ickHTTPS Component

The HTTPS component can be used to securely transfer documents from the World Wide Web. (NOTE: The following is a very short description. For more information, please consult the help files that come with the respective package.)

The HTTPS component implements a generic HTTPS client around Microsoft's WinInet library providing a simple plug-and-play interface. It makes use of the local settings for ProxyServer, can use file caches via the UseCache property, or cookies depending on the AllowCookies property.

The component establishes a secure SSL connection as described in SSL standard. The server authenticates itself, then the client and the server estalish a key which is then used to encrypt the data exchanged between them. The SecurityFlags property can help you establish the level of security you want.

The component contains a number of properties that map directly to HTTP request headers. Files are saved to LocalFile and/or received through events: Transfer for contents, and Header for HTTP headers. The StartTransfer and EndTransfer events are fired at the beginning and end of transmission.

The URL property specifies the document to send or receive. To receive the document set the Action property to 'Get'. Data can be POST-ed to the HTTP server by assigning it to the PostData property and then setting the Action property to 'Post'. The PUT method is also supported: the user should set the URL, User and Password and set Action to 'Put'. In both cases, the content of AttachedFile will be appended to the data to be sent.

You can get the received data also from the ReceiveBuffer property if you set ReceiveBufferSize accordingly. These properties are especially useful if you cannot handle events in your programming environment.

This component requires the Microsoft WinInet support libraries to be present in the host computer.

PROPERTIES

Accept. A list of acceptable MIME types for the request.

Action. An action code for the component.

AllowCookies. Controls whether to send and accept cookies when making https requests.

AttachedFile. A file whose contents are appended to PostData if the POST or PUT methods are used.

ContentType. Content type for posted data.

From. The email address of the agent (optional).

Headers. All the headers received from the server.

HTTPVersion. The version of HTTP used.

IfModifiedSince. A date determining the maximum age of the desired document.

LocalFile. The path to a local file for downloading. If the file exists, it is overwritten. (optional)

OtherHeaders. Other headers as determined by the user (optional).

Password. A password if http's authentication is to be used.

PostData. The data to post with the URL if the POST method is used.

Pragma. A browser/server specific header line (optional).

ProxyBypass. Names or IP addresses of the hosts to be accessed directly (optional).

ProxyServer. Name or IP address of one or more proxy servers (optional).

ReceiveBuffer. A buffer with the incoming data of a transfer if ReceiveBufferSize is non-zero.

ReceiveBufferSize. Controls whether the received data is given in ReceiveBuffer and denotes its size.

Referer. Referer URL/document (optional).

SecurityFlags. Flags used for configuring security aspects in HTTPS protocol.

StatusLine. The first line of the last server response.

URL. The URL to fetch.

URLPath. The path for the URL.

URLPort. The port for the URL.

URLScheme. The scheme for the URL.

URLServer. The server for the URL.

UseCache. Make use of cache when transferring files, listing directories, etc.

User. A user name to give if http's authentication is to be used.

UserAgent. Information about the user agent (browser).

WinInetVersion. Shows the version of the WinInet libraries.

EVENTS

EndTransfer. Fired when a document finishes transferring.

Header. Fired every time a header line comes in.

StartTransfer. Fired when a document starts transferring (after the headers).

Status. Informs about the actions taken by the component while connecting to the server.

Transfer. Fired while a document transfers (delivers document).