How to Successfully Click a Hover Button in Internet Explorer with VBA

Discover how to click a hover button to unhide and expand selections on a website using VBA in Internet Explorer. Step-by-step instructions included!
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How to Successfully Click a Hover Button in Internet Explorer with VBA

Are you having trouble clicking a hover button to expand selections on a website? If you're using Internet Explorer and VBA, you may have encountered issues with the hover functionality, particularly when trying to select an element that reveals additional options. This guide will guide you through the steps necessary to successfully click a hover button and expand your choices on the page.

Understanding the Problem

In this scenario, you have successfully logged into a company website and are attempting to click on a "Text button" that is designed to show or hide additional selection options. However, clicking the button has led to an error:438, which typically means that a method or property is not available. The issue arises because the correct element is not being targeted accurately in your code.

The Challenge

You provided the following HTML snippet for the element you are trying to click:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You're aiming to trigger the tree_switch_folder JavaScript function by clicking the anchor tag (the <a> element that contains the class tree_hover). Let’s look at how to properly accomplish this using VBA.

The Solution: Targeting the Correct Element

To click the hover button successfully, you need to ensure that your approach targets the anchor tag specifically. Here's how you can do this:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Ensure Page Load Wait: Before attempting to click the button, make sure that the webpage has fully loaded. You can add a wait routine to your code to allow time for the elements to be properly rendered.

Use querySelector() Method:
Instead of using the getElementByClassId() method (which is incorrect for selecting elements by class), you can make use of the querySelector() method in VBA to precisely target the anchor tag.

Here’s the corrected line of code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Code

objIE: A variable representing the Internet Explorer object that you are controlling via VBA.

.click: This method simulates a mouse click on the selected element.

Example Code Snippet

Here's how your complete VBA code might look:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By using the querySelector() method, you can successfully interact with hover buttons on web pages through VBA in Internet Explorer. This approach helps overcome common issues, ensuring that you target the correct elements efficiently. If you encounter any further errors or need assistance, don't hesitate to ask for help. Happy coding!