Import Favorites from IE

TinLegs · Feb 21, 2011

I would like to import favorites from IE to a *.tps file.

I would normally use a *.csv file for this purpose but IE does not allow me to export my favorites to a *.csv file, only to a HTML file.

Is there any way I can import my favorites from IE to a *.tps file?

Thanks.

ShankarJ · Feb 21, 2011

Hi!

All Favorites are stored in the C:\Documents and Settings\<WindowsUserName>\Favorites folder on XP and C:\Users\<WindowsUserName>\Favorites on Win7. Just use DIRECTORY() and scan through the folder and all it's sub-folders and open the Internet Shortcut files as a ASCII file and get your information. An example shortcut file is shown below ::

Code:

[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=windows&sbp=mediaplayer&plcid=&pver=6.1&os=&over=&olcid=&clcid=&ar=Media&sba=RadioBar&o1=&o2=&o3=
Modified=3078545FFF99C701BB

Regards

TinLegs · Feb 22, 2011

Thank you ShankarJ

The bit I do not understand is after using DIRECTORY() to locate the favorites folder how do I go about scanning the folder and its sub folders and return the shortcuts as a ACSII file?

ShankarJ · Feb 23, 2011

Hi!

Code:

DirQueue         QUEUE,PRE(DQ)
FullPath           STRING(512)
                 END

FileQueue        QUEUE(File:queue),PRE(FQ)
                 END

URLQueue         QUEUE,PRE(URL)
Name               STRING(256)
Link               STRING(1024)
                 END                 
                 
LOC:Path         STRING(512)
LOC:Counter      LONG
LOC:Inner        LONG
LOC:ASCFileName  STRING(512)

ASCFile          FILE,DRIVER('ASCII'),PRE(ASC),NAME(LOC:ASCFileName)
Record             RECORD
Data                 STRING(512)
                 . .

  FREE(URLQueue)
  
  DQ:FullPath = 'C:\Documents and Settings\<WindowsUserName>\Favorites\'
  ADD(DirQueue)

  LOC:Counter = 0
  LOOP
     LOC:Counter += 1
    
     GET(DirQueue, LOC:Counter)
     IF ERRORCODE() THEN BREAK.
    
     LOC:Path = DQ:FullPath
    
     FREE(FileQueue)
     DIRECTORY(FileQueue, CLIP(LOC:Path) & '*.*', ff_:Normal+ff_:DIRECTORY)
     LOC:Inner = 0
     LOOP
        LOC:Inner += 1
      
        GET(FileQueue, LOC:Inner)
        IF ERRORCODE() THEN BREAK.
  
        IF BAND(FQ:Attrib,ff_:DIRECTORY) AND FQ:ShortName <> '..' AND FQ:ShortName <> '.'
           DQ:FullPath = CLIP(LOC:Path) & CLIP(FQ:Name) & '\'
           ADD(DirQueue)
        ELSE
           LOC:ASCFileName = CLIP(LOC:Path) & CLIP(FQ:Name)
           CLOSE(ASCFile)
           OPEN(ASCFile,40H)
           IF ERRORCODE()
           ELSE
              SET(ASCFile)
              LOOP
                 NEXT(ASCFile)
                 
                 IF ERRORCODE() THEN BREAK.
                 
                 IF SUB(ASC:Data,1,4) = 'URL='
                    CLEAR(URLQueue)
                    URL:Name = FQ:FileName
                    URL:Link = SUB(ASC:Data,5,LEN(CLIP(ASC:Data))-4)
                    
                    ADD(URLQueue)
                    
                    BREAK
                 END
              END
              CLOSE(ASCFile)
           END
        END
     END
  END

Make sure you add the ASCII driver to your project's Database drivers. You can scan through the URLQueue and copy it to a TPS file.

Regards

TinLegs · Feb 23, 2011

Thanks for all your trouble ShankarJ, much appreciated, I will give it a go.

Just as a point of interest though I have found that a simple batch file like the one below seems to work OK (did not fully test) but would I be right in saying that its not a good practice to run a batch file(s) from an app?

cd \
cd MyFavoritesFolder
copy *.url url.txt

Kind Regards.

ShankarJ · Feb 23, 2011

Hi!

Are you sure that "copy *.url url.txt" will copy all the URLs into one file? You could use "for %f in (*.url) do type %f >> url.txt" instead.

Running a batch file is not an issue but IMHO a liability as the application depends on something outside it.

Regards

TinLegs · Feb 24, 2011

Hi ShankarJ

Yes, sorry my mistake, the batch file example I posted will not copy all the files. Having thought about it a bit more I would not use a batch file as I am not comfortable in doing so but I thought it was still worth a mention as an easy way for anyone wanting to export their own favorites to text.

Thanks again for all your help.

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Import Favorites from IE

TinLegs

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ShankarJ

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TinLegs

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ShankarJ

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TinLegs

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ShankarJ

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TinLegs

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