View browser page source from another app?

[Shishu Das]

How can I get the page source from a browser window running on the same
box as my program?

shishudas

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

How can I get the page source from a browser window running on the same
box as my program?

If you are using Internet Explorer:

\\\

' Requires a reference to "Microsoft Internet Controls" ("SHDocVw.dll").
On Error Resume Next
For Each IE As InternetExplorer In New ShellWindows
MsgBox(IE.Document.DocumentElement.innerHTML)
Next IE
On Error GoTo -1
///

 

[Colin Neller]

Herfried's solution will get you the current state of the DOM including
DHTML modifications - this is probably what you want. In the case that you
want to display the "true" source (what was initially downloaded) see
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=311288

 

[Shishu Das]

Herfried,

Thanks! But, can you explain how to do this "reference" in VB.Net. I'm
new to this platform, and haven't fully RTFM.

Thanks!

shishudas

' Requires a reference to "Microsoft Internet Controls" ("SHDocVw.dll").

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

Thanks! But, can you explain how to do this "reference" in VB.Net. I'm
new to this platform, and haven't fully RTFM.

"Project" -> "Add reference..." -> "COM" -> "Microsoft Internet Controls".

 

[Shishu Das]

Got the reference OK, but it's still not liking this syntax. Just to
make this a little harder, I should mention that I would like to detect
(with a global hook) where the user clicked on the web page, so I can
tell what section of text they are looking at...

shishudas

 

[Colin Neller]

shishudas,

I suggest you try using the C# WebBrowser wrapper available at
http://www.codeproject.com/cs/miscctrl/WebBrowserEx.asp. It does a lot of
the "pluming" required to make the WebBrowser behave like you want
(including sinking the IHTMLDocument2 to capture click events.) Also, I
have a blog post that lists several WebBrowser control resources I have
found useful:
http://www.colinneller.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,bb6bad64-f832-4c55-9c4f-50315665bc5d.aspx

 

[Shishu Das]

Colin,

Thanks again!

I notice a reference to new features in .Net 2.0 that might make this
easier. Should I just upgrade to the new version and use those? Are you
familiar with them?

shishudas

 

[Colin Neller]

shishudas,

Honestly, I have no experience with the 2.0 WebBrowser control other than
small test applications. If you want FULL control over the WebBrowser,
you're probably better off doing it yourself (starting with the wrapper),
but if you can live with the limited functionality that the 2.0 control
gives you, do it... it's MUCH easier.