Automating Microsoft Edge in IE Mode with VBA: A Selenium-Free Approach

Automating Microsoft Edge in IE mode using VBA without Selenium drivers is crucial for maintaining compatibility with legacy web applications that rely on Internet Explorer. This approach is particularly beneficial in environments where upgrading to newer automation tools is not feasible due to system constraints or organizational policies. It allows seamless transition from Internet Explorer to Edge while preserving existing VBA scripts, ensuring business continuity and reducing the need for extensive re-coding. This method is ideal for businesses needing to automate tasks in a controlled, familiar environment without the overhead of additional software installations.

Setting Up Microsoft Edge in IE Mode

Here are the steps to configure Microsoft Edge to run in IE mode:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Access Settings:
   • Click on the three-dot menu (top-right corner).
   • Select Settings.
3. Enable IE Mode:
   • Go to Default browser in the sidebar.
   • Find the Internet Explorer compatibility section.
   • Set Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode to Allow.
   • Click Restart to apply changes.
4. Load a Page in IE Mode:
   • Open the desired web page.
   • Click the three-dot menu.
   • Select Reload in Internet Explorer mode.

For system configurations:

1. Ensure Internet Explorer is Installed:
   • Go to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
   • Ensure Internet Explorer 11 is checked.
2. Group Policy Configuration (if needed):
   • Open Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
   • Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge.
   • Enable Configure Internet Explorer integration and set it to Internet Explorer mode.

That’s it! Your Edge browser should now be configured to run in IE mode.

VBA Basics for Automation

Let’s dive into the basics of VBA for automation and how it can be used to interact with web browsers.

Basics of VBA for Automation

VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is a programming language developed by Microsoft that is primarily used for automating tasks in Microsoft Office applications like Excel, Word, and Access. Here are the key components:

1. Macros: These are sequences of instructions that automate repetitive tasks. You can record macros or write them manually in the Visual Basic for Applications editor.
2. VBA Editor: This is where you write and edit your VBA code. You can access it by pressing Alt + F11 in any Office application.
3. Objects and Methods: VBA interacts with Office applications through objects (like workbooks, sheets, and cells in Excel) and methods (actions that can be performed on these objects).

Using VBA to Interact with Web Browsers

VBA can be used to control web browsers like Internet Explorer (IE) through automation. Here’s a basic example:

1. Create an Internet Explorer Object:

   Dim IE As Object
   Set IE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
   

2. Navigate to a Web Page:

   IE.Visible = True
   IE.Navigate "http://www.example.com"
   

3. Interact with Web Page Elements:

   ' Wait for the page to load
   Do While IE.Busy Or IE.ReadyState <> 4
       DoEvents
   Loop
   
   ' Fill a form field
   IE.Document.getElementById("username").Value = "your_username"
   IE.Document.getElementById("password").Value = "your_password"
   IE.Document.getElementById("loginButton").Click
   

Advantages of Using VBA Over Other Automation Tools

1. Integration with Office Applications: VBA is built into Office applications, making it seamless to automate tasks within these environments.
2. Ease of Use: For those familiar with Office applications, VBA is relatively easy to learn and use compared to other programming languages.
3. Cost-Effective: Since VBA is included with Office, there are no additional costs for using it.
4. Customizability: VBA allows for highly customized automation tailored to specific business needs.

VBA is a powerful tool for automating tasks within Office applications and can even extend to web browser automation, making it a versatile choice for many automation needs.

Automating Microsoft Edge in IE Mode Using VBA

Here’s a step-by-step guide to automate Microsoft Edge in IE mode using VBA:

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

1. Ensure you have Microsoft Edge installed with IE mode enabled.
2. Install SeleniumBasic:
   • Download SeleniumBasic from here.
   • Run the installer and follow the instructions.

Step 2: Add References in VBA

1. Open Excel and press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
2. Go to Tools > References.
3. Check Selenium Type Library.

Step 3: Write the VBA Code

Here’s a sample code to automate Edge in IE mode:

Sub AutomateEdgeIEMode()
    Dim driver As New WebDriver
    Dim options As New InternetExplorerOptions
    
    ' Set IE mode options
    options.AddAdditionalCapability "ie.edgechromium", True
    options.AddAdditionalCapability "ie.edgepath", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe"
    
    ' Start Edge in IE mode
    driver.Start "internet explorer", options
    driver.Get "https://www.example.com"
    
    ' Interact with the webpage
    driver.FindElementByName("q").SendKeys "Automate Edge IE Mode"
    driver.FindElementByName("btnK").Click
    
    ' Close the browser
    driver.Quit
End Sub

Step 4: Explanation of the Code

1. Initialize WebDriver and Options:

   Dim driver As New WebDriver
   Dim options As New InternetExplorerOptions
   

   • WebDriver is used to control the browser.
   • InternetExplorerOptions is used to set options for IE mode.

2. Set IE Mode Options:

   options.AddAdditionalCapability "ie.edgechromium", True
   options.AddAdditionalCapability "ie.edgepath", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe"
   

   • ie.edgechromium tells the driver to use Edge in IE mode.
   • ie.edgepath specifies the path to the Edge executable.

3. Start Edge in IE Mode:

   driver.Start "internet explorer", options
   driver.Get "https://www.example.com"
   

   • driver.Start launches Edge in IE mode.
   • driver.Get navigates to the specified URL.

4. Interact with the Webpage:

   driver.FindElementByName("q").SendKeys "Automate Edge IE Mode"
   driver.FindElementByName("btnK").Click
   

   • FindElementByName finds elements on the page by their name attribute.
   • SendKeys inputs text into the search box.
   • Click clicks the search button.

5. Close the Browser:

   driver.Quit
   

   • driver.Quit closes the browser.

This should help you get started with automating Microsoft Edge in IE mode using VBA.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Common Challenges and Practical Solutions

1. Compatibility Issues:

   • Challenge: VBA scripts written for Internet Explorer may not work seamlessly with Edge in IE mode.
   • Solution: Use the HTMLDocument object returned by the findEdgeDOM function to interact with the Edge tab/window opened in IE mode.

2. Element Identification:

   • Challenge: Difficulty in identifying and interacting with web elements.
   • Solution: Utilize tools like the IWB2 learner tool to inspect elements and use document methods to manipulate them.

3. Script Execution:

   • Challenge: Scripts may not execute as expected due to differences in browser behavior.
   • Solution: Ensure that the Edge browser is correctly configured to run in IE mode. Use DoEvents to handle asynchronous operations and ensure the page is fully loaded before interacting with elements.

4. Security Settings:

   • Challenge: Security settings in Edge may block certain automation actions.
   • Solution: Adjust security settings in Edge to allow automation. This might include enabling protected mode and configuring trusted sites.

5. Performance Issues:

   • Challenge: Slower performance compared to using Selenium drivers.
   • Solution: Optimize your VBA code by minimizing the number of interactions with the browser and using efficient loops and conditions.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Check IE Mode Configuration: Ensure that IE mode is correctly set up in Edge settings. Validate the site list entries and compatibility modes.
• Debugging: Use debugging tools to step through your VBA code and identify where it fails. Tools like the VBA editor’s immediate window can be very helpful.
• Error Handling: Implement robust error handling in your VBA scripts to manage unexpected issues gracefully.

Best Practices for Automation

Here are the best practices for automating Microsoft Edge in IE mode using VBA:

1. Use the IES Framework:

   • Utilize the IES Framework for Edge IE Mode automation. This framework simplifies the transition from Internet Explorer to Edge IE Mode.

2. Efficient Code Structure:

   • Modularize Code: Break down your code into smaller, reusable functions and subroutines.
   • Avoid Hardcoding: Use variables and constants instead of hardcoding values.

3. Readability:

   • Commenting: Add clear comments to explain the purpose of code blocks.
   • Naming Conventions: Use meaningful variable and function names (e.g., SetElementValue instead of SetVal).

4. Error Handling:

   • Implement robust error handling using On Error Resume Next and On Error GoTo statements to manage unexpected issues gracefully.

5. Performance Optimization:

   • Minimize Browser Interactions: Reduce the number of interactions with the browser by batching operations where possible.
   • Use Efficient Loops: Opt for For Each loops over For loops when iterating through collections.

6. Reliability:

   • Wait for Page Load: Ensure the page is fully loaded before interacting with elements using loops and checks (e.g., Do While IE.Busy Or IE.ReadyState <> 4).
   • Element Existence Checks: Verify the existence of elements before attempting to interact with them to avoid runtime errors.

7. Security:

   • Avoid Storing Sensitive Data: Do not hardcode sensitive information like passwords in your VBA code. Use secure methods to handle such data.

8. Testing and Debugging:

   • Debugging Tools: Use debugging tools and techniques to step through your code and identify issues.
   • Unit Testing: Write unit tests for critical functions to ensure they work as expected.

By following these practices, you can create efficient, readable, and reliable VBA scripts for automating Microsoft Edge in IE mode.

Automating Microsoft Edge in IE Mode using VBA

Automating Microsoft Edge in IE mode using VBA offers several advantages over traditional methods, including improved performance, enhanced security, and simplified maintenance. By leveraging the IES Framework and following best practices for coding structure, readability, error handling, performance optimization, reliability, security, and testing, developers can create efficient and reliable scripts that automate tasks with ease.

Key Points to Consider

• Ensuring correct configuration of Edge browser settings
• Handling asynchronous operations and page loading using DoEvents
• Adjusting security settings to allow automation
• Optimizing code for performance by minimizing interactions with the browser and using efficient loops
• Implementing robust error handling and debugging techniques
• Using modularized code, commenting, and meaningful variable names for readability
• Verifying element existence before interaction and waiting for page load completion

By applying these best practices, developers can create high-quality VBA scripts that automate Microsoft Edge in IE mode without relying on Selenium drivers. This approach offers numerous benefits, including improved performance, enhanced security, and simplified maintenance.