Best way to parse incoming html data

[david_707]

Hello guys,

I'm trying to get the incoming data using winsock data arrival,but there are tons of html codes. Here is the visual look of what i want to parse.



1. David_707 = my nick name
2. 002381453 = my id number
3. Delivered = state of the package
4. The large message about the item
5. 14:41:12 = Time
6. 01Oct 2013 = the date when the item was delivered.

there are 6 data i need to parse and get them listed on the Listview.

Here i the html code:

<tbody><tr><td class="msg_date"><div class="date_div english light_gray"><span class="xlarge">01</span><span class="date_month">Oct<br>2013</span><span class="clear_line"></span><span class="date_time">14:41:12</span></div></td><td class="msg_img"><img src="images/default_gender_1.gif" class="sms_contact_image"></td><td class="msg_body"><p class="message_list_recipient english"><span class="red">David_707</span><span class="gray">(002381453)</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="images/small_arrow.gif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="medium gray">Delivered</span></p><p class="msg_text english">The HP EliteBook 2540p laptop has been customized by the seller, so read the detailed listing and feel free to reach out to the seller to ask questions about specific adjustments. Without any modifications, this customized laptop is available in Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processor to ensure faster computing speed. </p></td><td class="msg_tools"><div class="check_message_entry"><input type="checkbox" onchange="checkMessage(this)" id="check_list_item"></div><div onclick="changeFavorite(this)" class="star_btn" id="st_0"><a title="ფავორიტებში დამატება" class="east"><img src="images/star_gray.gif"></a></div><div onclick="deleteAction(this)" class="remove_message_entry" id="remove_list_item" style="display: none;"><img src="images/close.gif"></div></td></tr></tbody>

And now, what i'm doing is :

1. Getting data through winsock data arrival
2. Parse them separately (using timer)
3. generate them on the listview also with timers.

I think there could be some easy way of doing that Here is my winsock code:

Private Sub Winsock5_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)
Dim Data As String
Dim data4 As String
    Dim beg As Long
    Dim data3 As String
    Dim tmfin As Long
    Dim hx As Long
    Dim a As Long
    Winsock5.GetData Data
    data4 = data4 & Data


Dim Lista As ListView

Dim dStart As Integer
Dim dEnd As Integer


Do While InStr(data4, "</span></p>") > 0
    dStart = InStr(data4, Chr(34) & "medium gray" & Chr(34) & ">") + 14
    dEnd = InStr(data4, "</span></p>")
    If dEnd > dStart Then
        psddata = Mid(data4, dStart, dEnd - dStart)

    
        data4 = Mid(data4, dEnd + 14)
        Else
        MsgBox "Error!"
        Exit Do
    End If
   
        Loop
End Sub

Then i'm using timer this way:

Private Sub Winsock5_SendComplete()
Timer1 = True
End Sub

Here is my timer code:

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
Dim a As Integer
Dim hx As Integer
hx = ListView1.ListItems.Count
    For a = 1 To hx
        If ListView1.ListItems.Item(a).Text > 0 Then
       ListView1.ListItems.Item(a).SubItems(1) = psddata
End If
 Next
End Sub

Too complicated right? give me an advice guys How to improve this **** and what to do in order to get those 6 data i need but with less code

thanks in advance

[jmsrickland]

Private data4 As String
Private data5 As String

Private Sub Winsock5_Connect()
 data4 = ""
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock5_Close()
 Dim beg As Long
 Dim data3 As String
 Dim tmfin As Long
 Dim hx As Long
 Dim a As Long

 Dim Lista As ListView

 Dim dStart As Integer
 Dim dEnd As Integer

 Do While InStr(data4, "</span></p>") > 0
   dStart = InStr(data4, Chr(34) & "medium gray" & Chr(34) & ">") + 14
   dEnd = InStr(data4, "</span></p>")
   
   If dEnd > dStart Then
     psddata = Mid(data4, dStart, dEnd - dStart)
     data5 = Mid(data4, dEnd + 14)
   Else
     MsgBox "Error!"
     Exit Do
   End If
 Loop
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock5_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)
 Dim Data As String
    
 Winsock5.GetData Data
 data4 = data4 & Data
End Sub

[david_707]

thanks jmsrickland. i will try that but I'm using timer to add data to listview and is it necessary to use timer? Is it possible just to add the data directly to litview on winock actions??

[Doogle]

Is there any particular reason why you're using Winsock rather than the Inet or WebBrowser controls ?

[david_707]

Is there any particular reason why you're using Winsock rather than the Inet or WebBrowser controls ?

Yes. i'm newbie and right now, i only know +- how to use winsock :S Is it posible to do the same thing with the inet control??

[jmsrickland]

Using the INet control will only get you the source code just like you got using Winsock. You will still need to parse through it

Put a Inet control on your Form

This only replaces Private Sub Winsock5_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)

  '
Private data4 As String 
  '
  '
Private Sub GetData()
 data4 = Inet1.OpenURL("http://www.the_web_site.com/the_file_", icString)
End Sub
  '
  '

Since you did not provide where you got your source data I just used place setters