How To Perform Programmatic Log In To Another Site

sg48 · June 18th, 2003, 09:10 AM

I would like to write an application that logs in to some other webite, Yahoo for example, with a user name and password that is retrieved from a database, not typed in manually, and then retrieve information from a table. How does one do this. TIA

David Cameron · June 18th, 2003, 07:27 PM

You just need to send an HTTP Post. Generate a form with the same input fields as the Yahoo login form and submit it. Yahoo might check the HTTP-Referrer header so this may not work.

regards
David Cameron

epikuriyan · June 25th, 2003, 03:30 PM

David,

Hi, I am trying to do something similar to what sg48 is trying to do. Could you elaborate a little on how to do what you have suggested? Any input you can provide is greatly appreciated.

David Cameron · June 25th, 2003, 06:37 PM

Generate a form that has the same fields as the yahoo login form, except that the fields are hidden. Set the action as the same as the yahoo form and add a submit button.

What I said about the HTTP-REFERRER header is that the browser will say where the page came from, and yahoo (and other sites) may check this and only allow people to login if they have passwed through the yahoo login page.

regards
David Cameron