Install Ruby

First you need to install Ruby using the one-click installer for Windows. We recommend Ruby 1.8.5-24 or Ruby 1.8.6-26 final (or later)

However, if you wish to use Watir’s support for the IE showModalDialog then you must use Ruby 1.8.2-15 (or 1.8.2-14). This is the dialog that is posted with the showModalDialog() JavaScript command and is supported with Watir’s ie.modal_dialog command.

Install Watir

Watir is packaged as a gem, a Ruby library that can be installed over the internet.

Watir 1.5 was first released in September 2007. To install the latest version, type these two commands at a command prompt:

gem update --system 
gem install watir

The first command will update the gem system itself. This is required to install Watir gems beginning with Watir 1.5.4 (April 2008).

Watir 1.4 was released in August 2005. If you are upgrading from it, see these notes.

Install the IE Developer Toolbar

We recommend using the DOM Explorer, packaged with the IE Developer Toolbar. This quickly shows you the element attributes and properties you need to know to automate them with Watir.

After installing the toolbar, select Tools -> Toolbars -> Explorer Bar -> IE DOM Explorer.


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