1. Using Robots in Oracle Integration 3
  2. Build a Robot
  3. Add an Action to a Robot
  4. Deeper Dive: Settings for Robot Actions
  5. Define the Fields of an Action

Define the Fields of an Action

If you're new to designing robots, spend some time familiarizing yourself with your options for defining the fields for an action.

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How to Define Field Values

The following table helps you understand all the available options and how to apply them.

Some fields include only some of these options.

Goal More information

Use a value from a robot connection

Robot connections Robot connections

  1. In a robot action, select within the field to define, and select Robot connections Robot connections. This option is sometimes in the More optionsMore options menu.

    The Robot connections panel appears.

  2. In the list, expand the entry for a robot connection.

    If you haven't created any robot connections, you can create one now. See Create a Robot Connection.

  3. Drag a parameter for the robot connection to the field.

Choose an element in a user interface

Target a page element Target a page element

To select a field using the recorder:

  1. In a robot action, select within the field to define, and select Target a page element Target a page element. This option is sometimes in the More options More options menu.

    The Target a page element panel appears.

  2. In the Select browser tab to target drop-down, select an application.

  3. In the application, point to the UI element that the robot needs to interact with, but don't select the field yet.

    For example, if the field is shaded purple and the magnifying lens icon appears, don't click yet. The recorder is still collecting information.

    A User ID field is shaded purple, and a magnifying lens icon appears above it

  4. After the shading turns green, the icon changes to a target, and the mouse icon changes to a hand, select the UI element.

    A User ID field is shaded green, and a target icon appears above it

    Tip:

    Your settings determine whether Oracle Integration reuses targets for previously selected UI controls. You can override these settings, if needed. Reusing a target offers benefits. For example, you can update a target one time, and all actions that use the target get the update.

Use an input property from the robot trigger

Input Input

  1. In a robot action, select within the field to define, and select More options More options, and then select Input Input.

    The Input panel appears.

  2. From the Properties list, select a property, and drag it to the field.

    If you haven't created the input yet, you can create it now. See Create a Trigger's Input or Output.

Use an output property from the robot trigger

Output Output

  1. In a robot action, select within the field to define, and select More options More options, and then select Output Output.

    The Output panel appears.

  2. From the Properties list, select a property, and drag it to the field.

    If you haven't created the output yet, you can create it now. See Create a Trigger's Input or Output.

Use a project-level variable

Variables Variables

  1. In a robot action, select within the field to define, and select Variables Variables. This option is sometimes in the More optionsMore options menu.

    The Variables panel appears.

  2. If the variable to use doesn't exist yet, create it. See Create a Variable.

  3. From the Available variables list, select a variable, and drag it to the field.

Hard code a value by typing text

In general, Oracle recommends using placeholder values rather than hard-coded values. Placeholder values are easy to reuse and update. However, you can hard-code a value if needed when defining a robot action.

  1. In a robot action, select within the field to define.
  2. Enter the value for the field.

Include an expression in a field

If you need to take action on a value, such as by using it to obtain a different value through a calculation, you can include an expression in a field.

See Guidelines for Expressions.

Examples

Action Example

Open browser

The URL field has offers several options for defining a value.

On the Input tab, the URL field appears, and the More options menu from within the field is open. The field contains the Robot connections option, and the menu contains the following options: Target a page element, Input, Variables, and Clear.

Enter text

The Text field offers several options for defining a value.

On the Input tab, the Text field appears, and the More options menu from within the field is open. The field contains the Variables option, and the menu contains the following options: Target a page element, Input, Robot connections, and Clear.

Log

The Message field offers several options for the data to include in the activity stream.

In the Log action, the Message field appears, and the More options menu from within the field is open. The field contains the Variables option, and the menu contains the following options: Target a page element, Input, Output, Robot connections, and Clear.

Additional Options When Defining an Action

Each action has additional options that are specific to the action. For details, see Add an Action to a Robot.