Automation and Internet Explorer

[chilly_charly]

I would like to automate a few tasks, mostly related to this forum (for instance this one... )

 1- click on the "insert picture" button in the "message reply window"

 2- Insert text in the different text fields (basically the main text Area and the Attached File field)

I found a very interesting exchange here. Obviously, it should not be too difficult to imlement the actions described above in an IE activeX control. However, I must admit that, even after spending a few hours in the MSDN, and trying various combinations of property and methods nodes, I still don't understand how to get the proper ref to a text field or a button !!!

An of course an additionnal question is : Is it possible to act similarly on the content of an independently opened window (not on the content of an ActiveX inserted in a vi). I know how to manipulate windows using the LabVIEW winUtils32 tools. But I could not find a way to act on the content, except by simulating key presses or mouse clicks. For simple tasks that's sometimes enough, but always far from satisfactory.

Anybody to help ?

[ChristopheS.]

Hi Chilly Charly,

As i understand you want to automate Internet explorer functionnality on LV.

As i can see you have try ActiveX, MSDN property, or LabVIEW winUtils32 tools, but without success, and you will have another way to make that you want.

Is true ?

What is the problem with the different possibility (ActiveX, MSDN property, or LabVIEW winUtils32 tools) ?

Because we have no other way to control Microsoft application.

Let me know how i can help,

Best regards

[chilly_charly]

Hello Christophe,

As i understand you want to automate Internet explorer functionnality on LV.
Exactly ! What I would like to do is to ease the insertion of icons and/or diagram pictures into the NI forums reply window we all use abundantly. You perfectly know that to insert a diagram picture, you first have to make a screenshot of the diagram. A tool was developped specificaly for that months ago, but still, you have to paste it twice : in the reply field, and in the attachment field, then you have to post your reply, edit it, copy the updated image file adress from the attachment field, and replace the image in the reply field. Not a friendly procedure.
I'm looking for a way to simplify these operations.

As i can see you have try ActiveX, MSDN property, or LabVIEW winUtils32 tools, but without success, and you will have another way to make that you want. Is true ?
What is the problem with the different possibility (ActiveX, MSDN property, or LabVIEW winUtils32 tools) ?
Not exactly. There are several issues.
Since I know how to move the mouse and to to simulate key presses, I have successfuly automated a number of tasks. For instance, I can move the mouse to the "insert picture" button and press it. Then I can simulate a <control> C to paste the content of the clipboard into the Insert picture dialog box. The problem is that when the window has been scrolled, the coordinates are changed, and mouse based automation becomes difficult. Anyway, this is not an elegant solution.
As I already explained, I found it was possible to have a tight control on an ActiveX. However, I have not been able to reproduce on the IE the functions described in this thread (click on a specific button, enter Text in a given field...). Simply, I could not get the right references to the different elements.
But this is not the only problem : what I want to do is to interfere with the content of an already opened IE window. The one I'm using right now. And again, I don't know how to get the right references !...

Hope you'll have some idea to share !

[Rashid-Malik]

Dear Christoph…! What is winUtils32 tool? Where is it located? What needs to be installed (besides LabVIEW) to access it? Is it a vi?
Thanks for your time!

[smercurio_fc]

He's referring to the library available in this KB article.

[Rashid-Malik]

Wow!Wow!Wow! and three cheers as well. .Thanks a lot,smercurio…. Now that's a mighty useful bunch of VI's.(And a five start rating as well).
Thanks for the help!
Hava a very nice day!


Message Edited by rashid19672008 on 05-08-2008 09:51 PM