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OCLC Support

How do I create a .har file to supply diagnostic information to OCLC Support?

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Applies to
  • OCLC Services
Answer

All of the data exchanged between your browser and the server will be present in the .har file. This will include any Personally Identifiable Information (PII) that you create, retrieve, update or use for some application features (such as circulation). It is important, therefore, that if the file generated does include this data it is supplied to OCLC Support in a suitably protected fashion and that OCLC Support are made aware that it does contain PII.

  1. Log in to the application and then, from your browser, launch the developer tools by pressing <F12>.
  2. In the developer tools window, click the Network tab to open it and confirm that:
  3. From the Network tab, confirm that your browser is recording the activity and that:
    Chrome/Edge Firefox
    Preserve log is checked.

    Screenshot showing the Chrome developer tools toolbar buttons with only "stop" (red circle) highlighted and "Preserve log" checked".    		 Persist Logs is checked.

    Screenshot showing the Firefox developer tools toolbar buttons with only "Pause/Resume recording network log" (red square) highlighted and the extra menu activated with "Persist Logs" ticked.
  4. Continue to use the application as normal, being careful to avoid PII if possible.
  5. If the problem being investigated takes some time to reproduce, it may be useful to clear down the log information now and then to avoid the resulting .har file becoming too large. You can clear the log information by clicking on the button highlighted below.
    Chrome/Edge Firefox
    Screenshot showing the Chrome developer tools toolbar buttons, highlighting the location of the "Clear" button Screenshot showing the Firefox developer tools toolbar buttons, highlighting the location of the "Clear" button
  6. As soon as the issue occurs for which you are recording this information, go to the developer tools window and save the .har file. To save the .har file:
    Chrome/Edge Firefox
    1. Right-click on any of the entries in the log and then select Save all as HAR with content.
      Screenshot of menu in Chrome
      Screenshot showing the menu that is presented by the Chrome developer tools when a network activity is "right clicked". This highlights the menu option "Save all as HAR with content".
    2. Save the file to your computer
    1. Click the gear button and then click Save All As HAR.
      Screenshot of menu in Firefox
      Screenshot showing the Firefox developer tools toolbar buttons, highlighting the location of the "Save All As HAR" menu option.
    2. Save the file to your computer.
  7. If the saved .har file contains PII data, please contact OCLC Support for the best way to supply the file.
Additional information

Always include the support call number when sending the .har file by email.

Page ID
55278