Automating applications that run on Mozilla Firefox
Pega Robotic Automation includes support for interrogating and automating the Mozilla Firefox browser. An extension to Firefox adds this functionality by using the Universal Web Adapter, which is also available in versions 7.1.41.0 and later.
The versions of Pega Robotic Automation that work with Firefox versions are listed in the following table:
Supported versions of Firefox | Corresponding versions of Pega Robotic Automation | Applicable extension |
|---|---|---|
31-39 | 7.1.41.0 - 8.0.1100 | 1.0.36 |
52+ | 8.0.2006 and later | 1.0.85 and later |
52-73 | 19.1.1 and later | 1.0.85 and later |
Supported versions of Firefox ESR | Corresponding versions of Pega Robotic Automation | Applicable extension |
|---|---|---|
31.6.0 - 38.3.0 | 7.1.41.0 - 8.0.1100 | 1.0.36 |
52+ | 8.0.2006 and later | 1.0.85 and later |
52+ | 19.1.1 and later | 1.0.85 and later |
Installation
Use the Setup wizard for Robot Studio and Robot Runtime to install the install the Firefox extension. You can also use the INST_FIREFOX=1 command line option to install the extension from the command line. If omitted, the Firefox extension is not installed. For more information, see the Installation Instructions.
When starting the Firefox extension for the first time on a Robot Runtime machine, end users must decide whether to enable or uninstall the Firefox Extension. End users must enable the extension for Robot Runtime to automate the browser. If an end user does not enable the extension, you must run a manual process to recover and install the extension again. For more information, contact Pega Support.
Automating Firefox
Keep in mind the following considerations when automating the Firefox browser:
- You can interrogate cells within simple tables, but the table designer is not available for Firefox. Complex tables cannot be matched based on the table schema.
- Property changed and Cancellable events are not supported.
- Plug-ins, such as Java and Flash, are not supported.
- You must have version 8.0.2006 or later to support multiple concurrent adapters.
- You must have version 8.0.2006 or later to support multi-tab functionality for Firefox during interrogation. Multi-tab functionality works with automations, however, tabs cannot be pulled apart from the original window when Robotic Automation Studio is injected.
- You must have version 8.0.2006 or later to support multiple top-level windows when Robot Studio is injected.
- You must have version 8.0.2006 or later to automate multiple concurrent Firefox processes under the same user profile. The Universal Web Adapter opens under the default user profile. If you are using a version prior to version 8.0.2006 and you need to have multiple concurrent Firefox processes, use the Windows adapter and specify the user profile within the Arguments property.
- In versions prior to version 8.0.2006, if Robot Studio loads Firefox in a user profile that is actively running, the current process requests to shut down. Because of this action, it is a best practice to start Firefox adapters at the project start and to not close them throughout the automation.
- When uninstalling Robot Runtime or Robot Studio, the Firefox registry entries are left in place. This files that comprise the extension, however, are removed.
- Version 19.1 does not support Firefox versions 31 - 39 and ESR versions 31.6.0 – 38.3.0.
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