In the world of RPA, Conditional Logic is the "brain" of your automation. Without it, a robot follows a rigid, linear path—useful for simple tasks, but fragile when faced with real-world complexity.
By introducing Conditions, your Octoparse AI workflows evolve from "Auto-Execution" to "Auto-Decision". This allows the robot to evaluate real-time data, page elements, or statuses and choose the correct path of action, making your processes resilient and truly intelligent.
The Three Pillars of Branching Logic
To build effective automations, you need to master three fundamental structures. Think of these as different types of "forks in the road."
The Single Branch: If
Logic: "If the condition is met, do this; otherwise, skip it."
This is used for optional steps that should only trigger under specific circumstances.
Example: If a "Newsletter Pop-up" appears on a website, then click the "Close" button. If it doesn't appear, the robot simply moves to the next task.
Pro Tip (Advanced Conditions): You can use the If - Multiple Conditions command to combine logic.
AND: All conditions must be true (e.g.,
Price< $50 ANDRating> 4.5).OR: Only one condition needs to be true (e.g., Status is "Out of Stock" OR "Discontinued").
The Binary Branch: If...Else
Logic: "If the condition is met, do A; otherwise, do B."
This handles "Either/Or" scenarios where a choice must be made between two distinct paths. There is no middle ground.
Example: If the "Next Page" button is clickable, then click it to continue; Else, stop the workflow and export the data.
The Multi-Branch: If...ElseIf...Else
Logic: "Check Condition 1; if not met, check Condition 2; if none are met, perform a fallback action."
This is the most powerful structure for handling complex business rules with multiple mutually exclusive possibilities.
The Key Principles:
Sequential Execution: Octoparse AI checks conditions from top to bottom. Once a condition is met, it executes that branch and ignores the rest.
The "Else" Safety Net: Always use the final "Else" as a fallback to handle unexpected data or "none of the above" scenarios.
Use Case: Automated Coupon Distribution
Imagine a workflow that assigns discount codes based on user age:
If Age > 60 → Apply "Senior Discount"
ElseIf Age < 18 → Apply "Student Discount"
Else (Everyone else) → Apply "Standard Rate"
Summary & Best Practices
Mastering these three structures is the foundation of building reliable and flexible automations. Clear branching logic ensures your robot doesn't get "stuck" when the environment changes.
Key Takeaways:
If: For optional actions.
If...Else: For binary choices.
If...ElseIf...Else: For complex, multi-tiered rules.
Now that you understand how the paths branch, the next question is: What triggers the turn? In our next guide, we will dive into Decision Criteria—learning how to base your logic on text, elements, numbers, and more.