Help needed with IE automation

[pranaynanda]

I need to automate a corporate web based login. I have the following code which I recorded using IUI Automation

;~ *** Standard code ***
#include "UIAWrappers.au3"
AutoItSetOption("MustDeclareVars", 1)

Local $oP6=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll($UIA_oDesktop, "Title:=Authentication Service - Internet Explorer;controltype:=UIA_WindowControlTypeId;class:=IEFrame", $treescope_children) 
_UIA_Action($oP6,"setfocus")
Local $oP5=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP6, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=Frame Tab", $treescope_children)    
_UIA_Action($oP5,"setfocus")
Local $oP4=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP5, "Title:=Authentication Service - Internet Explorer;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=TabWindowClass", $treescope_children) 
_UIA_Action($oP4,"setfocus")
Local $oP3=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP4, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=Shell DocObject View", $treescope_children) 
_UIA_Action($oP3,"setfocus")
Local $oP2=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP3, "Title:=https://abc.xyz.com/hsh/Login?GAREASONCODE=-1&GARESOURCEID=abcsi14079c1new4&GAURI=https://abc.xyz.com:12345/klmnop/servlet/MainServlet/home;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=Internet Explorer_Server", $treescope_children)  
_UIA_Action($oP2,"setfocus")
Local $oP1=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP2, "Title:=Authentication  Service;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=", $treescope_children)  
Local $oP0=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP1, "Title:=log in;controltype:=UIA_HyperlinkControlTypeId;class:=", $treescope_children)  
;~ First find the object in the parent before you can do something
;~$oUIElement=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll("login.mainwindow", "title:=log in;ControlType:=UIA_TextControlTypeId", $treescope_subtree)
Local $oUIElement=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP0, "title:=log in;ControlType:=UIA_TextControlTypeId", $treescope_subtree)
_UIA_action($oUIElement,"click")

I tried this code but it didn't work. Then I went around to read more when I found out that the code needs some changes for it to be useful. Can anyone please help me with that part? I can handle the rest automation which is mostly Windows based.

[MattHiggs]

Hey friend.  So I would recommend trying this tool.  It is posted in the download section of this site and has been a great help to me in the creation of IE automation scripts.  Run the website containing the login form through this tool and see if this helps at all.  Instead of using whatever information you are trying to use to identify the HTML elements, try using the tool to find their ID #s.

Edited July 13, 2016 by MattHiggs

[MichaelHB]

pranaynanda,

Did you try the IE UDF?

[pranaynanda]

I'm trying to work with it but cannot understand exactly what's happening. It needs parameters by reference which is confusing. Can someone please sort this out by a simple example such as how do i wait until www.facebook.com is completely loaded and then enter the credentials and then press the login button?

 

Edit: I know these functions:

_IELoadWait
_IELinkClickByText

I'm  just not sure how to use them.

Edited July 14, 2016 by pranaynanda

[pranaynanda]

And this is what I get when I run this:

#include<IE.au3>
$link=_IECreate("www.secretlink.com")
$a=_IELoadWait($link)
ConsoleWrite($a)
$b=_IELinkClickByIndex($link,14)
ConsoleWrite($b)

The response on console

Press Ctrl+Alt+Break to Restart or Ctrl+Break to Stop
--> IE.au3 T3.0-2 Error from function _IELoadWait, $_IESTATUS_ClientDisconnected (-2147417848, Browser has been deleted prior to operation.)
--> IE.au3 T3.0-2 Error from function _IELoadWait, $_IESTATUS_InvalidObjectType ()
0"C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Include\IE.au3" (770) : ==> The requested action with this object has failed.:
Local $oLinks = $oObject.document.links, $oLink
Local $oLinks = $oObject^ ERROR
->12:01:12 AutoIt3.exe ended.rc:1
+>12:01:12 AutoIt3Wrapper Finished.

[Danp2]

FWIW, _IECreate automatically performs an _IELoadWait by default.

I suspect that the site is switching contexts from HTTP to HTTPS, which invalidates your object reference. You can try using _IEAttach to obtain a new object reference after the initial _IECreate.

[MichaelHB]

pranaynanda,

Here the example:

#include <IE.au3>

Local $oIE = _IECreate("https://www.facebook.com")
_IELoadWait($oIE)
If @error Then
    $oIE = _IEAttach("facebook.com", "url")
    If @error Then Exit ConsoleWrite("Error in _IEAttach" & @CRLF & "@error: " & @error)
EndIf

Local $oEmail = _IEGetObjById($oIE, "email")
If @error Then Exit ConsoleWrite("Error in $oEmail" & @CRLF & "@error: " & @error)
_IEFormElementSetValue($oEmail, "email@email.com")
If @error Then Exit ConsoleWrite("Error in _IEFormElementSetValue($oEmail)" & @CRLF & "@error: " & @error)

Local $oPassword = _IEGetObjById($oIE, "pass")
If @error Then Exit ConsoleWrite("Error in $oPassword" & @CRLF & "@error: " & @error)
_IEFormElementSetValue($oPassword, "password")
If @error Then Exit ConsoleWrite("Error in _IEFormElementSetValue($oPassword)" & @CRLF & "@error: " & @error)

Local $oSubmit = _IEGetObjById($oIE, "u_0_m")
If @error Then Exit ConsoleWrite("Error in $oSubmit" & @CRLF & "@error: " & @error)
MsgBox(0, "", "Before click on submit button.")
_IEAction($oSubmit, "click")
If @error Then Exit ConsoleWrite('Error in _IEAction($oSubmit, "click")' & @CRLF & "@error: " & @error)

MsgBox(0, "", "Done!")
Exit

As state by Danp2, _IECreate automatically performs an _IELoadWait by default but as you are getting an error (-2147417848) probably because your browser is internally "jumping" to a different security zone, so because i dont know if you are using a COM error handler, the _IELoadWait will error out (i believe this way will be easier for you to understand) and try to _IEAttach. You can easily adapt this example to fit your needs.

[pranaynanda]

You are right. It does switch to https. So you're suggesting that _IEAttach will help with the issue?

[Danp2]

Yes, your object reference goes out of scope when switching security zones, so you need to obtain a new one by using _IEAttach to reconnect with the instance that you opened with _IECreate.

Edited July 15, 2016 by Danp2

[pranaynanda]

But what if I do not use _IECreate()? A url is triggered in by an application on performing certain task. I want to click on a link once the page is loaded. Do I still need _IEAttach()?

[MattHiggs]

I see.  So the web page is actually being launched by another application?  In that case, I would suggest you still look at the _IECreate function, more specifically the second parameter about whether or not you want the object reference to attach to a window that already exists.  All of the parameters in _IEcreate are optional, so even if the window already exists, you can create an object that attaches to that window which will then allow you to automate it.

[MattHiggs]

Also, may or may not help at this point, but as I was able to find a portable application that USED to be available on AutoHotKey's website, and is very useful for those who want to create IE automation scripts.  This is why I locally store any application I find interesting, in the event that it falls off the face of the earth and is no longer available online, I still got it.  First, it only works with IE, but it is a tool which is very similar to the AutoIT Window Info Tool in terms of operation, but instead of providing information about Windows forms, it provides you information about the elements within a loaded webpage.  Very useful to who ever wants it.

iWB2 Learner - 32bit.zip

iWB2 Learner - 64bit.zip

Edited July 17, 2016 by MattHiggs

[mLipok]

Indeed nice tool.

 

[MichaelHB]

@mLipok, if i may ask an off topic question, do you think that would be interesting to improve some IE UDF functions (even add a new one)? Is there any restrictions to change or suggest modifications in this UDF?

[mLipok]

There is many work done in IE.au3 rewrite.
I have stuck with documentation.
Do you want to contribute to AutoIt and make some progress with documentation for new IE.au3 ?

 

[MichaelHB]

Sure. I asked because i was making some modifications for a friend  and they can be implemented in the IE. Like:

• IECreate with command-line options (‑noframemerging for example, use regread to find the ie installation and PID for the IEAttach method).
• IENavigate with NavFlags like: navOpenInBackgroundTab
• I have a querySelectorAll function that is already working fine (with the same standard of other IE functions). very useful func if i may add.
• There is some redundancies, for example IsObj is checked twice in most functions (the other time is in __IEIsObjType).
• All the objects colletions should return an array with the objects. For nodecolletion is not recommended the For-In-Next loop, so using an array is 5x times faster than element.item($i), and its at least 2x faster for HtmlElementCollection.

This is what i remember right know, i believe that there is more. The tests that i made is in the initals steps and i have not had the opportunity to test on multiple systems.

[MattHiggs]

Hey,  Can I ask a somewhat off topic question too?  That software I posted above.  Like I said, it was available on AutoHotkey's website when I was investigating automation solutions for a project back when I was an intern (which is what introduced me to Autoit), but case and point is that, while the tool is still displayed on the main page, trying to download it results in the file hosting service giving the error message equivalent of "file not found" or "file has been removed" or whatever.  So, since I had stored this on my file server, I would like to share it with the AutoIT community.  But I haven't been able to find any rules regarding posting software that you didn't create.  Would it be ok if I did this as long as I announce that this is not my work and credit the use who posted the tool on the autohotkey forum?  Is it altogether disallowed?  This forum has many rules, and while I consider that a good thing, I want to make sure I don't violate any of them.

[mLipok]

I think your question is realated to one of MOD or ADMIN , so you should wait for their ansewers.

 

[pranaynanda]

Guys, against as I previously stated, the url does not move to https from http. It starts from https and generates tokens in https which altogether looks like a different URL. This is what I get.

--> Press Ctrl+Alt+Break to Restart or Ctrl+Break to Stop
--> IE.au3 T3.0-2 Error from function _IELoadWait, $_IESTATUS_ClientDisconnected (-2147417848, Browser has been deleted prior to operation.)
--> IE.au3 T3.0-2 Warning from function _IEAttach, $_IESTATUS_NoMatch
--> IE.au3 T3.0-2 Error from function _IELoadWait, $_IESTATUS_InvalidDataType
--> IE.au3 T3.0-2 Error from function _IETagNameAllGetCollection, $_IESTATUS_InvalidDataType

This is what I tried

 

#include <IE.au3>

AutoItSetOption("TrayIconDebug",1)

$oIE= _IECreate("https://www.link.com")

$oIE=_IEAttach("https://www.link.com")

_IELoadWait($oIE)
;$button=_IEGetObjByName($oIE,"log in")

;_IEAction($button,"click")

$col=_IETagNameAllGetCollection($oIE)

ConsoleWrite($col)

Also, the action that I wanna do is click on a span class which I have no idea about what it is so I'm assuming traditional method does not work.

Edited September 13, 2016 by pranaynanda