c# asp.net use Windows Forms WebBrowser

Question

I have a class of library code which uses a System.Windows.Forms.WebBrowser control to load a web page then extract information from the DOM tree, etc... I've found this to be the only reliable way to be able to parse information loaded onto a page with javascript, etc...

This worked fine when testing with console app, but when I call the same method from an asp.net page (ASP.NET MVC Controller) it crashes with a "ActiveX control '8856f961-340a-11d0-a96b-00c04fd705a2' cannot be instantiated because the current thread is not in a single-threaded apartment."... i've tried adding [STAThread] to my method but that doesn't seem to help!

Any ideas?

Thanks

Update:

I need to allow a page to complete load and execute all its javascript, then search it for text that matches a template I have already stored... Don't think HtmlAgilityPack will work? Does WatIn run the javascript?

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 10:32:56Z

3

Save yourself a lot of headache and use WatiN instead of a WebBrowser control.

See this question: Best method for Website Automation?

edited May 23, 2017 at 10:32

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answered Jan 15, 2010 at 14:16

Adam Neal

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Jake Pearson · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-15 13:57:20Z

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I believe it is impossible to get IIS to run in single thread apartment model (STA). Instead of using the WebBrowser control, you could take a look at the HTML Agility Pack. It will let your read in a web page and poke around the DOM. The WebBrowser control uses lots of computer resources that you won't have to worry about it make the switch.

answered Jan 15, 2010 at 13:57

Jake Pearson

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Chris Haas · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-15 14:13:44Z

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Everything in the System.Windows is intended for desktop, not web stuff. I agree with Jake Pearson that you should use something else. But if you want you can try forcing the page into STA mode using this directive:

<%@Page AspCompat="true"%>

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/zwk9h2kb.aspx

answered Jan 15, 2010 at 14:13

Chris Haas

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