WebDriver UDF and OFFLINE (WAMP) localhost Issue

[JugglingCoder]

My script is running fine.  However, if I disconnect from the internet, the UDF WebDriver (geckdriver) doesn't work (see below for output).  I have WAMP installed and it's running great so I have a web server on my local machine... so wondering why the geckodriver is not working?  Does it really need to connect to the internet to run? It can't run on a local server? I tried something like this:

_WD_Option('Port', 80)

port 80 being the port for WAMP but that didn't work. It says, "_WD_Startup: Port:    80 (Unavailable)".  I'll be honest, I really don't understand the port stuff too much so any help would be appreciated.

I need to use this AutoIt/WebDriver App OFFLINE so... hoping there is a solution.

Error Output

=======

_WD_Option ==> Success [0] : Parameters:   Option=Driver   Value=udf\geckodriver.exe
_WD_Option ==> Success [0] : Parameters:   Option=Port   Value=80
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully used [alwaysMatch]  with specified browser: firefox
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Browser or feature not supported [21] : Not supported KEY parameter ( must be defined in $_WD_KEYS__*** ).      $key = ui     $value1 = prefersReducedMotion     $value2 = 1
_WD_GetFreePort ==> Not found [13 / 80] : Parameters:   MinPort=80   MaxPort=Default > No available ports found
_WD_IsLatestRelease ==> Success [0] : True
_WD_Startup: OS:    WIN_10 X64 19045
_WD_Startup: AutoIt:    3.3.16.1
_WD_Startup: Webdriver UDF:    1.4.0 (Up to date)
_WD_Startup: WinHTTP:    1.6.4.2
_WD_Startup: Driver:    udf\geckodriver.exe (64 Bit)
_WD_Startup: Params:    
_WD_Startup: Port:    80 (Unavailable)
_WD_Startup: Command:    "udf\geckodriver.exe"  
_WD_Startup ==> Success [0]
__WD_Post ==> Success [0] : HTTP status = 404
_WD_CreateSession ==> Webdriver Exception [10]
Error Creating Session: 10 Exiting.

[SOLVE-SMART]

Hi @JugglingCoder ,

please share your capability string. You try to add an unsupported key like it is written here:

_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Browser or feature not supported [21] : Not supported KEY parameter ( must be defined in $_WD_KEYS__*** ).      $key = ui     $value1 = prefersReducedMotion     $value2 = 1

I am not sure if this is related to your problem, but one step at a time 😅 .

Best regards
Sven

Edited March 11 by SOLVE-SMART

[JugglingCoder]

Here is my full SetupGecko function:

expandcollapse popup

Func SetupGecko()
    ; WAMP "Listen" in "httpd.conf" (C:\wamp\bin\apache\apache2.4.51\conf\httpd.conf) is set as,
    ; Listen 0.0.0.0:80
    ; Listen [::0]:80
    _WD_Option('Driver', 'udf\geckodriver.exe')
    Local $iPort = _WD_GetFreePort(4444, 4500) ; instead of specifing a specific port, this function will find a free port from one of the ports listed
    _WD_Option('Port', $iPort) ; works great
    ;_WD_Option('Port', 80) ; not working ;(
    ;_WD_Option('Port', 4444)
    ;If @error Then Return SetError(@error, @extended, 0)
    ;_WD_Option('Port', $iPort)
    ;_WD_Option('DriverParams', '--port=' & $iPort & ' --log trace')    
    
    ; WebDriver Capabilities
    ; See: https://www.autoitscript.com/wiki/WebDriver_Capabilities
    _WD_CapabilitiesStartup()
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd('alwaysMatch', 'firefox')
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd('browserName', 'firefox')
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd('acceptInsecureCerts', True)
    #comments-start
    The geckodriver.exe instance was originally opening _blank links in a new TAB (not window),
    Therefore I opened a manually opened FireFox window > Address bar > about:config > search ""neww" > saw that "browser.link.open_newwindow" = 2
    Then I ran the geckodriver.exe and in that instance > Address bar > about:config > search ""neww" > saw that "browser.link.open_newwindow" = 3
    to compare them, obviously I need to change the value to "2" so added the line below
    So... hopefully the line below will change that
    See: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1258193
    #comments-end
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd("prefs","browser.link.open_newwindow",2) ; WORKED!!  Saw the "prefs" example on this page > https://www.autoitscript.com/wiki/       WebDriver_Capabilities#Firefox_Examples
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd("ui","prefersReducedMotion", 1) ; Removes address bar > Doesn't Work

    ;_WD_CapabilitiesAdd('debuggerAddress', 9222)
    ;_WD_CapabilitiesDump(@ScriptLineNumber) ; dump current Capabilities setting to console - only for testing in this demo
    $sCapabilities = _WD_CapabilitiesGet()  
    ; Below Doesn't work
    ;$sCapabilities = '{"capabilities":{"alwaysMatch":{"acceptInsecureCerts":true, "pageLoadStrategy":"none", "moz:firefoxOptions": {"args": ["-kiosk", "-private", "-profile", "C:\\Users\\Username\\AppData\\Roaming\\Mozilla\\Firefox\\Profiles\\Profile.Name"]}}}}' 
    Return $sCapabilities
EndFunc   ; SetupGecko

 

[mLipok]

do you mean to do something like this:

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/@media/prefers-reduced-motion

or like this:

https://css-tricks.com/almanac/rules/m/media/prefers-reduced-motion/

 

?

 

Edited March 11 by mLipok

[JugglingCoder]

More info...  I did trials on both my Desktop and Tablet (the tablet is having the issue), see below. It's really strange... Everything works fine on the tablet when my internet connection is on but if I turn it off... ERROR...

================================
Internet Connection > ON
================================

Desktop PC
Windows 10 > NO ISSUES, geckodriver runs fine

1741741790835   geckodriver     INFO    Listening on 127.0.0.1:4444
1741741792524   mozrunner::runner       INFO    Running command: "C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe" "--marionette" "-no-remote" "-profile" "C:\\Users\\USERNAME\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\rust_mozprofilewPyTsK"
Read port: 51001

Tablet
Windows 11 > NO ISSUES, geckodriver runs fine

1741741790835   geckodriver     INFO    Listening on 127.0.0.1:4444
1741741792524   mozrunner::runner       INFO    Running command: "C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe" "--marionette" "-no-remote" "-profile" "C:\\Users\\USERNAME\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\rust_mozprofilewPyTsK"
Read port: 55050

================================
Internet Connection > Turned OFF
================================

DesktopPC
Windows 10 > NO ISSUES, geckodriver runs fine

1741741790835   geckodriver     INFO    Listening on 127.0.0.1:4444
1741741792524   mozrunner::runner       INFO    Running command: "C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe" "--marionette" "-no-remote" "-profile" "C:\\Users\\USERNAME\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\rust_mozprofilewPyTsK"
Read port: 51001

Tablet
Windows 11 > ISSUE, geckodriver FAILS

1741741790835   geckodriver     INFO    Listening on 127.0.0.1:4444 (This line shows and that's it)

(After 30 sec. or so this message pops up)

Autoit Error
Line 15111 (File MY_EXE_NAME. My exe only has 600 lines of code... so is this an error in the included geckodriver.exe?)
Error: Error in expression

================================

My SetupGecko function once again (cleaned up)

================================

Func SetupGecko()
    _WD_Option('Driver', 'udf\geckodriver.exe')
    Local $iPort = _WD_GetFreePort(4444, 4500) ; instead of specifing a specific port, this function will find a free port from one of the ports listed
    _WD_Option('Port', $iPort) ; works great
    _WD_CapabilitiesStartup()
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd('alwaysMatch', 'firefox')
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd('browserName', 'firefox')
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd('acceptInsecureCerts', True)
    _WD_CapabilitiesAdd("prefs","browser.link.open_newwindow",2) ; WORKS
    $sCapabilities = _WD_CapabilitiesGet()  
    Return $sCapabilities
EndFunc

 

[argumentum]

5 hours ago, JugglingCoder said:

Tablet
Windows 11 > ISSUE, geckodriver FAILS

if is off-line due to a disabled NIC (WiFi or wired) then there no network. Therefore no 127.0.0.1 either. ..as far as I remember 

[bogQ]

Mostly true if he turned off wireless or plugged off lan cable, but (OP was not specific) if no local network connection wamp should still work for 127.0.0.1, for host pc (localhost) and not for others. If on local network but no internet wamp should work for any device (if wamp was setup correctly) that is accessing local network hosted server on eg. 192.168.something.something .

So 127.0.0.1 should be always localhost for wamp or for driver (Listening on 127.0.0.1:4444) and i don't see how something can fail on it self (if error is not that wamp server on local network ip do not exsist for example).

 

So did driver fail to listen on 127.0.0.1:4444? Or did ip address where your server is hosted do not exist?

Edited March 12 by bogQ

[argumentum]

11 hours ago, JugglingCoder said:

Line 15111 (File MY_EXE_NAME. My exe only has 600 lines of code...

Your script has 600 lines but the exe includes each "#include" file. Compile with "#Au3Stripper_Parameters=/mo". That will leave behind a "ScriptName_stripped.au3", and that file can be used to find the line number ( or very close to it ).

11 hours ago, JugglingCoder said:

I did trials on both my Desktop and Tablet

Also share the chronological steps of the network state and program(s) loading because that could bring some light to the troubleshooting.

Edited March 12 by argumentum
English

[JugglingCoder]

Thank you everyone for chiming in and trying to help me out, greatly appreciated.  I wrote a trivia game in PHP and js and finally got it working great but then realized, "in some situations I may not have internet access" so just for the heck of it I turned OFF internet access and loaded up my AutoIt Script with the WebDriver and... well, as mentioned above, it fails. If you want to see an image to understand what I built, there is an image in this thread:  

More Info

• The WAMP installation is identical (including windows hosts file, httpd.conf, etc.) on both the Desktop and the Tablet (Lenovo IdeaPad D330).  I meticulously made sure of that.
• The website (php/js trivia game) runs locally on WAMP perfectly fine when opened manually on firefox (or any brower) on both the Desktop and the Tablet.  I.E. the hosts file / WAMP server is running fine on 127.0.0.1
• I specifically bought this tablet just to play this game so only Windows 11 running > WAMP > my custom built trivia web game running in FireFox.  So the chronological order is > boot up > launch WAMP > wait for WAMP to get up and running successfully > Launch my AutoIt UI which has a button to load up the local site with the geckodriver.   The reason I need to use the geckodriver is because the game will be shown on a projector screen and I need to "click" things on the tablet which effect the game screen. Anyway, that's all working fine... just not offline.
• I tried both a.) just disconnecting from Wifi and b.) disabling the adapter...  both cause the WebDriver to fail.

If anyone needs more info, let me know and I'll try to provide it.  Hoping to get this working... man, don't want to have to re-code this in Unity.

=========

Edit; stupid post mistake... and a key point!

from: "... I turned on internet access ..."

to: "... I turned OFF internet access ..."

Edited March 13 by JugglingCoder
silly explaination mistake

[SOLVE-SMART]

Hi folks, hi @JugglingCoder,

please share your complete log by setting ...

$_WD_DEBUG = $_WD_DEBUG_Full

... run your program and share the console output here. The output contains the capabilities string which is helpful and also the calls of the different functions.

At least in the following functions, InetGet() is used which would cause problems in offline mode (I guess):

_WD_IsLatestRelease
_WD_DownloadFile <== _WD_DownloadFile
__WinAPI_GetTcpTable <== _WD_GetFreePort
__WD_GetLatestWebdriverInfo <== _WD_UpdateDriver <== _WD_Startup

I didn't test offline mode with a localhost:NNN website, but I'll try it soon.

Best regards
Sven

[JugglingCoder]

Program Ran > this is the Console Output

I'll post both the console output for when I have an internet connection = #1 and after I turn off the internet connection = #2

#1 - Console Output - Internet connection ON = Success

>"C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\SciTE\..\AutoIt3.exe" /ErrorStdOut "C:\Game Show\Game Controller.au3"    
_WD_Option ==> Success [0] : Parameters:   Option=Driver   Value=udf\geckodriver.exe
_WD_GetFreePort ==> Success [0 / 4444] : Parameters:   MinPort=4444   MaxPort=4500
_WD_Option ==> Success [0] : Parameters:   Option=Port   Value=4444
_WD_CapabilitiesStartup: #150 : > {"capabilities":"{}"} > IsObj = 1
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #179 :      $key = alwaysMatch     $value1 = firefox     $value2 =
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #207 :  $_WD_NOTATION__MATCHTYPE = [capabilities][alwaysMatch] $_WD_NOTATION__SPECIFICVENDOR = ["moz:firefoxOptions"]
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully used [alwaysMatch]  with specified browser: firefox
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #179 :      $key = browserName     $value1 = firefox     $value2 =
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #219 #277 :      $key = browserName     $value1 = firefox     $value2 =     $s_Notation = [capabilities][alwaysMatch]["browserName"]   <<<<  firefox
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #179 :      $key = acceptInsecureCerts     $value1 = True     $value2 =
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #219 #277 :      $key = acceptInsecureCerts     $value1 = True     $value2 =     $s_Notation = [capabilities][alwaysMatch]["acceptInsecureCerts"]   <<<<  True
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #179 :      $key = prefs     $value1 = browser.link.open_newwindow     $value2 = 2
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #254 #277 :      $key = prefs     $value1 = browser.link.open_newwindow     $value2 = 2    $s_Notation = [capabilities][alwaysMatch]["moz:firefoxOptions"]["prefs"][browser.link.open_newwindow]   <<<<  2
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_GetFreePort ==> Success [0 / 4444] : Parameters:   MinPort=4444   MaxPort=Default
_WD_IsLatestRelease ==> Success [0] : True
_WD_Startup: OS:    WIN_11 X64 26100
_WD_Startup: AutoIt:    3.3.16.1
_WD_Startup: Webdriver UDF:    1.4.0 (Up to date)
_WD_Startup: WinHTTP:    1.6.4.2
_WD_Startup: Driver:    udf\geckodriver.exe (64 Bit)
_WD_Startup: Params:    
_WD_Startup: Port:    4444
_WD_Startup: Command:    "udf\geckodriver.exe"  
_WD_Startup ==> Success [0]
__WD_Post: URL=HTTP://127.0.0.1:4444/session; Data={
    "capabilities":{
        "alwaysMatch":{
            "browserName":"firefox",
            "acceptInsecureCerts":true,
            "moz:firefoxOptions":{
                "prefs":{
                    "browser.link.open_newwindow":2
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
__WD_Post ==> Success [0] : HTTP status = 200 ResponseText={"value":{"sessionId":"e5fc24dc-0147-4c15-bc0b-0d29beb73154","capabilities":{"acceptInsecureCerts":true,"browserName":"firefox","browserVersion":"134.0.2","moz:accessibilityChecks":false,"moz:buildID":"20250120135430","moz:geckodriverVersion":"0.36.0","moz:headless":false,"moz:platformVersion":"10.0","moz:processID":12772,"moz:profile":"C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\rust_mozprofileWZzFdm","moz:shutdownTimeout":60000,"moz:webdriverClick":true,"moz:windowless":false,"pageLoadStrategy":"normal","platformName":"windows","proxy":{},"setWindowRect":true,"strictFileInteractability":false,"timeouts":{"implicit":0,"pageLoad":300000,"script":30000},"unhandledPromptBehavior":"dismiss and notify","userAgent":"Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:134.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/134.0"}}}
_WD_CreateSession ==> Success [0] : e5fc24dc-0147-4c15-bc0b-0d29beb73154
__WD_Post: URL=HTTP://127.0.0.1:4444/session/e5fc24dc-0147-4c15-bc0b-0d29beb73154/url; Data={"url":"http://gm_local/app/app_index.php"}
__WD_Post ==> Success [0] : HTTP status = 200 ResponseText={"value":null}
_WD_Navigate ==> Success [0] : Parameters:   URL=http://gm_local/app/app_index.php

 

================================================

#2 - Console Output - Internet connection OFF = Fail

>"C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\SciTE\..\AutoIt3.exe" /ErrorStdOut "C:\Game Show\Game Controller.au3"    
_WD_Option ==> Success [0] : Parameters:   Option=Driver   Value=udf\geckodriver.exe
_WD_GetFreePort ==> Success [0 / 4444] : Parameters:   MinPort=4444   MaxPort=4500
_WD_Option ==> Success [0] : Parameters:   Option=Port   Value=4444
_WD_CapabilitiesStartup: #150 : > {"capabilities":"{}"} > IsObj = 1
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #179 :      $key = alwaysMatch     $value1 = firefox     $value2 =
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #207 :  $_WD_NOTATION__MATCHTYPE = [capabilities][alwaysMatch] $_WD_NOTATION__SPECIFICVENDOR = ["moz:firefoxOptions"]
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully used [alwaysMatch]  with specified browser: firefox
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #179 :      $key = browserName     $value1 = firefox     $value2 =
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #219 #277 :      $key = browserName     $value1 = firefox     $value2 =     $s_Notation = [capabilities][alwaysMatch]["browserName"]   <<<<  firefox
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #179 :      $key = acceptInsecureCerts     $value1 = True     $value2 =
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #219 #277 :      $key = acceptInsecureCerts     $value1 = True     $value2 =     $s_Notation = [capabilities][alwaysMatch]["acceptInsecureCerts"]   <<<<  True
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #179 :      $key = prefs     $value1 = browser.link.open_newwindow     $value2 = 2
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd: #254 #277 :      $key = prefs     $value1 = browser.link.open_newwindow     $value2 = 2    $s_Notation = [capabilities][alwaysMatch]["moz:firefoxOptions"]["prefs"][browser.link.open_newwindow]   <<<<  2
_WD_CapabilitiesAdd ==> Success [0] : Successfully added capability
_WD_GetFreePort ==> Success [0 / 4444] : Parameters:   MinPort=4444   MaxPort=Default
_WD_IsLatestRelease ==> General Error [1]
_WD_Startup: OS:    WIN_11 X64 26100
_WD_Startup: AutoIt:    3.3.16.1
_WD_Startup: Webdriver UDF:    1.4.0 (Update status unknown [1])
_WD_Startup: WinHTTP:    1.6.4.2
_WD_Startup: Driver:    udf\geckodriver.exe (64 Bit)
_WD_Startup: Params:    
_WD_Startup: Port:    4444
_WD_Startup: Command:    "udf\geckodriver.exe"  
_WD_Startup ==> Success [0]
__WD_Post: URL=HTTP://127.0.0.1:4444/session; Data={
    "capabilities":{
        "alwaysMatch":{
            "browserName":"firefox",
            "acceptInsecureCerts":true,
            "moz:firefoxOptions":{
                "prefs":{
                    "browser.link.open_newwindow":2
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
__WD_Post ==> Send / Recv error [6] : HTTP status = 0 ResponseText=WinHTTP request timed out before Webdriver
_WD_CreateSession ==> Webdriver Exception [10]
Error Creating Session: 10 Exiting.
"C:\Game Show\Game Controller.au3" (272) : ==> Error in expression.:
MsgBox( $MB_TOPMOST, "Error Creating Session: ", & @error)
MsgBox( $MB_TOPMOST, "Error Creating Session: ", ^ ERROR
>Exit code: 1

================

After that, the WebDriver window just stays open with this text:

1741863233031   geckodriver     INFO    Listening on 127.0.0.1:4444

[bogQ]

MsgBox( $MB_TOPMOST, "Error Creating Session: ", & @error)
MsgBox( $MB_TOPMOST, "Error Creating Session: ", ^ ERROR

 :_) 

MsgBox( $MB_TOPMOST, "Error Creating Session: ", @error)

But that part 

Quote

WinHTTP request timed out before Webdriver

Is WAMP page accessible in that moment if you manually type http://localhost/ in normal browser?

Edited March 13 by bogQ

[JugglingCoder]

I made a quick video of running the the program on desktop and tablet.  For various reasons I'll remove the video in a few weeks but if you want to check it out:

on YouTube: 

 

[argumentum]

On 3/12/2025 at 10:13 AM, argumentum said:

Also share the chronological steps of the network state and program(s) loading because that could bring some light to the troubleshooting.

1 hour ago, JugglingCoder said:

I made a quick video of ...

Can you load WAMP when the WiFi is OFF in the tablet ? ( I bet the answer is no because to save electricity, WiFi is just plain disabled/off at the hardware level )
Am thinking that maybe adding a software NIC emulator could allow to have emulated networking in the tablet.
Look around and try them. Maybe one of those will fix the problem.

Actually, can you from a browser get into the WAMP landing page without WiFi ?. That would be interesting to know too. 

Edited March 14 by argumentum

[JugglingCoder]

Thank you for your suggestion argumentum.  I,

1. "Disconnected" from the internet > then loaded WAMP > WAMP loaded successfully and localhost sites ran just fine.
2. "Turned Off" WiFi > then loaded WAMP > Wamp loaded successfully and localhost sites ran just fine.

unfortunately... that doesn't seem to be the issue.

[argumentum]

1 hour ago, JugglingCoder said:

Wamp loaded successfully and localhost sites ran just fine ...  unfortunately... that doesn't seem to be the issue.

ok

15 hours ago, argumentum said:

Look around and try them. Maybe one of those will fix the problem.

would that fix it ?

[JugglingCoder]

Thank you for your suggestion argumentum but at this time "maybe adding a software NIC emulator could allow" seems a bit complicated for me.  localhost sites run fine in FireFox and I re-checked the adapters settings to make sure it wasn't turning off when disconnected, etc.  My Desktop loads the webdriver just fine when all connections are off so... either it's a windows 11 thing (Desktop is windows 10) or something specific to the tablets setup.  However, as mentioned, localhost websites run just fine in WAMP when disconnected using manually launched FireFox in the tablet so.... who knows....

[bogQ]

Did you try automating with webdriver some other browser to check if its not headless browser related problem?