# Modules, require, include, toplevel constants and Watir **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [March 25, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/modules-require-include-toplevel-constants-and-watir/163891 "2009-03-25T22:21:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chadmontplaisir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@chadmontplaisir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/chadmontplaisir)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/modules-require-include-toplevel-constants-and-watir/163891/1 "2009-03-25T22:21:22Z")
Hi guys, Despite working in IT for almost 2 years now I consider myself a programming novice. Its probably my art degree. Anyway, I’m having trouble figuring out what is going on here. I’m using Watir here, but I suppose this would hold true with any module. To give a little background. As far as I can tell, the Watir module holds the IE class which holds the WinClicker class This is the code: Code: require ‘watir’ WinClicker.new This will throw an error saying that the constant WinClicker is uninitialized Now, if I do this Code: require ‘watir’ Watir::IE WinClicker.new It works. It also works with: Code: require ‘watir’ include Watir WinClicker.new However, it is not a good idea to include Watir. In 1.6.2 of watir, including it can break scripts and I’m told its generally a poor idea to include at the global level. If I use: Code: require ‘watir’ Watir::IE::WinClicker.new I get a warning in the way I am referencing the toplevel class WinClicker. My questions are: 1. What is Watir::IE doing in the second code example that allows me to then use WinClicker 2. Is doing a Watir::IE the same as including Watir? 3. What does that warning when referencing Watir::IE::WinClicker imply and what problems can arise from doing that? 4. If anyone knows, how should I be dealing with the creation of new WinClicker objects so as to avoid the warning AND avoid including Watir. Thanks a million. ---
**Author:** ![chadmontplaisir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@chadmontplaisir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/chadmontplaisir)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/modules-require-include-toplevel-constants-and-watir/163891/2 "2009-03-26T01:40:47Z")
On Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 4:18 PM, Chad M. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > 1. What is Watir::IE doing in the second code example that allows me to > then use WinClicker There is an autoload set on Watir::IE. This is new with Watir 1.6. It is the same as “require ‘watir/ie’”. This is probably what you want to do now. – Bret P. CTO, WatirCraft LLC, [www.watircraft.com](http://www.watircraft.com) Lead Developer, Watir, [www.watir.com](http://www.watir.com) Blog, [www.io.com/~wazmo/blog](http://www.io.com/~wazmo/blog) Twitter, [www.twitter.com/bpettichord](http://www.twitter.com/bpettichord) GTalk: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Watir Training: Portland/Beaverton April 16-17 [www.watircraft.com/training](http://www.watircraft.com/training) ---
**Author:** ![chadmontplaisir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@chadmontplaisir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/chadmontplaisir)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/modules-require-include-toplevel-constants-and-watir/163891/3 "2009-03-27T10:59:51Z")
That explains a lot. Thanks Bret. As it turns out, I was previously using ‘watir/ie’ before but I had the insane notion that the ie.rb file’s name was in caps so I was using ‘watir/IE’ which gave a different warning about the constant ATTACHER already being initialized. I am totally baffled on what made me think this but what can ya do. Anyway, thanks again. Chad