This Kompass scraper tutorial shows how to turn a Kompass France listing page into a local CSV export with the Kompass Directory Scraper for Company CSV Export. You will set the directory URL, choose an export path, validate rows, and troubleshoot missing phone or website fields before scaling.
Before you start
Prerequisites for a Kompass scraper tutorial
You need the UScraper local desktop app, the Kompass listing scraper template, and one Kompass France category, search, or directory result URL your team is allowed to review. The bundled example starts from a sector page, but the page type matters more than the topic: this workflow expects repeated company result cards, not a single detail profile.
Open the target URL manually first. Confirm that company cards load, pagination exists, and target fields are visible. If the page shows a block, login prompt, or sparse cards, solve access before automating.
Treat automation as a collection method, not as permission. Review Kompass terms, database-rights risk, privacy obligations, and local rules before using exported company data.
Workflow map
How the Kompass business directory scraper works
The JSON workflow is a listing-page scraper. It does not scrape detail pages deeply, enrich records from company websites, or guarantee every hidden contact field. Its job is narrower: capture visible listing cards and preserve the detail URL for follow-up review.
Navigate -> Wait for Page Load -> Wait for .rowTop
-> Reveal visible contact controls -> Sleep
-> Structured Export -> Check next page
-> Click next -> Wait -> Repeat
The row selector is .rowTop, matching the company-result wrappers used by the template. Structured Export appends rows, so every page in the pagination loop writes into one CSV. The next-page block checks common pagination selectors, including French "suivant" labels.
| Block group | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Page load | Opens the starting Kompass URL and waits for listing rows | The URL is a listing page and .rowTop exists after load. |
| Interaction | Clicks visible phone or contact controls where present | The clicks do not trigger a gate or change page context. |
| Data extraction | Exports nine configured columns from each card | Field names match your spreadsheet or CRM import rules. |
| Pagination loop | Checks for a next link and returns to export after each click | The loop stops on the final page and does not duplicate rows. |
| Control flow | Ends when no next-page selector exists | Append mode leaves one combined CSV for the run. |
Runbook
How to scrape Kompass directory listings to CSV
Choose a narrow listing URL
Start with one Kompass France category or search-results page. Keep the source URL, business purpose, run owner, and date.
Import the UScraper template
Download the workflow from the template page and import it into the UScraper local desktop app.
Replace the Navigate URL
Replace the bundled sector URL with your approved listing URL. Keep the page-load and element-wait blocks.
Set the export folder
In Structured Export, confirm kompass_annuaire_des_entreprises_scraper_liste.csv, includeHeaders, append mode, and a project-specific save location.
Run, inspect, then expand
Run the first page, compare rows against live cards, then allow pagination after the output shape is reliable.
Append mode is useful with pagination, but it can mix test and production rows. Create a dated export folder or delete the test CSV before a larger batch.
Output
What the Kompass data extractor exports
There is no bundled CSV sample, so use the JSON workflow definition as the authoritative export shape. The scraper writes nine columns:
| CSV column | Meaning | Validation note |
|---|---|---|
url_entree | Source listing URL for the row | Useful for tracing which category page produced the company. |
nom | Company name from the listing card heading | Check that "Entreprise certifiee" labels are removed. |
lieu | Location line, usually city and France marker | Blank or variant location text may require country-specific tuning. |
presentation | Short company description from the card | Watch for boilerplate if the card layout changes. |
fourniture | Supplier category lines after "Fournisseur de" | Multiple categories are joined with a pipe separator. |
remarque | Certification note when visible | Expected to be blank for many companies. |
telephone | Visible phone from link or card text | Best-effort; blank can be normal when hidden or unavailable. |
site | External company website when exposed | Some cards route through Kompass or hide site links. |
url_detail | Kompass detail profile URL | Use this for a second-stage detail scraper or manual review. |
{
"rowSelector": ".rowTop",
"fileName": "kompass_annuaire_des_entreprises_scraper_liste.csv",
"fileMode": "append",
"columns": [
"url_entree",
"nom",
"lieu",
"presentation",
"fourniture",
"remarque",
"telephone",
"site",
"url_detail"
]
}
If the CSV has names and detail URLs but missing phone or website values, do not assume failure. Contact fields are conditional. If a field is not visible to your browser, the automation should not invent it.
Alternatives
Kompass scraper tools: UScraper, Octoparse, Apify, and scripts
Kompass scraper tools fall into a few practical categories. Octoparse publishes no-code Kompass templates. Apify offers a Kompass scraper actor for hosted runs, datasets, and API usage. Open-source scripts fit engineers ready to maintain selectors, waits, proxy policy, and compliance review.
| Option | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| UScraper local desktop app | Supervised CSV export from a visible listing page | You own pacing, QA, selector upkeep, and compliance review. |
| Octoparse Kompass templates | No-code users who prefer hosted templates | Export behavior, quotas, and pricing depend on Octoparse. |
| Apify Kompass actor | Developers who want cloud runs and API access | Rows are processed in a hosted actor environment. |
| Python or Selenium scripts | Engineering teams with custom logic needs | Higher maintenance burden. |
| Managed data service | Buyers who want finished B2B datasets | Less workflow visibility. |
For this tutorial, the decision point is custody and repeatability. If you want a visible desktop workflow, a controlled CSV path, and a listing-to-spreadsheet runbook, UScraper fits. If you need scheduled cloud runs or API orchestration, compare hosted tools honestly.
Troubleshooting
Common Kompass scraping issues
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| CSV file is empty | The starting URL is not a compatible listing page or .rowTop did not load | Open the page manually, inspect cards, and rerun a single page. |
| Duplicate rows appear | Append mode reused an old CSV or pagination repeated | Clear the file, use a dated folder, and check next-page behavior. |
| Phone is blank | Phone control is absent, hidden, or not revealed in time | Increase the short sleep only after confirming the field is visible. |
| Website is a Kompass URL | The external site link is routed or hidden on the card | Treat url_detail as the follow-up source for deeper review. |
| Supplier categories look noisy | Listing text changed or extra lines entered the card body | Adjust the fourniture JavaScript column after validating examples. |
FAQ
Kompass directory scraper FAQ
Kompass listings can include publicly visible business information, but automated collection may still be limited by Kompass terms, database rights, privacy rules, robots guidance, and local law. Review the current terms, avoid bypassing access controls, collect only fields you are allowed to process, and get legal review before commercial reuse.
Next step
Download the Kompass listing scraper template
Download Kompass Directory Scraper for Company CSV Export, import it into the UScraper local desktop app, and keep this tutorial open for the first validation page. For adjacent workflows, browse the UScraper template library or the UScraper blog.