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automate website navigation... from where to start?(newbie)

Hi

I would like to automate web navigation by using VB. I usually manage to write VBA code for ms applications(eg Outlook), but in this case I am stuck. I don't know from where to start.

My aim is to open a website, enter my username and password and hit the submit button, enter data in 2 data fields and hit the send button, then close the website...automatically.

Does Visual Studio.NET allow me to do such a thing. If yes, what project is suitable: ASP.NET Web Service, Console Application...? Preferably I would also need some code as an example to give me an idea.

Thanks in advance for your help.

D_M_D

Here's some info to get started..
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dndotnet/html/introwebforms.asp
http://aspalliance.com/309

Example...
http://www.codeproject.com/aspnet/useraccountlogin.asp

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D_M_D

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aelatik

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chspit

ASKER

Hi D_M_D
The websites you suggested are intended for those who want to create web forms. That is not my intention. I want to login to a website automatically, input data in a textbox, hit a button and exit, all automated.

The main question to get me going is: can I do this rom a Console application, or from an ASP.NET Web service?

Thanks

chspit

ASKER

Hi aelatik

Thanks for your code, but when I run it from Console (I am using Visual Studio.NET 2002) I receive an error. This is how I edited the code:

--------------------
Module WEB

Sub Main()
Dim IE
IE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
IE.Navigate("http://www.go.com.mt/mygo/index.jsp")
IE.Visible = True
'While IE.Busy
'DoEvents()
'End While
IE.Document.All("go number").Value = "mynumber" ' contains the HTML name of the object
IE.Document.All("password").Value = "mypassword" ' contains the HTML name of the object
IE.Document.All("SUBMIT").Click() ' contains the HTML name of the object
End Sub

End Module

--------------------

This is the error I reveived:
<<<An unhandled exception of type 'System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException' occurred in microsoft.visualbasic.dll
Additional information: Unspecified error>>>

What is wrong. Was your code supposed to be run from ASP.NET Web Service?

aelatik

"I would like to automate web navigation by using VB", so its VB code ( not .NET )