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Lesson 2 - Explore Octoparse AI's main client

This article introduces the main interface and key features of Octoparse AI main client.

Sophie avatar
Written by Sophie
Updated over a week ago

The Octoparse AI main client offers you various options for creating your own flows and learning about the key features for Octoparse AI. You can get a quick sense of what's possible and how Octoparse AI can help your business.

Note: Screenshots in this article display menus for an organization account. Some options may not appear in personal accounts.

The Home Screen

The home screen is the welcome screen for Octoparse AI. You will start your automation journey here. Discover apps recommended for you, along with the ones you've recently edited.

To learn more about the home screen, select the links following the screenshot.

Legend:

1 - Left navigation pane

Find what you need with the left navigation pane. When you launch Octoparse AI and sign into your organization account, the left navigation pane shows the following menu items:

  • My Apps: View, edit, or run apps you created or that were shared with you.

  • My Commands: View, or edit packaged subflows as custom commands.

  • Organization Space: Access your organization's shared workspace.

  • App Store: Browse and discover premade apps.

  • Triggers: Schedule or set up webhook triggers for your apps.

  • Logs: View app execution history on local device or bots.

  • Bots: Manage your automation bots.

  • Trash: Access deleted apps or command libraries.

  • Organization Console: Enter the organization admin area.

  • Developer Center: Access exclusive resources as a certified developer.

2- App store recommendations

Find popular ready-to-use or tutorial workflows in the App Store recommendation pane:

3 - Learning resources and more

Find tutorials, documentation, and training materials to learn Octoparse AI, understand best practices, and discover how to build desired workflows.

4 - Ask a chatbot

Get contextual help while build your automation apps. You can also submit your app requests via the Intercom chatbot.

5 - Recent/triggered apps

View a apps you've recently edited or configured time/webhook triggers.

6 - Account status

Check your subscriptions, platform credits, bot licenses and organization seats.

7 - Account switcher

Switch between your personal and organization accounts or join/create a new organization here.

8 - Notifications & settings

9 - Create New App button

Time to create your first app! Click + New App and go the workflow editor.

The Flow Designer

The flow designer in Octoparse AI contains all the tools required to design and debug an automation flow. Additionally, any images, UI elements, or variables of a flow can be accessed and managed here.

The flow designer consists of multiple elements. The actions pane, the variables pane, and the workspace, which displays information about the status of the flow and all the data it contains. Subflows are separated into tabs to help design large, complex flows. Tools for debugging flows, such as breakpoints and the option to run a desktop flow step by step, are also available in flow designer. Any error information is displayed, and erroneous actions are immediately highlighted.

To learn more about the flow designer, select the links following the screenshot.

Legend

  1. Command pane

    The command pane occupies the left side of the flow designer and displays all the available flow actions we call commands.

    To find a specific action, populate its name in the search bar at the top of the pane. Searching also returns partial matches but requires at least two provided characters. When the search term matches a module name, the results display the module expanded with all its actions available.

    Apart from all the active basic commands, you can also install custom command libraries developed by others in the available tab.

  2. Flow canvas

    To build a flow, find the command you want to use, and double-click on it or drag it into the workspace. You can also use Alt+F shortcut, or click textbox the top of the canvas to add commands.

    After you add a command on the canvas, the modal of the command opens and displays the available parameters of the action. Some actions might have default values for some parameters, while others require user input. When the configuration is ready, select Confirm.

  3. Asset library

    Find all subflows, variables, images and python packages

  4. Error list, logs & AI workflow wizard(beta)

    View errors and logs in this area, or try the AI workflow wizard beta to generate draft workflows.

  5. Quick action toolbar

  6. Toolbox

    Find built-in tools here.


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