Java SE: Open Web Page and Click a Button

Question

I have a Java 7 program (using WebStart technology, for Windows 7/8 computers only).

I need to add a function so that my program clicks a button on a page with known URL (https).

Some people suggest WebKit SWT, but I went to their site and they say that the project was discontinued. (http://www.genuitec.com/about/labs.html)

Other people say that JxBrowser is the only option but it looks like it's over $1,300 which is crazy. (http://www.teamdev.com/jxbrowser/onlinedemo/)

I'm looking for something simple, free, lightweight, and able to open HTTPS link, parse HTML, access a button through DOM and click it. Perhaps some JavaScript too, in case there are JS handlers.

Thanks for your help.

JavaFx ships with java 7 and has a webview object which is basically a browser. — assylias
– assylias, Commented May 25, 2013 at 5:53

acdcjunior · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-25 03:38:46Z

13

You may be looking for HtmlUnit -- a "GUI-Less browser for Java programs".

Here's a sample code that opens google.com, searches for "htmlunit" using the form and prints the number of results.

import com.gargoylesoftware.htmlunit.*;
import com.gargoylesoftware.htmlunit.html.*;

public class HtmlUnitFormExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        WebClient webClient = new WebClient();
        HtmlPage page = webClient.getPage("http://www.google.com");

        HtmlInput searchBox = page.getElementByName("q");
        searchBox.setValueAttribute("htmlunit");

        HtmlSubmitInput googleSearchSubmitButton = 
                          page.getElementByName("btnG"); // sometimes it's "btnK"
        page=googleSearchSubmitButton.click();

        HtmlDivision resultStatsDiv =
                                page.getFirstByXPath("//div[@id='resultStats']");

        System.out.println(resultStatsDiv.asText()); // About 309,000 results
        webClient.closeAllWindows();
    }
}

Other options are:

Selenium: Will open a browser like Firefox and operate it.
Watij: Also will open a browser, but in its own window.
Jsoup: Good parser. No JavaScript, though.

answered May 25, 2013 at 3:38

acdcjunior

136k37 gold badges341 silver badges312 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

acdcjunior Over a year ago

HtmlUnit does not open any browser, it emulates one. It is full Java code.

Bill · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-25 03:57:02Z

0

Your question is kind of difficult to understand what you want. If you have a webstart app and want to open a link in the browser, you can use the java.awt.Desktop.getDesktop().browse(URI) method.

public void openLinkInBrowser(ActionEvent event){

    try {
        URI uri = new URI(WEB_ADDRESS);
        java.awt.Desktop.getDesktop().browse(uri);

    } catch (URISyntaxException | IOException e) {
        //System.out.println("THROW::: make sure we handle browser error");
        e.printStackTrace();
    }

}

edited May 25, 2013 at 3:57

Bill

5,9427 gold badges37 silver badges50 bronze badges

answered May 25, 2013 at 3:45

Matt

5,88815 gold badges56 silver badges80 bronze badges

2 Comments

Serge Vinogradoff Over a year ago

what about clicking the button? does it allow that?

Matt Over a year ago

Yes, the method called using the ActionEvent that's passed to it could easily be triggered by a button.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Java SE: Open Web Page and Click a Button

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related