OXPath: little language, little memory, great value

Data about everything is readily available on the web—but often only accessible through elaborate user interactions. For automated decision support, extracting that data is essential, but infeasible with existing heavy-weight data extraction systems. In this demonstration, we present OXPath, a novel approach to web extraction, with a system that supports informed job selection and integrates information from several different web sites. By carefully extending XPath, OXPath exploits its familiarity and provides a light-weight interface, which is easy to use and embed. We highlight how OXPath guarantees optimal page buffering, storing only a constant number of pages for non-recursive queries. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.3.5 [Information Storage and Retrieval]: Online Information Services—Web-based services General Terms Languages, Algorithms Keywords Web extraction, web automation, XPath, AJAX

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: WWW
• Authors: Andrew Jon Sellers, Tim Furche, Georg Gottlob, Giovanni Grasso, Christian Schallhart
• Keywords: Elaborate User Interactions, Heavy-weight Data Extraction, Internet Technology, Keywords Web Extraction, WWW 2011