How do you get the url of another frame?

emrys404

Like the title says: How do you get the URL of another frame. I currently have two frames, the top one i control, however the bottom one will be displaying multiple sites i dont control (ie. www.yahoo.com). How can i grab the url of the bottom frame?

Thanks
-emrys

Natty_Dreadlock

try usin some javascript something like

<html>
<head>
<!--insert your code-->
<script language="JavaScript">
function getTopUrl()
{
// replace nameoftopframe with the frame's name
var topframeurl = window.nameoftopframe.location.href;
// store inna some hidden form
document.nameofsomeform.topurl.value = topframeurl;}
</script>
</head>
<body onLoad="document.nameofsomeform.submit()">
.....
<form name="nameofsomeform" action="script.php" method="POST" onSubmit="getTopUrl; return true;">
<input type="hidden" name="topurl" />
</form>
</body>
</html>

This page will pass the url of the top frame to script.php via post as "topurl" when the user enters the page. Note this is ust a hint how to accomplish this task, probably u gotta change something.
hth

emrys404

Okay, help me understand this. Lets say i have 3 html docs. the main one, index.php will house the frames info for top.php and bottom.html. top.php is obviously the top and bottom.html will be where the page that i need the url of will be located. The code you gave me will be located in index.php or top.php? it obviously cant be located in bottom.html.
Also if i am correct this code submits the variable when the page loads. how do i convert this to only send the variable when a button is pressed on top.php.
Also in your code would i replace script.php with top.php?

Thanks, sorry for all the questions, just trying to understand.

-Emrys

Natty_Dreadlock

The code you gave me will be located in index.php or top.php? it obviously cant be located in bottom.html.

yeah, sure, it has be to be put inna top.php - so u gotta modify the javascript a little:

function getBottomUrl() 
{ 
// replace nameoftopframe with the frame's name 
var bottomframeurl = window.bottom.location.href; 
// store inna some hidden form 
document.nameofsomeform.bottomurl.value = bottomframeurl;
}

Also if i am correct this code submits the variable when the page loads. how do i convert this to only send the variable when a button is pressed on top.php.

remove the onLoad="document.nameofsomeform.submit()" from the body tag and simply add a submit button to the form:

<form name="nameofsomeform" action="top.php" target="top" method="POST" onSubmit="getBottomUrl; return true;"> 
<input type="hidden" name="bottomurl" />
<input type="submit" value="Send!" />
</form>

Also in your code would i replace script.php with top.php?

Yep, i just did in in the form above.
Note: In the js, i assume that the name of the top frame is "top" and of the bottom frame "bottom". Also have a look at target="top" in the form tag, it ensures that the form's result is loaded inna the top frame. Since i changed a few names (top->bottom), u access the url of the bottom frame via $_POST["bottomurl"].
hth

bastien

actually you cannot retrieve the url of a third party page in a framed page...you will get an access denied error...

this is for security reasons

hth

emrys404

Is this true? Are there any other options available?

thanks
-emrys

Natty_Dreadlock

yep, guess he's right (this security mechanism is called cross-frame security) i did not remember it. I do not see any possibilities to get the frame url. However, why do u need it actually - the explanation might help to find some other way to do it.

emrys404

Its not a neccessity that the delivery method use frames. All i need is for my site to send them to another site, then let them navigate around the other site, then when the user is done allow them to click a button or do some action and have my site remember where they were. I know that sounds pretty vague but thats exactly what i need. Any ideas?

Thanks
-emrys

Threehearts

hmmm...
if you dont care for being a brute you could simply open the other sites in dependend windows with window.open()
and have your parent site check every 1/n seconds whether the daughter window still exists.

i would not advise opening a new window with a framework that you control since that can be detected and if the site makes itself top-window you will have lost your control...

if you combine that with an array or something to keep track what sites have been opened from your controlling script you can check whether they're still open or closed already.

i guess you could listen to the events in the child-windows but i somply wouldnt bother... too much could go wrong and then there is the good old bubbling strategy.... rememers some old cross-browser hatreds

easier to check every 1/n secs and see what has happened.
but thats a question of taste.

if you want a headstart ill write something up if you want.

uh.. i hope that was understandable. if not, tell me.
greetings, jakob

emrys404

Threehearts. Your check every 1/n seconds sounds intriguing. What do you mean being a brute? is it hard on the viewed site? If you dont mind writing up an example i would love to see it. I am desperate for a solution to this problem...

Thanks alot!
-emrys

Threehearts

Hi emrys!

I call the following a brutish aproach since you pop up lots of windows - i personally hate that.
you of course could send all the stuff to only one window, but it has to be a separate one to avoid the referred site putting themselves into the _top frame and getting rid of you framework...
that woulndt solve your problem.

so hae a look at this, maybe it helps.

//array to keep track of the sites
// in [0] URL
// in [1] if it is active (1) or not (0)
arr_controlled_sites = new Array();
arr_controlled_sites[0] = new Array("www.phpbuilder.com","www.cnn.com","www.nzz.ch","www.something.com");
arr_controlled_sites[1] = new Array("0","0","0","0");

function func_check_sites(){

 //have a look which of the windows opened are still in existence
 //if it has been closed, set value in array [1] to "0"
 for(x = 0; x < arr_controlled_sites[0].length; x++){
    eval("if(arr_controlled_sites[1][" + x + "] == \"1\" && winhandler_" + x + ".closed){arr_controlled_sites[1][" + x + "] = \"0\";}");
 }
 var_current_timeout = window.setTimeout("func_check_sites()", 1000);

}

function func_open_site(arg_called_site_id){

 eval("winhandler_" + arg_called_site_id + " = window.open(\"http://" + arr_controlled_sites[0][arg_called_site_id] + "\",\"win_site_" + arg_called_site_id + "\",\"scrollbars=yes, resizable=yes, dependent=yes\");");

 arr_controlled_sites[1][arg_called_site_id] = "1";

 var_current_timeout = window.setTimeout("func_check_sites()", 1000);

}

//-->
</script>

</head>
<body>

Of course it would be elegant to automatize this so you have to change only the table... php should be right for that.<br>
<a href="javascript:func_open_site(0);">Site 1</a><br>
<a href="javascript:func_open_site(1);">Site 2</a><br>
<a href="javascript:func_open_site(2);">Site 3</a><br>
<a href="javascript:func_open_site(3);">Site 4</a><br>

i haven't checked but my book says that the syntax should work with all browsers...
i bet it wont but that's my paranoia ...eh... javascript experience speaking. 😉

so if you want to do something useful with it add an invisible form where you count which links were called how often....
to do that you simply have to change the values of the form elements - which youll generate dynamically - everytime the entry in [1] is changed....

you even could log the order in which the sites have been called if you want....
well, i hope you get the meaning.

what you really should do is killing the timeout in a more elegant way than i did...
but that depends on your page design, just dont forget it. 🙂

ah, and take care to put the evals in one line else nothing will work.

if i can help you further, go ahead.

greetings, jakob

Threehearts

Forgot what to do with the form:
simply execute a submit() action when the visitor leaves the page....
if you want to keep your data actual you can submit it more often, like every minute or so, but dont forget to clear the form, then...
well.
looks like im finally tired enough not to hit the right keys any more.
sorry for the typography of the above post.
will do better next time.

hope i helped.
'night all.
jakob

emrys404

Great, thanks for all your help. Give me a bit to digest all this and i'll probably have further questions for you. Thanks again

-emrys