Fill in repetitive web forms without coding

Every week you go to the same website, fill in the same form with the same details and press Submit. Orders, shipping details, new customer sign-ups: simple tasks, but they keep coming back. If you want to fill in forms automatically without learning to code, you can record the process once and repeat it whenever you like. In this article you'll see when it's worth it, how it differs from the browser's autofill and how to do it today with Macro Quantic Pro.

When a macro is worth it

A macro is worth it when the task meets three conditions:

• It repeats, for example every day or every week.
• The steps are always the same: going to the same page, filling in the same fields, pressing the same buttons.
• The data changes little or not at all: the same shipping address, the same usual order, the same report.

If every time you have to decide what to put in the fields, the macro can't do that for you. If the task is always the same, recording it once saves you repeating it by hand.

On the other hand, it isn't worth it in these cases:

• The form often changes its design or the order of its fields. You'd spend more time re-recording than filling it in.
• The data is different every time, such as a different order or a new customer. A macro always types exactly what you recorded.
• The website asks for verification such as a CAPTCHA or a code sent to your phone. Those steps are meant to be done by a person.
• You only do it now and then. For that, the browser's autofill is usually enough.

Browser autofill versus a macro

The browser already helps with forms, so it's worth knowing what each one does:

• The browser's autofill fills in fields with data you've saved, such as your name, your address or your email. It's fast and built in, but you still browse, click and press Submit.
• A macro repeats the whole process: it opens the page, makes the clicks, types into each field and submits. It can be launched with a shortcut or at a set time.

They don't compete with each other. Autofill is handy for forms you fill in now and then. A macro makes more sense when you want the whole task to happen without stepping in.

A practical detail: the autofill suggestion list can appear on top of the form while you record or play back. If it does, it can cover the field the macro was about to click.

How to do it in Macro Quantic Pro

It's best to be clear from the start. Macro Quantic Pro is preparing a Web mode with a built-in browser, designed for exactly this: recording forms, finding each field by what it is rather than by its position, and waiting for the page to load. Today, that mode appears in the program as Coming soon: it isn't available yet.

In the meantime, you can automate a form with Desktop mode, recording what you do in your usual browser.

1. Prepare the browser. Always open it at the same size, for example maximized, and at the same zoom level.
2. Record. In the Recording section, with Desktop selected, press Record or Alt + F9. Open the page, click each field, type the data and press Submit.
3. Stop and save. Press Stop. The macro is saved in My Macros with the time between each action, so it respects how long the page took while you were recording.
4. Test. Play it back with Alt + F8 and check that each piece of data lands in its field.

To make the macro withstand small changes, turn on Smart mode. While recording, it saves a small snapshot of what you click and, during playback, checks where it is before clicking. It helps if a field has moved a little or if the button takes a moment to appear. It's available in the free trial and in the Starter, Pro and Enterprise plans.

Keep this method's limit in mind: in Desktop mode, the macro repeats clicks on the screen. If the website changes its design a lot, you'll have to record it again.

Tips to make the recording hold up

• Record with the page fully loaded. Wait for the form to appear before the first click: that pause is saved in the macro and protects it when the website is a bit slower.
• Type the data in one go. Avoid deleting and retyping while you record: the macro would repeat the mistakes and the corrections too.
• Close the autofill suggestions with Esc if they appear on top of a field, so they don't cover the next click.
• Keep the login separate from the rest. If the website asks you to sign in, do that part by hand and record only what comes after.
• If the page takes a long time to load, you can use an OCR robot that waits for a specific text, for example "Order confirmed", and launches the next macro.

Scheduling it

If the task comes around every week, you don't need to remember it. In Scheduled Tasks, press New Task, choose the macro and the frequency:

• Once, on a date and at a time.
• Daily, at a time, with the option of working days only.
• Weekly, on the days and at the time you choose.

The program has to be open or in the system tray to run the task. The Free plan, the trial and Starter allow 2 scheduled tasks.

Security and limits

Automating forms involves personal data, so it pays to be careful:

• Don't record passwords in a macro. Everything you type while recording is saved as is inside the macro file, unencrypted. It's better to sign in by hand or let the browser's password manager do it.
• Your data stays on your computer. Macros are saved on your PC, not in the cloud. Even so, if you share or export a macro, you also share what you typed in it.
• Respect each site's terms. Some websites don't allow automation in their terms of use, and others block it.
• Don't use macros to get around protections. A CAPTCHA is there to check that a person is in front of the screen. Don't try to automate it or bypass it, and don't use macros to send spam.

Record your first task

If you have a form you fill in every week, you can download Macro Quantic Pro for free from the Microsoft Store and record it today in Desktop mode. To see how it records and plays back, check the macro recorder page or the documentation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fill in forms without coding?

Yes. With a macro recorder you fill in the form once while recording, and the program repeats your clicks and what you typed. With Macro Quantic Pro you can do it today in Desktop mode, in your usual browser.

How is it different from the browser's autofill?

Autofill fills in fields with saved data, but you still do the rest. A macro repeats the whole process: opening the page, filling it in, clicking and submitting, and it can be scheduled.

Is it safe to save data in a macro?

Macros are saved on your computer, not in the cloud, but what you type stays inside the file unencrypted. That's why it's best not to record passwords or especially sensitive data.

Can I schedule it every week?

Yes. In Scheduled Tasks, choose the Weekly frequency, the days and the time. You can also run it just once or every day.

Sources

• Keyboard Maestro forum: Best practice to wait webpage loading