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JRose

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FaceBook application problem

Hi. I am writing a facebook app/extension for a website that i developed several months ago.

The facebook app is:
http://apps.facebook.com/bookdeal/

Please enter isbn: 9781590597644
then click search.

I'm getting the desired results but the output wouldn't stay on the facebook canvas. It redirects to the actual website.

http://www.bookdealfinder.com/mini/index.php
(www.bookdealfinder.com)

What I intend to do with this app is scrape about 22 websites for book prices, find the lowest price for new, used, and books for rent, then display the results on the same page. I can send you the source code and provide you my FaceBook account details if you will be needing them. Please help. Thanks.
Avatar of b0lsc0tt
b0lsc0tt
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Does facebook let you use server script on your pages or just html and clientside script?  Can you run a PHP script and do they have cUrl enabled?

You can't do this just with html or Javascript.  They are most likely using some script to break your frame and there is little you can do to stop this (most likely).  Scrapping is a solution but Javascript can't do it when the page is on another server, domain or uses another protocol.  PHP CUrl is a method that would work.

Let me know if you have a question about this.

bol
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JRose

ASKER

Hi bol, yes facebook can run PHP and I believe cURL too. I'm just not sure about javascript. I believe they have their own version of JavaScript called FBJS (http://wiki.developers.facebook.com/index.php/FBJS). I have used cURL in this app to scrape data. Anyone experienced in facebook applications development?
Did you try a basic PHP script on the Facebook site to see if it would work?  You can find out if cUrl is an option by looking the results of phpinfo() .  Let me know if you don't know what I mean by that.

You should also make sure that book site does not have a prohibition in its "terms of use" regarding scraping.  Although some sites don't care there are many that have something against it and it would not be appropriate to pursue this without first contacting them and getting written permission.

Let me know what other help you need or if you have a question.

bol
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JRose

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