Create .robot file

Create a new template robot with Visual Studio Code.

You do not have to start from scratch. The Visual Studio Code extension provides templates to help you get started.

• Press Shift-Command-P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows / Linux) to open the Command Palette.
• Select Robocorp: Create Robot.
• Select Robot Framework - Standard.
• Choose either Use workspace folder or Use child folder in workspace (Check out which option works better for you)

Open the tasks.robot file inside the created robot directory

• This is the standard template robot.
• It uses Robot Framework syntax.

Run the template robot

• Open the Command Palette.
• Select Robocorp: Run Robot (or navigate to the task you want to run by clicking the Robocorp icon in the Activity Bar on the left).

View the robot log

When run, the robot should log a greeting.

• Command-Click (macOS) or Ctrl+Click (Windows / Linux) the path to the log file in the debug console. This opens the log as a HTML file. You can install the open in browser extension and press Option-B (macOS) or Alt+B (Windows / Linux) to open the HTML file in your default browser.

You can leave the log tab open in your browser and return to it whenever you want to check the log. Just remember to refresh the page to see the changes!

Update the robot description

A good description goes a long way in communicating the purpose and the task of your robot.

• Describe your robot using Documentation in the *** Settings *** section.
• Use ... syntax to split the text into multiple lines.

Update the name of the task

A well-named task summarizes the thing that the robot is supposed to complete.

See Naming best practices for robots and coding in general.

You are now set with the basics. Now on to the next chapter in building the Keywords for your robot.