For those who need to do basic HTTP/HTTPS downloading (Windows Only)

[SpriggsySpriggs]

Below is a function I made up that tries to take a dynamic approach to the very complex WinInet API functions. It is set up to dissect the URL you pass it so it can be sent to the functions correctly as well as call the functions with the right flags based on the security of the URL (HTTP or HTTPS). This just simply downloads the URL and stores it in the string. You could use this for downloading things other than text files or HTML files but depending on the size, you shouldn't. Here is the code:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Option _Explicit 'not necessary, just to show that the code is Option _Explicit compatible
2. $Console:Only 'Not necessary, just allows for scrolling
3.  
4. Print WebToString("http://www.schoolfreeware.com/Home.html")
5. Sleep
6.  
7. Function WebToString$ (URL As String)
8.     Const INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_DIRECT = 1
9.     Const INTERNET_DEFAULT_HTTP_PORT = 80
10.     Const INTERNET_DEFAULT_HTTPS_PORT = 443
11.     Const INTERNET_SERVICE_HTTP = 3
12.     Const INTERNET_FLAG_SECURE = &H00800000
13.     Const INTERNET_FLAG_RELOAD = &H80000000
14.     Declare Dynamic Library "Wininet"
15.         Function InternetOpen%& Alias InternetOpenA (ByVal lpszAgent As _Offset, Byval dwAccessType As Long, Byval lpszProxy As _Offset, Byval lpszProxyBypass As _Offset, Byval dwFlags As Long)
16.         Function InternetConnect%& Alias InternetConnectA (ByVal hInternet As _Offset, Byval lpszServerName As _Offset, Byval nServerPort As Integer, Byval lpszUserName As _Offset, Byval lpszPassword As _Offset, Byval dwService As Long, Byval dwFlags As Long, Byval dwContext As _Offset)
17.         Function HTTPOpenRequest%& Alias HttpOpenRequestA (ByVal hConnect As _Offset, Byval lpszVerb As _Offset, Byval lpszObjectName As _Offset, Byval lpszVersion As _Offset, Byval lpszReferrer As _Offset, Byval lpszAcceptTypes As _Offset, Byval dwFlags As Long, Byval dwContext As _Offset)
18.         Function HTTPSendRequest%% Alias HttpSendRequestA (ByVal hRequest As _Offset, Byval lpszHeaders As _Offset, Byval dwHeadersLength As Long, Byval lpOptional As _Offset, Byval dwOptionalLength As Long)
19.         Function InternetCloseHandle%% (ByVal hInternet As _Offset)
20.         Function InternetReadFile%% (ByVal hFile As _Offset, Byval lpBuffer As _Offset, Byval dwNumberOfBytesToRead As Long, Byval lpdwNumberOfBytesRead As _Offset)
21.     End Declare
22.     Dim As _Offset hsession, httpsession, httpRequest
23.     hsession = InternetOpen(0, INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_DIRECT, 0, 0, 0)
24.     Dim As String baseurl, location
25.     If InStr(URL, "www") Then
26.         baseurl = Mid$(URL, InStr(URL, "www") + Len("www."))
27.     ElseIf InStr(URL, "//") Then
28.         baseurl = Mid$(URL, InStr(URL, "//") + 2)
29.     Else
30.         baseurl = URL
31.     End If
32.     baseurl = Mid$(baseurl, 1, InStr(baseurl, "/") - 1)
33.     location = Mid$(URL, InStr(URL, baseurl) + Len(baseurl))
34.     baseurl = baseurl + Chr$(0)
35.     location = location + Chr$(0)
36.     If InStr(URL, "https") Then
37.         httpsession = InternetConnect(hsession, _Offset(baseurl), INTERNET_DEFAULT_HTTPS_PORT, 0, 0, INTERNET_SERVICE_HTTP, 0, 0)
38.     Else
39.         httpsession = InternetConnect(hsession, _Offset(baseurl), INTERNET_DEFAULT_HTTP_PORT, 0, 0, INTERNET_SERVICE_HTTP, 0, 0)
40.     End If
41.     Dim As String sessiontype, accepttypes
42.     sessiontype = "GET" + Chr$(0)
43.     accepttypes = "*/*" + Chr$(0)
44.     If InStr(URL, "https") Then
45.         httpRequest = HTTPOpenRequest(httpsession, _Offset(sessiontype), _Offset(location), 0, 0, _Offset(accepttypes), INTERNET_FLAG_RELOAD Or INTERNET_FLAG_SECURE, 0)
46.     Else
47.         httpRequest = HTTPOpenRequest(httpsession, _Offset(sessiontype), _Offset(location), 0, 0, _Offset(accepttypes), INTERNET_FLAG_RELOAD, 0)
48.     End If
49.     Dim As _Byte sendrequest
50.     sendrequest = HTTPSendRequest(httpRequest, 0, 0, 0, 0)
51.     Dim As String szBuffer
52.     szBuffer = Space$(4096)
53.     Dim As Long dwRead
54.     Dim As String webstring
55.     While InternetReadFile(httpRequest, _Offset(szBuffer), Len(szBuffer), _Offset(dwRead)) And dwRead <> 0
56.         webstring = webstring + Mid$(szBuffer, 1, dwRead)
57.     Wend
58.     Dim As _Byte closeh
59.     closeh = InternetCloseHandle(hsession)
60.     WebToString = webstring
61. End Function

Enjoy

[SpriggsySpriggs]

I've edited the original post because I realize I forgot to include the variable for what types to accept. It probably isn't needed but it's for just-in-case

[NOVARSEG]

Is this preliminary TCP/IP setup?