IE Connector methods

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of IE Connector methods

    The IE Connector methods enable ServiceNow customers to automate and interact with Internet Explorer browser sessions effectively. These methods operate at three levels: connector, screen, and element. They allow navigation, data extraction, interaction with web elements, and control over browser windows, supporting automation workflows involving Internet Explorer.

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    Connector level methods

    These methods manage browser-level operations such as navigating to URLs, waiting for screens to load, and checking browser readiness. Key capabilities include:

    • Navigate: Opens a specified URL and returns a Boolean status.
    • WaitForAnyScreen: Waits for a screen to load with configurable timeout.
    • IsCreated and IsReady: Check if the browser and webpage are open and ready.
    • Refresh, SaveAs, and Print: Reload page content, save pages locally, or send pages to print.
    • Minimize, Maximize, Hide, Restore, Focus, and Close: Control window visibility and focus.

    Screen level methods

    These methods facilitate interaction with the content and elements of a webpage or screen loaded in IE. They include:

    • DownloadFile: Downloads files from the webpage based on specified URLs and file names.
    • ExecuteJavaScript: Runs custom JavaScript within the IE browser after configuration, supporting parameters.
    • GetValueByXPath and GetValuesByXPath: Extract textual data or tables from elements located via XPath expressions.
    • SetFields and SendKeys: Populate form fields and simulate keyboard input for automation.
    • GetScreenShot and GetPageSource: Capture screenshots and retrieve page source code for validation or logging.
    • GetTitle and GetURL: Retrieve the title or URL of the current page.
    • WaitForCreate: Inserts a delay before page or window load to synchronize automation steps.

    Element level methods

    Exposed upon selecting specific application elements, these methods support granular actions on webpage components:

    • Click: Simulates a mouse click on the element.
    • GetInnerHTML, GetOuterHTML, GetInnerText: Retrieve HTML content or text from elements for data extraction or verification.
    • GetURL: Obtains the URL associated with an element.

    Practical Application for ServiceNow Customers

    By leveraging these IE Connector methods, customers can automate Internet Explorer interactions within their ServiceNow automation workflows. This enables efficient data extraction, form automation, UI interaction, and browser control—all essential for scenarios like legacy web application integration, data scraping, or automated testing within Internet Explorer contexts.

    The IE connector methods perform different tasks on the IE connector, screens, and the elements on the screens. The methods are available at the connector, screen, and the element levels and you can expose the methods by completing appropriate steps.

    IE connector method levels

    Connector level methods

    Screen level methods

    Element level methods

    Connector level methods

    Navigate

    Opens a web page based on the URL you specify and returns the Boolean response.
    Input
    URL
    Output
    Return (Boolean)

    WaitForAnyScreen

    The method executes a wait period before a screen loads up. You can specify a timeout after which the method times out the request.

    Input

    MatchAllChildren

    Timeout

    Screen level methods

    DownloadFile

    Downloads a file from the screen or web page based on the URL and file name you specify.
    Input
    Url
    fileName
    Output
    Return (Boolean)

    ExecuteJavaScript

    Executes custom JavaScript on an application or website open on the IE browser. You must configure the method before executing.

    To configure the JavaScript, do the following steps.
    1. Click the method settings icon (Method settings icon.).
    2. Enter the custom script under the JAVA SCRIPT section.
    3. To add parameter to the script, click the add parameter icon (Add parameter icon.) under the PARAMETER heading.
      Note:
      A Data In port is added with each parameter.
    4. Click OK.
    Input
    Parameter
    Output
    Return (Object)

    GetValueByXPath

    Converts an XPath and returns the output as a string.
    Input
    XPath (String)
    Output
    Return (String)

    GetValuesByXPath

    Returns the values within columns based on the specified XPath expression.

    Input

    You must configure the XPath expressions before executing the method. To configure, do the following steps.
    1. Click the method settings icon (Method settings icon.).
    2. Update the name of the column.
    3. Define the XPath expression.
    4. Click OK.

    Output

    Returns the data table after the operation.

    Hide

    Hides the active browser window.

    Restore

    Restores the browser window hidden using the Hide method.

    GetURL

    Returns the URL of the website or web page.

    Output

    Return (String)

    WaitForCreate

    Sets a delay before a web page or a window loads.

    Inputs

    timeoutInSeconds

    MatchAllChildren

    Outputs

    Return (Boolean)

    SetFields

    Sets the data in form field types.

    SendKeys

    Simulates the keystrokes on web pages and windows.

    Inputs

    Keys

    MatchAllChildren

    TypeDelay

    Minimize

    Minimizes the window.

    Maximize

    Maximizes the window.

    IsReady

    Returns the Boolean response to the request to check whether the website is ready to accept requests from methods.

    Output

    Return (Boolean)

    MatchChildren

    Matches all elements of a web page that you have captured and returns a Boolean response accordingly. You can configure whether the method should match all children.

    Input

    matchAllChildren

    Output

    Return (Boolean)

    IsCreated

    Returns the Boolean response to the request to find whether a website on an Internet Explorer browser is open. You can optionally have the method check whether all captured elements of the website matches.
    Inputs
    MatchAllChildren
    Output
    Return (Boolean)

    Refresh

    Reloads the contents of the active web page.

    SaveAs

    Saves the active web page to the local disk.

    Print

    Prints the active web page in the browser.

    Input

    NoPrompt

    GetPageSource

    Returns the page source of the active window open on the IE browser.

    Output

    Return (String)

    GetScreenShot

    Returns the screen shot of a window or area in a window.

    Output

    Return (Bitmap)

    GetTitle

    Returns the title of a window open in the IE browser.

    Output

    Return (String)

    GetFields

    Accesses data in the forms returns the data as output. You must configure the method before executing.

    To configure, do the following steps.
    1. Click the method settings icon (Method settings icon.).
    2. Select the form elements.
    3. Update the form element data type.
    4. Click OK.

    Output

    Form field

    Focus

    Sets the focus on a window that is running in the background or minimized and makes it active.

    Output

    Return (Boolean)

    Close

    Closes the active window.

    Element level methods

    These methods are exposed when you double-click an application element under the Global Objects in the Project Explorer.

    Click

    Performs a click operation on the element.

    GetInnerHTML

    Gets the inner HTML of the element.

    Output

    Return (String)

    GetInnerText

    Gets the inner text of an element.

    Output

    Return (String)

    GetOuterHTML

    Gets the outer HTML of the element.

    Output

    Return (String)

    GetURL

    Gets the URL of the element.

    Output

    Return (String)