Check URL Sequence Tool

The Check URL Sequence Tool simulates a user's session across several pages. An example of this would be entering an account name via a Web form, checking an account status for the page that is returned, and then following a sequence of links through several more pages. The Check URL Sequence Tool page is accessed either by clicking on the Tools link that is displayed with the monitor status in the Monitor Detail table or by clicking on the Check URL Sequence link on the Diagnostic Tools page.

Note: Accessing the Check URL Sequence Tool via the Monitor Detail page is considered to be more useful than using it as a diagnostic tool. Access via the Monitor Detail page allows you to modify existing URL Sequences including use of the URL Sequence Wizard.

A URL Sequence is specified by giving a URL to start at and then specifying either additional URLs, or more commonly, links or buttons to follow. For each step you may specify a match or error string to search for, a user name and password to enter, and POST data for that step.

The URL Sequence tool returns the status and time taken for each step in the sequence. It also embeds a copy of the page returned at each step of the sequence in it is output so that a more graphical view of the sequence can be viewed. Note that any graphics referenced by these pages will show up as broken - this is so that the HTML that is output is the exact same HTML that was retrieved, making debugging more precise.

Completing the Check URL Sequence Form

Complete the items on the Check URL Sequence form as follows. When the required items are complete, click the Check URL Sequence button to test the transaction or the Update Monitor button to save any changes that you have made to the current monitor. Press the Press the Wizard button to edit the existing sequence in the URL Sequence Wizard interface.

Step 1 - Reference

Select the type of object or target from the drop-down list in the first column. This represents the either a Web page, a hyper link, form element, and so forth, that defines the sequence path. The type for Step 1 should always be a URL. Enter the specific URL of the first page in the sequence that you want SiteScope to complete. For example, if you want SiteScope to test your order process, you might enter a URL such as https://www.securecompany.com/order.html

Step (2 thru N) - Reference

From Step 2 on, you must tell SiteScope what you want it to do next. In the Type column, tell SiteScope what type of item it will be looking for in this step. For example, if SiteScope will be doing the equivalent of selecting a submit button, you would choose the Form - match the displayed name of a Submit button. SiteScope uses this information to scan the HTML for the proper text matches.

Enter the URL, link, or submit button to be followed in the second column for this step. For example, if SiteScope should follow the submit button on the page and the name on the button (its value) is "Place My Order", type Place My Order in this box. To instruct SiteScope to follow a link on the page, type the text of the link. For example, if the link says Next, type the word Next in this box. You can also type in a full URL.

If an image is used as the submit button, you must enter the name value for the image. You will find this by looking at the HTML for the form.

Advanced Settings

The advanced settings give you the ability to customize error and warning thresholds, or complete other optional settings.

POST Data: If this step contains a URL for a POST request, enter the post variables, one per line as name=value pairs. This option is used to verify that a form is working correctly by performing the same request that occurs when a user submits a form. See also the Match Content box for a way to verify that the correct form response was received. If this item is blank, a GET request is performed.
Match Content: Enter an expression describing the values to match in the returned page. If the expression is not contained in the page, the monitor will display "no match on content". A regular expression can be used to define the values to match.
Error If Match: Enter an expression describing the values that, if found on the page returned, indicate an error in the sequence process. For example, if the phrase "Login Error" appears there may be a problem with user profile data. If the Error If Match expression is found in the page, the monitor will signal an error. A regular expression can be used to define the values to match.
User Name: Enter the user name, if any, required for this step.
Password: Enter the password, if any, required for this step.
Delay: Enter an optional delay period that SiteScope will wait before executing the next step.
Title: Enter an optional title to be associated with this step of the sequence. It is best to select a title that describes what is being accomplished in this step.