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Jack's AutoHotkey Blog
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Use the links on the menu bar above (or those below) to access the list of blogs included as part of an AutoHotkey series or topic.
Hello Jack,
Have you written yet about controlling browser windows?
For example, I would like to access my bank’s website and automate the process of downloading my latest bank statement.
But it’s very difficult to identify control buttons or other browser navigation/selection options via Window Spy or to automate finding those buttons on the page.
Functions or commands are needed to get inside the browser window to gain control of things.
I do it now by resizing the window, then moving mouse to specific locations where the buttons are supposed to be. But this is kludgy.
Thank you for all your articles. Loved the Forced Expression tool.
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Use TAB to Navigate Web Pages
Hi, Bobby,
Automating Web pages is problematic. Unlike Windows programs, Web browsers do not use the standard Windows controls. They are based upon HTML and JavaScript which must be read by all browsers regardless of the operating system. Therefore, the ease of automating Web pages with AutoHotkey depends upon the design of the page—which varies from site to site.
The method that you’re currently using (as kludgy as it may seem) still works. The only area of investigation I can add at this time involves sending the TAB or SHIFT+TAB key. In Web pages, hitting TAB jumps to the next button or link. On many pages you can see the focus of the page (not mouse) cursor. However, many pages are designed to hide this feature making it difficult to know how many times to tab to a particular object on the page. (This is a significant problem for people who can’t use a mouse.)
Start by clicking in the URL address field, then start tabbing. If you can see the movement of the TAB action, then count the number of TABS required for your application. (RETURN should select an object in focus.) Then go from there.
This will not work with many sites which use a mouse cursor hover to open menus. It may turn out that your use of mouse clicks at specific locations offers you the best options. Most importantly it works!
I’ll put this into my list of topics worth further investigation and welcome any comments or recommendations from other AutoHotkey users.
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Thank you, Jack!
Seems like there ought to be a way to get “inside” the browser.
Makes me want to study java script and HTML.
I know nothing of these languages.
Thank you so much for the time you spend compiling your blog.
I have already learned much and am excited about what else I might find here.
I’m reading your past blogs now.
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I’ve added a series on Web page automation using Chrome.ahk AutoHotkey tools.
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