Connect to Web interface to process data

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Sharp Tool - 28 Jul 2005 11:42 GMT

Dear newsgroup readers,

I would like to use Java to connect to a Web page.
This Web page contains a button, which when clicked opens a dialog box where
you can point to a file for processing.
Can someone give me a rough idea (in small steps) how I can do this in Java?
It would be appreciated.

Cheers
Sharp Tool

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Ingo R. Homann - 28 Jul 2005 11:57 GMT

Hi Sharp Tool,

> Dear newsgroup readers,
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Can someone give me a rough idea (in small steps) how I can do this in Java?
> It would be appreciated.

That depends on what the button does. Is it a normal FORM-Button? Or
does it use JavaScript?

Try to find out, what HTTP-Request(s) your Browser sends to the server.
Then, it's not difficult to emulate it using the java.net.URL class.

Ciao,
Ingo

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Sharp Tool - 29 Jul 2005 10:10 GMT

> Hi Sharp Tool,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Ciao,
> Ingo

I'm not sure, but looking at the source code of the Web page (link:
http://bioinfo.cis.nctu.edu.tw/service/gprm/) it seems to be Javascript, but
I'm not 100% certain.
If its Javascript, what do I need to do?
How do I find out what HTTP-Request my browser sends?

Cheers
Sharp Tool

Reply to this Message

Ingo R. Homann - 29 Jul 2005 10:34 GMT

Hi,

> I'm not sure, but looking at the source code of the Web page (link:
> http://bioinfo.cis.nctu.edu.tw/service/gprm/) it seems to be Javascript, but
> I'm not 100% certain.

Perhaps you may ask this in a javascript-newsgroup? ;-)

Sorry, but if you are unable to findout *that*, I am not sure if you
will be able to write such a java-program...

> If its Javascript, what do I need to do?

Build a javascript-interpreter in java! ;-)

No, indeed it should be sufficient to do find out what HTTP-Request your
browser sends.

> How do I find out what HTTP-Request my browser sends?

Use a proxy or something like that or use some functionality of your
browser. (In the easiest case, look at the "URL"-field of your browser)...

Anyway, this is in no way java-specific and OT here.

Ciao,
Ingo

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Andrew Thompson - 29 Jul 2005 11:54 GMT

> "Ingo R. Homann" <ihomann_spam@web.de> wrote in message

>>> I would like to use Java to connect to a Web page.
>>> This Web page contains a button, which when clicked opens a dialog box
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>> Try to find out, what HTTP-Request(s) your Browser sends to the server.
>> Then, it's not difficult to emulate it using the java.net.URL class.

> I'm not sure, but looking at the source code of the Web page (link:
> http://bioinfo.cis.nctu.edu.tw/service/gprm/) it seems to be Javascript,

That JS is unnecessary to the form iteslf - it merely
adds pop-up tips and a 'clear' button. The form is
functional without it (as far as I can tell)
You could reproduce it in anything from pure HTML to a
JWS Swing GUI, all you need to do is make a form/GUI
that looks like that. The values are the same as the
textual labels.

Then, once you have your information, append it to an
URL and make a POST to the target and you are there.

Of course, all this will be much easier in consultation with
the *author* of the page, who's email is clearly listed there.

What does the author have to add to this?

>..but I'm not 100% certain. If its Javascript, ..

It is. Or rather, it is a smattering of JS to add 'extra bits'
to an otherwise fully functional HTML form element.

>..what do I need to do?

Learn how to program (or how to write HTML).