URL Open
Open URLs in the current tab or window.
Overview
The URL Open field type allows you to navigate to a specified URL. The URL can be set using Excel data or the Default Value field option, and you can use variables to create dynamic URLs.
No Configuration Options
This field type has no additional configuration options. Simply set the URL in the Default Value field or Excel column.
How It Works
When this field executes, it opens the specified URL in the current browser tab/window.
URL Source: The URL to open is set in:
- Default Value field option
- Excel column data
Variable Support: You can use page location variables and other variables in the URL.
Setting the URL
Using Excel Column
Reference URL data from your Excel sheet using the field column name.
Syntax: {$columnName$}
Example:
// Excel Column: "targetURL"
// Excel Data: "https://example.com/products/item"
// In Default Value field
{$targetURL$}
// Result: Opens https://example.com/products/itemUse Case: When the URL to open varies per row in your Excel data.
Using Default Value Field
Set the URL directly in the Default Value field option.
Example:
// In Default Value field
https://example.com/pageResult: Opens https://example.com/page
Using Variables
You can use page location variables and other predefined variables in the URL.
Available Variables:
| Variable | Description | Example Value |
|---|---|---|
{$PAGE_URL$} | Current page full URL | https://example.com/page?id=123 |
{$PAGE_HOSTNAME$} | Current page hostname | example.com |
{$PAGE_PATHNAME$} | Current page pathname | /page |
{$PAGE_SEARCH$} | Current page query string | ?id=123 |
{$PAGE_HASH$} | Current page hash | #section |
Example:
// In Default Value field
https://example.com/products/{$productId$}?ref={$PAGE_HOSTNAME$}
// If productId = "123" and current hostname = "source.com"
// Opens: https://example.com/products/123?ref=source.comCombining Excel Data and Variables
You can combine Excel column data with variables for complex URL patterns.
Example:
// In Default Value field
https://{$domain$}/users/{$userId$}/profile?tab={$tabName$}
// Excel Data:
// domain = "example.com"
// userId = "456"
// tabName = "settings"
// Result: Opens https://example.com/users/456/profile?tab=settingsUse Cases
Open Product Pages from Excel
Scenario: Open different product pages based on Excel data.
Configuration:
- Default Value:
https://example.com/products/{$productId$} - Excel Column: productId = "12345"
Result: Opens https://example.com/products/12345
Navigate to Dynamic Dashboard
Scenario: Open user-specific dashboard.
Configuration:
- Default Value:
https://dashboard.example.com/user/{$userId$} - Excel Column: userId = "789"
Result: Opens https://dashboard.example.com/user/789
Open URL with Query Parameters
Scenario: Open page with multiple query parameters from Excel.
Configuration:
- Default Value:
https://example.com/search?q={$searchTerm$}&category={$category$} - Excel Data:
- searchTerm = "laptop"
- category = "electronics"
Result: Opens https://example.com/search?q=laptop&category=electronics
Open External Link with Referrer
Scenario: Open external link with current page as referrer.
Configuration:
- Default Value:
https://external.com/page?ref={$PAGE_URL$}
Result: Opens external page with current URL as referrer parameter
Best Practices
✅ Do's
- Use HTTPS protocol - Always include
https://in URLs - Encode special characters - URL-encode special characters in parameters
- Use variables for dynamic URLs - Make URLs data-driven
- Test URLs before deployment - Verify URLs open correctly
- Use absolute URLs - Include full URL with protocol and domain
- Validate Excel data - Ensure Excel contains valid URL components
❌ Don'ts
- Don't forget protocol - Always include
https://orhttp:// - Don't use relative URLs - Use full URLs, not
/pageor../page - Don't hardcode sensitive data - Use variables for user-specific data
- Don't open untrusted URLs - Validate URL sources
- Don't forget to encode - Special characters need URL encoding
- Don't use broken variables - Verify variable names are correct
URL Structure
Understanding URL components helps create proper URLs:
https://www.example.com:443/products/item?id=123&cat=electronics#reviews
└─┬─┘ └──────┬───────┘└┬┘ └─────┬─────┘ └──────────┬──────────┘ └──┬──┘
protocol hostname port pathname query parameters hash
Full URL: https://www.example.com:443/products/item?id=123&cat=electronics#reviewsComponents:
- Protocol:
https://orhttp:// - Hostname:
www.example.com - Port:
:443(optional, default for HTTPS) - Pathname:
/products/item - Query:
?id=123&cat=electronics - Hash:
#reviews
Troubleshooting
URL Not Opening
Solutions:
- Verify URL is set in Default Value or Excel
- Check if protocol (
https://) is included - Ensure variables have values
- Verify Excel column names match variable syntax
- Check browser console for errors
- Test with a simple static URL first
Variables Not Replacing
Solutions:
- Verify variable syntax
{$variableName$} - Check if variable is defined in Excel
- Ensure variable name matches Excel column name exactly
- Test with predefined variables like
{$PAGE_URL$} - Check for typos in variable names
Invalid URL Error
Solutions:
- Include protocol (
https://orhttp://) - Check for spaces in URL
- Verify special characters are encoded
- Ensure domain is valid
- Test URL manually in browser
- Check Excel data for invalid characters
URL Opens Wrong Page
Solutions:
- Verify Excel data is correct
- Check variable values
- Ensure URL pattern is correct
- Test with static URL first
- Verify no extra spaces in Excel data
- Check for case sensitivity in URLs
Examples
Example 1: Static URL
// Configuration
Default Value: https://example.com/dashboard
// Result
Opens: https://example.com/dashboardExample 2: URL from Excel
// Configuration
Default Value: {$pageURL$}
// Excel Column: pageURL
// Excel Data: https://example.com/products/laptop
// Result
Opens: https://example.com/products/laptopExample 3: Dynamic URL with Multiple Variables
// Configuration
Default Value: https://{$domain$}/users/{$userId$}/posts/{$postId$}
// Excel Data:
// domain = "blog.example.com"
// userId = "123"
// postId = "456"
// Result
Opens: https://blog.example.com/users/123/posts/456Example 4: URL with Query Parameters
// Configuration
Default Value: https://example.com/search?q={$keyword$}&sort={$sortOrder$}&page={$pageNum$}
// Excel Data:
// keyword = "laptop"
// sortOrder = "price"
// pageNum = "2"
// Result
Opens: https://example.com/search?q=laptop&sort=price&page=2Example 5: URL with Page Variables
// Configuration
Default Value: https://example.com/redirect?from={$PAGE_PATHNAME$}&host={$PAGE_HOSTNAME$}
// Current Page: https://source.com/products/item
// Result
Opens: https://example.com/redirect?from=/products/item&host=source.comRelated Documentation
Notes
- URL opens in the current tab/window (not a new tab)
- Navigation happens immediately when field executes
- Subsequent fields in the workflow will execute on the new page
- Use this field type for page navigation within automation workflows
- For opening URLs in new tabs, use browser action field types