Java socket help needed !!?

Question

how to communicate with https server via sockets.
if i want to automate interaction with a website...
like authenticating then clicking links, parsing info presented by html etc

for example to communicate with https://icicidirect.com
i want my application to automatically login and retieve data
so that i can use it in my own way.

also later it should submit requests ( like clicking buttons) and enter other data which normally is done by human using keyboard and mouse on the website.

i need my application to do this.

how to communicate with https server via sockets.
if i want to automate interaction with a website...
like authenticating then clicking links, parsing info presented by html etc delete

rocky Mar 18(17 hours ago):
java very well provides u the SSL things to make
secure connection..............
It is a threeway handshaking kind of stuff involves
mutual sharing of certificates.............
java gives X.509 certificates...........
i dont think u can have access to yahoo mail, hot mail...........which needs https connection..........
You authentication will fail as it is not certificated
by VeriSign(certificate issuing authority)only certified browsers like I-Explore,firefox can have access.....................

munish :
but then if i have to create an application making https connection,
then do i have to parse the source code of the html page received from the server (like yahoo) and then find o be submitted and send response as GET/POST request for logging

Answer 1

You simply need to import the java.net library and in there is a socket class. I have included a link below that will show you examples of setting up sockets to other servers, reading and writing to the socket, and how to make a client program that interacts with servers.

It's there for your absorption. Enjoy!

Answer 2

HTTPS is not the same as HTTP. Authentication and key exchange must occur to set up a secure connection.

See this site for doing so with the javax.net.ssl extension package.
http://java.sun.com/products/jsse/index.jsp

And here for an Apache library to make working with it easier:
http://jakarta.apache.org/commons/httpclient/sslguide.html