: You must still have the Microsoft Visual Studio redistributable runtime installed on your system for the binary to run. This is a known bug which the authors weren't able fix for this release. |
| Internet Explorer | Microsoft |
Limitations
Not all WebDriver functions have been implemented by each browser. To check the status, click on the below link for each respective browser:
Big Picture
How the browser independant and browser dependant parts fit together:
Installation
The following steps are needed to install everything you need to automate your browser:
- Download the files listed in section "Requirements"
- Move the UDFs to a directory where SciTE and Autoit can find them:
- Json.au3 and BinaryCall.au3 from the JSON UDF
- wd_Core.au3 and wd_helper.au3 from the WebDriver UDF
- WinHttp.au3 and WinHttpConstants.au3 from the WinHttp UDF
- Move the browser dependant WebDriver to the same directory:
- chromedriver.exe for Chrome
- geckodriver.exe for Firefox
- msedgedriver.exe for Edge (Chromium) or MicrosoftWebDriver.exe for Edge (EdgeHTML)
- Run the demo script to validate the installation
Debugging
Debug the WebDriver setup
FireFox
| Problem | Solution | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| The installation testing script (_WD_Installation_Test.au3) does not start up FireFox and does not display the DOS window for geckodriver. When you manually run the geckodriver in a DOS window you get message "geckodriver: error: An invalid argument was supplied. (os error 10022)" |
Run the gecko driver from a local HDD. | Stackoverflow |
Debug your Script
References
Further information sources:
- W3C: https://www.w3.org/TR/webdriver/
- Danp2's thread in the Example Scripts forum: https://www.autoitscript.com/forum/topic/191990-webdriver-udf-w3c-compliant-version-12242019
- Danp2's thread in the General Help and Support forum: https://www.autoitscript.com/forum/topic/192730-webdriver-udf-help-support/