Detecting specific website open in web browser

[Mike Wilson]

Our company desktop IS is built in A5 that we have named URSA. URSA interfaces with several company websites, with data exchanges through spreadsheet data and ODBC methods and with data on the Clipboard. One website is the crowd sourcing platform fieldnation.com. I can open any website with sys_open(url) and an instance of the website will open in the default browser. However, I'd like to have a method to detect whether there is a browser open to the website so I can defer from opening yet another instance of the website with sys_open(). Is there an A5 xbasic method that will detect an open instance of a website from a desktop application?

[pboomwork]

The A5 function SYS_ID_ENUM() will list all current windows, Alpha 5 and others. However, it will only list the currently active tab of a browser. So, if the website of interest is in a tab without focus, it will not be listed.

When I need to interact with the Windows environment, I use Autoit. Autoit is a scripting language that interacts with Windows elements and will produce stand-alone Windows executables that can be run from Alpha5.

The following project shows how Autoit can activate selected browser tabs.

https://www.autoitscript.com/forum/t...omment-1494768

Look for the function BrowserTab()

[CharlesParker]

I am NOT familiar with how things are done desktop side but my thoughts on this were to open the browser in a container of some sort then track that as being open or not. Also is it possible to use your own "browser" that doesn't have tabs available? Like can you simply open this webpage in an iframe or something? Again, a view in a container. Either that or an API to avoid the browser altogether...
I think you can openIE in whats called kiosk mode as well see here
https://superuser.com/questions/4597...bs-address-bar
it may not be the best but it might help!

[Ted Giles]

Mike, the only easy way can come up with is a table log showing what's open and to whom.
Either that or closing all sites when a new one is opened.

[Mike Wilson]

Hello all,
Thanks for your suggestions. I have been engaged between several homes handling the persistent snow fall over the past 10 days that is now well over 3 feet here in Michigan and traveling to several appointments the last several days. I have only a tiny snowblower that gave out on me this past weekend, so hand shoveling it has been. I am aware of the sys_id_enum(). This will enumerate an open xdialog by dialog title but the presence of an open browser only generically. So if I could effect Charles' idea of an xdialog with activeX control that opened a web page that would work. Then I could just use ui_modeless_dlg_exists(dlg_title) to detect it open. In the past I had several dialogs to access shipper websites (FedEx,UPS) for bulk tracking of shipments, and it worked very well. However, the "progress" of web sites in today's world has moved past the capabilities of that method resolving web sites and when the companies "progressed" and updated their web sites, that method stopped working and became obsolete. Sys_id_enum() will detect an open browser, but staff have browsers open always for access to lot's of things, and detecting the browse being open has no specificity. This situation also applies to why Ted's thoughts aren't a solution, because it would work if a website was accessed exclusively from URSA, but much of the time, the website is accessed through opening a browser directly, not through a call from URSA. And having tried to make it a "rule" that a website be exclusively accessed from URSA is the veritable "herding cats" scenerio. The web site access is for performing various manual entries, work order additions, some data reviews, and sometimes data downloads, so a variety of activities I believe to be beyond the scope of an API method. Therefore, the web site must be fully open and fully functional, so I'm not seeing the kiosk idea a solution, but I'll keep studying. So at this point, I will present to the user a branch-point, user-interface dialog that opens first, with a query to the user to answer if the website is already open or not, and branch off the user response. Not as automatic and elegant but will work absent an automatic background method.

[CharlesParker]

I guess its really up to them at this point - do they WANT the functionality of the application being aware or not? If they do, then they must follow the plan - If it's important and there is only one way - then they will have to accept it.

[Al Buchholz]

I'd suggest an Ariens 30 inch wide with at least a 192CC engine. It's a beast.

Open website I have no other suggestions...

[pboomwork]

Automating a browser from Windows is not easy. There are tools for doing it, but a learning curve exists. If you want to try, here are some sites to get you started. I did use BlueDuck SDA about 10 years ago.

https://blueducksda.sourceforge.net/
https://www.browserstack.com/guide/r...firefox-driver

[Mike Wilson]

Good morning,
Thanks for all your input. Just getting back from holiday in the mountains.
AL - I would love to have just what you suggest, and if I had anywhere to store such a beast, I would have one in a heartbeat. But I have no space, and what I have room to store is a little 16" Toro Power Curve, so that is what I have to go into battle.
Charles, Ted - I've decided to use a blended approach of those suggested, which is to have a defined, recommended work pattern for users, and to have the application (URSA) register in a table that the web site is active when opened from URSA, since the table already existing in URSA that facilitates table locking within other application components. This will deliver a defined work pattern with the most efficient process, and the capabilities to have a check to see if the web site has already been opened from URSA, and if true, present a message to the user for them to proceed through the already opened instance. And if they choose to have multiple instances of the web site being open from independently manual openings, then they have their personal desktop cluttered with a bunch of open windows, and so be it. The BlueDuck and Firefox SDA approach, while interesting, and potentially usable for other future circumstances, it is just too intensive and time consuming at this time to solve this individual functionality.

[Al Buchholz]

Mike

Thanks for using AL instead of Al.

San serif fonts usually do a lousy job of a capital i and a lower case l.

This AI stuff looks like my name Al .....

Another font does it much better - AI vs Al

as long as your eye sight is pretty good.

With lake effect snow in Grand Rapids, I'd get the machine...
Heck I need it on the other side of the lake..

[Ted Giles]

You mean you are a real person?

[Al Buchholz]

You mean you are a real person?

No. I was the first AI....

[Ted Giles]

One and only! ( except all the clones )