Generate a HAR File

You may have been asked for a HAR file from support in the past and thought, a what? This article will explain how to generate a HAR file on various browsers, which is a helpful log of your network information that can aid in investigating why an error is occurring. You may be asked for this file if you report performance issues such as pages stuck in loading, funky UI experiences, broken images, or any network errors. You can also proactively send a HAR with your support ticket when reporting any of these issues where you suspect it may be helpful.

Essentially, after pulling up the developer console feature on your web browser, you will redo the action where you were seeing the error occur, so that it can be logged. You will then send the log to the support agent helping you so they can analyze it.  

Keep in mind that HAR files may contain sensitive data, such as your cookies and any information you submitted while recording the HAR, such as personal details, passwords, or credit card numbers. Showpad will not use, share, or store this sensitive information.

Key features

• Generate a log of network activity to help investigate errors
• A file to send to your support agent for review

You need this to succeed

• A Web browser 
• An error reproducible on the Web

Do this step by step

• Collect a HAR on Chrome
• Collect a HAR on Firefox
• Collect a HAR on Edge
• Collect a HAR on Safari

How to generate a HAR on Chrome

1. Within Google Chrome, navigate to the location in Showpad where you are experiencing an issue.
2. From the Chrome three dot menu, select More Tools, then click Developer Tools.
3. Click the Network tab.
4. Make sure the record button is red. If it's grey, click it to start recording (it will turn red while it's recording). 
5. Click the box for Preserve Log. Click the clear button so the log is empty.
6. Now, try to reproduce the issue you were experiencing. For example, if a Course wasn't loading before, click on it now and see if it loads. This will record the network requests. 
7. Once you've reproduced the issue, save the HAR file to your computer by clicking the down arrow icon on top-right.
8. Send your HAR file to support so they can analyze it.

How to Generate a HAR on Firefox

1. Within the Firefox browser, navigate to the location in Showpad where you are experiencing an issue.
2. Click the three line menu within Firefox and select More tools, then Web Developer Tools.
3. Select the Network tab. Click the trash icon to clear the log.
4. Now try to reproduce the issue you were experiencing. For example, if a Course wasn't loading before, click into that Course now and see if it loads. This will record the network requests. 
5. Once you're done, right-click anywhere in the File column and select Save All As HAR.
6. Save your HAR file on your computer, then send your HAR file to support so they can analyze it.

How to generate a HAR on Edge

1. Within the Edge browser, navigate to the location in Showpad where you are experiencing an issue.
2. From the Edge three dot menu, select More Tools, then Developer Tools.
3. Click the Network tab.
4. Make sure the record button is red. If it's grey, click it to start recording (it will turn red while it's recording). 
5. Click the box for Preserve Log. Click the clear button so the log is empty.
6. Now, try to reproduce the issue you were experiencing. For example, if a Course wasn't loading before, click on it now and see if it loads. This will record the network requests. 
7. When you're done reproducing the issue, click the down arrow icon at the top right to save the HAR file to your computer.
8. Send your HAR file to support so they can analyze it.

How to generate a HAR on Safari

1. Within your Safari browser, navigate to the location in Showpad where you are experiencing an issue.
2. Look for the Developer menu within your browser. If you don't see it, select the Safari menu, then click Preferences, Advanced, and Show developer menu in the menu bar.
3. Click the Network tab. Open the three line menu and select Preserve Log.
4. Now try to reproduce the issue you were experiencing. For example, if a Course wasn't loading before, click into that Course now and see if it loads. This will record the network requests. 
5. Once you've reproduced the issue, click the Export button and save the HAR file.
6. Send your HAR file to support so they can analyze it.