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Learn essential patterns for reliable web automation using VisionAgent. This tutorial covers real-world scenarios based on common automation challenges.
Prerequisites: Complete Your First Agent tutorial before starting.

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What You’ll Learn

This tutorial teaches you how to:
  • Open and control applications
  • Handle dynamic text and buttons
  • Work with forms and input fields
  • Manage popups and overlays
  • Use visual relationships for element selection
  • Implement proper wait strategies

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Tutorial Application

We’ll use the SauceDemo web application for our examples - a test e-commerce site perfect for learning automation patterns.

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1. Opening Applications

Learn different ways to launch applications and websites. 
from askui import VisionAgent

with VisionAgent() as agent:
    # Open website in default browser
    agent.tools.webbrowser.open_new("https://www.saucedemo.com")
    agent.wait(2)
    
    # Verify page loaded
    if agent.get("Is the Swag Labs login page visible?"):
        print("✓ Application opened successfully")
Always add wait times after opening applications to ensure they’re fully loaded before interacting with them.

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2. Clicking Text and Dynamic Elements

Handle text-based interactions with proper error handling and dynamic content.

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Basic Text Clicking

from askui import VisionAgent
from askui import locators as loc

with VisionAgent() as agent:
    # Click with implicit wait
    agent.click(loc.Text("Add to cart"))
    
    # Alternative: Click with error handling
    try:
        agent.click(loc.Text("Checkout"))
        print("✓ Clicked checkout button")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"✗ Could not find checkout button: {e}")

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Handling Text Detection Issues

When text appears on multiple lines, use partial matching:
# Instead of searching for "Web Automation\nTesting"
# Search for the beginning of the text
agent.click(loc.Text("Web Automation", match_type="contains"))
When overlay text merges with background text:
# Use AI element as fallback
agent.click(
    loc.Text("Start now")
    .or_(loc.AiElement("start-button"))
)

# Or target beginning of text
agent.click(loc.Text("Start", match_type="contains"))
Handle text with inconsistent spacing:
# Use regex for flexible matching
agent.click(loc.Text(r"your\s*name", match_type="regex"))

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3. Working with Icons and Buttons

Interact with visual elements beyond text. 
from askui import VisionAgent
from askui import locators as loc

with VisionAgent() as agent:
    # Click icon using AI element
    agent.click(loc.AiElement("shopping-cart"))
    
    # Alternative: Use prompt with visual relations
    agent.click(
        loc.Prompt("cart icon")
        .right_of(loc.Text("Product Name"))
    )
    
    # Or use element with visual relations
    agent.click(
        loc.Element()
        .right_of(loc.Text("Product Name"))
        .and_(loc.Prompt("cart icon"))
    )
AI elements work best with:
  • High color contrast against background
  • Clear rectangular shapes
  • Distinct visual properties

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4. Form Filling and Text Input

Efficiently fill forms with structured data. 
from askui import VisionAgent
from askui import locators as loc

class CheckoutForm:
    def __init__(self, agent):
        self.agent = agent
    
    def fill_shipping_details(self, first_name, last_name, postal_code):
        # Click and type pattern
        fields = [
            ("First Name", first_name),
            ("Last Name", last_name),
            ("Zip/Postal Code", postal_code)
        ]
        
        for label, value in fields:
            self.agent.click(loc.Text(label))
            self.agent.type(value)
            self.agent.wait(0.5)  # Small delay between fields
        
        print("✓ Shipping details filled")

# Usage
with VisionAgent() as agent:
    form = CheckoutForm(agent)
    form.fill_shipping_details("John", "Doe", "12345")

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5. Visual Relationships

Use spatial relationships to find elements precisely. 
from askui import VisionAgent
from askui import locators as loc

with VisionAgent() as agent:
    # Click button below specific text
    agent.click(
        loc.Prompt("button")
        .below_of(loc.Text("Product Details"))  # See docs: /04-reference/01-agent-frameworks/02-python/02-vision-agent-api/locators#below-of
    )
    
    # Click icon to the right of text
    agent.click(
        loc.Prompt("icon")
        .right_of(loc.Text("Quantity"))  # See docs: /04-reference/01-agent-frameworks/02-python/02-vision-agent-api/locators#right-of
    )
    
    # Complex relationship
    agent.click(
        loc.Element()
        .above_of(loc.Text("Total"))  # See docs: /04-reference/01-agent-frameworks/02-python/02-vision-agent-api/locators#above-of
        .left_of(loc.Text("$29.99"))  # See docs: /04-reference/01-agent-frameworks/02-python/02-vision-agent-api/locators#left-of
    )
Visual relationships are powerful for targeting elements in dynamic layouts:

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6. Wait Strategies

Implement proper waiting for reliable automation. 
from askui import VisionAgent
from askui import locators as loc
import time

with VisionAgent() as agent:
    # Fixed wait
    agent.wait(2)
    
    # Check for element existence with retry pattern
    max_retries = 10
    for i in range(max_retries):
        try:
            agent.locate(loc.Text("Welcome"))
            print("✓ Element found")
            break
        except:
            if i < max_retries - 1:
                agent.wait(1)
            else:
                print("✗ Element not found after retries")
    
    # Wait for condition using get
    start_time = time.time()
    while time.time() - start_time < 15:
        if agent.get("Is the shopping cart visible?"):
            break
        agent.wait(1)
    
    # Wait for element to disappear
    while True:
        try:
            agent.locate(loc.Text("Loading..."))
            agent.wait(0.5)
        except:
            # Element no longer found
            break

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7. Keyboard Shortcuts

Use keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation. 
from askui import VisionAgent

with VisionAgent() as agent:
    # Single key press
    agent.keyboard('enter')
    agent.keyboard('escape')
    agent.keyboard('tab')
    
    # Key combinations with modifiers
    agent.keyboard('a', modifier_keys=['control'])  # Select all
    agent.keyboard('c', modifier_keys=['control'])  # Copy
    agent.keyboard('v', modifier_keys=['control'])  # Paste
    
    # Page navigation
    agent.keyboard('pagedown')
    agent.keyboard('end')  # Go to end of page
    
    # Close popup/window
    agent.keyboard('f4', modifier_keys=['alt'])

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8. Handling Popups and Dynamic Content

Manage unexpected UI elements gracefully. 
from askui import VisionAgent
from askui import locators as loc

class PopupHandler:
    def __init__(self, agent):
        self.agent = agent
    
    def handle_dynamic_popup(self):
        """Handle popups that may or may not appear"""
        # Quick escape attempt
        self.agent.keyboard('escape')
        self.agent.wait(0.5)
        
        # Check for specific popup types
        popups = [
            ("Accept Cookies", "Accept"),
            ("Special Offer", "No Thanks"),
            ("Newsletter", "Close")
        ]
        
        for popup_text, dismiss_text in popups:
            try:
                # Try to locate the popup text
                self.agent.locate(loc.Text(popup_text))
                self.agent.click(loc.Text(dismiss_text))
                print(f"✓ Dismissed {popup_text} popup")
                break
            except:
                # Popup not found, continue
                pass
    
    def safe_click(self, locator, fallback_locator=None):
        """Click with fallback option"""
        try:
            self.agent.click(locator)
            return True
        except:
            if fallback_locator:
                try:
                    self.agent.click(fallback_locator)
                    return True
                except:
                    pass
        return False

# Usage
with VisionAgent() as agent:
    handler = PopupHandler(agent)
    
    # Handle any popups before main flow
    handler.handle_dynamic_popup()
    
    # Click with fallback
    clicked = handler.safe_click(
        loc.Text("Start Shopping"),
        fallback_locator=loc.Prompt("Shop button")
    )

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Helper Functions

Since VisionAgent focuses on core functionality, here are useful helper functions for common patterns: 
from askui import VisionAgent
from askui import locators as loc
import time

class AutomationHelpers:
    """Common helper functions for VisionAgent automations"""
    
    @staticmethod
    def wait_until(agent, condition_func, timeout=10, check_interval=0.5):
        """Wait until a condition is met"""
        start_time = time.time()
        while time.time() - start_time < timeout:
            if condition_func():
                return True
            agent.wait(check_interval)
        return False
    
    @staticmethod
    def element_exists(agent, locator):
        """Check if an element exists"""
        try:
            agent.locate(locator)
            return True
        except:
            return False
    
    @staticmethod
    def wait_for_element(agent, locator, timeout=10):
        """Wait for an element to appear"""
        def check():
            return AutomationHelpers.element_exists(agent, locator)
        
        return AutomationHelpers.wait_until(agent, check, timeout)
    
    @staticmethod
    def wait_for_element_gone(agent, locator, timeout=10):
        """Wait for an element to disappear"""
        def check():
            return not AutomationHelpers.element_exists(agent, locator)
        
        return AutomationHelpers.wait_until(agent, check, timeout)

# Usage example
with VisionAgent() as agent:
    helpers = AutomationHelpers()
    
    # Wait for page to load
    if helpers.wait_for_element(agent, loc.Text("Welcome"), timeout=15):
        print("✓ Page loaded")
    
    # Check if element exists
    if helpers.element_exists(agent, loc.Text("Login")):
        agent.click(loc.Text("Login"))

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Complete Example: E-commerce Purchase Flow

Here’s a complete automation combining all patterns: 
from askui import VisionAgent
from askui import locators as loc
from askui.reporting import SimpleHtmlReporter
import logging

class SauceDemoAutomation:
    def __init__(self):
        self.agent = None
        
    def __enter__(self):
        self.agent = VisionAgent(
            log_level=logging.INFO,
            reporters=[SimpleHtmlReporter()]
        ).__enter__()
        return self
        
    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb):
        if self.agent:
            self.agent.__exit__(exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb)
    
    def login(self, username="standard_user", password="secret_sauce"):
        """Login to SauceDemo"""
        self.agent.click(loc.Text("Username"))
        self.agent.type(username)
        
        self.agent.click(loc.Text("Password"))
        self.agent.type(password)
        
        self.agent.click(loc.Text("Login"))
        self.agent.wait(2)
        
        # Verify login
        try:
            self.agent.locate(loc.Text("Products"))
            print("✓ Login successful")
        except:
            raise Exception("Login failed")
    
    def add_product_to_cart(self, product_name):
        """Add a specific product to cart"""
        # Find add to cart button near product
        self.agent.click(
            loc.Text("Add to cart")
            .nearest_to(loc.Text(product_name, match_type="contains"))
        )
        
        # Verify cart updated
        cart_count = self.agent.get(
            "What number is shown on the shopping cart badge?"
        )
        print(f"✓ Cart has {cart_count} items")
    
    def checkout(self, first_name, last_name, zip_code):
        """Complete checkout process"""
        # Go to cart
        self.agent.click(loc.AiElement("shopping-cart"))
        self.agent.wait(1)
        
        # Proceed to checkout
        self.agent.click(loc.Text("Checkout"))
        self.agent.wait(1)
        
        # Fill form
        form_fields = [
            ("First Name", first_name),
            ("Last Name", last_name),
            ("Zip/Postal Code", zip_code)
        ]
        
        for label, value in form_fields:
            self.agent.click(loc.Text(label))
            self.agent.type(value)
        
        # Continue
        self.agent.click(loc.Text("Continue"))
        self.agent.wait(1)
        
        # Finish order
        self.agent.keyboard('end')  # Scroll to bottom
        self.agent.click(loc.Text("Finish"))
        
        # Verify success
        try:
            self.agent.locate(loc.Text("Thank you for your order"))
            print("✓ Order completed successfully!")
            return True
        except:
            return False

# Run the complete flow
with SauceDemoAutomation() as automation:
    # Open application
    automation.agent.tools.webbrowser.open_new("https://www.saucedemo.com")
    automation.agent.wait(3)
    
    # Execute purchase flow
    automation.login()
    automation.add_product_to_cart("Sauce Labs Backpack")
    success = automation.checkout("John", "Doe", "12345")
    
    if success:
        print("\n🎉 Automation completed successfully!")

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Best Practices Summary

Always Wait

Add appropriate waits after actions that trigger page changes

Use Fallbacks

Implement alternative locators when elements might vary

Handle Errors

Use try-except blocks for actions that might fail

Be Specific

Use visual relationships to target elements precisely

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Increase wait times
  • Use more specific locators
  • Check if element is scrolled out of view
  • Try AI elements for complex visuals
  • Use contains() for partial matching
  • Try regex patterns for flexible matching
  • Consider using AI elements as fallback
  • Reduce unnecessary waits
  • Use batch operations where possible
  • Enable parallel execution for independent tasks

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Next Steps

Now that you’ve mastered these patterns:

Android Automation

Apply these patterns to mobile automation

Data Extraction

Learn to extract structured data from UIs

AI Agent Instructions

Write instructions for autonomous agents

Example Automations

Explore real-world automation examples