Get Element Name using VBA

K1600

Board Regular
Joined
Oct 20, 2017
Messages
181
I am trying to write a code to open internet explorer, go to the MOT checking website and run a check on a registration number. I then want it to put the date the MOT expires into my sheet. I would ideally like it to pick the registration from the sheet in say cell A2 and place the result alongside it in B2 but I haven't managed to work that bit out yet so the registration is currently listed in the code.

The issue I am having is the element name in the developer tools changes each time internet explorer opens. Is there a way that I can get the element name as part of the process once IE opens?

The code on the DOM Explorer is:
CSS:
input name="320320320b260e2c6c2df0a7daf5c24b203c6d3f1609806998" class="form-control" id="320320320b260e2c6c2df0a7daf5c24b203c6d3f1609806998" type="text" value=""

The code I currently have is below. I am hoping that I can select the MOT expiry in a similar way to how I would enter the registration:

Code:
Option Explicit

Sub ie_automated()

Dim IE As InternetExplorer
Dim sURL As String

sURL = "www.check-mot.service.gov.uk"
Set IE = New InternetExplorer

With IE
    .AddressBar = 0
    .StatusBar = 0
    .Toolbar = 0
    
    .Visible = True
    .Navigate sURL
    
    Do Until Not .Busy And .ReadyState = 4
    DoEvents
Loop

    .Document.all("???").Value = "YB62XDY"
    Application.Wait Now + TimeSerial(0, 0, 2)
    
End With

Do Until Not IE.Busy
DoEvents
Loop
IE.Document.all("submit").Click

End Sub

Thanks in advance.
 

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You could get it by the class name:


VBA Code:
Set list = html.getElementsByClassName("form-control")

Set ele = ie.Document.querySelector(".form-control")



Can you post the entire HTML? I am not in the UK, cannot load the site and have no VPN at the moment.
 
Upvote 0
You could get it by the class name:


VBA Code:
Set list = html.getElementsByClassName("form-control")

Set ele = ie.Document.querySelector(".form-control")



Can you post the entire HTML? I am not in the UK, cannot load the site and have no VPN at the moment.
Hi Worf, thanks for the response.

I think I have managed to get what you asked for below. I tried adding the above bits of code you suggested but I get a compile error of "Variable not defined" on the Set List = html.getelementbyclassname("form-control") but I think I have probably not done something else that is needed.

Thanks for your help.

HTML:
<html class="" lang="en"><!--<![endif]--><head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>What is the vehicle's registration number - MOT History</title>
    <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/assets/images/favicon.ico?0.22.1" type="image/x-icon">
    <link rel="mask-icon" href="/assets/images/gds/gov.uk_logotype_crown.svg?0.22.1" color="#0b0c0c">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/assets/images/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?0.22.1">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="167x167" href="/assets/images/apple-touch-icon-167x167.png?0.22.1">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/assets/images/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?0.22.1">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/assets/images/apple-touch-icon.png?0.22.1">

    <meta name="theme-color" content="#0b0c0c">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <meta property="og:image" content="/assets/images/gds/opengraph-image.png?0.22.1">

    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/stylesheets/styles.css">

    <!--[if lt IE 9]>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="/javascripts/ie-shims.bundle.js"></script>
    <![endif]-->

    <script src="/js/cookie_manager_config.js"></script>

    
</head>
<body class="moth js-enabled">
    <div class="govuk-visually-hidden theme__cookie-success-message-grey" id="accept-all-cookies-success">
    <div class="govuk-width-container">
        <div class="govuk-!-padding-top-5 govuk-!-padding-bottom-7">
            <span class="govuk-body">You’ve accepted all cookies. You can <a href="/cookie-preferences">change your cookie settings</a> at any time.</span>

            <span id="cookie-accept-all-success-banner-hide" class="govuk-body u-float-right"><a href="#">Hide</a></span>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

<script type="text/javascript">
    document.getElementById('cookie-accept-all-success-banner-hide').onclick = function(){
        document.getElementById('accept-all-cookies-success').classList.add('govuk-visually-hidden');
    };
</script>
        <div class="theme__cookie-success-message-grey" id="cm_cookie_notification">
        <div class="govuk-width-container">
            <div class="govuk-grid-row ">
                <div class=" govuk-grid-column-two-thirds govuk-!-margin-top-5">
                    <div>
                        <span class="govuk-heading-m">Tell us whether you accept cookies</span>
                        <p class="govuk-body">We use <a class="govuk-link" href="/cookies">cookies to collect information</a> about how you use the MOT history service. We use this information to make the service work as well as possible.</p>
                    </div>
                    <div class="js-show govuk-grid-column-full govuk-grid-column-one-half-from-desktop">
                        <button class="govuk-button" type="submit">Accept all cookies</button>
                    </div>
                    <div class="govuk-grid-column-full govuk-grid-column-one-half-from-desktop">
                        <a role="button" class="govuk-button" href="/cookie-preferences">Set cookie preferences</a>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>

    <script>document.body.className = ((document.body.className) ? document.body.className + ' js-enabled' : 'js-enabled');</script>
        <!-- skiplink -->
    <div id="skiplink-container">
      <div><a href="#content" class="skiplink">Skip to main content</a></div>
    </div>

    <!-- header -->
    <header id="global-header" class="with-proposition">
        <div class="header-wrapper">
            <div class="header-global">
                <div class="header-logo">
                    <a href="https://www.gov.uk" title="Go to the GOV.UK homepage" id="logo" class="content">
                        <img src="/assets/images/gov.uk_logotype_crown_invert_trans.png?0.22.1" width="36" height="32" alt="GOV UK Crown">
                        GOV.UK
                    </a>
                </div>
            </div>

            <div class="header-proposition print-hide">
                <div class="content">
                    <nav id="proposition-menu">
                        <a href="/" id="proposition-name">Check MOT history</a>
                    </nav>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </header>
    <!-- new header banner: start -->
        <!-- header bar -->
    <div id="global-header-bar"></div>

    <!-- main content -->
    <main id="content">

        <div class="phase-banner">
            <p>
                <span>This is a new service. <a href="http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GIZZX?" target="_blank" class="appendClientID"> Complete a quick survey</a> to help us improve.</span>            </p>
        </div>

        <p class="print-show"> Check MOT history <a href="https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history"><span class="print-hide">GOV UK - Check MOT history</span></a> </p>

        
<div>
    <a class="link-back" href="https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history">Back</a>
</div>

<div class="grid-row">
    <div class="column-two-thirds">

        
        <h1 class="heading-large">What is the vehicle's registration number?</h1>
        <form method="POST" name="moth-search" id="EVL">
        <fieldset>
            <legend class="form-title heading-medium visuallyhidden">Enter the vehicle registration</legend>
                <input type="hidden" name="_csrf_token" value="618427D1-ED89-9F08-899D-32D9EC94149C">
                                                                                            <div class="form-group input-blaster blocked">
                        
                        <label class="form-label form-label-bold" for="630630660ebd073f42b30e03447026172dcce5881610483210">
                            <span>Do not enter anything in this field</span>
                            <span class="form-hint">For example, CU57ABC</span>
                                                    </label>

                        <input type="text" name="630630660ebd073f42b30e03447026172dcce5881610483210" id="630630660ebd073f42b30e03447026172dcce5881610483210" class="form-control" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" value="">
                        </div>
                                                                                            <div class="form-group honey-pot robo-cop">
                        
                        <label class="form-label form-label-bold" for="330330339f12fe70c919034c8f089a69fe63b90e1610483210">
                            <span>Do not enter anything in this field</span>
                            <span class="form-hint">For example, CU57ABC</span>
                                                    </label>

                        <input type="text" name="330330339f12fe70c919034c8f089a69fe63b90e1610483210" id="330330339f12fe70c919034c8f089a69fe63b90e1610483210" class="form-control" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" value="">
                        </div>
                                                                                            <div class="form-group apiary-22453 robo-cop">
                        
                        <label class="form-label form-label-bold" for="vehicle-manufacturer">
                            <span>Leave this field empty</span>
                            <span class="form-hint">For example, CU57ABC</span>
                                                    </label>

                        <input type="text" name="vehicle-manufacturer" id="vehicle-manufacturer" class="form-control" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" value="">
                        </div>
                                                                                            <div class="form-group keep-hidden bee-hive">
                        
                        <label class="form-label form-label-bold" for="42042042998e8f30381e94df9ccf272ac8f12ee01610483210">
                            <span><span class="sr-only">Enter your</span> Registration number (number plate) <span class="sr-only">into this field only</span></span>
                            <span class="form-hint">For example, CU57ABC</span>
                                                    </label>

                        <input type="text" name="42042042998e8f30381e94df9ccf272ac8f12ee01610483210" id="42042042998e8f30381e94df9ccf272ac8f12ee01610483210" class="form-control" value="">
                        </div>
                                                                                            <div class="form-group it-290 isOnshow">
                        
                        <label class="form-label form-label-bold" for="registration">
                            <span>This field should be left empty</span>
                            <span class="form-hint">For example, CU57ABC</span>
                                                    </label>

                        <input type="text" name="registration" id="registration" class="form-control" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" value="">
                        </div>
                                                                                            <div class="form-group bee-hive isOnshow">
                        
                        <label class="form-label form-label-bold" for="reg-number">
                            <span>This field should not be filled</span>
                            <span class="form-hint">For example, CU57ABC</span>
                                                    </label>

                        <input type="text" name="reg-number" id="reg-number" class="form-control" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" value="">
                        </div>
                                                                                            <div class="form-group bee-hive inlined">
                        
                        <label class="form-label form-label-bold" for="registration-number">
                            <span>Leave this field empty</span>
                            <span class="form-hint">For example, CU57ABC</span>
                                                    </label>

                        <input type="text" name="registration-number" id="registration-number" class="form-control" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" value="">
                        </div>
                            </fieldset>

        <div class="form-group">
            <input type="submit" name="submit" class="button" value="Continue">
        </div>

        </form>
        <details role="group">
            <summary role="button" aria-controls="details-content-0" aria-expanded="false">
                <span class="summary" id="looking-for-trailer-section">Looking for HGV trailer history?</span>
            </summary>
            <div class="panel panel-indent" id="details-content-0" aria-hidden="true">
                <p>Enter the trailer identification number to search for HGV trailer history.</p>
                <p>For example, C236718 or A787121.</p>
            </div>
        </details>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="input-block "></div>

    </main>
    <!-- / #content -->

    <!-- footer -->
    <footer class="group js-footer" id="footer">
        <div class="footer-wrapper">
            <div class="footer-meta">
                <div class="footer-meta-inner">
                    <h2 class="visuallyhidden">Support links</h2>
                    <ul>
                        <li>
                            <a href="/cookies">Cookies</a>
                        </li>
                        <li>
                            <a href="/terms-and-conditions">Terms and conditions</a>
                        </li>
                        <li>
                            <a href="http://www.gov.uk/dvsa/privacy" target="_blank">Privacy notice</a>
                        </li>
                        <li>
                            <a href="/accessibility-statement">Accessibility statement</a>
                        </li>
                        <li>
                            <a href="https://dvsa.github.io/mot-history-api-documentation/" target="_blank">MOT history API</a>
                        </li>
                        <li>Built by the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-standards-agency">Driver &amp; Vehicle Standards Agency</a></li>
                    </ul>
                    <div class="open-government-licence">
                        <p class="logo"><a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" rel="license">Open Government Licence</a></p>
                        <p>All content is available under the <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" rel="license">Open Government Licence v3.0</a>, except where otherwise stated</p>
                    </div>
                </div>
                <div class="copyright">
                    <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/copyright-and-re-use/crown-copyright/">© Crown copyright</a>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </footer>

    <div id="global-app-error" class="app-error hidden"></div>

    <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/javascripts/vendor.bundle.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/javascripts/dvsa.bundle.js"></script>

    
  <script async="" type="text/javascript" src="/_Incapsula_Resource?SWJIYLWA=719d34d31c8e3a6e6fffd425f7e032f3&amp;ns=1&amp;cb=290062715"></script>


</body></html>
 
Upvote 0
See if this code helps:

input boxes.PNG


VBA Code:
Private Sub CommandButton3_Click()
Dim bc As Object, ie As Object, doc As HTMLDocument, i%
Set ie = New InternetExplorerMedium
ie.Visible = True
ie.navigate "c:\test\govuk.htm"       ' local page
Do While ie.Busy
    Application.Wait DateAdd("s", 1, Now)
Loop
Set bc = ie.Document.getElementsByClassName("form-control")
For i = 0 To bc.Length - 1
    If UCase(bc(i).tagName) = "INPUT" Then bc(i).Value = "Box" + CStr(i)
Next
End Sub
 
Upvote 0
See if this code helps:

View attachment 29710

VBA Code:
Private Sub CommandButton3_Click()
Dim bc As Object, ie As Object, doc As HTMLDocument, i%
Set ie = New InternetExplorerMedium
ie.Visible = True
ie.navigate "c:\test\govuk.htm"       ' local page
Do While ie.Busy
    Application.Wait DateAdd("s", 1, Now)
Loop
Set bc = ie.Document.getElementsByClassName("form-control")
For i = 0 To bc.Length - 1
    If UCase(bc(i).tagName) = "INPUT" Then bc(i).Value = "Box" + CStr(i)
Next
End Sub
Hi, I am a bit confused and don't understand the last. It may very well be me but I am struggling to grasp what you have sent. I may have resolved this in a slightly different way if I can sort out getting the information via a API but I just can't work out how to extract it. I posted here earlier to see if anyone could assist.
 
Upvote 0
K1600

Do you have an API key for the DVLA?
 
Upvote 0
If you have the API key then don't automate IE, use XMLHttp.
 
Upvote 0
If you have the API key then don't automate IE, use XMLHttp.
Pardon my ignorance but how do I do that?

I'm relatively new to VBA / coding and have never had any dealings with API before.

Thanks for your time.
 
Upvote 0
It will look like the code below, but that is not production code for you as it is another API.

I tried the VPN and still could not access the site.

VBA Code:
Sub authenticating()
Dim req As MSXML2.ServerXMLHTTP60, key_id, _
secretk$, secreth$, URL$, json As Object, item, s$
' create object
Set req = New MSXML2.ServerXMLHTTP60
key_id = CStr([b18]) ' id from cell B18
secretk = CStr([b19]) ' secret key from cell B19
' get Microsoft information
URL = "https://paper-api.alpaca.markets/v1/assets/MSFT"
req.Open "GET", URL, False
req.setRequestHeader "APCA-API-KEY-ID", key_id
req.setRequestHeader "APCA-API-SECRET-KEY", secretk
req.send
' start building string
s = "Raw data:" & vbLf & req.responseText
s = s & vbLf & "**************" & vbLf & _
"Available data:" & vbLf
' use the library
Set json = ParseJson(req.responseText)
For Each item In json ' loop the collection
s = s & item & vbLf
Next
MsgBox s, 64
End Sub
 
Upvote 0

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