Navigate to new URL in existing Internet Explorer window

Question

I am trying to get an existing (open) IE window to load a new URL via ie.Navigate.

Below is my worksheet code which loads a website on click of a button

Answer 1

As a similar/adapted alternative, here's a favorite function of mine.

This function returns an object representing the existing InternetExplorer instance if there is one, otherwise a newly-created instance.

Function GetIE() As Object
'return an object for the open Internet Explorer window, or create new one
  For Each GetIE In CreateObject("Shell.Application").Windows() 'Loop to find
    If (Not GetIE Is Nothing) And GetIE.Name = "Internet Explorer" Then Exit For 'Found!
  Next GetIE
  If GetIE Is Nothing Then Set GetIE=CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")'Create
  GetIE.Visible = True 'Make IE window visible
End Function

More information and example here.

Answer 2

Sub TestGetIE()

    Dim IE As Object
    Set IE = CreateObject("Internetexplorer.Application")
    IE.Visible = True
    IE.navigate "https://www.yahoo.com"
    WaitFor IE

    Set IE = GetIE("https://www.yahoo.com")

    IE.navigate "http://www.google.com"


End Sub

Sub WaitFor(IE)
    Do
    Loop Until IE.readyState = READYSTATE_COMPLETE
End Sub


Function GetIE(sLocation As String) As Object

Dim objShell As Object, objShellWindows As Object, o As Object
Dim sURL As String
Dim retVal As Object

    Set retVal = Nothing
    Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
    Set objShellWindows = objShell.Windows

    For Each o In objShellWindows
        sURL = ""
        'check the URL and if it's the one you want then
        ' assign it to the return value
        sURL = o.LocationURL
        If sURL Like sLocation & "*" Then
            Set retVal = o
            Exit For
        End If
    Next o

    Set GetIE = retVal

End Function