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The no-code builder lets you create custom extraction workflows by interacting with a website visually. Instead of writing scraper code, you select page elements and add workflow actions such as click, loop, pagination, scroll, wait, and extract data. Use it when templates or Auto-detect do not fully match your target website or data requirements.

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Scenarios it handles

Extract repeated lists

Extract repeated items from search results, directories, product grids, or tables.

Drill into detail pages

Click into each item, collect additional fields, then return to the list.

Navigate across pages

Move across pages, load more results, or scroll to reveal dynamic content.

Customize field values

Select fields manually and refine extracted values before export.
Use the no-code builder when:
  • No suitable template exists
  • Auto-detect misses fields or page actions
  • The workflow requires detail pages
  • The website uses custom pagination or infinite scroll
  • You need to handle popups, menus, tabs, or login steps
  • You need field-level cleanup before export

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Basic workflow

1

Open the page

Start with the URL that contains the data you want to collect.
2

Select elements

Click the data fields, buttons, links, or list items that define the extraction workflow.
3

Choose actions

Add actions such as extract data, click, loop through items, paginate, scroll, or wait.
4

Review the workflow

Check the action sequence and make sure the task follows the intended page path.
5

Run a test

Execute a small sample and review the output before running the full task.

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Common actions

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Editing selectors manually

When the default element selection does not capture the right data, you can edit the underlying XPath directly. This is useful when:
  • The auto-generated selector is too broad or too narrow
  • You need to target a specific attribute (e.g. href, src, data-price) instead of visible text
  • The page structure changes slightly between items and the default selector misses some rows
To edit a selector, click on a field in the workflow and switch to the XPath editing mode. You can test the modified selector against the live page before saving.

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Troubleshooting

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Best practices

  • Start with a small sample before running the full task.
  • Use clear field names.
  • Check whether values are captured from visible text, links, images, attributes, or HTML.
  • Add waits when content loads dynamically.
  • Keep the workflow as simple as possible.
  • Re-test after the target website changes.
The no-code builder creates a repeatable workflow based on the website structure. If the website changes significantly, you may need to adjust the task.

Templates

Start with a prebuilt workflow for common websites.

Auto-detect

Let Octoparse scan a page and generate a starting workflow automatically.

Refine data

Clean and reformat extracted fields before export.