How to create a HAR File on Google Chrome

Creating a HAR file on Google Chrome

In the context of Chinafy

There are multiple variables that can affect how a website performs in any browser environment.

These variables can include issues with the website itself, OR Network Settings/Restrictions (e.g. common in Office settings), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), poor internet connections, browser issues such as an outdated browser, human errors and so forth.

The HAR file will help us to isolate whether or not the the performance issues are due to Chinafy configuration errors on the website or these external variables.

If you are experiencing any issue on your website, we highly recommend sending a HAR file to enable our team to properly identify where the issue might be. 

What is a HAR file?

A HAR file is often used to troubleshoot networking or performance issues. HAR stands for HTTP archive Format, and is a JSON-formatted archive file that contains details on your recent network activity recorded by your web browser. This includes -

i) interactions like web requests and responses between a website and the web browser

ii) plan text logs of HTTP client-server connections

iii) time it took to load each resource 

Google Chrome

HAR (HTTP Archive) is a file format used by several HTTP session tools to export the captured data. This can be highly useful in troubleshooting complex issues by obtaining additional information about the network requests that are generated in the browser while an issue occurs. Consult the remainder of this technical note for instructions on Google Chrome.

1. Open Google Chrome and navigate to the page where the issue is occurring.

Note:This is tab and window dependent, so if the issue occurs in a new tab or window, the HAR recording needs to be done in that new tab or window.

2. Click the vertical ellipsis menu button and select More Tools, then click Developer Tools.
3. Click the Network tab, then click the Record button in the upper left corner of the tab and verify that it is red, if it is grey, click it to start recording.
4. Check the box Preserve Log.
5. Click the Clear button to clear out any existing logs from the Network tab.

Note: Do not close the Developer Tools panel.  This will end recording and the needed HAR file will be lost.

6. Reproduce the issue that was being experienced, while the network requests are being recorded.
7. Once you have reproduced the issue fully, right-click anywhere on the grid of network request and choose Save as HAR with Content , and save the file to the computer.
8. Attach the HAR file to your email to send to [e-mail] or your account manager. 

Note: It may be necessary to ZIP the HAR log first as it is possible the log can be quite large.