how to enter value into website inputs by excel vba - excel

Question

I am trying to enter a value in a website filter, I can enter the username and password in login page by using the HTML element ID, after login I want to enter a value in filter input, the filter input id is units-grid-search-filter, but it automatically changed to units -grid -search -filter,
I don't the problem is in wherein element id space or delay
this is my code.
Sub Button3_Click()
On Error GoTo Err_Clear
sURL = "http://103.215.211.2/Web/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fWeb%2f#25/-3/"
Set oBrowser = New InternetExplorer
oBrowser.Silent = True
oBrowser.timeout = 60
oBrowser.Navigate sURL
oBrowser.Visible = True
Do
' Wait till the Browser is loaded
Loop Until oBrowser.readyState = READYSTATE_COMPLETE
Set HTMLdoc = oBrowser.Document
HTMLdoc.all.UserName.Value = "abc"
HTMLdoc.all.Password.Value = "abc123"
HTMLdoc.all.units -grid - Search - Filter.Value = "123"
For Each oHTML_Element In HTMLdoc.getElementsByTagName("input")
Debug.Print oHTML_Element.Name
Next
Set frm = HTMLdoc.forms(0)
frm.submit
Set IE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
' oBrowser.Refresh ' Refresh If Needed
Do Until Not IE.Busy And IE.readyState = 4
DoEvents
Loop
e.Click
Err_Clear:
If Err <> 0 Then
Err.Clear
Resume Next
End If
End Sub

Answer 1

The site you are trying to automate is using knockoutjs.
The Textbox in which you are trying to set the value using your VBA code is set as observable in knockoutjs code.
If this parameter is an observable value, the binding will update the
element’s value whenever the value changes. If the parameter isn’t
observable, it will only set the element’s value once and will not
update it again later.
Whenever the user edits the value in the associated form control, KO
will update the property on your view model. KO will always attempt to
update your view model when the value has been modified and a user
transfers focus to another DOM node (i.e., on the change event), but
you can also trigger updates based on other events by using the
valueUpdate parameter described below.
Reference:
The "value" binding
Which means the value is coming from the knockoutjs model. If you modify the value manually then it will also modifies the value in model.
When you are trying to assign the value using your VBA code, no events occur and value not get updated to that model.
I tried to fire an event from VBA code. but it is not modifying the value in model. I tested with multiple JS events and it did not worked. If you try to pass the same event from your HTML code then it will give an error in VBA.
At last, I suggest you to make a test with Sendkeys.
Sendkeys is essentially the same as typing with the keyboard. You need to make sure the correct windows and objects are selecting before proceeding. Sendkeys can also trigger events that run based on user interaction on the web.
Sample code:
Declare PtrSafe Function SetForegroundWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal HWND As Long) As Long
Sub demo()
Dim i As Long
Dim URL As String
Dim IE As Object
Dim HWNDSrc As Long
Set IE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
IE.Visible = True
URL = "example.com"
IE.Navigate URL
Do While IE.ReadyState = 4: DoEvents: Loop
Do Until IE.ReadyState = 4: DoEvents: Loop
HWNDSrc = IE.HWND
SetForegroundWindow HWNDSrc
IE.Document.getElementById("abc").Focus
SendKeys "123", True
Set IE = Nothing
End Sub
Further, you can try to modify the code as per your requirement.