Python webpage scraping can't find form from this page

Question

I want to cycle thru the dates at the bottom of the page using what looks like a form. But it is returning a blank. Here is my code.

import mechanize

URL='http://www.airchina.com.cn/www/jsp/airlines_operating_data/exlshow_en.jsp'

br = mechanize.Browser()
r=br.open(URL)

for form in br.forms(): #finding the name of the form
    print form.name
    print form

Why is this not returning any forms? it is not a form? if not, how do I control the year and month at the bottom to cycle thru the pages?

Can someone provide some sample code on how to do it?

Answer 1

Trying to access that page what you are actually doing is being directed to an error page. Paste that url in a browser and you get a page with:

Not comply with the conditions of the inquiry data

and no forms at all

You need to access the page in a different way. I would suggest stepping throught the url directory until you find the right path.