Maximum Character Limit on the USerAgent String in IE 6

[Ashwin]

Hi,

I am trying to access a web application which only supports IE version 5.01
and above. In order to perform this check we use USerAgent string to check
the IE version and then allow the users to access the application.

While testing we found out that on Windows XP IE 6.0 when the user agent is
beyong 256 character length, the rest of the useragent string is getting
truncated and it is only returning Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;).
However this is not the case with IE 7.0 and IE 8.0.

Is this a known issue in IE 6.0 and do this have any workaroound?

Any pointers to this or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks & regards,
Ashwin

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

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Post by Ashwin
I am trying to access a web application which only supports IE version 5.01
and above. In order to perform this check we use USerAgent string to check
the IE version and then allow the users to access the application.
While testing we found out that on Windows XP IE 6.0 when the user agent is
beyong 256 character length, the rest of the useragent string is getting
truncated and it is only returning Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;).
However this is not the case with IE 7.0 and IE 8.0.
Is this a known issue in IE 6.0 and do this have any workaroound?
Any pointers to this or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks & regards,
Ashwin

[Rob]

Post by Ashwin
Hi,
I am trying to access a web application which only supports IE version 5.01
and above. In order to perform this check we use USerAgent string to check
the IE version and then allow the users to access the application.
While testing we found out that on Windows XP IE 6.0 when the user agent is
beyong 256 character length, the rest of the useragent string is getting
truncated and it is only returning Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;).
However this is not the case with IE 7.0 and IE 8.0.
Is this a known issue in IE 6.0 and do this have any workaroound?

What is your issue and what workaround do you need?
Your "only" agent string "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;)" does contain
all you need to know about the version number, doesn't it?

[Ashwin]

Thanks Rob for the Reply.

But in our application. along with the check for IE version we also perform
a check whether the platform is Windows or not but since the useragent
doesnt return this detail our check fails and we are not able to access the
application.

And we can not remove the check for Windows. IS there any other workaround
for this.

Post by Rob

Post by Ashwin
Hi,
I am trying to access a web application which only supports IE version 5.01
and above. In order to perform this check we use USerAgent string to check
the IE version and then allow the users to access the application.
While testing we found out that on Windows XP IE 6.0 when the user agent is
beyong 256 character length, the rest of the useragent string is getting
truncated and it is only returning Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;).
However this is not the case with IE 7.0 and IE 8.0.
Is this a known issue in IE 6.0 and do this have any workaroound?

What is your issue and what workaround do you need?
Your "only" agent string "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;)" does contain
all you need to know about the version number, doesn't it?
.

[Rob]

Post by Ashwin
Thanks Rob for the Reply.
But in our application. along with the check for IE version we also perform
a check whether the platform is Windows or not but since the useragent
doesnt return this detail our check fails and we are not able to access the
application.
And we can not remove the check for Windows. IS there any other workaround
for this.

What you are doing is generally considered to be a bad thing.
Everyone can put in the UA string whatever he/she likes.

You can change the application so it no longer performs this check, or
it allows the specific UA string that you receive.

[Ashwin]

The Workaround which we are looking at is that is there any way to fetch the
useragent string with the Browser version and Windows platform details even
though its length is greater than 256??

We are making use of Navigator object of the Javascript to fetch the
useragent and trying to access an asp page.

Post by Ashwin
Thanks Rob for the Reply.
But in our application. along with the check for IE version we also perform
a check whether the platform is Windows or not but since the useragent
doesnt return this detail our check fails and we are not able to access the
application.
And we can not remove the check for Windows. IS there any other workaround
for this.

Post by Rob

Post by Ashwin
Hi,
I am trying to access a web application which only supports IE version 5.01
and above. In order to perform this check we use USerAgent string to check
the IE version and then allow the users to access the application.
While testing we found out that on Windows XP IE 6.0 when the user agent is
beyong 256 character length, the rest of the useragent string is getting
truncated and it is only returning Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;).
However this is not the case with IE 7.0 and IE 8.0.
Is this a known issue in IE 6.0 and do this have any workaroound?

What is your issue and what workaround do you need?
Your "only" agent string "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;)" does contain
all you need to know about the version number, doesn't it?
.

[Hot-text]

YES BUT NOT THE WAY YOU DOING IT!

Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; MSDigitalLocker;
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1) ; .NET CLR 1.0.3705;
.NET CLR 1.1.4322; Media Center PC 4.0; .NET CLR 3.0.04506.30; .NET CLR
2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.0.4506.2152; .NET CLR 3.5.30729;
OfficeLiveConnector.1.4; OfficeLivePatch.1.3)

YOU SEE OfficeLiveConnector.1.4; OfficeLivePatch.1.3 <<< That is WINDOWS
LIVE MAIL <<<

Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR
2.0.50727)

Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; DotBot/1.1; http://www.dotnetdotcom.org/,
***@dotnetdotcom.org)

You need a good WebServer Log the USER-AGENT for you Like this one>>
http://www.networkactiv.com/WebServer.html

And a Good DNS Server
http://www.dyndns.com/

And A Good DNS UPDATER
http://www.kanasolution.com/

And a Hidden Image on you webpage to make the log

In NetworkActic go to >>click on Preferences >>click on Configuration for
automatic logging >>Check on I do not need to say more!

Post by Ashwin
The Workaround which we are looking at is that is there any way to fetch the
useragent string with the Browser version and Windows platform details even
though its length is greater than 256??
We are making use of Navigator object of the Javascript to fetch the
useragent and trying to access an asp page.

Post by Ashwin
Thanks Rob for the Reply.
But in our application. along with the check for IE version we also perform
a check whether the platform is Windows or not but since the useragent
doesnt return this detail our check fails and we are not able to access the
application.
And we can not remove the check for Windows. IS there any other workaround
for this.

Post by Rob

Post by Ashwin
Hi,
I am trying to access a web application which only supports IE version 5.01
and above. In order to perform this check we use USerAgent string to check
the IE version and then allow the users to access the application.
While testing we found out that on Windows XP IE 6.0 when the user agent is
beyong 256 character length, the rest of the useragent string is getting
truncated and it is only returning Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;).
However this is not the case with IE 7.0 and IE 8.0.
Is this a known issue in IE 6.0 and do this have any workaroound?

What is your issue and what workaround do you need?
Your "only" agent string "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;)" does contain
all you need to know about the version number, doesn't it?
.