84 replies to this topic

[uuf6429]

E-Browse Web Browser Control
a new experience in browsing
Version 3.x public

Introduction

E-Browser is a whole component made up of different components compiled in one dll. The dll can be used by most program builders that features the use of external dlls, including Game Maker 6.x.E-Browser is a multi-use user-friendly Web Browser component featuring several specialities not found in other browsers. Using VDI it is totally customizable, so you could use the component simply for normal web browsing, that is without any other feature, OR with a prefered set of features. The choice is up to the programmer.

Featured in...

+ E-Browse was featured in MarkUp magazine Issue 7, September 2007 on Page 30.
+ It is also featured on VCL Components website.

Features:

+ Graphical and user-friendly interface
+ IE Embedded browser
+ All necessary browsing buttons
+ Feature rich right-click menus
+ HTML viewer
   + Highlight HTML Syntax
+ FTP support
+ Fast, detailed file attributes
+ System statistics (RAM, Page file, VRAM and CPU speed)
+ Environment variables viewer
+ Complete logging (with log viewer)
+ custom user-agent (not functional)
+ uses VDI, next generation code for delphi dlls!
+ uses VDI Console

Downloads


Quick Credits

Microsoft:
- Internet Explorer Control
- Standard Windows Common Controls
- Memory Management WinAPI
BSalsa:
- Extended IE controls and classes
Alexey A. Dynnikov:
- CPU Usage class
Borland Corp:
- Extra controls
- Delphi 7 personal (FREE!!)
Covac Software:
- Line Grid control
- Gradient Guage control
- Virtual Delphi Interface (VDI)
- VDI Console (VCF)

Those using VDI Please read bellow:
Control tree:

EBForm1 (the form)
|-+--GroupBox1 (contains web browser)
| '--EmbeddedWB1 (main web browser)
|--ImageList1 (images in online animation)
|--ImageList2 (images in local animation)
|--ImageList3 (images in unknown animation)
|--ImageList4 (images in PopupMenu2)
|--ImageList5 (images in PageControl1)
|--ImageList6 (images in ListView1)
|--ImageList7 (images in TreeView1)
|--ImageList8 (images in PageControl2)
|--ImageList9 (images in TreeView2)
|-+--Panel1 (contains toolbar buttons)
| |--IEAddress1 (address bar)
| |--SpeedButton1 (back button)
| |--SpeedButton2 (stop button)
| |--SpeedButton3 (forward button)
| |--SpeedButton5 (refresh button)
| '--SpeedButtonGO (Navigate button)
|-+--Panel2 (whole right panel)
| |-+--GroupBox2 (contains RichEditWB1)
| | '--RichEditWB1 (HTML viewer)
| |-+--GroupBox3 (contains PageControl1)
| | '-+--PageControl1 (contains utilities)
| '--Splitter2 (splits GropBox2 from GroupBox3)
|-+--PopupMenu2 (used in IEAddress1)
|-+--PopupMenu3 (used in RichEditWB1)
|-+--PopupMenu4 (used in ListView1)
|--SaveDialog1 (used in RichEditWB1 to save data)
|--SaveDialog2 (used in ListView1 to save data)
|--Splitter1 (separates browser and right panel)
|-+--StatusBar1 (bottom panel)
| '-+-Panels
|     |--0 (location icon)
|     |--1 (progress bar) WARNING: ProgressBar1 is created at run time
|     '--2 (additional loading comments)
|--Timer1 (regulates animations and refreshes)
'--XPManifest1 (your regular XP style)

What is a...
Property - An attribute of the particular control, ie it's width, height, left (x), top (y) caption/text, color... Use: IE to set an editbox's text Edit1.Text='Hi!'.
Method - A method is used to do something more in-depth in code. Ex: Adding a tab, setting the parent handle or deleting a control. Use: For example to move the webbrowser control into GM you must set it's parent handle to that of GM, ie: EmbeddedWB1.SetParent(window_handle()).
Event - Function executed when something happens, ie clicking a button executes the OnClick event. Use: For example to emulate something such as showing the user the RAM usage with GM.

Known bugs/Future fixes

- Lots of errors shown at the end of the program (due to not unloading the dll) [fixed]
- Auto Window/Browser resize [fixed]
- GM VDI label/edit box/button obscured by browser [fixed]
- HTML Edit takes up the window's focus

Incomplete/disabled features

- FTP panel
- File offline hystory file retrieval
- Document styles
- User agent

Edited by uuf6429, 18 October 2007 - 02:16 PM.

[the_doominator]

This would be awesome if you included the DLL in the ZIP file.

[uuf6429]

WTF?? How the heck did I get to forget that??? I'll update as soon as possible...

Edit: Updated!!

Edited by uuf6429, 04 August 2007 - 01:02 AM.

[the_doominator]

WTF?? How the heck did I get to forget that??? I'll update as soon as possible...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks...

[uuf6429]

Done.

[the_doominator]

Done.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Finally. One that actually updates the address bar when you go to another page.

Great DLL.
10/10

[uuf6429]

Thanks, you'll find VDI and VDI Console awesome too.

[Hockeyflyers]

Awesome! But when I ended it, I got this extremely weird error upon ending the game. http://www.uploadpoi...view.php?id=342
I did not edit the gm file at all.

Edited by Hockeyflyers, 04 August 2007 - 01:28 AM.

[uuf6429]

I've had that problem recently, but I don't know exactly why. It seems to be related to a window being used but supposed to be closed.

[xDanielx]

Awesome! But when I ended it, I got this extremely weird error upon ending the game. http://www.uploadpoi...view.php?id=342
I did not edit the gm file at all.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Looks like you really pissed off Windows this time!

[uuf6429]

Lol. Whats nietzsche? Is it in dutch/german?

So any constructive criticism?

[xDanielx]

[off-topic]
Good ol' Friedrich, you can read about him here if interested.
[/off-topic]

The DLL is looking fine. That's about all I can say, having not downloaded it.

[uuf6429]

[off-topic]
Good ol' Friedrich, you can read about him here if interested.
[/off-topic]

So a philosopher loves me? Thats good. Only problem he's long dead.

The DLL is looking fine. That's about all I can say,

Yay!

having not downloaded it.

Arrrgh!!

Edited by uuf6429, 05 August 2007 - 07:11 PM.

[sleija]

Is the HTML source code view what it sounds like?

[Hockeyflyers]

Is the HTML source code view what it sounds like?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Of course. It views the source of the page you are on.

Other than the error I got, this is awesome! I have no use for it, though. This is a lot better than all the other internet dlls out there.

[uuf6429]

Thanks! So spread arround the word!

[freaked]

Although better, your DLL is fighting a losing battle against DT's browser.dll. But... this is a lot better.

[uuf6429]

Maybe it's because DT's been long out, but as there are huge advantages and features you all don't know about. VDI is the most powerfull interface between GM interpreted code and compiled delphi code.

In fact, you could hide all controls and execute what do they when VDI supports delphi method execution.
Another unsuspected feature is that (even right now) you could move controls into your GM program, ie, moving the system statistics sub components into your GM program.

My only problem with the GMC and the members is that I'm too productive than talkative. I need to get better and more popular means of communications some day.

Thanks for the comments and regards.

Edit: 10667-274=10393 more views to go

Edited by uuf6429, 07 August 2007 - 12:07 PM.

[freaked]

VDI

Any good telling us what its all about?

[uuf6429]

Did you look at the first post?
It's all described their, but here's a very short description:

This dll is built in delphi, which is object oriented like GM's:

player1.x=20

In delphi code, to set Button1's width I would use:

Button1.Width:=20;

Of course this is only done inside the program/dll and GM can't change it.
BUT
VDI, virtual delphi interface, can run these types of commands. For example in E-Browse, to change the GroupBox1's caption (default is 'Web Browser View') you would use:

VDI('EBForm1.GroupBox1.Caption=Some rubbish test')

Were EBForm1 is the form containing the control (aka the window)
GroupBox1 is the control
Caption is the property (variable) that contains the groupbox's caption text.

Edited by uuf6429, 07 August 2007 - 01:15 PM.

[uuf6429]

Any other comments? I'd really appriciate them.

[freaky_entertainment]

Its almost not editable ...

[fire_soul453]

That error at the end was very annoying. It just kept making them no stop.

[uuf6429]

@ freaky_entertainment - It is totally editable! Use VDI!!
@ fire_soul453 - True, I'm working on that.

[freaky_entertainment]

@ freaky_entertainment - It is totally editable! Use VDI!!
@ fire_soul453 - True, I'm working on that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hm ... as I see VDI is like for programmers like u ... I don't even got an idea how to change the labels of the menu at the right , how to add more buttons to the tab thing , how to remove some of them ... The only think I understand how to do is to set the size of the left part

[uuf6429]

You may use WinDowse (Greatis Software) to find components and their attributes at runtime.
I already set up a fast list of nearly all components in the first post.
Also note that the way it works right now is modification of properties like caption/width... Things like adding a tab are methods. I wrote an extra part in VDI section of the first post which you should check.

Also if you want to change a particular attribute at runtime but you get some difficulties, don't bother to ask me.

Edited by uuf6429, 14 August 2007 - 08:22 PM.

[freaky_entertainment]

Dude all the DLLs you make are awesome , I really like your work ... I will try to do what I can ... Thanks

[Dinsdale]

I havent looked at this yet but would it be possible to open a page without it being visible and then check if the page has loaded? I want to embed my online highscores into my game. When the player clicks submit score the page loads invisbley and the text is displayed sending score. If the page cannot be loaded display the message "Error" However if the page loads display"Score Submitted, Thanks for playing". I have all this working with DT's browser but there is no way of checking whether a page has loaded so I just display "Thankyou, Your score has been submitted" after 10seconds. Hoping that the page has loaded.

[uuf6429]

I think there is a method which does this, but you would need VDI enabled with methods, which right now it isn't.

[Aragon1029]

cool, lots of feature but weak it can't realy handle all that much it couldn't load GMC or my website which uses almost no memory...
but cool with a but of work this could be an extremly useful dll

[uuf6429]

Thanks! What do you exactly mean by 'weak' and not being able to load the GMC? I tried it on several GM related websites, including the GMC, Yoyogames.com, Scorptek, GMNews, 64Digits (when it was still working)..., and only crashed on mine (which uses a lot of frames).

[KuroTsuto]

Quick question: I'm scrambling around looking for a way to send some information in GET or POST format to a PHP script on a remote server while returning the output to the game (thing) only, and not directly to the user; so i'm thinking a browser DLL might just be the way to go.

Could I send data to a remote script and retrieve the output without ever really displaying a so-called visual 'browser' in my game with this dll? I know it's a little beyond the scope of your beautiful DLL, but I'm a little desperate, lol .

Thanks!

[heathtech]

If anyone is still having a problem with the cluster of errors at the closing of the program, simple put the following code in the Game End event of the controller object:

external_free(global._cv_eb_dll)

It may be because I have Vista, but the VDI code text box at the top of the screen isn't responding to any keyboard strings. The HTML-View window seems to be "stealing" the keyboard input.

[uuf6429]

@ heathtech - You are right, about the errors problem. I forgot to put that up for some reason.
To use the VDI code box, just minmize the program and restore it. Usually that works.
About the HTML view window, thanks for the tip, I'll put a fix to it.

@ KuroTsuto - When the browser window is created, you could leave it hidden or hide it afterwords. While it is hidden it still is working.
In order to do what you want, just generate an HTML file with post/get code. Then set the browser's URL to that file (and make the browser navigate to it).
Then here's the problem, you must access the object that sends the HTML form. Usually this is something like a button or whatever. You could access it with VDI and use the button's onclick event (but the version of VDI doesn't support methods!). Then using some, put up a loop checking until the browser signals OnDocumentComplete event then just retrieve the resulting browser's HTML code/text.

[molloyboy08]

nice job btw i tried resizing the window on the exe but the window looked well part of it expanded part didnt, is that only because the code wasnt added or the feature isnt available

[Melari]

Sweet Dll! Keep up the good work!
btw: I'm posting this using your browser!

[uuf6429]

@ molloyboy8 - Thanks. The problem is that GM was resized not the browser window. You should put some code in the step event.

@ Melari - Thanks! The first post of this thread was created in E-Browse and also uploading the zip file too!

[tdmgames]

i hav seen this topic for a while now and i hav just decided to download it, looks gd and all

well overall very cool, the only bugs:

Resizing window does not help at all

You cannot look at the ftp sites, onli load the being folders

system statistics made loads of new windows which i had to hold enter to close and quickly chnage tab


i'll probaly use this on my web broswer program i am working on again, wth live ftp upload and stuff, this would help alot!

Edited by tdmgames, 27 August 2007 - 09:15 PM.

[uuf6429]

i hav seen this topic for a while now and i hav just decided to download it, looks gd and all

Thanks!

Resizing window does not help at all

Which window? The GM one or the browser one?
In order for this to work, you need to create a step event and put the following code in it:

vdi("EBForm1.EBForm1.Width="+string(window_get_width()))
vdi("EBForm1.EBForm1.Height="+string(window_get_height()-real(vdi("EBForm1.EBForm1.Top"))))

You cannot look at the ftp sites, onli load the being folders

There are a lot of disabled features because they are still under construction. FTP view is one of these. I'll edit the first post to show which features are not available.

system statistics made loads of new windows which i had to hold enter to close and quickly chnage tab

I never got this behaviour could you explain in more detail or perhaps include a screenshot?

i'll probaly use this on my web broswer program i am working on again, wth live ftp upload and stuff, this would help alot!

Good luck and thanks for using E-Browse!

On a side note, I think it's time I upload a better GM6 file. I'll edit the first post when it is complete.

[Sebastian McKenzie]

You really should make this more editable. because i need to edit the dll file which i have no idea how to to edit it.

[uuf6429]

You can't edit the dll file! It goes against the included licence.

If you get any problems in extending it, PM me or write here and if possible your problem could be fixed.

[Sebastian McKenzie]

Well, theres a whole load of stuff i want to take out.
You should make a libary with the dll.

[uuf6429]

Well, theres a whole load of stuff i want to take out.
You should make a libary with the dll.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You mean you want to remove some stuff or move the stuff into your GM window?

If you want to simply hide stuff use:

vdi("EBForm1.Stuff.Visible=False")

Were 'stuff' is the particular control you want to hide. To show it again, just change it to 'True'.

If instead you want to move stuff, you need to wait until VDI supports methods, then use SetParent. Any control (or sets of control if you move GroupBoxes) may be put in any other form such as GM's and those created in DLLs such as Roach's GMWW.

Regards,
Christian

[nano351]

I've been having problems with all of the web browser dlls. If I try to go to certain pages like this one http://www.youtube.com/v/_mNjd-hnxbs I get two script errors and then the page that is shown is just white. This url works fine in both internet explorer and mozilla firefox for me. I use windows vista and GM7.

[uuf6429]

Well my konqueror web browser crashed when it tried going to that page.
I think it is because iexplorer and firefox still navigate when there are fatal errors, while the common web browser dlls stop browsing. I will make it an option in the next version. For now, please retry going to those pages and check what the event log says. (right-clicking on the log should give some saving options). Please report back here your find.
Thanks,
Christian

[nano351]

well here's my event log from when I try to go to this webpage.

HTML Editor => HTML Stream in

HTML Editor => HTML Stream in

FormStart => EBrowser embeded into parent program.

Location => Start navigation

EBrowser => Download start

EBrowser => Download complete

EBrowser => Download start

EBrowser => Navigation complete

EBrowser => Download complete

Document => Reading started

HTML Editor => HTML Stream in

HTML Editor => HTML Stream in

Document => Parsing started

Location => Start navigation

EBrowser => Download start

EBrowser => Download complete

EBrowser => Download start

EBrowser => Download complete

EBrowser => Download start

EBrowser => Download complete

EBrowser => Download start

EBrowser => Download complete

EBrowser => Download start

EBrowser => Navigation complete

EBrowser => Halting due to error

EBrowser => Halting due to error

EBrowser => Download complete

Document => Reading started

HTML Editor => HTML Stream in

HTML Editor => HTML Stream in

Document => Parsing started

EBrowser => Halting due to error

EBrowser => Halting due to error

I hope this helps.

Edited by nano351, 01 September 2007 - 02:19 PM.

[uuf6429]

HTML Editor => HTML Stream in
HTML Editor => HTML Stream in
FormStart => EBrowser embeded into parent program.
Location => Start navigation
EBrowser => Download start
EBrowser => Download complete
EBrowser => Download start
EBrowser => Navigation complete
EBrowser => Download complete
Document => Reading started
HTML Editor => HTML Stream in
HTML Editor => HTML Stream in
Document => Parsing started
Location => Start navigation
EBrowser => Download start
EBrowser => Download complete
EBrowser => Download start
EBrowser => Download complete
EBrowser => Download start
EBrowser => Download complete
EBrowser => Download start
EBrowser => Download complete
EBrowser => Download start
EBrowser => Navigation complete
EBrowser => Halting due to error *
EBrowser => Halting due to error *
EBrowser => Download complete
Document => Reading started
HTML Editor => HTML Stream in
HTML Editor => HTML Stream in
Document => Parsing started
EBrowser => Halting due to error **
EBrowser => Halting due to error **

This means that the pages' code is so malformed that the browser can't keep going on. Errors * show that errors started there, then errors ** show that they are fatal errors. Probably it would meen that any webbrowser would hang up for some time trying to figure things out.
Well this gave me a good insight: the event logging is workign perfectly (yay!) but I need to put more technical reporting (for the browser users).
Thanks for helping,
Christian

[nano351]

I'm glad I could help with something . Is it possible to stop it from halting when the errors happen? Then maybe you could see what shows up when the page loads.

EDIT:
also, I noticed if you use meebo.com on the browser and try to "pop a window out" after you get the new window the browser freezes. I think it's because the new window is an internet explorer window and for some reason the browser can't communicate with it. I'm not possitive though.

Edited by nano351, 02 September 2007 - 09:58 PM.

[uuf6429]

I'm glad I could help with something . Is it possible to stop it from halting when the errors happen? Then maybe you could see what shows up when the page loads.

I'm glad you helped, for some reason, not many people are really testing E-Browse.
Anyway as I previously said, it cannot continue with that particular error. The first error was ignored and the browser kept going, but the second error was fatal, and it couldn't keep going on. What I'm thinking in doing, is adding the error's id and info to the event log, then the HTML viewer still reads the page. Right now this doesn't happen because there are two major events: OnDocumentComplete and OnError, if the document contains a passable error, both events fire, BUT if there is a fatal error, the first event doesn't work, thus the HTML viewer isn't updated.

also, I noticed if you use meebo.com on the browser and try to "pop a window out" after you get the new window the browser freezes. I think it's because the new window is an internet explorer window and for some reason the browser can't communicate with it. I'm not possitive though.

That's a very strange behaviour, it is supposed to ask the user if he wants a new window to popup. Thus a Yes/No/Cancel message box is displayed.
I will diagnose this problem as soon as I fix my windows pc.

[nano351]

I'm glad I could help with something . Is it possible to stop it from halting when the errors happen? Then maybe you could see what shows up when the page loads.

I'm glad you helped, for some reason, not many people are really testing E-Browse.
Anyway as I previously said, it cannot continue with that particular error. The first error was ignored and the browser kept going, but the second error was fatal, and it couldn't keep going on. What I'm thinking in doing, is adding the error's id and info to the event log, then the HTML viewer still reads the page. Right now this doesn't happen because there are two major events: OnDocumentComplete and OnError, if the document contains a passable error, both events fire, BUT if there is a fatal error, the first event doesn't work, thus the HTML viewer isn't updated.

also, I noticed if you use meebo.com on the browser and try to "pop a window out" after you get the new window the browser freezes. I think it's because the new window is an internet explorer window and for some reason the browser can't communicate with it. I'm not possitive though.

That's a very strange behaviour, it is supposed to ask the user if he wants a new window to popup. Thus a Yes/No/Cancel message box is displayed.
I will diagnose this problem as soon as I fix my windows pc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yes it does that and then i click yes. Then I get one of those script errors like when I was trying to load the other page.