How to automate entering text into search and clicking the result
This guide shows you how to start creating a bot to input text into a search field from a Google Sheet, click return to submit the search then click on the result. After adding the initial steps, simply use the builder to customise the bot to your use case.
We also have a great data entry template to get you started.
Design pattern: Data entry into web form
# Prepare your Google Sheet
Create a Google sheet with some test text to run your automation with.
| Col A | Col B |
|---|---|
| alex@testemail.com | Surname |
| claretestemail.com | Surname |
| sam@testemail.com | Surname |
# Start from blank, adding the following steps
In the Axiom.ai Chrome extension dashboard, click "New Automation" and then select "Add first step". Use the step finder to add the steps outlined below.
# Add a ‘Read data from a Google Sheet’ step
First we want to fetch our test data from the Google Sheet.
- Spreadsheet - Search for the Google Sheet you created in the "Spreadsheet" field. Once found, click to select.
- Sheet name - Choose a sheet tab or leave blank to use the first tab.
Tip
💡 To read a single row of data set a First and Last cell. This can be useful when you want to run a quick test run.
# Add a ‘Loop through data’ step
We use this step to loop through the rows of text in the Google Sheet. With each loop Axiom.ai will reload the search field and click sumbit with a new row. Select the data you wish to loop through, which in this case is the text to be entered into the search field.
- Loop through data - Click ‘Insert data’ select ‘google-sheet-data’.
# Add a ‘Go to page’ as a sub-step in the Loop step to load the website
Next, we instruct the bot to load the webpage containing the search field that we want to automate.
- Enter URL - Insert the url.
# Add an ‘Enter text’ sub-step to input data
Next up we use an ‘Enter text’ step to input our text into the search field.
- Text - Click ‘Insert data’ select ‘google-sheet-data’ to pass the message from the Sheet. Select column ‘A’ in the preview.
# Add a ‘Press key(s)’ sub-step to submit the search
We use a ‘Press key(s)’ step to submit the search. We record a simple press of "Return".
- Key - Press ‘Record’ then click ‘Return’.
# Add a ‘Click element’ sub-step to click the result
We use a ‘Click element’ step to click on the result.
- Select - Click "Select" highlight the result and press ‘Complete’.
# Add a ‘Delete row from Google Sheet’ sub-step
Finally, we delete the processed row that has just been completed in the Loop so the scraper does not repeat the same scrape on the next loop.
# Continue adding your steps as needed
Now just use the step finder to continue adding steps and complete your search bot as required.
# Wrapping up
You can quickly scaffold a bot to enter data into a search field and click the first result. This can be done with just a few steps. It is then possible to add additional steps to fully customize the bot to the use case