The Future of the WebBrowser control and Edge now that IE is going away

Dwyer, Mike 1 Reputation point
2022-02-01T00:06:37.897+00:00

We have a big concern about the future of the WebBrowser control when IE goes away.

An important feature in our Microsoft Access applications is to seamlessly display a google maps web page in our forms using the WebBrowser control. Our Access form integrates tightly with the map page so that web page events such as a click raise events in the Access form.
Currently, the WebBrowser control is a wrapper around IE. However, google maps, other pages are no longer supporting IE. Newer versions of Javascript as well. When they detect the IE browser they will no longer operate.

Is Microsoft planning a WebBrowser control that is based on Edge or other browsers? Otherwise web pages that don’t support IE can no longer be displayed using the WebBrowser control.

Thanks.

Access Development
Access Development
Access: A family of Microsoft relational database management systems designed for ease of use.Development: The process of researching, productizing, and refining new or existing technologies.
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  1. Castorix31 81,461 Reputation points
    2022-02-01T00:17:15.413+00:00

    Is Microsoft planning a WebBrowser control that is based on Edge or other browsers?

    The WebView2 control based on Edge exists for a long time : Introduction to Microsoft Edge WebView2

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  2. Dwyer, Mike 1 Reputation point
    2022-02-01T02:09:05.65+00:00

    Thanks, Castorix31. Interesting but not quite what I need in my particular situation.

    My app is real estate oriented. It uses a number of external websites such as Google Maps, Bing, or perhaps a proprietary web page. Using Access VBA I can automate the web page and put pushpins on the map, for example. With WebBrowser control I have access to the web document that's loaded and can "push buttons" for example.

    So I'm not looking to build something by bringing in web technologies using WebView2. Instead I'm looking to automate existing web apps on other sites.
    WebBrowser is perfect for this except that it's based on IE which is going away.

  3. Karl Donaubauer 1,646 Reputation points MVP
    2022-02-01T12:19:19.063+00:00

    Hi,

    It's not clear for me wether you use the webbrowser ActiveX or the integrated webbrowser control.

    Microsoft announced a new integrated web browser control based on Chromium/Edge long ago. Unfortunately, due to the focus on the Dataverse connector, all other new features incl. this one, have been postponed for about 2 years. Therefore, the M365 roadmap for Access currently states Sep 2022 as the planned release date for the new web browser control.

    I wouldn't bet on that date either, because we can expect more delays as I will report in my next Access newscast (see below).

    Servus
    Karl

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