cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
Dapta
New Member

Argument 'BrowserInstance' must be 'Web browser instance'

Hi

 

I have an issue where PAD at random gives me this error: Argument 'BrowserInstance' must be 'Web browser instance'

 

It can be both after either attaching to or starting a new browser.

But for this specific issue, it's just when I open the Chrome browser, navigate to a website and then I want PAD to click a button - and it's just about 50/50 whether I get this issue or not at this point.

 

PAD is executing unattended on a VM, and I have been wondering if it can be caused by a lack of resources? Is this a common error?

 

Does anybody know why this happens at random and what I can do to bulletproof this?

14 REPLIES 14
MichaelAnnis
Super User
Super User

Set up an on error action to reattach to the browser if an error occurs. 

Dapta
New Member

Hi @MichaelAnnis 

 

Thanks for your comment. I've tried that, and it usually bugs out as well, sadly.

 

It's hard to say, but maybe that solutions helps the error-rate up a bit from 50/50 to 40/60. None of my fail-safes has been bulletproof, as of now I'm having it close the browser, open a new instance and try the script again (which still fails).

 

I was hoping that there was something I've overseen in PAD - do you experience the same error commonly?

RituT
New Member

Hi, I had the similar issue while launching the New chrome browser instance and that got resolved after I have uninstalled and installed back the Microsoft power desktop extension. See if that works for you as well.

RituT_0-1647838106716.png

 

Jimbotron3000
Helper I
Helper I

Did you ever find a solution that works? This is happening to me constantly. Sometimes it hangs after opening the browser. With error handling set to continue on error after timeout, I then get the 'BrowserInstance must be Web browser instance' error.

ryule
Super User
Super User

Yeah I get this with IE and the Automation browser on my VM.....works just fine on my laptop....

CParsons09
Resolver I
Resolver I

I'm also facing this issue now that we are testing unattended automation. Re-installing the MS extension did not solve the issue.

ryule
Super User
Super User

My Edge browser has started doing this randomly.....

ApexOrigin
Advocate II
Advocate II

I have starting having some reliability issues recently with browser actions.  I am suspecting it has something to do with an update Microsoft made recently to the browser extensions.

 

In my case, I added wait statements, and the processes are more reliable now. These are processes that have been running on WinAutomation for years without any issue and without wait statements, and then all of sudden, issues. It's the same problem with PAD, so that's why I suspect a change to the browser extensions software.

Frustrating! So you are adding the wait statements before the action directly after starting the browser? I think I have some on most, but maybe I need to extend them.

I put them between all the code lines where the problem exists.

samwhitt
Frequent Visitor

I had this issue, but only on a chrome window that always opened as a pop up. 

 

The attach to running instance wouldn't recognise it in the drop downs, so i installed the following web extension and it started to recognise it more consistently / without having to do anything more hacky. 

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/open-link-in-same-tab-pop/jmphljmgnagblkombahigniilhnbadca

 

 

zulfadlizabri
Regular Visitor

The solution is to use Edge browser instead Chrome browser. I have similar error before and it works fine after I made this change.

 

I created a support ticket to Microsoft support team and they claimed that PAD is requesting you to change to MS Edge, which it will give an output variable as 'Web Browser Instance'.

 

Please mark this as solution if this step works for you. Thanks.

That is absolutely not true, and if it is, Microsoft needs to put out a much larger statement.

InzmamUl
Regular Visitor

Hi All,

 

You can try using Launch New Chrome and set it's "On Error" property to "continue flow run", and then use wait for window action to check if window is open with the expected title & class. 

> if it is open, then check if %browser% variable is empty or not. if it is empty, attach to chrome browser, either by title or URL.

> %browser% variable is not empty, that means %browser% variable is initialized by Browser Instance.

> If window is not open, then you can try launching the browser again, you also try using the Terminate process action, just in case process itself is giving some issue.

 

Regards,

Inzmam

Helpful resources

Announcements

Announcing | Super Users - 2023 Season 1

Super Users – 2023 Season 1    We are excited to kick off the Power Users Super User Program for 2023 - Season 1.  The Power Platform Super Users have done an amazing job in keeping the Power Platform communities helpful, accurate and responsive. We would like to send these amazing folks a big THANK YOU for their efforts.      Super User Season 1 | Contributions July 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022  Super User Season 2 | Contributions January 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023    Curious what a Super User is? Super Users are especially active community members who are eager to help others with their community questions. There are 2 Super User seasons in a year, and we monitor the community for new potential Super Users at the end of each season. Super Users are recognized in the community with both a rank name and icon next to their username, and a seasonal badge on their profile.  Power Apps  Power Automate  Power Virtual Agents  Power Pages  Pstork1*  Pstork1*  Pstork1*  OliverRodrigues  BCBuizer  Expiscornovus*  Expiscornovus*  ragavanrajan  AhmedSalih  grantjenkins  renatoromao    Mira_Ghaly*  Mira_Ghaly*      Sundeep_Malik*  Sundeep_Malik*      SudeepGhatakNZ*  SudeepGhatakNZ*      StretchFredrik*  StretchFredrik*      365-Assist*  365-Assist*      cha_cha  ekarim2020      timl  Hardesh15      iAm_ManCat  annajhaveri      SebS  Rhiassuring      LaurensM  abm      TheRobRush  Ankesh_49      WiZey  lbendlin      Nogueira1306  Kaif_Siddique      victorcp  RobElliott      dpoggemann  srduval      SBax  CFernandes      Roverandom  schwibach      Akser  CraigStewart      PowerRanger  MichaelAnnis      subsguts  David_MA      EricRegnier  edgonzales      zmansuri  GeorgiosG      ChrisPiasecki  ryule      AmDev  fchopo      phipps0218  tom_riha      theapurva  takolota     Akash17  momlo     BCLS776  Shuvam-rpa     rampprakash  ScottShearer     Rusk  ChristianAbata     cchannon  Koen5     a33ik  Heartholme     AaronKnox  okeks      Matren   David_MA     Alex_10        Jeff_Thorpe        poweractivate        Ramole        DianaBirkelbach        DavidZoon        AJ_Z        PriyankaGeethik        BrianS        StalinPonnusamy        HamidBee        CNT        Anonymous_Hippo        Anchov        KeithAtherton        alaabitar        Tolu_Victor        KRider        sperry1625        IPC_ahaas      zuurg    rubin_boer   cwebb365   Dorrinda   G1124   Gabibalaban   Manan-Malhotra   jcfDaniel   WarrenBelz   Waegemma   drrickryp   GuidoPreite    If an * is at the end of a user's name this means they are a Multi Super User, in more than one community. Please note this is not the final list, as we are pending a few acceptances.  Once they are received the list will be updated. 

Power Platform Connections - Episode 6 | March 23, 2023

Episode Six of Power Platform Connections sees David Warner and Hugo Bernier talk to talk to Business Applications MVP Shane Young, alongside the latest news, product updates, and community blogs.    Use the hashtag #PowerPlatformConnects on social media for a chance to have your work featured on the show!        Show schedule in this episode:  0:00 Cold Open 00:24 Show Intro 01:02 Shane Young Interview 22:00 Blogs & Articles 22:20 Integrate FullCalendar.io with Power Pages 23:50 Text Data 25:15 Zero to Hero Power Apps Saga 25:44 Parent Hub Association 26:33 Using Custom Values for OneNote Power Automate References​ 28:04 ​Dynamics Power Israel 28:44 Create Beautiful Canvas Apps in Dataverse for Teams ​ 30:36 Outro & Bloopers  Check out the blogs and articles featured in this week’s episode:   https://francomusso.com/integrate-fullcalendar-io-with-power-pages-from-json-basics-to-advanced-outp... @crmbizcoach https://yerawizardcat.com/text/ @YerAWizardCat www.fromzerotoheroes.com/mentorship ​ @thevictordantas https://www.expiscornovus.com/2023/03/16/parent-hub-association/ ​ @Expiscornovus https://lindsaytshelton.com/2023/03/15/the-painful-process-of-custom-values-for-onenote-power-automa... @lshelton_Tech https://never-stop-learning.de/create-beautiful-canvas-apps-in-dataverse-for-teams/ @MMe2K    Action requested: Feel free to provide feedback on how we can make our community more inclusive and diverse.  This episode premiered live on our YouTube at 12pm PST on Thursday 23rd March 2023.  Video series available at Power Platform Community YouTube channel.    Upcoming events:  Business Applications Launch – April 4th – Free and Virtual! M365 Conference - May 1-5th - Las Vegas Power Apps Developers Summit – May 19-20th - London European Power Platform conference – Jun. 20-22nd - Dublin Microsoft Power Platform Conference – Oct. 3-5th - Las Vegas  Join our Communities:  Power Apps Community Power Automate Community Power Virtual Agents Community Power Pages Community  If you’d like to hear from a specific community member in an upcoming recording and/or have specific questions for the Power Platform Connections team, please let us know. We will do our best to address all your requests or questions.   

Microsoft Power Platform | March 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to our March 2023 Newsletter, where we'll be highlighting the great work of our members within our Biz Apps communities, alongside the latest news, video releases, and upcoming events. If you're new to the community, be sure to subscribe to the News & Announcements and stay up to date with the latest news from our ever-growing membership network who find real "Power in the Community".        LATEST NEWS Power Platform Connections Check out Episode Five of Power Platform Connections, as David Warner II and Hugo Bernier chat with #PowerAutomate Vice President, Stephen Siciliano, alongside reviewing out the great work of Vesa Juvonen, Waldek Mastykarz, Maximilian Müller, Kristine Kolodziejski, Danish Naglekar, Cat Schneider, Victor Dantas, and many more.       Use the hashtag #PowerPlatformConnects on social media for a chance to have your work featured on the show!   Did you miss an episode?  Catch up now in the Community Connections Galleries Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, Power Pages     Power Platform leading a new era of AI-generated low-code development.   **HOT OFF THE PRESS** Fantastic piece here by Charles Lamanna on how we're reinventing software development with Copilot in Power Platform to help you can build apps, flows, and bots with just a simple description! Click here to see the Product Blog         Copilot for Power Apps - Power CAT Live To follow on from Charles' blog, check out #PowerCATLive as Phil Topness gives Clay Wesener Wesner a tour of the capabilities of Copilot in Power Apps.           UPCOMING EVENTS   Modern Workplace Conference Check out the Power Platform and Microsoft 365 Modern Workplace Conference that returns face-to-face at the Espace St Martin in Paris on 27-28th March. The #MWCP23 will feature a wide range of expert speakers, including Nadia Yahiaoui, Amanda Sterner, Pierre-Henri, Chirag Patel, Chris Hoard, Edyta Gorzoń, Erika Beaumier, Estelle Auberix, Femke Cornelissen, Frank POIREAU, Gaëlle Moreau, Gilles Pommier, Ilya Fainberg, Julie Ecolivet, Mai-Lynn Lien, Marijn Somers, Merethe Stave, Nikki Chapple, Patrick Guimonet, Penda Sow, Pieter Op De Beéck, Rémi Riche, Robin Doudoux, Stéphanie Delcroix, Yves Habersaat and many more.  Click here to find out more and register today!     Business Applications Launch 2023 Join us on Tuesday 4th April 2023 for an in-depth look into the latest updates across Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft Dynamics 365 that are helping businesses overcome their biggest challenges today. Find out about new features, capabilities, and best practices for connecting data to deliver exceptional customer experiences, collaborating and creating using AI-powered capabilities, driving productivity with automation, and building future growth with today’s leading technology. Click Here to Register Today!       Power Platform Conference 2023 We are so excited to see you for the Microsoft Power Platform Conference in Las Vegas October 3-5th, 2023! But first, let's take a look below at some fun moments from MPPC 2022 in Orlando Florida. 2023 sees guest speakers such as Charles Lamanna, Heather Cook, Julie Strauss, Nirav Shah, Ryan Cunningham, Sangya Singh, and many more taking part, so why not click the link below to register for the #PowerPlatformConf today! Vegas, baby! Click Here to Register Today!      COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS Check out our top Super and Community Users reaching new levels!  These hardworking members are posting, answering questions, kudos, and providing top solutions in their communities.   Power Apps:  Super Users:  @WarrenBelz  |  @iAm_ManCat  Community Users: @LaurensM | @Rusk | @RJM07    Power Automate:   Super Users: @abm  | @Expiscornovus | @RobElliott  Community Users:  @grantjenkins | @Chriddle    Power Virtual Agents:   Super Users: @Expiscornovus | @Pstork1  Community Users: @MisterBates | @Jupyter123 | Kunal K   Power Pages: Super Users:  @OliverRodriguesOliverRodrigues | @Mira_Ghaly  Community Users: @FubarFubar | @ianwukianwuk  LATEST PRODUCT BLOG ARTICLES  Power Apps Community Blog  Power Automate Community Blog  Power Virtual Agents Community Blog  Power Pages Community Blog  Check out 'Using the Community' for more helpful tips and information:  Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, Power Pages 

Register now for the Business Applications Launch Event | Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Join us for an in-depth look into the latest updates across Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform that are helping businesses overcome their biggest challenges today.   Find out about new features, capabilities, and best practices for connecting data to deliver exceptional customer experiences, collaborating, and creating using AI-powered capabilities, driving productivity with automation—and building towards future growth with today’s leading technology.   Microsoft leaders and experts will guide you through the full 2023 release wave 1 and how these advancements will help you: Expand visibility, reduce time, and enhance creativity in your departments and teams with unified, AI-powered capabilities.Empower your employees to focus on revenue-generating tasks while automating repetitive tasks.Connect people, data, and processes across your organization with modern collaboration tools.Innovate without limits using the latest in low-code development, including new GPT-powered capabilities.    Click Here to Register Today!    

Check out the new Power Platform Communities Front Door Experience!

We are excited to share the ‘Power Platform Communities Front Door’ experience with you!   Front Door brings together content from all the Power Platform communities into a single place for our community members, customers and low-code, no-code enthusiasts to learn, share and engage with peers, advocates, community program managers and our product team members. There are a host of features and new capabilities now available on Power Platform Communities Front Door to make content more discoverable for all power product community users which includes ForumsUser GroupsEventsCommunity highlightsCommunity by numbersLinks to all communities Users can see top discussions from across all the Power Platform communities and easily navigate to the latest or trending posts for further interaction. Additionally, they can filter to individual products as well.   Users can filter and browse the user group events from all power platform products with feature parity to existing community user group experience and added filtering capabilities.     Users can now explore user groups on the Power Platform Front Door landing page with capability to view all products in Power Platform.      Explore Power Platform Communities Front Door today. Visit Power Platform Community Front door to easily navigate to the different product communities, view a roll up of user groups, events and forums.

Microsoft Power Platform Conference | Registration Open | Oct. 3-5 2023

We are so excited to see you for the Microsoft Power Platform Conference in Las Vegas October 3-5 2023! But first, let's take a look back at some fun moments and the best community in tech from MPPC 2022 in Orlando, Florida.   Featuring guest speakers such as Charles Lamanna, Heather Cook, Julie Strauss, Nirav Shah, Ryan Cunningham, Sangya Singh, Stephen Siciliano, Hugo Bernier and many more.   Register today: https://www.powerplatformconf.com/   

Users online (2,500)