Parse HTML with VBA

[TommyIndigo]

I'm trying to parse an HTML file, so I can eventually pull data into my Access database. I've come across DOM and MSXML, but not sure how to tackle this.

I can write my own logic once I can get to the tags. I will need to examine tag attributes, and values for the tags.

For example, one field I need is embedded in a DIV tag:

<DIV class=bizName>A to Z Appliances</DIV>

Therefore, I need to search for DIV tags that have the class attribute set to bizName, and get the value in between.

I need to do this via VB, and not Javascript or other languages.

Any ideas on a general approach?? Once I'm pointed in the right direction, I can dig deeper on my own. Sample code would be MOST appreciated! Thanks, TOM

 

[PHV]

What have you tried so far and where in your code are you stuck ?

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[TommyIndigo]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I was being vague on purpose, because I'm not even sure what my general approach should be.

I was however able to create an object so I have access to the HTML itself. I'm not sure how to parse it from there. This is what I have so far:

Private Sub Command4_Click()

Dim link As String
Dim rawLocation As String
Dim rawCategory As String
Dim location As String
Dim category As String


'Open Yellowbook webpage, defaulting with selected search from form
rawCategory = Me.Text0.Value
rawLocation = Me.Text2.Value
location = Replace(rawLocation, " ", "+")
category = Replace(rawCategory, " ", "+")
link = "[URL unfurl="true"]http://www.yellowbook.com/search/?what="[/URL] + category + "&who=&where=" + location


Dim objIE: Set objIE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
objIE.Visible = False
objIE.Navigate link
Do Until objIE.ReadyState = 4
Loop



End Sub

I saw in my research DOM methods such as getElementsByTagName, not can't seem to implement them via VB. Not sure if that helps?

 

[PHV]

You may use the objIE.Document object ?

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[TommyIndigo]

That seems to work. I can turn VISIBLE to TRUE, and I get the webpage and no errors.

I'm happy to use whatever approach works so I can get the data out of the tags. Any recommendations?

 

[CautionMP]

TommyIndigo,
PHV has you on the right path. You can get the collection of tags in a document by using [tt]document.all.tags("tag")[/tt]. Once you have the collection you can iterate through and check the [tt]className[/tt].

...
  Dim varTags As Variant, varTag As Variant
...
  Set varTags = objIE.document.all.tags("DIV")
  For Each varTag In varTags
    If varTag.Classname = "bizName" Then
      Debug.Print varTag.innerText
    End If
  Next varTag
...

Hope this helps,
CMP

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