The World Wide Web is well known today and comprises a vast multitude of web servers forming web sites. Client computers with web browsers are connected to the web servers via communication media, Internet Service Providers, firewalls, routers, etc. Upon request by a client computer, a web site can furnish a “home page” or other web pages to the client computer. The web browser on the client computer displays the home page or other web page for the user to view and enter data or make selections. Some of the selections are links to navigate through web pages in the same web site or other web sites.
Some complex web sites offer a local search engine to search through the web site based on key words entered by the user. The user can use the search engine to locate a web page of interest to the user. For example, the user may want to locate and display a web page containing information of interest to the user or a web page used to purchase a product. Some search engines are more effective than others, i.e. faster, more user friendly and better able to locate the web page of interest to the user.
Some web sites provide “support” to customers in their use of various hardware or software products. For example, Microsoft Corporation provides a web site to provide support or help to customers of various Microsoft operating systems. Likewise, IBM provides a web site to provide support or help to customers of various IBM program products such as Tivoli Storage Manager (“TSM”) web site and Lotus Notes web site. Many other software manufacturers also provide web sites for support or help to their customers.
An object of the present invention is to provide a program tool which automatically tests and determines usability of a web site.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a program tool which automatically tests and determines usability of a web site providing customer support or help for a manufacturer's hardware or software products.