Random problem reading status bar with both IE6 and IE7 I have a JS that under certain event (on focus) reads the status bar from IE6 and IE7 and performs certain action. It works on most of the cases, but in the log of this application, I see like 30% of the cases, the status bar returns blank. In my tests, both IE6 and IE7 works perfectly fine, in my development computer. But in production, with people coming from all over the world with who knows what funny software installed in their machine, it some times fails. When it fails, it mostly fails for all the user's section, but I've seen some cases when for the same user, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm thinking that may be a plugin installed in the user's browser might be interfering but I'm not sure. Please, any idea is very welcome.
Microsoft on IE7 took out javascript window.status changes in order to prevent phishing/address spoofing. By default, on Firefox urls are not displayed either. People need to change his browser options to see that urls. Are you changing status bar or simply reading ?
Just reading ! I read the window.status when an iframe get focus. As I said, it works most of the times, but for some users (IE6/7) it doesn't.
I think you are trying to read what "you think" others has writen. But on IE7 status bar scripting is disabled by default, that's why you're reading blank. You can read more about this here: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/aa740486.aspx Search for "Status Bar Scripting" on that page. Example: Move your mouse over an Adsense Ad. On IE6 the status bar shows the advertiser URL, but on IE7 (with default configuration) the status bar remains blank.