Open Browser

Open Browser

Type: browser-open  ·  Package: Browser v1.0.0  ·  Output: ZoanPageSession

Opens a web browser and returns a page session ready to work. It is the starting point of all web automation: it is almost always the first browser activity on your playbook.

Use the browser already installed on the machine (Chrome or Edge), without additional downloads. With userDataDir you can load the user’s real profile (their cookies and sessions started), useful for skipping logins.

How it works

You have two modes of use (explained in detail in the package introduction):

• With body: Activities within the sub-flow inherit the session automatically and the browser closes itself upon completion. The simplest way.
• Without body: Save the session in an output variable and pass it to the following activities; you close it with Close Browser.

Required parameters

None. (All are optional — by default it opens Chrome with a blank page.)

Optional parameters

Parameter	Editor	Description
browser	list	Browser to use: chrome (default) · edge · firefox · chromium. chrome/edge use the system one; chromium uses the binary included by Playwright.
url	text	URL to navigate to when opening. If omitted, starts blank.
headless	boolean	Run without visible window (background mode). By default false.
windowState	list	Initial state of the window (if it is not headless): maximized (def.) · normal · minimized.
timeout	number	Maximum time (ms) to launch and load. By default 30000.
slowMo	number	Slows down each operation N ms (useful for debugging and seeing what the bot does).
userDataDir	text	Path to the browser’s profile. Load real cookies, sessions and passwords. Chrome must be fully closed beforehand.
executablePath	text	Path to a specific browser executable. Overwrites browser.
args	JSON	Extra browser launch arguments.
keepOpen	boolean	When using body, keep the browser open upon completion and return the session as output. By default false.

Subflows (lanes)

body optional

Activities to execute with this browser. If omitted, returns the session as output for use in subsequent steps.

Examples

Modo body (recomendado):

Open Browser   browser = chrome   url = "https://example.com"   headless = false
 └─ body:
      Page Get Text   selector = (h1)   → output: titulo
      Log             message = = "Título: " + titulo

Headless mode with output (for unattended production):

Open Browser   browser = chrome   url = "https://portal.cliente.com"   headless = true   → output: page
...
Close Browser  session = = page

Atendido vs desatendido

During design, use headless = false to see what the bot does. In unattended production (a server without a display), use headless = true. Trying first with slowMo (e.g. 500) helps to follow each step visually.

Load actual profile (userDataDir)

userDataDir allows you to reuse the user’s already logged in session (without logging in again), but Chrome must be completely closed before running, or it will crash. For credentials, better consider Open Browser + login with secure credentials.

Related activities

• Navigate — change URL once opened.
• Attach Browser — reuse an already opened browser instead of opening a new one.
• Close Browser — close the session (mode without body).