userProfileNN n/a   IE 4   DOM n/a

The userProfile object reflects numerous pieces of information stored in the browser's user profile for the current user. This object has four methods that:

Let you queue requests for individual fields of the profile (items such as name, mailing address, phone numbers, and so on)

Display the request dialog that lets users see what you're asking for and disallow specific items or the whole thing

Grab the information

Clear the request queue

Once the information is retrieved (with the user's permission), it can be slipped into form elements (visible or hidden) for submission to the server. Further details are available from Microsoft in the Internet Client Software Developer's Kit. This object's methods are not fully supported in the Macintosh version of Internet Explorer 4.

addReadRequest( )NN n/a   IE 4   DOM n/a
addReadRequest(attributeName)
 

Adds a request to inspect a particular user profile attribute to a queue that must be executed separately (via the doReadRequest( ) and getAttribute( ) methods). Items added to the queue are displayed to the user to select which item(s) can be submitted to a server. For multiple attributes, use multiple invocations of the addReadRequest( ) method.

 
Returned Value
None.
 
Parameters
attributeName
One of the following case-insensitive attribute names as a string:
vCard.Business.City
vCard.Home.City
vCard.Business.Country
vCard.Home.Country
vCard.Business.Fax
vCard.Home.Fax
vCard.Business.Phone
vCard.Home.Phone
vCard.Business.State
vCard.Home.State
vCard.Business.StreetAddress
vCard.Home.StreetAddress
vCard.Business.URL
vCard.Home.Zipcode
vCard.Business.Zipcode
vCard.Homepage
vCard.Cellular
vCard.JobTitle
vCard.Company
vCard.LastName
vCard.Department
vCard.MiddleName
vCard.DisplayName
vCard.Notes
vCard.Email
vCard.Office
vCard.FirstName
vCard.Pager
clearRequest( )NN n/a   IE 4   DOM n/a

Empties the queue of attribute names to be retrieved. Use this after your script has successfully retrieved the required information. This prepares the queue for the next list.

 
Returned Value
None.
 
Parameters
None.
doReadRequest( ) NN n/a   IE 4   DOM n/a
doReadRequest(usageCode[, friendlyName[, domain[, path[, expiration]]]])  
 

Based on the items in the queue, this method inspects the browser to see whether the user has given permission to inspect these attributes in the past. If not (for some or all), the method displays a dialog box (the Profile Assistant window) that lets users turn off the items that should not be exposed to the server. Parameters provide information for the dialog and for maintenance of the permission (similar to the ways that cookies are managed). Only one doReadRequest( ) method is required, regardless of the number of attributes in the queue.

 
Returned Value
In Win32, the method returns no value, regardless of how the user responds to the Profile Assistant dialog box. On the Macintosh (which does not support this object fully), the method does not display the Profile Assistant dialog box and returns false.
 
Parameters
usageCode
One of the following code integers that display human-readable messages defined by the Internet Privacy Working Group:
Code Meaning
0
Used for system administration.
1
Used for research and/or product development.
2
Used for completion and support of current transaction.
3
Used to customize the content and design of a site.
4
Used to improve the content of the site, including advertisements.
5
Used for notifying visitors about updates to the site.
6
Used for contacting visitors for marketing of services or products.
7
Used for linking other collected information.
8
Used by site for other purposes.
9
Disclosed to others for customization or improvement of the content and design of the site.
10
Disclosed to others who may contact you for marketing of services and/or products.
11
Disclosed to others who may contact you for marketing of services and/or products, but you have the opportunity to ask a site not to do this.
12
Disclosed to others for any other purpose.
friendlyName An optional string containing an identifiable name (and URL) that the user recognizes as the source of the request. This may be a corporate identity.
domain An optional string containing the domain of the server making the request. If an expiration date is set, this information is stored with the requested attributes to prevent future requests from this domain from interrupting the user with the Profile Assistant dialog box.
path An optional string containing the path of the server document making the request. If an expiration date is set, this information is stored with the requested attributes to prevent future requests from this domain from interrupting the user with the Profile Assistant dialog box.
expiration An optional string containing the date on which the user's permissions settings expire. Not recognized in Internet Explorer 4.
getAttribute( ) NN n/a   IE 4   DOM n/a
getAttribute(attributeName)  
 

Returns the value of the attribute, provided the user has given permission to do so. If that permission was denied, the method returns null. Use one getAttribute( ) method for each attribute value being retrieved.

 
Returned Value
In Win32, the method returns no value, regardless of how the user responds to the Profile Assistant dialog box. On the Macintosh (which does not support this object fully), the method does not display the Profile Assistant dialog box and returns false.
 
Parameters
attributeName One of the vCard attribute names listed in the addReadRequest( ) method description.