Reference¶
Use this section to look up information on steps, helper functions and run options you can use. You can explore using the navigation headers.
Steps¶
The steps you can use in TagUI are listed here.
Mouse and keyboard¶
click¶
click [DOM/XPath/Point/Image]
Examples
click Main concepts
click //nav/div/div[2]/ul/li[4]/ul/li[1]/a
click (500,200)
click button.png
type¶
type [DOM/XPath/Point/Image] as [text to type]
Examples
type search-term as John Wick
type //input[@name="search"] as John Wick
type (500,200) as John Wick
type input_field.png as John Wick
type search-term as [clear]John Wick[enter]
type //input[@name="search"] as [clear]John Wick[enter]
type (500,200) as [clear]John Wick[enter]
type input_field.png as [clear]John Wick[enter]
keyboard¶
Enters keystrokes directly.
keyboard [keys]
You can use the following special keys:
- [shift] [ctrl] [alt] [win] [cmd] [enter]
- [space] [tab] [esc] [backspace] [delete] [clear]
- [up] [down] [left] [right] [pageup] [pagedown]
- [home] [end] [insert] [f1] .. [f15]
- [printscreen] [scrolllock] [pause] [capslock] [numlock]
Examples
keyboard [win]run[enter]
keyboard [printscreen]
keyboard [ctrl]c
keyboard [tab][tab][tab][enter]
keyboard [cmd][space]
keyboard safari[enter]
keyboard [cmd]c
Web¶
select¶
select [DOM/XPath of select input element] as [option value or text]
Examples
select variant as blue
table¶
Saves table data to a csv file, base on the table number on webpage or its XPath identifier.
table [table number] to [filename.csv]
table [XPath] to [filename.csv]
Examples
table 1 to regional_exchange_rates.csv
table (//table)[2] to global_exchange_rates.csv
table //table[@name='report'] to report.csv
popup¶
Modifies the next steps to be run in a new tab.
popup [unique part of new tab's URL]
[steps]
Examples
popup confirm
click Confirm
frame¶
Modifies the next steps to use the DOM or XPath in a frame or subframe.
frame [frame name]
[steps]
frame [frame name] | [subframe name]
[steps]
Examples
frame navigation
click Products
frame main | register
click Register
download to¶
download to [folder location]
upload¶
upload [DOM of upload element] as [filename]
Examples
upload #element_id as report.csv
api¶
Call a web API and save the raw response to the variable api_result.
If the response is in JSON, api_json will automatically be created.
api https://some-api-url
Examples
api https://api.github.com/repos/kelaberetiv/TagUI/releases
echo `api_result`
author = api_json[0].author.login
For an advanced example of using api step, setting POST/GET method, header and body, see this example from aito.ai - a web-based machine learning solution for no-coders and RPA developers. In the example, api step is used to make a machine-learning inference to generate the account code of an invoice item, based on its description and price. aito.ai’s free tier comes with 2000 API calls/month and it works perfectly with TagUI.
Excel¶
Perform read, write, copy, delete actions on Excel files using standard Excel formula like this one [workbook]sheet!range. This feature works with both Windows and Mac Excel apps. See this link for notes of passed test cases and known limitations for this feature. To access a password-protected Excel file, use excel_password = 'password'.
variables¶
You can use variables in your Excel formula, for eg range or sheet. Various Excel file formats are supported, be sure to put the file’s .extension as part of the formula so that TagUI can recognise that the instruction is an Excel step instead of some JavaScript code.
[`workbook`.xlsx]`sheet`!`range` = 123
data = [`workbook`.xlsx]`sheet`!`range`
visibility¶
By default, the Excel app will be opened and run in the background. If you want the automated actions on Excel to be in focus in foreground, you can set it with excel_focus = true in your workflow. Use excel_focus = false to set it off again in your workflow.
For some usage scenarios, you might not even want the Excel app to be visible in the background. In that case, you can set excel_visible = false in your workflow to run Excel invisibly. Use excel_visible = true to make Excel visible again in your RPA workflow.
read¶
Read data from Excel files. Both relative and absolute file paths supported. Error will be shown if the specified file or sheet does not exist. In below line, range can be a cell or range in Excel.
variable = [workbook]sheet!range
Reading columns and rows can be done using standard Excel formula for range, for example A:A (column A), B:D (columns B to D), 2:2 (row 2), 3:5 (rows 3 to 5). There is no standard Excel formula for selecting the entire range of a sheet, so you will have to provide the actual range required.
Examples
top_profit = [Monthly Report.xlsx]August!E10
top_salesman = [Monthly Report.xlsx]August!E11
data_array = [Quarterly Metrics.xlsx]Main!B3:G100
data_array = [C:\Reports\June.xls]Sheet1!A1:C2
data_array = [C:\Reports\June.xls]Sheet1!A:A
data_array = [C:\Reports\June.xls]Sheet1!B:D
data_array = [C:\Reports\June.xls]Sheet1!2:2
data_array = [C:\Reports\June.xls]Sheet1!3:5
TagUI’s backend language is JavaScript, thus data_array can be used just like a JavaScript array.
// to work on data in data_array cell by cell
for row from 0 to data_array.length-1
for col from 0 to data_array[row].length-1
echo `data_array[row][col]`
Note - There was a limitation on reading multiple rows and columns, for eg B:D and 3:5 (data array returned will be a 1 x N array instead of the correct row x column array). This is now fixed in v6.87. Get your copy with tagui update command or from MS Word Plug-in Update TagUI button.
write¶
Write data to Excel files. Both relative and absolute file paths supported. If the specified file does not exist, a new file will be created. If the sheet does not exist, a new sheet will be created. If the data is an array, the given cell will be used as the top-left cell to write the range of cells.
[workbook]sheet!cell = variable
Examples
[Monthly Report.xlsx]August!E10 = 12345
[Monthly Report.xlsx]August!E11 = "Alan"
[Monthly Report.xlsx]August!E12 = variable
[Quarterly Metrics.xlsx]Main!B3 = data_array
TagUI’s backend language is JavaScript, thus range data can be defined just like a JavaScript array.
// to assign a set of range data with 2 rows of 3 columns
[C:\Reports\June.xls]Sheet1!A1 = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]
[C:\Reports\June.xls]Sheet1!A1 = [[variable_1, variable_2, variable_3], [4, 5, 6]]
// example spreadsheet data with #, name and country
[Participants.xlsx]Sheet1!A1 = [['1', 'John', 'USA'], [2, 'Jenny', 'Russia'], [3, 'Javier', 'Serbia']]
// get the next row count for the example spreadsheet
column_A = [Participants.xlsx]Sheet1!A:A
next_row = column_A.length + 1
// write a new row accordingly to example spreadsheet
[Participants.xlsx]Sheet1!A`next_row` = [[next_row, 'Janice', 'Brazil']]
copy¶
Copy data across Excel files. Both relative and absolute file paths supported. Error will be shown if the specified source file or sheet does not exist. If the specified destination file does not exist, a new file will be created. If the destination sheet does not exist, a new sheet will be created. If the data is an array, the given cell will be used as the top-left cell to write the range of cells.
[workbook]sheet!cell = [workbook]sheet!range
Examples
[Monthly Report.xlsx]August!A1 = [Jennifer Report.xlsx]August!A1
[Monthly Report.xlsx]August!A1 = [Jennifer Report.xlsx]August!A1:E200
delete¶
Delete data in Excel files. Both relative and absolute file paths supported. Error will be shown if the specified file or sheet does not exist. Delete a range of cells by assigning an empty array to it.
[workbook]sheet!cell = ""
Examples
[Monthly Report.xlsx]August!E10 = ""
[Quarterly Metrics.xlsx]Main!A1 = [["", "", ""], ["", "", ""]]
Word¶
You can read the text contents of a Microsoft Word document simply by assigning its filename to a variable as follows. TagUI will automate Microsoft Word to copy out the text contents and assign to the variable. Note that you need to have Microsoft Word installed on your computer. This feature works for both Windows and Mac.
Examples for Windows
word_text = [Research Report.docx]
word_text = [C:\Users\Jennifer\Desktop\Report.docx]
word_text = [FY2021 Reports\Research Report.docx]
filename = 'C:\\Users\\Jennifer\\Desktop\\Report'
word_text = [`filename`.docx]
filename = 'Research Report'
word_text = [`filename`.docx]
Examples for Mac
word_text = [Research Report.docx]
word_text = [/Users/jennifer/Desktop/Report.docx]
word_text = [FY2021 Reports/Research Report.docx]
filename = '/Users/jennifer/Desktop/Report'
word_text = [`filename`.docx]
filename = 'Research Report'
word_text = [`filename`.docx]
After reading the text content into a variable, you can process it using TagUI’s helper functions such as get_text() and del_chars() to retrieve specific information required for your RPA scenario. Standard JavaScript functions can also be used to do string processing, for more information google javascript how to xxxx. After reading the text content from a Word document, TagUI will close Microsoft Word and continue with the rest of the automation steps.
PDF¶
You can read the text contents of a PDF file simply by assigning its filename to a variable as follows. TagUI will automate the PDF viewer app to copy out the text contents and assign to the variable. On Windows, you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader and set it as your default PDF viewer. On Mac, TagUI will use the default Preview app that can already view PDF files.
Examples for Windows
pdf_text = [Research Report.pdf]
pdf_text = [C:\Users\Jennifer\Desktop\Report.pdf]
pdf_text = [FY2021 Reports\Research Report.pdf]
filename = 'C:\\Users\\Jennifer\\Desktop\\Report'
pdf_text = [`filename`.pdf]
filename = 'Research Report'
pdf_text = [`filename`.pdf]
Examples for Mac
pdf_text = [Research Report.pdf]
pdf_text = [/Users/jennifer/Desktop/Report.pdf]
pdf_text = [FY2021 Reports/Research Report.pdf]
filename = '/Users/jennifer/Desktop/Report'
pdf_text = [`filename`.pdf]
filename = 'Research Report'
pdf_text = [`filename`.pdf]
After reading the text content into a variable, you can process it using TagUI’s helper functions such as get_text() and del_chars() to retrieve specific information required for your RPA scenario. Standard JavaScript functions can also be used to do string processing, for more information google javascript how to xxxx. After reading the text content from a PDF file, TagUI will close the PDF viewer and continue with the rest of the automation steps.
Using variables¶
read¶
read [DOM/XPath/Region/Image] to [variable]
When you provide a Region or Image identifier, TagUI uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to read the characters from the screen.
Examples
read //p[@id="address"] to address
read //p[@id="address"]/@class to address-class
read (500,200)-(600,400) to id-number
read frame.png to email
assign¶
Saves text to a variable.
[variable] = [value]
Examples
count = 5
username = "johncleese"
fullname = firstname + lastname
access¶
Examples
my_variable = "hello world"
echo `my_variable`
// output: hello world
Examples
a = "hello"
b = "world"
if a equals to b
echo same
// output:
my_variable = 3
for n from 1 to my_variable
echo `n`
// output: 1
// 2
// 3
my_variable = "some text to copy"
clipboard(my_variable)
concatenation¶
Examples
echo `a` `b`
// output: hello world
a = "hello"
b = "world"
c = a + " " + b
echo `c`
// output: hello world
File saving/loading¶
dump¶
Saves text to a new file.
dump [text] to [filename]
dump [`variable`] to [filename]
// creates blank CSV file with header
dump First Name,Last Name to names.csv
write¶
Saves a new line of text to an existing file.
write [text] to [filename]
write [`variable`] to [filename]
Examples
write firstname,lastname to names.csv
write `fullreport` to report.txt
load¶
Loads file content to a variable.
load [filename] to [variable]
Examples
load report.txt to report
snap¶
snap [DOM/XPath/Region/Image/page] to [filename]
If you use page as the identifier, it takes a screenshot of the whole webpage.
Examples
snap logo to logo.png
snap page to webpage.png
snap (0,0)-(100,100) to image.png
Showing output¶
echo¶
Shows some output on the command line.
echo [text]
echo [`variable`]
Examples
echo Flow has started
echo The user is `username`
check¶
Shows some output on the command line based on a condition.
check [condition] | [text if true] | [text if false]
Examples
check header_home_text equals to "Home" | "header text is correct" | "header text is wrong"
Custom code¶
js¶
Runs JavaScript code explicitly. TagUI has direct access to the JavaScript variables.
js [JavaScript statement]
js begin
[JavaScript statements]
js finish
Examples
js obj = JSON.parse(api_result)
dump `obj` to result.json
js begin
obj = JSON.parse(api_result)
randomInteger = Math.floor(Math.random() * Math.floor(5)) + 1
js finish
dump `obj` to result.json
// declare and initilise variable to use it inside/outside js code block
a = ""
js begin
a = "some string"
js finish
echo `a`
py¶
Runs Python code and saves the stdout to the variable py_result as a string.
py [Python statement]
py begin
[Python statements]
py finish
Examples
py result = 2 + 3
py print(result)
echo `py_result`
py begin
import random
random_integer = random.randint(1,6)
print(random_integer)
py finish
echo `py_result`
See this link for more examples and usage patterns on running Python code.
run¶
Runs a command in Command Prompt or Terminal and saves the stdout to the variable run_result.
run [shell command]
Examples
run cmd /c mkdir new_directory
vision¶
Runs Sikuli code.
vision [Sikuli statement]
vision begin
[Sikuli statements]
vision finish
Examples
vision click("button1.png")
dom¶
Runs code in the browser dom and saves returned value to the variable dom_result.
dom [JavaScript statement to run in the DOM]
dom begin
[JavaScript statements to run in the DOM]
dom finish
Examples
// goes back to previous page
dom window.history.back()
// returns text of an element
dom return document.querySelector('#some_id').textContent
r¶
Runs R statements and saves the stdout to the variable r_result.
r [R statement]
r begin
[R statements]
r finish
Miscellaneous¶
wait¶
Explicitly wait for some time.
wait [seconds to wait]
wait [seconds to wait] s
wait [seconds to wait] seconds
Examples
wait 5.5
wait 10 s
wait 20 seconds
timeout¶
Changes the auto-wait timeout when waiting for web elements to appear (default 10 seconds).
timeout [seconds to wait before timeout]
Examples
timeout 300
ask¶
Prompts user for input and saves the input as the variable ask_result.
ask [prompt]
Examples
ask What is the date of the receipt? (in DD-MM-YYYY)
type search as `ask_result`
live¶
Run steps interactively and immediately see the output. The user must enter “done” before the flow continues.
live
tagui¶
Runs another TagUI flow. Checks the flow’s folder.
tagui [flow file]
tagui [folder/flow file]
Examples
tagui update-forex.tag
tagui flows/update-forex.tag
comment¶
Adds a comment. If you are inside a code block, for example an if condition or for loop, be sure to indent your comment accordingly to let TagUI run correctly after it converts into JavaScript code.
// [comment]
Examples
// updates the forex rates
telegram¶
Sends a Telegram notification, for example, to update on automation completion or exception.
First, message @taguibot to authorise it to send messages to your Telegram. Then in TagUI:
telegram [id] [message]
Examples
// this line sends message to Telegram user with ID 1234567890, \n means a new line
telegram 1234567890 Hello Alena,\n\nYour HR onboarding bot has completed successfully.
// show telegram_result variable - 'success' means sent, 'fail' means sending failed
echo Telegram message - `telegram_result`
// if condition to check telegram_result 'success' or 'fail' and handle accordingly
if telegram_result equals to 'success'
echo Message sent successfully.
else
echo Message sending failed.
Note that the telegram step requires an internet connection. This feature is being hosted at https://tebel.org, but the source code is on GitHub if you wish to host this feature on your own cloud or server. The implementation is in pure PHP without any dependencies.
The only info logged is chat_id, length of the message, datetime stamp (to prevent abuse). If you wish to host on your own, first read through this link to learn more about Telegram Bot API, creating your bot API token and setting up the webhook - https://core.telegram.org/bots
Run options¶
You can use the below options when running tagui.
For example, the command below runs my_flow.tag without showing the web browser, while storing the flow run result in tagui_report.csv.
tagui my_flow.tag -headless -report
-deploy or -d¶
Deploys a flow, creating a shortcut which can be double-clicked to run the flow. If the flow file is moved, a new shortcut must be created. The flow will be run with all the options used when creating the shortcut.
-headless or -h¶
Runs the flow with an invisible Chrome web browser (does not work for visual automation).
-nobrowser or -n¶
Runs without any web browser, for example to perform automation only with visual automation.
-report or -r¶
Tracks flow run result in tagui/src/tagui_report.csv and saves html logs of flows execution.
-turbo or -t¶
Run automation at 10X the speed of normal human user. Read caveats at Advanced concepts!
-quiet or -q¶
Runs without output to command prompt except for explicit output (echo, show, check steps and errors etc). To have fine-grained control on showing and hiding output during execution (eg hiding password from showing up), use quiet_mode = true and quiet_mode = false in your flow.
-edge or -e¶
Runs using Microsoft Edge browser instead of Chrome (can be used with -headless option).
my_datatable.csv¶
Uses the specified csv file as the datatable for batch automation. See datatables.
input(s)¶
Add your own parameter(s) to be used in your automation flow as variables p1 to p8.
For example, from the command prompt, below line runs register_attendence.tag workflow using Microsoft Edge browser and with various student names as inputs.
tagui register_attendence.tag -edge Jenny Jason John Joanne
Inside the workflow, the variables p1, p2, p3, p4 will be available for use as part of the automation, for example to fill up student names into a web form for recording attendence. The following lines in the workflow will output various student names given as inputs.
echo `p1`
echo `p2`
echo `p3`
echo `p4`
Helper functions¶
csv_row()¶
Formats an array for writing to csv file.
Examples
read name_element to name
read price_element to price
read details_element to details
write `csv_row([name, price, details])` to product_list.csv
count()¶
Gets the number of elements matching the identifier specified. Note that the identifier needs to be in single quotes ''.
Examples
rows = count('table-rows')
clipboard()¶
Puts text onto the clipboard, or gets the clipboard text (if no input is given).
Examples
clipboard('some text')
keyboard [ctrl]v
keyboard [ctrl]c
contents = clipboard()
title()¶
Gets the title of the current web page.
Examples
if title() contains 'Confirmation'
click button1
text()¶
Gets all text content of the current web page.
Examples
if text() contains 'success'
click button1
timer()¶
Gets the time elapsed in seconds in between each running of this function.
Examples
timer()
click button1
click button2
click button3
echo `timer()`
exist()¶
true or false depending on whether it exists or not.exist('[DOM/XPath/Image]')
Examples
if exist('//table')
click button1
present()¶
true or false.Examples
if present('//table')
click button1
mouse_xy()¶
Examples
echo `mouse_xy()`
mouse_x()¶
Gets the x coordinate of the current mouse position as a number, eg 200.
Examples
hover element.png
x = mouse_x() + 200
y = mouse_y()
click (`x`,`y`)
mouse_y()¶
Gets the y coordinate of the current mouse position as a number, eg 200.
Examples
hover element.png
x = mouse_x() + 200
y = mouse_y()
click (`x`,`y`)
get_files()¶
Returns an array of files and folders in a given folder. Both relative and absolute paths supported.
Examples
// list of files in the same folder as the flow file
list = get_files('.')
// list of files in the Desktop folder of user Alan
// note double backslash because of JavaScript string
list = get_files('C:\\Users\\Alan\\Desktop')
// alternatively, use single forward slash instead
list = get_files('C:/Users/Alan/Desktop')
// showing the list of files after retrieving it
// JavaScript array start from 0 for 1st element
for n from 0 to list.length-1
echo `list[n]`
// checking to process a specific file extension
for n from 0 to list.length-1
if list[n] contains '.XLSX'
echo `list[n]`
get_text()¶
Extracts text between 2 provided anchors from given text. Optional 4th parameter for occurrence during multiple matches (for example 3 to tell the function to return the 3rd match found).
Examples
pdf_text = 'Name: John State: Texas City: Plano Contact: ...'
name = get_text(pdf_text, 'Name:', 'State:')
state = get_text(pdf_text, 'State:', 'City:')
city = get_text(pdf_text, 'City:', 'Contact:')
echo `name`, `state`, `city`
del_chars()¶
Cleans data by removing provided character(s) from given text and returning the result.
Examples
pdf_text = 'Name: John\n State: Texas\t City: Plano\n Contact: ...'
echo `del_chars(pdf_text, '\n\t:')`
get_env()¶
Returns the value of given environment variable from the operating system.
Examples
// getting %USERPROFILE% variable for Windows
echo `get_env('USERPROFILE')`
home_dir = get_env('USERPROFILE')
// getting $HOME variable for Mac or Linux
echo `get_env('HOME')`
home_dir = get_env('HOME')