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HouseofFara

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Input into web page via clipboard

A customer has a website that we need to enter data into.  It is very time consuming and has a high possibility of human keystroke error.

What I would like to do is input the 6 fields of data into the clipboard, (I can program this automatically) and have the user click on the first field of the web form and hit CTRL V to paste the data.  However, I need to have the clipboard have a TAB command to move from one field to the next.   Example:

123 <TAB> ABC <TAB> 789 <TAB> XYZ

The user would scan a barcode which loads the clipboard with the appropriate data string and click on the first field in the web form, then hit CTRL V.  123 would be pasted in to that field, the tab execute and move the cursor to the second field, ABC would be inserted, another tab to the third field, 789 entered and so on.

I have done the above but the problem is that the (CHAR(009)) command tabs the cursor over in the first field and all characters are typed into the first field.  The the embedded tab does not move the focus to the next field.  However hitting the keyboard tab does move focus to the next field.   I have tried ASCII codes 9,10,11,12.   Oddly enough, 13 does execute a carriage return that works outside the current text box, while 9 does not.

I have no control nor can I modify the customer's web page.  I am fairly proficient at database programming (SQL etc.) but not webpages.   If I can succeed at this, it will have a major savings in both labor time and error reduction.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.   Thanks,
Avatar of Dave Baldwin
Dave Baldwin
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The 'automated' methods of sending data to a web site don't use the manual forms at all.  With most sites, you can use a program to directly submit the data.  cURL is a popular and all web programming languages like ASP and PHP can be used.
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HouseofFara

ASKER

Thank you for the reply.
As mentioned, I am not a web programmer so am not versed in any of the normal web languages such as PHP.   Also, this customer's web site requires some buttons to be pushed after text entry and confirmationn numbers are returned, which the user needs to record.

If I have to go to much programming length, I would set up EDI via AS2, but then they charge a fairly steep price for that option.   We are in between the volume that really justifies EDI costs but is becoming a man power issue as well.

The current ideal situation would be if I could get the clip board paste to work.  The user has to enter 3 files that are not too bad to type such as ship date, Invoice number etc., but they then have to type in upto 6 UPS tracking numbers, which are quite long.   I can load the clip board with this data fine programatically, if I could just get the TAB to work like I need that would be the best solution at this time.
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Dave Baldwin
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I did not find the solution I was hoping for, but perhaps one was not available!
Thanks to those who made suggestions.