The Internet Explorer Object Model

The Internet Explorer version 3.0 object model is flat—that is, it has only one level. In this respect it is unlike many other object models. The single-level architecture of the Internet Explorer model makes it significantly easier to master than many other applications. Figure 3-4 shows the complete Internet Explorer object model, and Tables 3-1 and 3-2 describe the object's properties and methods.

Figure 3-4.

The Internet Explorer object model.

Table 3-1.Properties of the Microsoft Internet Explorer, Version 3.0

Property Type Description Usage
Application Object Returns a reference to the Internet Explorer object. Set MyObject = browser.Application
Busy Boolean Returns a boolean value indicating whether the Internet Explorer is busy downloading data or performing some other activity. True indicates busy; False indicates not busy. If browser.Busy Then…EndIf
Container Object Returns a reference to the container/parent of the Internet Explorer, if any exists. Set MyObject = browser.Container
Document Object Returns a reference to the active document, if any exists. Set MyDocument = browser.Document
FullName String Returns the full pathname to the Internet Explorer executable. (Example: C:\PROGRAM FILES\Plus!\MICROSOFT INTERNET\IEXPLORE.EXE) MsgBox browser.FullName
FullScreen Boolean Returns or sets the Internet Explorer window mode. True indicates that the window is maximized and that the status bar, toolbar, menu bar, andtitle bar are hidden. If browser.FullNameThen…EndIf browser.FullScreen = True
Height, Width Long Returns or sets the dimensions in pixels of the Internet Explorer window. MsgBox browser.Height browser.Height = 400
HWND Long Returns the window handle MsgBox of the current Internet Explorer window. browser.HWND
Left, Top Long Returns or sets the position in pixels of the Internet Explorer window relative to the screen/container. MsgBox browser.Left browser.Left = 100
LocationName String Returns the name of the file currently being viewed. (Example: Microsoft Corporation) MsgBox browser.LocationName
LocationURL String Returns the full URL for the file currently being viewed. (Example: https://www.microsoft.com/) MsgBox browser.LocationURL
MenuBar Boolean Returns or sets the display of If the menu bar. True indicates that the menu bar is visible; False indicates that it is hidden. browser.MenuBar Then…EndIf browser.MenuBar = True
Name String Returns the name of the Internet Explorer application. (Example: Microsoft Internet Explorer) MsgBox browser.Name
Parent Object Returns a reference to the container/parent of the Internet Explorer. Set MyObject = browser.Parent
Path String Returns the full pathname to the Internet Explorer application. (Example: C:\PROGRAM FILES\PLUS!\MICROSOFT INTERNET\) MsgBox browser.Path
StatusBar Boolean Returns or sets the display of the status bar. True indicates that the status bar is visible; False indicates that it is hidden. If browser.StatusBar Then…EndIf browser.StatusBar = True
StatusText String Returns or sets the text for the status bar. MyString = browser.StatusText browser.StatusText = MyString
ToolBar Long Returns or sets which toolbar is shown. For example, 0 indicates no toolbar; 1 indicates the default toolbar. MsgBox browser.toolbar browser.toolbar = 1
TopLevelContainer Boolean Returns a Boolean value indicating whether the current object is the top-level container. True indicates that the object is the top-level container; False indicates that it is not. If browser. TopLevelContainer Then…EndIf
Type String Returns the type of document in the Internet Explorer. MyType = browser.Type
Visible Boolean Returns or sets the display of the Internet Explorer. True indicates that the Internet Explorer is visible; False indicates that it is hidden. If browser.Visible Then…EndIf browser.Visible = True

Table 3-2.Methods of the

Microsoft Internet Explorer, Version 3.0

Method Description Usage
ClientToWindow(pcx, pcy) Converts client sizes into window sizes. pcx and pcy are defined as long.
GetProperty

(szProperty)

Returns the value for the specified property. szProperty is defined as a string.
GoBack, GoForward Used to navigate the Internet Explorer, based on values in the history list. browser.GoBack
GoHome, GoSearch Used to navigate the Internet Explorer. browser.GoHome
Navigate (URL [, Flags] [, TargetFrameName] [, PostData] [, Headers]) Jumps to the specified URL. is one of the following constants or values: navOpenInNewWindow=1 navNoHistory=2 navNoReadFromCache=4 navNoWriteToCache=8 TargetFrameName is a string that specifies the name of the frame in which results will be displayed. PostData is the data to send with the HTTP post transaction. Headers is a value that specifies the HTTP headers to send. Flagsbrowser.Navigate ("http://www.vb-bootcamp.com")
PutProperty(szProperty, vtValue Sets the property to the specified vtValue) value. szProperty is defined as a string and  is defined as a variant.
Quit Exits the Internet Explorer application and closes the open document. browser.Quit
Refresh Refreshes the current document. browser.Refresh
Refresh2 [Level] Refreshes the current document. Level is one of the following constants or values: REFRESH_NORMAL=0 REFRESH_IFEXPIRED=1 REFRESH_CONTINUE=2 REFRESH_COMPLETELY=3 browser.Refresh2(0) browser. Refresh2(REFRESH_NORMAL)
Stop Stops loading the current document. browser.Stop

© 1996 by Scot Hillier. All rights reserved.