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automate web data lookup

 
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Hi,

My shop needs to automate a manual process that involves looking up keys in an Excel spreadsheet by entering them in a search form on the web, then pasting the resulting values back into the spreadsheet.

Generally speaking, I was thinking of importing the spreadsheet into the db and writing a simple servlet to loop over the key data, do a post to the search page, parse out the desired value, and insert the value back into the database.

Have any of you cowpokes done this before? If so, I am eager to hear sage advice from all.

Thanks,

Julia
 
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Well, I dunno about the DB part, but you may find the Apache Commons HttpClient toolkit handy for the web lookup part.
Bill
 
Julia Reynolds
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Bill,

Thanks for the tip about httpclient. It worked like a charm and the solution is going to be quick and easy.

Julia
 
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