how to control a webpage via Qt?

[tamalotes]

I want to control a webpage via a Qt program.

I want to fill in "text-boxes" and click on buttons.

I was thinking that WebKit will be the way to go, but I can not find a way to modify a given page...

Any ideas will be appreciated!

-CGS

[wysota]

Go through QWebPage and QWebElement.

[tamalotes]

Hi Wysota,

Thanks. I gone that far, but I can not find a way to actually modify an element.

Below my code:

void Window::examineChildElements(const QWebElement &parentElement,
QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem)
{
QWebElement element = parentElement.firstChild();
while (!element.isNull()) {
 
QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
item->setText(0, element.tagName());
parentItem->addChild(item);
 
if (element.tagName()=="TEXTAREA")
--->>>//How do I modify the content of TEXTAREA? <<<----
 
 
examineChildElements(element, item);
 
element = element.nextSibling();
}
}

void Window::examineChildElements(const QWebElement &parentElement,
QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem)
{
QWebElement element = parentElement.firstChild();
while (!element.isNull()) {

QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
item->setText(0, element.tagName());
parentItem->addChild(item);

if (element.tagName()=="TEXTAREA")
--->>>//How do I modify the content of TEXTAREA? <<<----


examineChildElements(element, item);

element = element.nextSibling();
}
}

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My questions are:

- Should I use the tagName to identify items?
- And once I find an element (i.e. a texBox, how do I modify it's contents? (i.e. fill-in a TextBox, check a combobox, click on a button?)

Thanks in advance!

--CGS

[wysota]

You are manipulating DOM here. I'd guess for TEXTAREA you should set the "value" attribute of the element or possibly add a text child to the element. To check a checkbox you probably need to set the "checked" attribute to "true", etc. To click on a button it's probably easiest to evaluate a proper javascript:

element.evaluateJavaScript("this.click()");

element.evaluateJavaScript("this.click()");

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You can modify the contents with javascript too:

textarea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");

textarea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");

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[tamalotes]

Master of Zen, Thanks!

I guess I am getting closer, but still no luck. My code looks like this:

void Window::examineChildElements(const QWebElement &parentElement,
                                  QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem)
{
    QWebElement element = parentElement.firstChild();
    while (!element.isNull()) {
 
        QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
        item->setText(0, element.tagName());
        parentItem->addChild(item);
 
        if (element.tagName()== "TEXTAREA")
        {
            element.setFocus();
            element.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");
        }
 
 
        examineChildElements(element, item);
 
        element = element.nextSibling();
    }
}

void Window::examineChildElements(const QWebElement &parentElement,
                                  QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem)
{
    QWebElement element = parentElement.firstChild();
    while (!element.isNull()) {

        QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
        item->setText(0, element.tagName());
        parentItem->addChild(item);

        if (element.tagName()== "TEXTAREA")
        {
            element.setFocus();
            element.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");
        }


        examineChildElements(element, item);

        element = element.nextSibling();
    }
}

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It does compile, and I am able to enter to the IF condition, but no change.
As you probably reconginze this is a snippet from the Qt demos: domtraversal. And I am running this while opening www.google.com

My code is not exactly what you suggested, as you where using:

textarea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");

textarea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");

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But I don't see how I can create a "textarea"....

Any comments will be apprecaited?

[wysota]

Did you try the approach with adding a child node to the textarea tag?

[tamalotes]

Hi Master,

addChild is not available for "element" so I assume using one of the append options was what you suggested.

This is what I got using appendInside:

if (element.tagName()== "TEXTAREA")
        {
             QWebElement textArea;
            element.appendInside(textArea);
            textArea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");
        }

if (element.tagName()== "TEXTAREA")
        {
             QWebElement textArea;
            element.appendInside(textArea);
            textArea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");
        }

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But my textbox does not work.... I guess I do not understand how to create a child, but not sure then what to use.

-CGS

[wysota]

You were supposed to add the text you want the textarea to contain as a child element to the textarea element.

[tamalotes]

Hi Master of Zen,

If I understand correctly what you are saying, is the I should:

void Window::examineChildElements(const QWebElement &parentElement,
                                  QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem)
{
    QWebElement element = parentElement.firstChild();
    while (!element.isNull()) {
 
        QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
        item->setText(0, element.tagName());
        parentItem->addChild(item);
 
        if (element.tagName()== "TEXTAREA")
        {
            QWebElement textArea;
            element.addChild(textArea);
 
            //textArea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");
        }
 
 
        examineChildElements(element, item);
 
        element = element.nextSibling();
    }
}

void Window::examineChildElements(const QWebElement &parentElement,
                                  QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem)
{
    QWebElement element = parentElement.firstChild();
    while (!element.isNull()) {

        QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
        item->setText(0, element.tagName());
        parentItem->addChild(item);

        if (element.tagName()== "TEXTAREA")
        {
            QWebElement textArea;
            element.addChild(textArea);

            //textArea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");
        }


        examineChildElements(element, item);

        element = element.nextSibling();
    }
}

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However, that generates me the following error:

'class QWebElement' has no member namded 'addChild'

Sorry for so many questions. I guess the real issue is that I am not familiar with DOM.

Is there any place you recommend me exploring?

Thanks in advance.


-CgS

[wysota]

It is worth having a look at QWebElement documentation to see what methods it has.

[tamalotes]

Hi Master,

Thanks. My problem relies on the QWebElement documentation. There is no info about creating a child.

- CgS

[squidge]

Really? In the documentation I clearly see lines such as "Appends the given element as the element's last child".

[tamalotes]

in retrospective I now understand why Zen Master... you certantly need lots of patience to deal guys like me. I really appreciate the support...

I guess I am getting close, my code now looks like:

void Window::examineChildElements(const QWebElement &parentElement,
                                  QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem)
{
    QWebElement element = parentElement.firstChild();
    while (!element.isNull()) {
 
        QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
        item->setText(0, element.tagName());
        parentItem->addChild(item);
 
        if (element.tagName()== "TEXTAREA")
        {
            QWebElement textArea;
 
            element.appendInside(textArea);
 
            textArea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");
        }
 
 
        examineChildElements(element, item);
 
        element = element.nextSibling();
    }
}

void Window::examineChildElements(const QWebElement &parentElement,
                                  QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem)
{
    QWebElement element = parentElement.firstChild();
    while (!element.isNull()) {

        QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
        item->setText(0, element.tagName());
        parentItem->addChild(item);

        if (element.tagName()== "TEXTAREA")
        {
            QWebElement textArea;

            element.appendInside(textArea);

            textArea.evaluateJavaScript("this.value = \"some new value for text area\"");
        }


        examineChildElements(element, item);

        element = element.nextSibling();
    }
}

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I does complie, but no text is added to the search box....

Help is always welcome...

-CgS

[wysota]

Let's get one thing straight - you need to append the text you want displayed in the text area to the 'textarea' tag, so that this:

<textarea></textarea>

<textarea></textarea>

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becomes this:

<textarea>
    This is the text I want to appear in the text box.
</textarea>

<textarea>
    This is the text I want to appear in the text box.
</textarea>

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So obviously if you are appending something, this 'something' has to contain the text you want in the text box. And forget about evaluateJavaScript - if it didn't work, then don't put it there.