Events & Filters — CasperJS 1.1.0-DEV documentation

# Events & Filters

CasperJS provides an event handler very similar to the nodejs‘ one; actually it borrows most of its codebase. CasperJS also adds filters, which are basically ways to alter values asynchronously.

Using events is pretty much straightforward if you’re a node developer, or if you worked with any evented system before:

    var casper = require('casper').create();

    casper.on('resource.received', function(resource) {
        casper.echo(resource.url);
    });

## Emitting you own events

Of course you can emit your own events, using the `Casper.emit()` method:

    var casper = require('casper').create();

    // listening to a custom event
    casper.on('google.loaded', function() {
        this.echo('Google page title is ' + this.getTitle());
    });

    casper.start('http://google.com/', function() {
        // emitting a custom event
        this.emit('google.loaded');
    });

    casper.run();

## Removing events

You can also remove events. This is particularly useful when running a lot of tests where you might need to add and remove different events for different tests:

    var casper = require('casper').create();

    // listener function for requested resources
    var listener = function(resource, request) {
        this.echo(resource.url);
    };

    // listening to all resources requests
    casper.on("resource.requested", listener);

    // load the google homepage
    casper.start('http://google.com/', function() {
        this.echo(this.getTitle());
    });

    casper.run().then(function() {
        // remove the event listener
        this.removeListener("resource.requested", listener);
    });

Here is an example of how to use this in a casperjs test within the tearDown function.:

    var currentRequest;

    //Resource listener
    function onResourceRequested(requestData, request) {
        if (/\/jquery\.min\.js/.test(requestData.url)) {
            currentRequest = requestData;
        }
    }

    casper.test.begin('JQuery Test', 1, {
        setUp: function() {
            // Attach the resource listener
            casper.on('resource.requested', onResourceRequested);
        },

        tearDown: function() {
            // Remove the resource listener
            casper.removeListener('resource.requested', onResourceRequested);
            currentRequest = undefined;
        },

        test: function(test) {
            casper.start('http://casperjs.org/', function() {
                test.assert(currentRequest !== undefined, "JQuery Exists");
            });

            casper.run(function() {
                test.done();
            });
        }
    });

## `Events` reference

### `back`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when the embedded browser is asked to go back a step in its history.

### `capture.saved`

Arguments: `targetFile`

Emitted when a screenshot image has been captured.

### `click`

Arguments: `selector`

Emitted when the `Casper.click()` method has been called.

### `complete.error`

Arguments: `error`

New in version 1.1.

Emitted when a complete callback has errored.

By default, CasperJS doesn’t listen to this event, you have to declare your own listeners by hand:

    casper.on('complete.error', function(err) {
        this.die("Complete callback has failed: " + err);
    });

### `die`

Arguments: `message, status`

Emitted when the `Casper.die()` method has been called.

### `downloaded.file`

Arguments: `targetPath`

Emitted when a file has been downloaded by Casper.download(); `target` will contain the path to the downloaded file.

### `downloaded.error`

Arguments: `url`

Emitted when a file has encoutered an error when downloaded by Casper.download(); `url` will contain the url of the downloaded file.

### `error`

Arguments: `msg, backtrace`

New in version 0.6.9.

Emitted when an error hasn’t been explicitly caught within the CasperJS/PhantomJS environment. Do basically what PhantomJS’ `onError()` native handler does.

### `exit`

Arguments: `status`

Emitted when the `Casper.exit()` method has been called.

### `fileDownloadError`

Arguments: `error`

Emitted when an error occurs on downloading file.

### `fileToDownload`

Arguments: `Object`

Emitted when response occurs with a Content-Disposition header.

### `fill`

Arguments: `selector, vals, submit`

Emitted when a form is filled using the `Casper.fill()` method.

### `forward`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when the embedded browser is asked to go forward a step in its history.

### `frame.changed`

Arguments: `name, status`

Emitted when the current frame is changed with `Casper.withPopup, Casper.switchToFrame() ...`.

### `http.auth`

Arguments: `username, password`

Emitted when http authentication parameters are set.

### `http.status.[code]`

Arguments: `resource`

Emitted when any given HTTP reponse is received with the status code specified by `[code]`, eg.:

    casper.on('http.status.404', function(resource) {
        casper.echo(resource.url + ' is 404');
    })

### `load.started`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when PhantomJS’ `WebPage.onLoadStarted` event callback is called.

### `load.failed`

Arguments: `Object`

Emitted when PhantomJS’ `WebPage.onLoadFinished` event callback has been called and failed.

### `load.finished`

Arguments: `status`

Emitted when PhantomJS’ `WebPage.onLoadFinished` event callback is called.

### `log`

Arguments: `entry`

Emitted when the `Casper.log()` method has been called. The `entry` parameter is an Object like this:

    {
        level:   "debug",
        space:   "phantom",
        message: "A message",
        date:    "a javascript Date instance"
    }

### `mouse.click`

Arguments: `args`

Emitted when the mouse left-click something or somewhere.

### `mouse.down`

Arguments: `args`

Emitted when the mouse presses on something or somewhere with the left button.

### `mouse.move`

Arguments: `args`

Emitted when the mouse moves onto something or somewhere.

### `mouse.up`

Arguments: `args`

Emitted when the mouse releases the left button over something or somewhere.

### `navigation.requested`

Arguments: `url, navigationType, navigationLocked, isMainFrame`

New in version 1.0.

Emitted each time a navigation operation has been requested. Available navigation types are: `LinkClicked`, `FormSubmitted`, `BackOrForward`, `Reload`, `FormResubmitted` and `Other`.

### `open`

`location, settings`

Emitted when an HTTP request is sent. First callback arg is the location, second one is a request settings Object of the form:

    {
        method: "post",
        data:   "foo=42&chuck=norris"
    }

### `page.created`

Arguments: `page`

Emitted when PhantomJS’ `WebPage` object used by CasperJS has been created.

### `page.error`

Arguments: `message, trace`

Emitted when retrieved page leaves a Javascript error uncaught:

    casper.on("page.error", function(msg, trace) {
        this.echo("Error: " + msg, "ERROR");
    });

### `page.initialized`

Arguments: `WebPage`

Emitted when PhantomJS’ `WebPage` object used by CasperJS has been initialized.

### `page.resource.received`

Arguments: `responseData`

Emitted when the HTTP response corresponding to current required url has been received:

    casper.on('page.resource.received', function(responseData) {
       this.echo(responseData.url);
    });

Properties of responseData are:

- `id`: the number of the requested resource
- `url`: the url of the resource
- `time`: a Date object
- `headers`: the list of headers (list of objects {name:’‘, value:’‘})
- `bodySize`: the size of the received content (may increase during multiple call of the callback)
- `contentType`: the content type of the resource
- `contentCharset`: the charset used for the content of the resource (slimerjs only).
- `redirectURL`: if the request has been redirected, this is the redirected url
- `stage`: “start”, “end” or “” for intermediate chunk of data
- `status`: the HTTP response code (200..)
- `statusText`: the HTTP response text for the status (“Ok”...)
- `referrer`: the referer url (slimerjs only)
- `body`: the content, it may change during multiple call for the same request (slimerjs only).
- `httpVersion.major`: the major part of the HTTP protocol version (slimerjs only).
- `httpVersion.minor`: the minor part of the HTTP protocol version (slimerjs only).

### `page.resource.requested`

Arguments: `request`

Emitted when a new HTTP request is performed to open the required url.

New in version 1.1.

Arguments: `requestData, networkRequest`

You can also abort requests:

    casper.on('page.resource.requested', function(requestData, networkRequest) {
        if (requestData.url.indexOf('http://adserver.com') === 0) {
            networkRequest.abort();
        }
    });

Properties of requestData are:

- `id`: the number of the requested resource
- `method`: the http method (“get”, “post”..)
- `url`: the url of the resource
- `time`: a Date object
- `headers`: the list of headers (list of objects {name:’‘, value:’‘})
- `postData`: a string containing the body of the request, when method is “post” or “put” (SlimerJS 0.9)

The networkRequest object has two methods:

- `abort()`: call it to cancel the request. onResourceReceived and onLoadFinished will be called.
- `changeUrl(url)`: abort the current request and do an immediate redirection to the given url.
- `setHeader(key, value, merge)`: allows you to set an header on the HTTP request. If value is null or an empty string, the header will be removed. The merge parameter (only available on SlimerJS), is a boolean: true to merge the given value with an existing value for this header. If false, the old value is replaced by the new one. (Introduced: SlimerJS 0.9)

### `popup.created`

Arguments: `WebPage`

Emitted when a new window has been opened.

### `popup.loaded`

Arguments: `WebPage`

Emitted when a new window has been loaded.

### `popup.closed`

Arguments: `WebPage`

Emitted when a new opened window has been closed.

### `remote.alert`

Arguments: `message`

Emitted when a remote `alert()` call has been performed.

### `remote.callback`

Arguments: `data`

Emitted when a remote window.callPhantom(data) call has been performed.

### `remote.longRunningScript`

Arguments: `WebPage`

Emitted when any remote longRunningScript call has been performed.

You have to call `stopJavaScript` method

    casper.on('remote.longRunningScript', function stopLongScript(webpage) {
        webpage.stopJavaScript();
        return true;
    });

### `remote.message`

Arguments: `msg`

Emitted when any remote console logging call has been performed.

### `resource.error`

Arguments: `resourceError`

Emitted when any requested resource fails to load properly. The received `resourceError` object has the following properties:

- `errorCode`: error code
- `errorString`: error description
- `url`: resource url
- `id`: resource id

### `resource.received`

Arguments: `resource`

Emitted when any resource has been received.

Arguments: `responseData`

Emitted when the HTTP response corresponding to current required url has been received:

    casper.on('resource.received', function(responseData) {
       this.echo(responseData.url);
    });

Properties of responseData are:

- `id`: the number of the requested resource
- `url`: the url of the resource
- `time`: a Date object
- `headers`: the list of headers (list of objects {name:’‘, value:’‘})
- `bodySize`: the size of the received content (may increase during multiple call of the callback)
- `contentType`: the content type of the resource
- `contentCharset`: the charset used for the content of the resource (slimerjs only).
- `redirectURL`: if the request has been redirected, this is the redirected url
- `stage`: “start”, “end” or “” for intermediate chunk of data
- `status`: the HTTP response code (200..)
- `statusText`: the HTTP response text for the status (“Ok”...)
- `referrer`: the referer url (slimerjs only)
- `body`: the content, it may change during multiple call for the same request (slimerjs only).
- `httpVersion.major`: the major part of the HTTP protocol version (slimerjs only).
- `httpVersion.minor`: the minor part of the HTTP protocol version (slimerjs only).

### `resource.requested`

Arguments: `requestData, networkRequest`

You can also abort or change requests and alse update Headers

    casper.on('resource.requested', function(requestData, networkRequest) {
        if (requestData.url.indexOf('http://adserver.com') === 0) {
            networkRequest.abort();
        }
    });

Properties of requestData are:

- `id`: the number of the requested resource
- `method`: the http method (“get”, “post”..)
- `url`: the url of the resource
- `time`: a Date object
- `headers`: the list of headers (list of objects {name:’‘, value:’‘})
- `postData`: a string containing the body of the request, when method is “post” or “put” (SlimerJS 0.9)

The networkRequest object has two methods:

- `abort()`: call it to cancel the request. onResourceReceived and onLoadFinished will be called.
- `changeUrl(url)`: abort the current request and do an immediate redirection to the given url.
- `setHeader(key, value, merge)`: allows you to set an header on the HTTP request. If value is null or an empty string, the header will be removed. The merge parameter (only available on SlimerJS), is a boolean: true to merge the given value with an existing value for this header. If false, the old value is replaced by the new one. (Introduced: SlimerJS 0.9)

### `resource.timeout`

Arguments: `request`

Emitted when the execution time of any resource has exceeded the value of settings.resourceTimeout.

you can configure timeout with `settings.resourceTimeout` parameter.

Properties of responseData are:

- `id`: the number of the requested resource
- `url`: the url of the resource
- `errorCode`: an error code: 408
- `errorString`: the error message.
- `time`: a Date object
- `headers`: the list of headers (list of objects {name:’‘, value:’‘})
- `method`: the http method (“get”, “post”..)

### `run.complete`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when the whole series of steps in the stack have been executed.

### `run.start`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when `Casper.run()` is called.

### `starting`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when `Casper.start()` is called.

### `started`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when Casper has been started using `Casper.start()`.

### `step.added`

Arguments: `step`

Emitted when a new navigation step has been added to the stack.

### `step.bypassed`

Arguments: `step, step`

Emitted when a new navigation step has been reached by bypass (destination, origin).

### `step.complete`

Arguments: `stepResult`

Emitted when a navigation step has been executed.

### `step.created`

Arguments: `fn`

Emitted when a new navigation step has been created.

### `step.error`

Arguments: `error`

New in version 1.1.

Emitted when a step function has errored.

By default, CasperJS doesn’t listen to this event, you have to declare your own listeners by hand:

    casper.on('step.error', function(err) {
        this.die("Step has failed: " + err);
    });

### `step.start`

Arguments: `step`

Emitted when a navigation step has been started.

### `step.timeout`

Arguments: `[step, timeout]`

Emitted when a navigation step has timed out.

### `timeout`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when the execution time of the script has reached the `Casper.options.timeout` value.

### `url.changed`

Arguments: `url`

New in version 1.0.

Emitted each time the current page url changes.

### `viewport.changed`

Arguments: `[width, height]`

Emitted when the viewport has been changed.

### `wait.done`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when a `Casper.wait()`operation ends.

### `wait.start`

Arguments: `None`

Emitted when a `Casper.wait()` operation starts.

### `waitFor.timeout`

Arguments: `[timeout, details]`

Emitted when the execution time of a `Casper.wait*()` operation has exceeded the value of `timeout`.

`details` is a property bag describing what was being waited on. For example, if `waitForSelector` timed out, `details` will have a `selector` string property that was the selector that did not show up in time.

## `Filters` Reference

Filters allow you to alter some values asynchronously. Sounds obscure? Let’s take a simple example and imagine you would like to alter every single url opened by CasperJS to append a `foo=42` query string parameter:

    var casper = require('casper').create();

    casper.setFilter('open.location', function(location) {
        return /\?+/.test(location) ? location += "&foo=42" : location += "?foo=42";
    });

There you have it, every single requested url will have this appended. Let me bet you’ll find far more interesting use cases than my silly one ;)

Every filter methods called emit an identical event. For instance, “page.confirm” filter sends “page.confirm” event.

Here’a the list of all available filters with their expected return value:

Filters reference

### `capture.target_filename`

Arguments: `args`

Return type: `String`

Allows to alter the value of the filename where a screen capture should be stored.

### `echo.message`

Arguments: `message`

Return type: `String`

Allows to alter every message written onto stdout.

### `fileDownload`

Arguments: `url, Object [filename,size,contentType]`

Return type: `String`

Allows to alter the path for the file that must be downloaded.

### `log.message`

Arguments: `message`

Return type: `String`

Allows to alter every log message.

### `open.location`

Arguments: `args`

Return type: `String`

Allows to alter every url before it being opened.

### `page.confirm`

Arguments: `message`

Return type: `Boolean`

New in version 1.0.

Allows to react on a javascript `confirm()` call:

    casper.setFilter("page.confirm", function(msg) {
        return msg === "Do you like vbscript?" ? false : true;
    });

### `page.filePicker`

Arguments: `oldFile`

Return type: `String`

New in version 1.4.

Allows to react on a webpage.onFilePicker call:

    casper.setFilter("page.filePicker", function(oldFile) {
        if (system.os.name === 'windows') {
            return 'C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc\\hosts';
        }
        return '/etc/hosts';
    });

### `page.prompt`

Arguments: `message, value`

Return type: `String`

New in version 1.0.

Allows to react on a javascript `prompt()` call:

    casper.setFilter("page.prompt", function(msg, value) {
        if (msg === "What's your name?") {
            return "Chuck";
        }
    });