The EveryStep scripts are used to set-up monitoring and load testing within the Dotcom-Monitor platforms.

To start recording a script, see the Getting started with EveryStep Scripting Tool article or Getting started with the EveryStep Scripting Tool Desktop for the desktop tool.

EveryStep Scripting Tool Overview

When to Use

EveryStep Scripting Tool is the best choice for:

  • Monitoring of web applications performance and functionality in a real browser.
  • Load testing web pages and web applications in a real browser window to emulate real-user behavior on a target website.
  • Server uptime monitoring with multiple HTTP(S) requests within one monitoring device (available for EveryStep Scripting Tool Desktop only).

 Recording in a Real Browser Window

EveryStep Scripting Tool leverages a desktop or mobile browser of your choice (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and more than 40 mobile browsers are supported) to fully emulate real user interaction with a target web application or web page. Using a real browser to record a monitoring script allows users to test if the web content is rendered properly and the web application is actually functioning in the way it is expected. Real browser tests support checks of login functionality, particular web elements presence and behavior on the web page, the web application business logic, etc. Performance testing of such web applications as SPA and RIA that heavily rely on Javascript, Silverlight and other embedded technologies can be executed properly only by emulating a real user interaction with a web application in a browser window. Opposite to website testing on the HTTP level, performance testing in a real browser provides you with more realistic results. See more detailed explanations on the difference between HTTP(S) and real browser performance testing in our wiki.

Text Validation

EveryStep Scripting Tool supports keyword validations to check if the selected text content was loaded on a web page and visible for end-users. The system will look for selected keywords or phrases on target web pages on each web monitoring or load testing session and generate validation errors if the validation failed. Find more information about keyword validation technology in our wiki.

Image Validation

Image validation is one more technology used by EveryStep Scripting Tool to check if the target web page was loaded properly. EveryStep Scripting Tool takes a snapshot of the specified static image or area on a web page. Every time the script is executed the system checks if the image was rendered by the browser and exists on the page. Find more information about image validation technology in our wiki.

RIA Validation

In RIA, a significant part of the functionality is moved to the client’s side. In other words, RIA is executed on the client’s side, in the same browser, but using plugins and/or Ajax technology. EveryStep Scripting Tool supports RIA monitoring and validation by executing pixel-by-pixel comparison of the visible part of the target web page. You can add the RIA image validation step to your script or use keyboard and mouse tracking while recording the script. Find more information on RIA monitoring here.

PII Protection

In some cases, the script recorded with EveryStep Scripting Tool may contain sensitive information such as logins and passwords, HIPPA information, etc. Dotcom-Monitor provides a wide choice of tools to protect PII from being recorded and exposed to non-authorized users. You can use Secure Vault to encrypt sensitive parameters that must be used in the script or pause video recording when it comes to sensitive content. Find more about PII protection while monitoring and load testing in this article.

Advanced Options

With EveryStep Scripting Tool you can also edit your script to add delays, filter error, change network throttling, modify responses and use code snippets to create the most realistic monitoring and load testing scripts. Check for all available advanced options in the Editing a Script section of our wiki.