Javascript; Browser Detection and Page Redirection

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<h1>Javascript; Browser Detection and Page Redirection</h1><p> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> A recent project was developed using Internet Explorer 5.5 as<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> the browser of choice. Aware of browser incompatibilities,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> viewing the web page using three other commonly used browsers,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Internet Explorer 4.0, Netscape Navigator 6.1, and Netscape<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Navigator 4.7 revealed some 'distortions'. This was mainly due<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> to whether or not a particular browser could interpret style<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> sheets, and if so how the style sheets were interpreted. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> It was apparent that the page code either needed to be<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> downgraded to the 'lowest common denominator' or alternative<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> versions of the web page were needed for Netscape 6.1, Netscape<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 4.7, and Internet Explorer 4.0. Therefore, a version optimized<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> for Netscape 6.1 was created, as well as another version<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> compatible for both Netscape 4.7 and Internet Explorer 4.0.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (This was before Internet Explorer 6.0 and Netscape 6.2 were<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> available.) <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Review of several current web sites and textbooks on Javascript<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> presented different approaches to writing script to first detect<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> a user's browser, and then depending on the browser and version,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> to redirect the user to a specific page. In this particular<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> case, none of the recommendations or solutions were what was<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> needed. After a good deal of testing and re-testing, the<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> following script examples were assembled. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Below are five different examples / variations of some<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Javascript that is to be placed on a page that is optimized for<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Internet Explorer 5.5. These scripts will then automatically<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> detect the visitor's browser and version, and then automatically<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> direct the particular browser in one of three directions. They<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> are; <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> If a visitor is using Internet Explorer 5.5, to remain on the<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> current page.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> If a visitor is using Netscape 6.1, to be redirected to a page<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> that has been optimized for Netscape 6.1.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> If a visitor is using Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape 4.7, to<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> be redirected to a third page that has been written specifically<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> for either of these browser versions. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Explanatory discussion follows the script examples. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> #1 <script language="javascript"> <!-- if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape") != -1) { if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0") != -1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="nn61.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape") != -1) { if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0") == -1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appName.indexOf("Internet Explorer") != -1) { if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appversion.indexOf("MSIE 4") != -1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; } // --><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </script><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> ----------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> #2 <script language="javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <!-- if (navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape") != -1) {<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="nn61.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape") != -1) { if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0") == -1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 4") != -1) {<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; } // --><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </script><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> ---------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> #3 <script language="javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <!-- if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0") != -1) {<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="nn61.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape") != -1) { if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Mozilla/4") != -1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 4") != -1) {<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; } // --><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </script><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> ---------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> #4 <script language="javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <!-- if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0") != -1) {<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="nn61.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (document.layers) { if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Mozilla/4") != -1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 4") != -1) {<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; } // --><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </script><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> ---------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> #5 <script language="javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <!-- if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0") != -1) {<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="nn61.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if ( ! (document.all)) { if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0")<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> == -1) window.location="ienn4.htm"; }<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 4") != -1) {<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; } // --><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </script><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> ---------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Any of these five different scripts can be utilized. These have<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> been compiled after many attempts at using other suggested<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> scripts that either were too limited, were not applicable to<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> identifying version 5 and higher browsers, or just did not seem<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> to work as anticipated.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> All these scripts are a series of conditional statements, which<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> are read by the visitor's browser when the web page 'ie55.htm'<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> is loaded.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 1. The browser reads the first statement and if it is Netscape<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 6.1, it is redirected to the page written specifically for<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Netscape 6.1. If not,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 2. The browser reads the next statement and if it is Netscape<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 4.7, it is redirected to the page written for the 'number 4’<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> version of either Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. If<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> not,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 3. The browser reads the next statement and if it is Internet<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Explorer 4.0, it too is redirected to the page written for the<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 'number 4' version of either Internet Explorer or Netscape<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Navigator. And lastly,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 4. If none of the statements apply, the browser will remain on<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> the same page that contains the script and proceed to read the<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> remainder of the page. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Next are several observations made after consulting several<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> resources (online and in print) and conducting many 'trial and<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> error' sessions. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Peculiarities encountered that caused difficulties include;<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 1. Regarding the line that identifies a browser's version number <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appVersion.indexOf(" ") != -1) Internet Explorer; you<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> must use "MSIE 4", not "MSIE 4.0", "4", or "4.0". The same is<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> true whether or not this additional ‘if’ statement,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appName.indexOf("Internet Explorer") != -1), is<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> included as in #1. Use "MSIE 5" to identify Internet Explorer<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 5.5. **See below for more about Internet Explorer and version<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> numbers. Version 5.5 does not fall under the category of version<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 5 or higher.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Netscape Navigator; in this statement either "5.0" or "5" will<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> work with Netscape 6.1 resulting in directing the browser to the<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> page optimized for Netscape 6.1. if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape") != -1) { if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0") != -1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="nn61.htm"; } But in this statement, "5.0" must<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> be used. "5" results in Netscape 4.7 being directed to the page<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> optimized for Netscape 6.1 instead of the page optimized for<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Netscape 4.7. The reason is unknown. This peculiarity was<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> discovered through 'trial and error'.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> if (navigator.appName.indexOf("Netscape") != -1) { if<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("5.0") == -1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> window.location="ienn4.htm"; } ** NOTE: Attempting to separate<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> browsers based upon their version number is not as straight<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> forward as it might seem. The reason is that both Internet<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Explorer 4.0 and Internet Explorer 5.5 have the same version<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> number of 4! Also Netscape 6.1 has a version number of 5! So<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> trying to detect and then select browsers based on version<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> numbers results in confusion. In particular <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> The version number of '5 and higher' will exclude Internet<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Explorer 5.5 The version number of '4 and lower' will include<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Internet Explorer 5.5 The version number of '6 and higher' will<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> exclude Netscape 6.1 <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 2. Regarding the line that identifies a browser's name<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> (navigator.app.Name.indexOf(" ") != -1) <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Internet Explorer; you must use "Internet Explorer",<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> "Microsoft", or "Microsoft Internet Explorer". "MSIE" is not<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> recognized. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 3. All of these browsers, Netscape 4.7 and 6.1, and Internet<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Explorer 4.0 and 5.5, have the same code name of Mozilla. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Therefore these browsers can not differentiated based on their<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> code name. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Conclusions;<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Remember that these scripts are to be placed on the page that<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> has been optimized for viewing using the Internet Explorer 5.5<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> browser. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> If a Netscape 6.1 browser is being used, the visitor is<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> automatically redirected to the page that has been optimized for<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Netscape 6.1.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> If a Netscape 4.7 browser is being used, the visitor is<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> automatically redirected to the page that has been optimized for<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> either Netscape 4.7 or Internet Explorer 4.0. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> If an Internet Explorer 4.0 browser is being used, the visitor<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> is automatically redirected to the page that has been optimized<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> for either Netscape 4.7 or Internet Explorer 4.0. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> If none of these three 'if' conditional statements are true, the<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> browser will remain on the present page and will continue on<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> with interpreting that page, in this case the page that has been<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> optimized for Internet Explorer 5.5. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> To use these scripts, remember to replace the fictitious pages<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> "nn61.htm", "ienn4.htm", and "ie55.htm" with your actual pages.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Also if using one of these scripts on a page that is created for<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> viewing using a browser other than IE 5.5, further adjustments<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> will be necessary, as well as, then re-testing the script(s).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Remember that some of the other browser types that are in use<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> include, i.e. AOL, Netscape Navigator 3.0 or lower, Internet<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Explorer 3.0 or lower, Opera (various versions), Web TV, Lynx,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Konqueror. All of these are used in small numbers and whether<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> one wants to address each one of these browsers is an individual<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> decision.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> There are different web sites that contain statistics on browser<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> usage that can be reviewed. The best source of information on<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> the actual browsers that are used to view your web site are your<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> own visitor logs. Check those as they may or may not agree with<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> other published web statistics.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Obviously Intranets are a special environment and one in which<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> the pages must be optimized for the particular browser that is<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> in use on the Intranet machines. This is a much easier situation<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> to have to contend with.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Unfortunately until the 'browser wars' come to an end and an<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 'across the board acceptance' of the W3C's guidelines for coding<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> is the rule, browser incompatibilities will continue to<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> influence web page construction.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> More <a href="http://www.articlesroom.com">free articles</a> from <a href="http://www.articlesroom.com">http://www.articlesroom.com</a>

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