1. Using Robots in Oracle Integration 3
  2. Build a Robot
  3. Create and Update a Robot Resource
  4. Work with Targets

Work with Targets

Create and update targets on the canvas.

To learn more about targets and other robot resources, see Alternatives to Hard Coding Data.

Create a Target

A target identifies the HTML element that a robot interacts with. Every target has two components: a user-friendly name, and the hard-coded XML path language, or XPath.

You typically create targets while you're adding an action to a robot. Creating targets this way is straightforward. See Add an Action to a Robot. You don't save any time by creating targets before you add actions to a robot, but you can create them ahead of time if you want. Keep reading for instructions.

  1. Open a robot.
    1. In the navigation pane, select Projects.
    2. Select the project name.
    3. In the left toolbar, select Robot Robot.
    4. In the Robots box, select the robot to open.

      The canvas appears.

  2. In the toolbar, select Targets Targets.

    The Targets panel appears.

  3. Select Create (if no targets have been created) or Create Create (if at least one target exists).

    The Target panel appears.

  4. Enter a name for the target.
  5. Target the HTML element that the robot works with.
    1. In another browser window or tab, open the application where the robot works.
    2. Click within the Locator field, and select Target a page element Target a page element.
      The Target a page element panel appears.
    3. In the panel, from the Select browser tab to target drop-down, select the application where the robot works, and select Go. You might need to scroll down to find the application.

      The application opens.

    4. In the application where the robot works, point to the UI element to target, but don't select it 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 checkbox control (the checkbox itself, not including its text label) is shaded purple, and a magnifying lens icon appears above it. A big red X appears, indicating that the control isn't ready to be selected

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

      A checkbox control (the checkbox itself, not including its text label) is shaded green, and a target icon appears above it. A big green checkmark appears, indicating that the control is ready to be selected

      For more tips, see Quick Start for Building Robots.

      The recorder enters a value in the Locator field.

  6. Click OK.
  7. Above the canvas, select Save.

Update a Target

Sometimes, the fields and buttons that a robot interacts with change. You can update a target without even opening an action that references it. A central list of all targets is right at your fingertips for stress-free maintenance.

Before updating a target, check where it's used. See See Where a Target Is Used.
  1. Open the robot whose target needs to change.
    1. In the navigation pane, select Projects.
    2. Select the project name.
    3. In the left toolbar, select Robot Robot.
    4. In the Robots box, select the robot to open.

      The canvas appears.

  2. In the horizontal toolbar on the right, select Targets Targets

    The Targets panel appears. The Usages value indicates the number of times the value is used in the robot.

  3. Update the target.
    1. Above the list of targets, select Edit Edit icon.

      The Target panel appears.

    2. Optional: Update the fields as needed.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Above the canvas, select Save.

See Where a Target Is Used

At any time, you can view the actions and logic that reference a target.

  1. Open the robot whose target needs to change.
    1. In the navigation pane, select Projects.
    2. Select the project name.
    3. In the left toolbar, select Robot Robot.
    4. In the Robots box, select the robot to open.

      The canvas appears.

  2. In the horizontal toolbar on the right, select Targets Targets

    The Targets panel appears. The Usages value indicates the number of times the value is used in the robot.

  3. In the list, locate a target.
  4. Select the Usages link on the target.
    A variable named Order has 2 usages

    The Target usages panel appears.

  5. Review the actions and logic that reference the target.