Browser Manual Contents: M714 Browser - Aquatrac Instruments
Browser Automation
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Transcript of Browser Automation
Browser Automation
Using The Internet is an Skill to be Feared and Respected - Like
competitive eating but more useful professionally
@ehrenfoss | 512-673-7254 | http://www.preludeinteractive.com
Overview
Why Browser Automation?
Shortcuts, Quickness, and Ubiquity with the Keyboard
Self Control with LeechBlock, RescueTime, and your hosts file.
Macros with iMacros
Finally, I'm Going to Re-Read This Slide
Why Browser Automation?
• Because you use it all the time!
• Eventually, Browser == Computer
Keyboard Vs. Mouse
Moving the mouse is a motor skills problem in 2 dimensions.
Moving the mouse requires moving your hand a lot. Keys require smaller, quicker movements.
3 keystrokes = 185k possibilities
Mobile interfaces are too small and our fingers are too big.
Touch screens are too new (and we'retoo clumsy)
On the other hand…“We’ve done a cool $50 million of R & D on the Apple Human Interface. We discovered,
among other things, two pertinent facts: Test subjects consistently report that keyboarding is faster than mousing. The stopwatch consistently proves mousing is faster than keyboarding.
This contradiction between user-experience and reality apparently forms the basis for many user/developers’ belief that the keyboard is faster.”
- Bruce “Tog” Tognazzini
http://www.asktog.com/TOI/toi06KeyboardVMouse1.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001088.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000825.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MPJZ6M52dIhttp://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html
Browser Shortcuts and "Hotkeys"
Cntl-T - new tabCntl-Tab - switch tabs.Cntl-L - go to a websiteCntl-W - close the tab I'm on.Cntl-K - search
Check out the hints in your menus too! Like...Alt-Fthen Alt-F-V
/ search navigation - See a link? Zing to it.
"Add a Keyword for this search...“
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Keyboard+shortcuts
Gmail Hotkeys
k - newerj - oldern - next messagep - previous messageo/Enter - open x - select# - deletey - de-label or archive
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=6594
Ubiquity
Do common multi-step tasks fasterWikipediaFacebookWeatherCalculator
Search for new extensions for the websites you work with.
Control + Space
https://mozillalabs.com/ubiquity/
Self Control
C'mon... be honest....
How to find out what’s really going on…
• Videotape yourself.• Take screenshots.• Set a timer• Rescue Time
http://www.rescuetime.com/
Self Control, Step 1
Wait, Owl Videos!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjEld1kYzOA
Block Sites in your Browser: LeechBlock (FFox) Allowed Sites (IE) Right click - Block Content (Opera)
The Nuclear Option
The 'hosts' file is a file on most operating systems where you can match URLs to IPs - like a local DNS.
Set to 127.0.0.1 (your computer) to disable the website completely:
127.0.0.1 icanhascheezburger.com
/etc/hosts/c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
http://practice.chatserve.com/hosts.html
Macros
Well…they are neat.
Browser Macros?
iMacrosCorny website, useful tool: • Free Version works Just Fine• http://www.iopus.com/imacros/• Available for multiple browsers
Selenium• Open Source Website Testing• http://seleniumhq.org/
Simple Stuff
Keep track of logins Navigate Deeply Pay a Bill- Difficult to Remember/Find Login?- Hard to Navigate Website? Startup and Setup
Stuff that Used to Take You Hours
Rolling something out and need to create 600 users? Preparing for a 10k race in 273 cities and need to create each group, folder, email template, etc?
iMacros + CSV = LOVE
iMacros: Extra Credit
Setup shortcuts to individual macrosSchedule tasks
http://wiki.imacros.net/Tutorials
It is a little like programming. Don't be scared!
Internet Explorer
FireFox Chrome Safari Opera
Extensions? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Macros iMacros iMacros iMacros AppleScript Opera Macros
Self Control Approved Sites / Hosts File
LeechBlock Nope! Parental Controls - Allow List
Block Content
Convenience IE8 Web Slices?
Ubiquity Nope! QuickSilver? ?
Hotkeys Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Overview
First, I'm Going To Read This Slide Why Browser Automation?
Shortcuts, Quickness with Ubiquity (Keyboards!!)
Self Control with LeechBlock, RescueTime, and your hosts file.
Macros with iMacros and Selenium
Finally, I'm Going to Re-Read This Slide
@ehrenfoss | 512-673-7254 | http://www.preludeinteractive.com