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Selecting the Source URLLocate this document in the navigation structure

Context

This procedure describes how you select the URL of the information source that provides content to the URL iView at runtime.

  • We recommend that you reference a static HTML page as the source URL of the iView.

  • You can use dynamic pages that generate HTML on-the-fly; however highly complex pages are unqualified and guidelines are unavailable. The implementation of any dynamic HTML page in a URL iView should be fully tested before use in a production system.

  • You can create URL iViews that display non-HTML objects, such as PDF documents, Microsoft Office documents, and images. To do so, embed the objects in an HTML page, which you reference as the source URL of the iView.

The URL iView Editor and Wizard provide a fully functional built-in browser, which you can use to navigate the Web and select the page to display in the iView.

Note

Currently, the built-in browser does not support Web sites that require you to log on. In such cases, you need to use an external browser window to determine the iView URL and required URL parameters, and then enter them manually using the URL iView Editor. In addition, you will not be able to use the capture tool to select a specific area in a Web page.

Procedure


  1. Open the URL iView in the URL iView Editor.

    The current URL defined for the iView is displayed in the URL box.

  2. To modify the URL do any of the following:

    • Enter a URL address directly in the URL box. Use this option if you already know the URL of the Web page you want to display in the iView.

      • Do not enter parameters or a named anchor directly in the URL box. Add parameters in the parameter list (see Configuring URL Parameters ) and an anchor in the Anchor box.

        An anchor is any named area, defined by an <a> tag, in the code of an HTML page. The use of anchors allow the creator of the HTML page to create links that jump directly into a specific section on a page, instead of expecting the user to manually scroll in the page to find what they are looking for.

        At runtime, the portal compiles the full URL using the URL domain (as defined in the URL box), parameters, and the anchor name.

      • Do not enter special characters, such as the number symbol (#) or question mark (?), in the URL box.

    • Click either Browse next to the URL box or Capture next to the Content to Display in iView box. A new browser window opens, which you can use it to navigate and choose the Web page to be displayed in the iView.

      1. In the Browse tab, you can browse the Web. In the Capture tab you can specify which area within the selected Web page is displayed in the iView at runtime (see Selecting the Capture Area ). You can toggle freely between the Browse and Capture tabs.

        Note

        • In the browse mode, hyperlinks and controls within the displayed Web page are active. When you click a link you are taken to the relevant destination.

        • In the capture mode, hyperlinks within the displayed Web page are deactivated. HTML elements are selected for you and highlighted when you click inside the Web page. In addition, some JavaScript elements are suppressed, and therefore the site may not function correctly.

        • In some cases, the built-in browser of the portal is unable to suppress or take control of certain JavaScript events. For example, clicking a link might open a new browser window instead of opening it in the built-in browser window. In such cases, copy the URL from the new window and paste it into the built-in browser window (in the Browse tab).

        • The built-in browser of the portal only displays Web pages using the server-side fetch mode. Some sites and URLs can only be used with the client-side fetch mode; therefore in some cases during browse and capture, the built-in browser may display an HTTP error or a blank page. For more details, see Fetch Mode in URL iView Properties .

        • The server-side fetch mode does not support source URLs that are automatically redirected by their source to another URL. Therefore, the built-in browser will display a blank HTML page while browsing and capturing. To work around this, you can do one of the following:

          • Apply the client-side fetch mode in the iView properties. You can test the iView using the preview functionality in the iView Editor.

          • Apply the redirected URL as the source URL and continue using the server-side fetch mode.

            Note

            This may not work if the redirected URL contains special formulations or parameter encodings.

        • To close the built-in browser window without applying changes, click Cancel in the Browse or Capture tabs.

      2. Once you have reached the Web page you want to display in the iView, click OK in the built-in browser window. You are returned to the URL iView Editor.

        The URL address of the targeted Web page is displayed in the URL box. If the targeted Web page includes URL parameters and a named anchor, they will be stripped from the URL displayed in the URL box. The parameters are displayed in the editor in the parameter list and the anchor in the Anchor box.

    • Perform a combination of the two options mentioned above. For example, enter a base URL of a given site in the URL box and then click Browse to test and fine-tune the URL in the built-in browser of the portal.

Next Steps