form_field_buffer - Linux

Overview

form_field_buffer is a command-line interface (CLI) tool that manages form fields in a web browser from the terminal. It allows users to manipulate text, password, and other input fields, enabling automated testing, data entry, and web scraping tasks.

Syntax

form_field_buffer [OPTIONS] FORM_URL FIELD_SELECTOR

Options/Flags

  • -s, --set: Sets the value of the specified field.
  • -g, --get: Reads the value of the specified field.
  • -r, --regex: Uses regular expression to match and manipulate field values.
  • -x, --xpath: Uses XPath expression to select a specific field.
  • -f, --field: Sets the field selector (default is first active input field).
  • -h, --help: Displays help information.

Examples

Set a form field value

form_field_buffer -s "New Value" https://example.com/form/ # Set the first input field
form_field_buffer -s "My Password" -f "#password" https://example.com/login/ # Set the password field

Get a form field value

form_field_buffer -g https://example.com/form/ # Get the value of the first input field
form_field_buffer -g -f "#username" https://example.com/login/ # Get the username field value

Common Issues

  • Ensure the FORM_URL is correct and the field selector matches a valid field.
  • Avoid using -s and -g together as it may result in unexpected behavior.
  • Use -f to select a specific field when the default selector does not match the desired field.

Integration

form_field_buffer can be integrated with other tools for advanced tasks:

  • Use Python’s subprocess module to automate form filling in scripts.
  • Combine with grep or awk for complex data extraction from web pages.

Related Commands

  • curl
  • wget
  • html2text