iOpus Software has released its Internet Macros Image Recognition Plugin, an add-on that uses machine vision technology for web testing sites that contain non-HTML elements. The Plugin supports Flash applets, Java applets, Movie Player Applets, ActiveX, and all other controls.

The Image Recognition Plugin is the world's first technology that lets developers automate and test websites using images instead of cumbersome X/Y coordinates, the company says. It relies only upon the images that are rendered in the browser, regardless of the technology that created them. Simply give the software information about a button or an image, and develoopers can then use the button in their macro commands. The program will find and click the button, even if it is in a different location or has changed colors.

iOpus markets a family of HTML-based web macro recorders that run on the Windows desktop or server, and automate all web-related tasks. The new plugin works with both of iOpus' high-end macro applications: Internet Macros PRO Edition and Scripting Edition:

    - The PRO Edition features a command line interface, batch file support, and the ability to do web site response time measurements. The PRO Edition can switch between
 different web pages automatically with its tabbed browser interface.

    - The Scripting Edition is designed for use by web professionals and people responsible for website testing. Performing functions normally found in applications costing thousands of dollars, the Scripting Edition is an affordable alternative to big name capture/replay testing tools, according to iOpus. It includes all of the functionality of the PRO Edition, plus a scripting interface that extends the popular Windows Scripting Host with the ability to replay Internet Macros and extract web page data.

Users can also access this interface from Visual Basic, Excel, Access, Perl, the new Microsoft .NET languages, or any other Windows programming language. Users can work in their favorite development environment and do not have to learn yet another proprietary programming language. The Scripting Edition includes the free Internet Macro Player, so scripts and macros can be provided to third parties at  no extra charge.

The Image Recognition Plugin adds two new commands to iOpus' PRO and Scripting Editions. The new IMAGESEARCH and IMAGECLICK commands do not rely on the coordinates of an element, but on its visual appearance. These commands easily find buttons and input boxes, even if they move around the screen. The Image Recognition Plugin is easy to install and use, iOpus says. Users are given a new "image search" function that defines the images that need to be located and clicked on.

iOpus Internet Macros runs on Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and Windows 2003. iOpus Internet Macros Image Recognition Plugin costs $998(US), and it works with either high-end Internet Macros edition: The PRO Edition costs $199, and the Scripting Edition is priced at $499 for a single user license. Multi-user and site licenses are available.