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Q184761: HOWTO: Automate Internet Explorer 4 to Open a Specific Web Page

Article: Q184761
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): MACINTOSH:2.6a,3.0b
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbvfp
Last Modified: 10-AUG-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b 
- Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, version 2.6a 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article shows how to use AppleScript to start an instance of Microsoft
Internet Explorer 4.0 and automatically go to a valid website address.

MORE INFORMATION
================

This example takes an Internet address stored in a file and uses AppleScript to
start Internet Explorer 4.0, read the address from the file, and direct Internet
Explorer to the desired address. The article assumes that Simple Text created
the text file because the "Open For Access" command in AppleScript only reads
files that have the TXT creator type. One can create a text file using FoxPro
and later change the creator type. To do this, please refer to the article
listed in the REFERENCES section.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

1. Create a text file named ztest.txt, using the Simple Text application, that
  contains the following Web address:

  http://www.microsoft.com

  Save the file to the root folder of your hard drive.

2. Open the Apple Script Editor and type the following commands:

        set filename to (open for access alias "HD_name:ztest.txt")
        set mydata to (read filename)
        close access filename
        tell application "HD_name:Internet Explorer 4.0 Preview 1:Internet
        Explorer 4.0" to run
        tell application "HD_name:Internet Explorer 4.0 Preview 1:Internet
        Explorer 4.0" to GetURL (mydata)

  NOTE: Each line listed above should be type as a complete line within the
  Apple Script Editor. To ensure that you have typed the Apple Script commands
  correctly, press the Check Syntax button in the Apple Script Editor.

  Please note that you must give a complete path to the text file and Internet
  Explorer. If you do not, an error will occur. If you are not sure of the
  exact path, press the Apple key and "F" to invoke the File Find dialog and
  search for the application. In the example above, substitute the name of your
  Macintosh hard drive for "HD_name" and specify the path where Internet
  Explorer is installed.

3. Save the AppleScript file as a Compiled Script type with the name ZIE4test to
  the home folder of FoxPro.

4. Run the Apple Script from FoxPro or Visual FoxPro using the following
  command:

        RunScript ZIE4test

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q109482 How to Change the Creator and Type Set by FCREATE()

"ApplesScript Handbook 2nd Edition," Danny Goodman, Random House, pages 127-129,
1994

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbvfp 
Technology        : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbFoxPro260aMac kbVFP300bMac
Version           : MACINTOSH:2.6a,3.0b
Issue type        : kbhowto

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