Real's How-to

Use Internet ExplorerTag(s): WinAPI/Registry

Method #1 - Using HyperlinkToURL function

Needs PB6.5 or better. Starts the default browser as defined in your installation.

string ls_url
inet iinet_base

ls_url = "http://wwww.server.com/myWebApp?file=error.log"
GetContextService("Internet", iinet_base)
iinet_base.HyperlinkToURL(ls_url)

Method #2 - Using OLEObject InternetExplorer.Application + Run

OLEObject IE
string ls_ie
string ls_url

IE = CREATE OLEObject
IE.ConnectToNewObject("InternetExplorer.Application")

ls_ie = IE.Fullname ()

ls_url = "http://wwww.server.com/myWebApp?file=error.log"
Run (ls_ie + " " + ls_url)

Method #3 - Using OLEObject InternetExplorer.Application

Provides complete control IE behaviour.

OLEObject IE

IE = CREATE OLEObject
IE.ConnectToNewObject("InternetExplorer.Application")

IE.left=200
IE.top=200
IE.height=400
IE.width=400
IE.menubar=0
IE.toolbar=1
IE.statusBar=0
IE.navigate("http://wwww.server.com/myWebApp?file=error.log")
IE.visible=1

// Local external function decalration
// FUNCTION boolean SetForegroundWindow( long hWnd ) LIBRARY "USER32"
SetForegroundWindow( IE.HWND )

Method 4 - Using OLEObject InternetExplorer.Application
Provides complete control IE behaviour. You simulate a FORM submit.using the POST method.

OLEObject IE

IE = CREATE OLEObject
IE.ConnectToNewObject("InternetExplorer.Application")

IE.left=200
IE.top=200
IE.height=400
IE.width=400
IE.menubar=0
IE.toolbar=1
IE.statusBar=0
IE.goHome
IE.visible=1


DO WHILE IE.busy
LOOP

IE.document.Open
IE.document.WriteLn("<HTML><HEAD>")
IE.document.WriteLn("<SCRIPT>")
IE.document.WriteLn("function go() {")
IE.document.WriteLn("  document.myform.submit()")
IE.document.WriteLn("  }")
IE.document.WriteLn("</SCRIPT>")
IE.document.WriteLn("</HEAD>")
IE.document.WriteLn("<BODY onload='go()'>")
IE.document.WriteLn("<FORM name='myform' ")
IE.document.WriteLn("METHOD='GET' ACTION='http://server.com/myApp'>")
IE.document.WriteLn("<INPUT NAME='file' TYPE=HIDDEN VALUE='error.log'>")
IE.document.WriteLn("</FORM>")
IE.document.WriteLn("</BODY>")
IE.document.WriteLn("</HTML>")
IE.document.Close

// Local external function declaration
// FUNCTION boolean SetForegroundWindow( long hWnd ) LIBRARY "USER32"
SetForegroundWindow( IE.HWND )


// IE.Quit()
// IE.DisconnectObject()
// DESTROY iBrowser

Some tips from rkern (thanks to him!).

Some handy properties:

IE.top = <integer>
IE.left = <integer>
IE.width = <integer>
IE.height = <integer>
IE.visible = <integer> (1 - Visible/ 0 - Not Visible)
IE.menuBar = <integer> (1 - Visible/ 0 - Not Visible)
IE.toolBar = <integer> (1 - Visible/ 0 - Not Visible)
IE.statusBar = <integer> (1 - Visible/ 0 - Not Visible)

Go To a URL:

string ls_OldURL
string ls_NewURL = 'www.yahoo.com'
// Go to Document
ls_OldURL = IE.LocationURL
IE.Navigate (ls_NewURL)
// Wait for Document to start loading
DO WHILE ls_OldURL = IE.LocationURL
  Yield ()
LOOP
// Wait for Document to finish Loading
DO WHILE IE.Busy
 Yield ()
LOOP

Notes:
-The Busy attribute does not always get set immediateley so wait for URL to change before checking the Busy attribute
- This method works as long as the OldURL and NewURL are not the same

Click on a Link with a specific display text:

integer li_link, li_link_ctr
string ls_text, ls_OldURL, ls_search = 'Download Spreadsheet'
// Set Match string
ls_search = Upper(ls_search)
// Find Link with specified Text
li_link_ctr = IE.Document.Links.Length
FOR li_link = 0 TO li_link_ctr - 1
  ls_Text = Upper(IE.Document.Links[li_link].InnerText)
  // Check for Match
  IF ls_Text = as_Search THEN
      // Click the Link
      ls_OldURL = IE.LocationURL
      IE.Document.Links[li_link].Click()
      // Wait for Document to start loading
      DO WHILE ls_OldURL = IE.LocationURL
         Yield ()
      LOOP
      // Wait for Document to finish loading
      DO WHILE IE.Busy
        Yield ()
      LOOP
      EXIT
  END IF
NEXT

Notes:
- The Busy attribute does not always get set immediateley so wait for URL to change before checking the Busy attribute
- This method works as long as the OldURL and NewURL are not the same - Unlike PB, arrays start at index = 0 to length - 1 - Use attribute HRef if you want to match on a URL

Click on a Button with a specific display text:

integer li_form, li_form_ctr
integer li_elem, li_elem_ctr
boolean lb_stop
string ls_text, ls_OldURL, ls_search = 'Search'
any la_name, la_type, la_value
// Set Match string
ls_search = Upper(ls_search)
// Search thru Forms
li_form_ctr = IE.Document.Forms.Length
FOR i = 0 TO li_form_ctr - 1
    // Search thru Elements
    li_elem_ctr = IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All.Length
    FOR j = 0 TO li_elem_ctr - 1
        la_Name =
          IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].GetAttribute("name")
        la_Type =
          IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].GetAttribute("type")
        la_Value =
          IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].GetAttribute("value")
        CHOOSE CASE Upper(String(la_Type))
        CASE 'SUBMIT', 'RESET', 'BUTTON'
            ls_Text = Upper(String(la_Value))
            // Check for Match
            IF ls_Text = ls_Search THEN
                // Click the Button
                ls_OldURL = IE.LocationURL
                IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].Click()
                // Wait for Document to start loading
                DO WHILE ls_OldURL = IE.LocationURL
                   Yield ()
                LOOP
                // Wait for Document to finish loading
                DO WHILE IE.Busy
                   Yield ()
                LOOP
                lb_Stop = TRUE
                EXIT
            END IF
        END CHOOSE
    NEXT
    IF lb_Stop THEN
       EXIT
    END IF
NEXT

Notes:
- The Busy attribute does not always get set immediateley so wait for URL to change before checking the Busy attribute
- This method works as long as the OldURL and NewURL are not the same
- Unlike PB, arrays start at index = 0 to length - 1
- Use attribute Name if you want to match on an internal HTML Name
- The Returned Values of the GetAttribute method must be ANY variables , even though they return STRINGS

Fill in a Input Field that has a specific Name:

integer li_form, li_form_ctr
integer li_elem, li_elem_ctr
boolean lb_Stop
string ls_text, ls_search = 'Company'
any la_name, la_type, la_value
// Set Match string
ls_search = Upper(ls_search)
// Search thru Forms
li_form_ctr = IE.Document.Forms.Length
FOR i = 0 TO li_form_ctr - 1
    // Search thru Elements
    li_elem_ctr = IE.Document.Forms[li_form].Elements.All.Length
    FOR j = 0 TO li_elem_ctr - 1
        la_Name =
          IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].getAttribute("name")
        la_Type =
          IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].getAttribute("type")
        la_Value =
          IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].getAttribute("value")
        // ls_Text = IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].InnerText

        CHOOSE CASE Upper(String(la_Type))
        CASE 'TEXT', 'TEXTAREA', 'PASSWORD'
            ls_Text = Upper(String(la_Name))
            // Check for Match
            IF ls_Text = ls_Search THEN
                // Set the value
                IE.Document.Forms[i].Elements.All[j].Value = ls_Value
                lb_Stop = TRUE
                Exit
            END IF
        END CHOOSE
    NEXT
    IF lb_Stop THEN
       Exit
    END IF
NEXT

Notes:
- Unlike PB, arrays start at index = 0 to length - 1
- Use attribute InnerText if you want to match on a percieved label on the field. Check each element's InnerText until a match is found and then fill in the next input field you come to (usually works).
- The Returned Values of the GetAttribute method must be ANY variables , even though they return STRINGS

Send comment, question or suggestion to howto@rgagnon.com

Use Internet ExplorerTag(s): WinAPI/Registry

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