List ScrapeMaps are the most robust of the 3 types of ScrapeMap (FreeForm, List, Table). The process to capture DataAddresses varies by the Type of ScrapeMap.
List ScrapMaps allow the user to target numerous instances of the identified data. This type of ScrapeMap is ideal when the data source contains multiple sets of the same kind of data such as a list of search results.
Unlike FreeForm ScrapeMaps which only require selecting one instance of the desired data, List Type ScrapeMaps require selecting at least 2 data points (such as Price for two different list results).
After browsing to and filtering on the source browser website, a new ScrapeMap with a List type can be created and ScrapeMate will display a blank Root Instruction Set. Click on the first instance of list data that you wish to capture.
The ScrapeMap Wizard Dialog appears and asks you to clarify what kind of Data you wish to capture or Action you wish to perform. Choose “Capture List Data” to begin creating a DataAddress to capture list data.
In the subsequent Data Address Info pane, a user defined Name must be entered. A DataAddress Name must be unique and can only contain letters and numbers with no spaces or special characters. The name in this DataAddress example is “Price”. The optional Description allows us to store more information about the DataAddress and here it is set to “House Price”. The Selector is generated by ScrapeMate and serves as the data locator. For List data you must select multiple instances of the data in order for the Selector to be properly created. After setting the Name and optional Description, but before clicking OK, click on another price, to finish creating the DataAddress.
When the Price DataAddress is created you will notice that all of the instances of the data field you selected (all Prices) are highlighted in green and visible in the rows within the Data Preview pane.
After adding additional Data Addresses and Actions, this List Type ScrapeMap is ready to Save and Run.
On some websites two instances of the target data may not be sufficient to capture all of the instances of the DataAddress (e.g. Price). If this occurs, in the majority of cases, Reselecting the DataAddress and clicking on the missing DataAddresses will result in a more complete ScrapeMap.
If clicking 2 data points is not usually enough to capture all of your desired data enable the “Manually Commit List DataAddresses and Actions” option in the Application Settings. This will allow you to click as many data points as you wish before you click OK to commit the DataAddress.