Ie.au3 T2.0 Internet Explorer Automation Library

May 4, 2006

Update 7/11/06: IE.au3 is now part of the standard UDF library as of beta 129 (3.1.1.129)!! T2.0-5 or higher of the Internet Explorer Automation Library (and documentation in the standard helpfile) will be installed when you install the latest beta. From this point forward, betas with new fixes or functionality will be made available in the forum for testing, but the primary release mechanism will be through the standard AutoIt distribution. When the production release of AutoIt is released, this library version will be changed to V2.1-x.

To obtain IE.au3, Download the latest AutoIt beta

Important: With the T2.0-4 release, the T1.0 functions that were included for compatibility have been moved out to a separate file. You may run scripts written for T1.0 by #include-ing this file in your scripts along with the T2.0 library:

Right-click and Save As... IE_V1Compatibility_T2.0_4.au3 (typically C:\Program Files\AutoIt3\beta\Include\IE_V1Compatibility.au3)

Helpfile documentation can still be discussed in the T2.0 Documentation post, but it is now included in the standard AutoIt beta helpfile.

See the Update History below for changes.

T2.0-5 contains only a couple of fixes and enhancements. See update history below.

T2.0-4 is mostly bug fixes with minor enhancements and new features. Consider it a strong release candidate.

T2.0-3 implements COM error trapping and should eliminate the readyState errors seen occasionally once and for all. For this to work it is critical that you use _IEErrorHandlerRegister("your-error-func") if you use a custom COM error handler however! Also note that _IEErrorHandlerRegister() without a parameter will instantiate a nice COM error handler for you that will trap COM errors, write diagnostic output to the SciTe console and return @error of $_IEStatus_ComError

T2.0-2 was pulled because of some bungles in _IEFrameGetObjByName() and _IEFormElementGetObjByName() [thanks to those that helped by reporting those errors and helping to diagnose]

I want to highlight several new features in T2.0-1 added to enhance usability:

IE.au3 now writes information to the console about all errors and warnings. e.g.
--> IE.au3 Warning from function _IEFormGetObjByName, $_IEStatus_NoMatch
--> IE.au3 Error from function _IEFormElementGetObjByName, $_IEStatus_InvalidDataType
It also traps of as many errors as possible (particularly COM errors) to avoid abrupt script termination (actually I should say that it anticipates, avoids and warns rather than traps).
_IEErrorHandlerRegister() allows you to trap COM errors with either your own routine or by using a standard internal routine (recommended). Several global string are set by the standard handler with information about the error (including a convenient $IEComErrorOutput string that summarizes the information).

These features should make debugging IE.au3 scripts much easier.

==================================================================

The previous baselevel remains available (in case I really mucked things up)

Right-click and Save As... IE_T2.0_4.au3 (requires AutoIt beta)

Note: Please see the end of this base-note for a list of verified issues with this test release that I am already working on...

This UDF allows you to either create or attach to an IE browser (either visible or invisible) and do just about anything you could do with it interactively with the mouse and keyboard, but do it through script. You can navigate to pages, click links, fill and submit forms etc. You can also do things you cannot do interactively like change or rewrite page content and javascripts (your in-memory copy, not back on the server) to enhance functionality or appearance. The ability to write content to the browser and respond to browser events also allows you to create hybrid AutoIt/Browser-based local applications.

There is a series of examples for V1 of the script that you can look through to get a flavor. There are 31 pages of replies to that post and a search of V3 Support for IE.au3 will net you a lot more.

We are working to get this added to the core UDF set for the next release of AutoIt. If we are confident that it has gotten exercised and the bugs squashed in time it will go in. With over 6000 downloads of the prior version, I hope that we can beat this up quickly and get a solid release ready to go.

This release contains many new features and I believe fixes the seldom seen, but annoying bugs from the previous version. I have restructured much of the code to make it more readable and have cleaned up the function naming consistency.

Please exercise it and report bugs, comments and suggestions about the code and functionality to this thread. Please submit your documentation suggestions to the documentation thread .

I tried to capture all of the significant requests and suggestions that I received. If I told you "it'll be in the next release" and it isn't, please keep me honest. It may not make this release, but I'll get it back on the ToDo list.

Enjoy,

Dale

Actions Required For Old Scripts

With this test release, all of your old scripts should work without modification ONLY if you download and include the IE_V1Compatibility_T2.0_4.au3 file, save it to your beta\include folder and include it in your scripts along with the T2.0-4 release of IE.au3 or later.

Update History

T2.0-5 7/3/06

Fixes

_IETagNameGetCollection() and _IETagNameAllGetCollection() unnecessarily converted the object passed into a document object.

Enhancements

Function headers in code updated and much more accurate

New Features

None

T2.0-4 6/26/06

Fixes

_IEFrameGetObjByName() now returns NoMatch when name does not match an existing Frame or iFrame
_IECreate() with takeFocus set to False returned an erroneous warning
_IEImgGetCollection() fixed major problems (used link collection instead of img collection)
_IEFormElementOptionselect() fixed fireEvent processing and index value datatype handling
_IEFormElementCheckboxSelect() fixed errors with fireEvent
_IEFormElementRadioSelect() fixed errors with fireEvent
_IEFormSubmit() fixed opportunity for object error
Replaced two internal references to _IEGetProperty with _IEPropertyGet

Enhanced Functions

_IELoadWait() further enhanced to trap more "Access is denied" errors - these are not transient
_IEPropertyGet($o_object, "locationurl") now works with any DOM object
_IEFormElementOptionselect() returns InvalidValue error when $f_select=0 unless type=select multiple
_IEAction() added "printdefault" to print directly to default printer (no dialog) - takes browser object only
Internal global variable $__IEAU3Debug added. If True, additional debug information (from _IELoadWait) written to the console

Changes

_IEFrameGetObjByName() no longer accepts a $i_index parameter. Two frames with the same name is invalid in the DOM
Deprecated functions from T1.0 moved out of this file and into new file IE_V1Compatibility.au3

T2.0-3 6/1/06

Fixes

fixed bug in _IELinkClickByIndex() - Invalid characters behind Object assignment ! (thanks 3telnick)
fixed bug in _IEFrameGetObjByName()
fixed bug in _IEFormElementGetObjByName()
fixed index bug in _IEFormElementOptionselect()

Enhanced Functions

added bounds checking for index value used with _IEFormElementOptionselect()
added a sixth element to the array returned by _IE_VersionInfo() with a display value of the version (e.g. T2.0-3)

T2.0-2 5/30/06

Fixes

all *GetObjByName functions return correct collection count in @EXTENDED
_IEErrorNotify(True) now works (previously 1 worked, True did not)

Enhanced Functions

_IELoadWait() now traps COM errors that used to abort script. Assumes these errors are transient and continues until timeout
_IELoadWait() now traps Frame cross-site scripting security errors and returns with $_IEStatus_AccessDenied warning
Note: for _IELoadWait() to trap COM errors, it is critical that you use _IEErrorHandlerRegister() if using your own COM error handler
when @ERROR is set, @EXTENDED contains invalid parameter number for most functions
_IE_Introduction() enhanced with more information
_IEExample() new modules: table, frameset, iframe
_IEExample() enhanced modules: basic, form

Changes

_IEQuit() returns $_IEStatus_InvalidObjectType error for anything other than a browser object (including embedded controls)

New Functions

NONE

T2.0-1 5/13/06

Fixes

fixed Timeout for _IELoadWait
fixed _IEErrorHandler routines (were a no op)
fixed *GetObjByName functions to return 0 and set @error to $_IEStatus_NoMatch when no match was found

Enhanced Functions

added symboloic error status codes
added Object type checks
added bounds checking for Index values in *Collection routines
all functions now write colsole messages when errors or warnings are encountered - can be turned on or off with _IEErrorNotify()

Changes

reversed order of $s_string and $s_name parameters in _IEFormElementRadioSelect() function
added optional $s_name parameter to _IEFormElementCheckboxSelect() function

New Functions

_IE_Introduction() added - Currently pretty basic. Intended to supplement the helpfile with overview information
_IE_Example() added - currently allow "basic" and "form" to create windows with stock elements to be used in other examples
_IE_VersionInfo() added - returns a 5-element array with version inforamtion for IE.au3
_IEErrorNotify() added - turn orr or on console messages alerting IE.au3 warnings and errors. On by default. With null parameter it returns current status

T2.0-0 5/4/06

Enhanced Functions

_IECreate() greatly enhanced to take new parameters
_IEAttach() enhanced with "embedded" for embedded browser controls
_IEAttach() enhanced with "dialogbox" for HTML modal and modeless dialogboxes
_IELoadWait() enhanced/rewritten to fix timing issues and work on arbitrary object types
_IELoadWait() enhanced with timeout parameter (also honors global setting controlled by _IELoadWaitTimeout() - default 5 minutes)
_IEFormSubmit() enhanced to optionally perform an _IELoadWait
_IEFormElementSetValue() enhanced by optionally firing onchange event
_IETableWriteToArray enhanced to negotiate spanned columns (when there is a colSpan, leftmost array alement will contain data, others will be null)
_IETagNameGetCollection() enhanced to work with InternetExplorer.Application, Window, Frame, iFrame or any object in the DOM
_IETagNameAllGetCollection() enhanced to work with InternetExplorer.Application, Window, Frame, iFrame or any object in the DOM
_IEAction() enhanced with cut, paste, delete, saveas, click, disable, enable
_IEPropertyGet() enhanced - "HWND" now returns a valid window handle (instead of string representation of HWND)
_IEPropertyGet() enhanced with fullscreen, isDisabled and silent
_IEPropertyGet() enhanced with a series of properties avaiable from the browser "navigator" (aka clientInfo) property
All *GetCollection and *GetObjByName functions enhanced so that @EXTENDED returns collection length
All *GetCollection and *GetObjByName functions enhanced to take a $i_index parameter - if -1, returns a collection, else returns a specific instance by 0-based index. This allows deprecation of *GetCount and *GetObjbyIndex functions

New Functions

_IELoadWaitTimeout()
_IEGetObjByName()
_IECreateEmbedded()
_IEBodyReadText()
_IEDocReadHTML()
_IEDocWriteHTML()
_IEHeadInsertEventScript()
_IEImgGetCollection()
_IELinkGetCollection()
_IEFormElementOptionselect()
_IEFormElementCheckBoxSelect()
_IEFormElementRadioSelect()
_IEFormElementImageClick()
_IEPropertySet()
_IEErrorHandlerRegister()
_IEErrorHandlerDeRegister()

Deprecated Functions (these are not documented and will be removed from the next release)

_IEFrameGetObjByIndex() migrate to:
$oFrame = _IEFrameGetCollection($oIE, your-index)
_IEFrameGetCount() migrate to:
$oFrames = _IEFrameGetCollection($oIE), $iCount = @EXTENDED
_IEFrameGetNameByIndex() migrate to:
$oFrame = _IEFrameGetCollection($oIE, your-index), $sName = $oFrame.name
_IEFrameGetSrcByIndex migrate to:
$oFrame = _IEFrameGetCollection($oIE, your-index), $src = $oFrame.src
_IEFrameGetSrcByName migrate to:
$oFrame = _IEFrameGetObjByName($oIE, "framename"), $src = $oFrame.src
_IEFormGetObjByIndex() migrate to:
$oForm = _IEFormGetCollection($oIE, your-index)
_IEFormGetCount() migrate to:
$oForms = _IEFormGetCollection($oIE), $iCount = @EXTENDED
_IEFormGetNameByIndex migrate to:
$oForm = _IEFormGetCollection($oIE, your-index)
_IEFormElementGetObjByIndex() migrate to:
$oElement = _IEFormElementGetCollection($oForm, your-index)
_IEFormElementGetCount() migrate to:
$oElements = _IEFormElementGetCollection($oForm), $iCount = @EXTENDED
_IEFormElementGetTypeByIndex migrate to:
$oElement = _IEFormElementGetCollection($oForm, your-index), $sType = $oElement.type
_IEFormElementOptionGetCount() migrate to:
$oElement = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($oForm, your-name), $oElement.options.length
_IETableGetObjByIndex() migrate to:
$oTable = _IETableGetCollection($oIE, your-index)
_IETableGetCount() migrate to:
$oTables = _IETableGetCollection($oIE), $iCount = @EXTENDED

Renamed Functions (deprecated and replaced with new functions)

_IEClickLinkByText() renamed to _IELinkClickByText()
_IEClickLinkByIndex() renamed to _IELinkClickByIndex()
_IEDocumentGetObj() renamed to _IEDocGetObj()
_IEClickImg() renamed to _IEImgClick()
_IEGetProperty() renamed to _IEPropertyGet()

Known Issues with T2.0-5 Test Release

Here are the things I know about and will fix for the next test release:

None reported

Edited July 11, 2006 by DaleHohm

May 4, 2006

may i be the first to say a big thanks to you and all contributors.

May 4, 2006

Yes, Great work on this program and the first version.

Edited May 4, 2006 by Firestorm

May 4, 2006

I think I pee-ed my pants...

Thank you for this release!!!!!

Awesome! You are just awesome! And yes many thanks to the contributors.

May 4, 2006

maybe you should now work on Firefox.au3

May 4, 2006

That would be neat.

BTW, Im lovin this udf!

EDIT:

Though someone might like this....

It is a example of how to send fake emails using autoit and this udf. It uses Fake Mailer.

here:

#include<IE.au3>
; Set Variables
;==============================================
$message = "Your message here"
$to = "someone@coolness.com"
$from = "billgates@microsoft.com"
$from_name = "Bill Gates"
$subject = "Wow!"
;==============================================
; End Veriables
$oIE = _IECreate(0)
_IENavigate($oIE, "http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/")

; get pointers to the login form and username and password fields
$o_form = _IEFormGetObjByIndex($oIE, 0)
$o_name = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "name")
$o_to = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "to")
$o_subject = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "subject")
$o_from = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "from")
$o_message = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "message")

; Set field values and submit the form
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_name, $from_name)
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_to, $to)
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_subject, $subject)
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_from, $from)
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_message, $message)
_IEFormSubmit($o_form)
while 1
if Winexists ("Email was sent - Microsoft Internet Explorer") then exitloop
if winexists("http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/sendMail.php") then
WinKill ("http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/sendMail.php")
MsgBox(16,"Email Sender","Error Sending Email")
exit
endif
wend
MsgBox(64,"Email Sender","Email Was Sent")
WinKill ("Email was sent - Microsoft Internet Explorer")

Enjoy!

PS- This code was not tested. Please tell me if there is an error so i may correct it.

Edited May 4, 2006 by spyrorocks

May 4, 2006

maybe you should now work on Firefox.au3

Mind you I have nothing against Firefox and I use it all the time. It doesn't have a COM api however as IE does so the hooks aren't there. Please see the words under my avatar...

This has been brought up and discussed several times before. This includes discussion of the IE Firefox plugin -- if you stumble on that and think it solves something, it doesn't.

I worry about this topic because it is more about preference (or fanaticism) than it is about technology, so please let's end it here and get back to the topic of the post.

thanks,

Dale

Edited May 4, 2006 by DaleHohm

May 4, 2006

damn, well ohwell we should email the Firefox people and tell them to get their ass in gear and make it COMable

But good work anyways

Edited May 4, 2006 by thatsgreat2345

May 5, 2006

how can you make it if you havent even tested it.. you know it works without testing??

May 5, 2006

damn, well ohwell we should email the Firefox people and tell them to get their ass in gear and make it COMable
But good work anyways

Oh, no! Please do not sugest that. COM is somtimes great but running firefox of a usb stick on any computer without poluting the said computer is better. If you want to do automation with firefox you should search for a xml-rpc plugin, and use that

COM is native to IE, and belive it or not you can expect it to be installed so thanks to @DaleHome, and cotributors, for a great tool :oops:

Edited May 5, 2006 by Uten

May 5, 2006

That would be neat.
BTW, Im lovin this udf!
EDIT:
Though someone might like this....
It is a example of how to send fake emails using autoit and this udf. It uses Fake Mailer.
here:

You can now combine your _IECreate and _IENavigate into _IECreate.

Also you're using a couple of deprecated functions - *ByIndex.

Care to take a shot at converting it? Other than how it could be abused it is a good example.

Dale

Edited May 6, 2006 by DaleHohm

May 5, 2006

Great work ... thanks

May 5, 2006

Even though i don't use IE regurly, this is Fantastic work!.

Good job as always.

May 5, 2006

thanks for the new release. Well done.

May 5, 2006

ok, here is the updated version of my Fake Mail sender......

#include<IE.au3>
; Set Variables
;==============================================
;                           For Use with IE.au3 version 2.0 !
;                        This code is (C) 2006
$message = "Your message here"
$to = "someone@coolness.com"
$from = "billgates@microsoft.com"
$from_name = "Bill Gates"
$subject = "Wow!"
$silent = 0; 0 = No Message Boxes 1 = Message boxes
;==============================================
; End Veriables
$i = 1
$oIE = _IECreate("http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/",0, 0)

; get pointers to the login form and username and password fields
$o_form = _IEFormGetCollection($oIE, 0)
$o_name = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "name")
$o_to = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "to")
$o_subject = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "subject")
$o_from = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "from")
$o_message = _IEFormElementGetObjByName($o_form, "message")

; Set field values and submit the form
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_name, $from_name)
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_to, $to)
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_subject, $subject)
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_from, $from)
_IEFormElementSetValue($o_message, $message)
_IEFormSubmit($o_form)
while $i = 1
if Winexists ("Email was sent - Microsoft Internet Explorer") then
$i = 0
exitloop
endif
if winexists("http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/sendMail.php") then
WinKill ("http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/sendMail.php")
if $silent = 1 then MsgBox(16,"Email Sender","Error Sending Email")
$i = 0
exit
endif
wend
if $silent = 1 then MsgBox(64,"Email Sender","Email Was Sent")
WinKill ("Email was sent - Microsoft Internet Explorer")

Want do you all think?

Edited December 15, 2008 by spyrorocks

May 5, 2006

Hi,

very nice example. Just a thought, I would change the while 1 into something with a break condition, cause otherwise in "error case" the script won't end.

I have a different proxy configuration at work, so I have to change it at home. Otherwise the ie won't get access to the internet.

Thanks!

So long,

Mega

May 6, 2006

Fixed. Thanks!

May 6, 2006

Fixed. Thanks!

HI,

another point: When you have configured a proxy which isn't available it still doesn't exit.

I changend it into :

#include<IE.au3>
; Set Variables
;==============================================
;                           For Use with IE.au3 version 2.0 !
;                        This code is (C) Brad Reddicopp 2006
$message = "Your message here"
$to = "vibroei@gmx.de"
$from = "billgates@microsoft.com"
$from_name = "Bill Gates"
$subject = "Wow!"
$silent = 1; 0 = No Message Boxes 1 = Message boxes
;==============================================
; End Veriables
$i = 1
$oIE = _IECreate ("http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/", 0, 0)
; get pointers to the login form and username and password fields
$o_form = _IEFormGetCollection ($oIE, 0)
$o_name = _IEFormElementGetObjByName ($o_form, "name")
$o_to = _IEFormElementGetObjByName ($o_form, "to")
$o_subject = _IEFormElementGetObjByName ($o_form, "subject")
$o_from = _IEFormElementGetObjByName ($o_form, "from")
$o_message = _IEFormElementGetObjByName ($o_form, "message")

If @error = 1 Then 
    MsgBox(0, "Error","No connection")
    Exit(0)
EndIf

; Set field values and submit the form
_IEFormElementSetValue ($o_name, $from_name)
_IEFormElementSetValue ($o_to, $to)
_IEFormElementSetValue ($o_subject, $subject)
_IEFormElementSetValue ($o_from, $from)
_IEFormElementSetValue ($o_message, $message)
_IEFormSubmit ($o_form)

While $i = 1
    If WinExists("Email was sent - Microsoft Internet Explorer") Then
        $i = 0
        ExitLoop
    EndIf
    If WinExists("http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/sendMail.php") Then
        WinKill("http://www.fake-mailer.com/fmlite/sendMail.php")
        If $silent = 1 Then MsgBox(16, "Email Sender", "Error Sending Email")
        $i = 0
        Exit
    EndIf
WEnd
If $silent = 1 Then MsgBox(64, "Email Sender", "Email Was Sent")
WinKill("Email was sent - Microsoft Internet Explorer")

So long,

Mega

May 6, 2006

HI,
another point: When you have configured a proxy which isn't available it still doesn't exit.

spyrorocks posted a copy of his script and has asked for comments here: Fake Emailer Function, Here It Is!

I'd like to ask that specific discussion of this be moved there and this thread be used for discussion specific to IE.au3

thanks,

Dale

Edited May 6, 2006 by DaleHohm

May 6, 2006

For anyone that hasn't seen the 1st version of this UDF (like me) it's kind of confusing as to what it all does...

Not even the documentation explains what the main purpose of the script is :-/

Anyone care to explain? maybe give some exmpales? Thanx.

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