Automate a browser session?

[NOTS3W]

I need to logon to a vendor's web site (I can do this manually) then run a script or macro to:

1. Read a local file, one line at a time

2. Insert the read value into a specific field on the web page

3. Click a button (Go, Search, Continue, whatever)

4. Wait for the next page to appear

5. Read the text from a certain field

6. Write the original value and the result to a different local file

7. Repeat the first six steps until reaching the end of the first file

I know errors could occur, but I'd rather get as far as I can, crash/timeout and restart than to manually type 100's of alphanumeric values and write down the results.

Surely, someone has needed to do such a thing before. I've been searching for browser macro/script/automate and haven't found anything that sounds like it will do the job for less than a few hundred dollars.

Is there some utility that will do this or a relatively simple language that I can use to program it?

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd sure appreciate it.

Thanks.

[DigeratiPrime]

Only idea I have is AutoIt and AutoHotkey.

http://www.autoitscript.com/

http://www.autohotkey.com/

[srikat]

I believe www.macros.com will be the best tool for you.

[NOTS3W]

Thanks, guys.

I'd thought about AutoIt (used that before for installing some software) but when I looked at reading from a file, it got pretty complex. I'll check out AutoHotKey, but the main page on that link doesn't allude to reading and writing from and to a file. I've just downloaded MacroExpress and will give it a try.

I know everyone wants everything right now, but in this case, if I have to spend two weeks learning to automate this process, I might as well do it by hand and be done.

Again, thanks for your advice and suggestions. I'll report back on how it goes.

Ray

[jeremecartyle]

Try Automation Anywhere. I have found their web recorder tool very useful.

www.tethyssolutions.com/automation-software.htm

-Jereme