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parsing internet explorer page

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    #1

    parsing internet explorer page

    I am able to send a command to a web site and get the return data that I need up on the screen, BUT:

    the only method i have found to get the data into the fields on the database is to cut and paste the whole section of the page that contains the data into a field in the form, parse it for the data fields that I want then delete the data from the form

    does anyone have a clue as to how to keep from cut/paste to get at the data?

    Ken W
    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: parsing internet explorer page

    You can read the page contents into a variable with http_get_page(), then use extract_string() and other string functions to get just the portion of the page you need before putting it into your field.

    -Lenny

    Lenny Forziati
    Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
    Alpha Software Corporation

    Comment

      #3
      RE: parsing internet explorer page

      Ok say i had the following window open:

      http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2VQGLB5NGU&sourceid=00404021849113413349&bfdate=01%2D05%2D2004+11%3A48%3A59&isbn=0684830493&itm=2

      How would I capture that info into a variable - I guess my biggest problem is I don't know how to address a web page within A5

      Once I have the data in a field (or i guess a variable) I can parse it with no problem

      Thanks for you assistance - we might get to the bottom of this yet

      Ken W

      Comment

        #4
        RE: parsing internet explorer page

        Ken,

        I think the page is just a long string of text characters many of which form HTML tags. Suggest you study the source for the page in question. Look for a marker or a unique string that that identifies the material of interest, and parse the page like any other long string.

        --tom

        Comment

          #5
          RE: parsing internet explorer page

          Hi Ken,

          Lenny's solution is infinitely preferable, BUT, last I checked with him, it doesn't work if your target site requires cookies or has a password.

          I assume you have a summary page with links to each target page. You need to go to the summary page and (in IE) go File>Edit with... That enables you to get to the raw .html for the summary page. What I recommend is that you get that raw .html onto the clipboard and then go from there.

          You can pull the raw .html from the clipboard into a variable with...
          Dim cSummaryPageHtml as C
          cSummaryPageHtml = :clipboard.get_data()

          You will need then to search through that and pull your target URLs into a list. Then you roll through the list, pulling each page in turn and parsing the data to your table(s). As you won't be able to use http_get_page() in Alpha, what you have to do is tell the browser to do it for you. This is somewhat more involved, but by no means impossible. The exact script will vary according to the target page's structure, but you should be able to adapt what's below to suit. (I am sure there are simpler ways, but for now, this works for what I needed)...

          'First get target URL to clipboard
          ClipBoard.Set_Data(Ken's 1st target)

          'Then open IE, paste the target URL into the address bar, and click enter
          'Note that the script runs far faster than the main windows system, so you have to keep waiting for the system to catch up. Adjust nWait to speed up or slow down the script.
          Dim nWait as N
          nWait = 0.9
          sys_shell(c:\PATHTOINTERNETEXPLORER)
          sleep(nWait)
          sleep(nWait)

          'Enter whatever keys you need to get to the address bar, for example, if it needs two tabs...
          sys_send_keys("{TAB}{TAB}{ENTER}")

          'Ctrl-v to paste the URL in, then click enter
          sleep(nWait)
          sys_send_keys("{^v}{ENTER}")

          'Wait for the page to load
          sleep(nWait)
          sleep(nWait)
          sleep(nWait)

          'Tab into the body of the page, select-all and copy. (Note that you may need to adjust some of your browser settings to be able to select-all)
          sys_send_keys("{TAB}{TAB}")
          sleep(nWait)
          sys_send_keys("{^a}")
          sleep(nWait)
          sys_send_keys("{^c}")
          sleep(nWait)

          'Close the IE window
          sys_send_keys("{%F4}")

          'Parse the data in Alpha, then reapeat for the next URL


          That's it. Good luck!

          Comment

            #6
            RE: parsing internet explorer page

            that i understand, my problem is more basic -

            I don't know how to address the page on my screen from a5

            Comment

              #7
              RE: parsing internet explorer page

              Ken, use http_get_page() as I mentioned in my first post. The syntax would be:

              page = http_get_page("http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2VQGLB5NGU&sourceid=00404021849113413349&bfdate=01%2D05%2D2004+11%3A48%3A59&isbn=0684830493&itm=2")

              -Lenny

              Lenny Forziati
              Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
              Alpha Software Corporation

              Comment

                #8
                RE: parsing internet explorer page

                Hi Lenny,

                You state that http_get_page2() "essentially uses ActiveX to request the site through Internet Explorer". I have two questions:

                1) I access a password protected site which uses session cookies which expire after just a few mins. Since, by definition, such cookies won't be already in IE, can (will) http_get_page2() still be able to access such pages?

                2) I use Mozilla and do not trust IE from either a security or privacy standpoint. Is it possible to use ActiveX to request the site through Mozilla? Is it difficult/involved to do? Will your answer to 1) above still apply?

                Thanks,
                Trevor

                Comment

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