New Web Browser Control released

The long announced new web browser control based on Chromium/Edge is now available in the Current Channel build 16.0.16327.20214. It allows the display of modern web pages full of Javascript etc. which often throw errors in the old Internet Explorer control.

Some key points:

• The new control is only available in Access 365, NOT in any existing perpetual version. The old web browser control remains in parallel in 365.

• Regarding the Access Runtime365, there are a few reports that instead of the new web browser control only white space is displayed in the application. In this case the WebView2 runtime must be downloaded and installed. Then you can use the control.

• The control will be enabled in: Monthly Enterprise Channel in version 2307, released on Sept 12, 2023 Semi-Annual Channel (Preview) Version 2308, also released on Sept 12, 2023 Semi-Annual Channel when it moves to Version 2308, on Jan 9, 2024

• If the new control is contained in a database that is opened with other Access versions than 365, the new control will simply not be visible, i.e. the same behaviour concering backwards compatibility as with Modern Charts.

• Unlike the old control, the new one also works in continuous forms and reports and can be printed out.

• Due to security restrictions, a prefix must be used to display local files: https://msaccess/YourFullPathHere and for redirects the trusted domains must be entered in a table.

• In programming, the new control means a big change. There is no longer an Object property and HTML library. Instead, the Access team has built in a few methods like ExecuteJavascript to send Javascript commands with VBA.

Let us know in comments here if you notice any problems or bugs. We can pass this on to the Access team.

Further information:

• "How to Use" support article

• VBA reference

• Access Lunchtime Usergroup video

• Daniel Pineault's documentation