How to post data to a web server using wpf webbrowser

Question

I want to get data from a database and use it to login a user to a web site.

I have a wpf page that holds a web browser control. and I have this code that login user to web site which is written in php:

<form action='http://www.asite.net/index.php' method='post' name='frm'>
<?php
$user = $_GET['u'];
$pass = $_GET['p'];
echo "<input type='text' name='user' value='$user'>";
echo "<input type='text' name='pass' value='$pass'>";
?>
<input type='submit' name='submit' value='submit'>
</form>

How can I do this in wpf? As far as I can understand, I need to create an html and post it to site.

My questions:

1- How can I create such html in code?

2- How can I automatically submit it to the site (assuming I am doing this on constructor of a wpf user control).

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:48

As far as I understand, your goal is to log in and keep the session active inside the WebBrowser. If so, you have a few options:

First, navigate the WebBrowser to www.asite.net, to establish the session.
Then obtain the underlying WebBrowser ActiveX control and use IWebBrowser2::Navigate2 method, it has PostData parameter which allows to do an HTTP POST request.
Or, inject and execute some JavaScript which would use XHR to post the form the AJAX way.
Or, use WebBrowser.Document as dynamic to create a hidden form element, populate it and submit it, in the same way you'd do with JavaScript.
Or, use COM XMLHTTPobject to send a POST request, it shares the session with the WebBrowser.
You could also use some low level UrlMon API to send a POST request.

Updated, here is an example of creating and submitting a :

public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
    public MainWindow()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        this.Loaded += MainWindow_Loaded;
    }

    void MainWindow_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        NavigatedEventHandler handler = null;
        handler = delegate
        {
            this.webBrowser.Navigated -= handler;

            dynamic document = this.webBrowser.Document;
            var form = document.createElement("form");
            form.action = "http://requestb.in/tox7drto";
            form.method = "post";

            var input = document.createElement("input");
            input.type = "text";
            input.name = "name_1";
            input.value = "value_1";
            form.appendChild(input);

            input = document.createElement("input");
            input.type = "submit";
            form.appendChild(input);

            document.body.appendChild(form);
            input.click();
        };

        this.webBrowser.Navigated += handler;
        this.webBrowser.Navigate("about:blank");
    }
}

Thanks. I like to know how can I create a form and post it (using the technique as you said in your 4th suggestion). Can you please elaborate or give some reference so I can do some study about it? — mans, Mar 27 '14 at 13:16
@mans, I noticed a bunch of other recent `WebBrowser`-related questions from you. You've probably figured out how to do manipulate the form, have you? — noseratio, Mar 29 '14 at 04:42
Not yet! I am doing some hacks for it to work, but it is an ugly way of doing this and I like to find a better way. In current implementation, I read web page, find form, fill fileds and then using javascript, click on all buttons and post it back. I lke to find a way to create the form on my code and post it without reading it from server as I know what is the format of form. Any suggestion on how to create a form and post it to server? — mans, Mar 31 '14 at 08:16
@mans, check the update. This is as much as I could help with this question. — noseratio, Mar 31 '14 at 08:32

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:48

0

Use the System.Net namespace, particularly the WebRequest and WebResponse objects.

See this previous answer, it should get you started:

How to programmatically fill a form and post a web page

edited May 23 '17 at 11:48

Community

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answered Mar 26 '14 at 18:05

Eric Scherrer

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Thanks, but then if I open the web Brower to point to the same url, is it still shows as a logged-in user or not? I think now, webRequest doesn't pas login cookie to webbrowser. I am wrong? – mans Mar 26 '14 at 18:16
Correct, different sandbox. Are you looking to open a browser, automatically fill it in and then post? – Eric Scherrer Mar 26 '14 at 18:20
Yes, I am looking for a way to open a webbrowser which is hosted inside my wpf application and use login information to login to the web site and show the output to user so he can work there. – mans Mar 27 '14 at 10:04
Check out the [WebBrowser Control](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.controls.webbrowser(v=vs.110).aspx). You may need to do some funky stuff to post though, like use the [UI Automation Library](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.automation.aspx) to fill out the form and post. – Eric Scherrer Mar 27 '14 at 13:29

How to post data to a web server using wpf webbrowser

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