asked on

Determine OS and Browser from HTTP_User_Agent

We are currently using BrowserHawk to determine the environment of users of our web application. The only data that I really need to collect is the users OS and Browser. Browser Hawk is overkill for what we need, and rather than renewing our Expensive subscription with them, I am looking for a reliable way to just parse the OS and browser out of the HTTP_USER_AGENT. Does anyone know of a good way to do this or any alternative componenets to browserhawk?

fritz_the_blank

This should get you started:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/10470618/ASP-call-to-get-current-browser-being-used.html?query=detect+browser+OS&topics=97
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20467014/Check-the-OS.html?query=detect+browser+OS&topics=97

FtB

fritz_the_blank

I use code like this to see what is really available:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<title> New Document </title>
</head>

<body>
<%
For each objItem in Request. ServerVariables
Response.write(objItem & ": " & Request.ServerVariables(objItem) & " ")
Next
%>
</body>
</html>

FtB

fritz_the_blank

Finally, if you keep your browscap.ini file up to date, you can use that to get all of the information easily and reliably:

http://www.abiglime.com/webmaster/articles/asp/121798.htm

FtB

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ajaikumarr

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ajaikumarr

Hai,

Also add these to your page

Function GetIEVersion(strData)
      dim x, y

      GetIEVersion=0
      x=instr(1, strData,"MSIE")+4
      y=instr(x,strData,";")
      if x>0 and Y>0 and Y>x then
            GetIEVersion=mid(strData,x,y-x)
      end if
end function

Bye
Ajai

rdivilbiss

>or any alternative componenets to browserhawk?

http://www.rodsdot.com/ee/browser_test.asp

Was put together from various EE questions from users requesting how to test browser capabilities. It is overkill for your question, but might save you from an expensive renewal. It isn't nearly as capable as BrowserHawk, but it does demo how to test for many common browser capabilities.

rdivilbiss

Might beef it up with Ajai's code if Ajai doesn't mind.

jrram

rdivilbiss,

Where can you download the code for (http://www.rodsdot.com/ee/browser_test.asp). Or do you just use the javascript on that page? I didn't see any code that makes the alert box come up when you load the page so I assume there was something else behind it.

rdivilbiss

The code is in the box with the yellow background. Look closely...it isn't all JavaScript. Most of it is, but not all.

There is a cookies.js file and a java applet.

The cookies.js file can be found at:
Published on: Saturday 21st February 1998 By: Martin Webb
tech.irt.org/articles/js064
www.deletemycookies.com/intelligentcookies.htm

The java applet can be had here:
Published by Michael Horowitz
http://javatester.org/version.html
http://www.michaelhorowitz.com/javatester.results.html

I don't distribute those, but only point you to the copyright holders page, where you may obtain them in accordance with their respective copyright requirements.

Regards,
Rod

rdivilbiss

Just in case something is missing from the code box:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
<html>

<head>
<title>Browser Test</title>
<meta name="author" content="Roderick Divilbiss">
<meta name="copyright" content="© 2005 Roderick Divilbiss">




<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="../include/cookies.js"></script>

<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">

</script>
<noscript>
 <pre>JavaScript is disabled.</pre>
</noscript>
<title>Browser Test</title>
<style>

</style>
</head>

<body>




<APPLET codeBase="." height="0" width="0"
code="JavaVersionDisplayApplet.class"
name="display"
mayscript VIEWASTEXT>
</APPLET>
<div id="popres">Testing....</div>
<script type="text/vbscript" language="vbscript">
on error resume next
msgbox("VBScript is enabled")
</script>
<noscript>
 <pre>VB Script is disabled.</pre> 
</noscript>
<%
response.write("<pre>")
for each item in request.servervariables
 response.write "" & item & ": " & request.servervariables(item) & " "
next
%>
<script>
var app = document.applets[0];
var version = app.getVersion();
var vendor = app.getVendor();
if (version!=null) {
 document.getElementById('javaver').innerHTML = '<pre>Version: '+vendor+' '+version+'</pre>';
} else {
 document.getElementById('javaver').innerHTML = '<pre>Version: Unable To Detect</pre>';
}
var i_activex;
</script>
<script type="text/vbscript">
on error resume next
 i_activex = IsObject(CreateObject("Microsoft.ActiveXPlugin.1"))
</script>
<div id="code"><pre>
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">; <html> <head> <title>Browser Test</title> <meta name="author" content="Roderick Divilbiss"> <meta name="copyright" content="© 2005 Roderick Divilbiss"> 
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="../include/cookies.js"></script> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">  
</script> <noscript> <pre>JavaScript is disabled.</pre> </noscript> </head> <body> <APPLET codeBase="." height="0" width="0" code="JavaVersionDisplayApplet.class" name="display" mayscript VIEWASTEXT> </APPLET> 
<div id="popres">Testing....</div> <script type="text/vbscript" language="vbscript"> on error resume next msgbox("VBScript is enabled") </script>  </pre>
 <pre>
<% response.write("<pre>") for each item in request.servervariables response.write "" & item & ": " & request.servervariables(item) & " " 
next %> 
<script> var app = document.applets[0]; var version = app.getVersion(); var vendor = app.getVendor(); if (version!=null) { document.getElementById('javaver').innerHTML = '<pre>Version: '+vendor+' '+version+'</pre>'; } else { document.getElementById('javaver').innerHTML = '<pre>Version: Unable To Detect</pre>'; 
} 
var i_activex;
</script> 
<script type="text/vbscript"> on error resume next i_activex = IsObject(CreateObject("Microsoft.ActiveXPlugin.1")) </script></pre>
 <pre>
</body>
</html>
</pre></div>
</body>

</html>

ajaikumarr

Hai rdivilbiss,

You can add those if you need... No probs about that... If possible just add a little bit of credit to my name :)

Bye
Ajai

rdivilbiss

Ajai,

Of course. Note my care regarding the two libraries I did not write.

jrram,

Correction on the Applet link:

http://support.softartisans.com/kbview_839.aspx (zip file at the bottom of the page.)

Regards,
Rod

BTW: Anybody has a browser test I don't please let me know.

ajaikumarr

Rod,

Thanks :)

Bye
Ajai