Automating Internet Explorer from Access

[Alymon]

Hello,

I'm trying to automate a search function on a company website and pull back the results into access or excel. I can get access to open an instance of Internet Explorer, navigate to the correct page, fill in the appropriate text box, but when I try to tell it to click the search button or submit the form, it fails. There's no error or response from the site. It looks like it refreshes quickly, but it doesn't display the results. When I manually click the button, it displays results.

Applications:
MS Access 2003
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

The source information from the website is attached.

Below is the section where the search button is located.

<div class='modalwindowbuttons'>
            <input type='hidden' name='action' value='search'>
            <input type='submit' name='Search' value='Search'>
        </div>
 

And here's my VB module to test:

Option Compare Database
 
Private Function testIE()
 
    Dim sURL As String
    Dim oIE As InternetExplorer
    Dim oElement As Object
    Dim oCollection As Object
 
    Dim sAccount As String
    Dim oAcct As Object
    Dim i As Integer
 
    sURL = "http://<removed>/ACHDispute/index.php?page=disputeform&action=search"
    Set oIE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
 
    oIE.NAVIGATE sURL
    oIE.Visible = True
    Do While oIE.busy Or oIE.READYSTATE <> 4
        DoEvents
    Loop
 
    sAccount = "#######"
 
    Set oAcct = oIE.Document.getElementsByName("acctnum")
    oAcct.item(0).Value = sAccount
 
    oIE.Document.getElementById("Search").Click
    oIE.Document.getElementById("searchForm").submit    
 
End Function
 

It just doesn't want to react to the button click event or the form submit! Help!

[Alymon]

I managed to work something out. It isn't pretty, but I use the IE object to move around the form and fill out the fields needed, then I use SendKeys to tab to the button (I couldn't focus on it using the IE object for some reason) and send a space character to trigger the button.

    Set oAcct = oIE.Document.getElementsByName("acctnum")
    oAcct.item(0).Focus
    oAcct.item(0).Value = sAccount
 
    oIE.Document.getElementsByName("disputeId").item(0).Focus
 
    SendKeys "{TAB}", True
    dStart = Now()
    dDate = Now()
    Do Until dDate >= DateAdd("s", 2, dStart)
         dDate = Now()
    Loop
 
    SendKeys " ", True
 
    Do While oIE.busy Or oIE.READYSTATE <> 4
        DoEvents
    Loop
 
 
    vString = oIE.Document.Body.InnerHTML
 
    Debug.Print vString