>While downloading text information from the bunch of internet sites I would like to disable multimedia options, like show pictures or play sounds, and then set them back.
>
>Is it possible to do it programmatically with
>oie=createobject("internetexplorer.application")
>or somehow else (excluding Shell sendkeys())?

The name "internet options" is misleading - it leads one to think it's about all the web access a Windows user can have. I always get disappointed when I discover (again) that it's actually just "IE options".

IMO, the createobject("internetexplorer.application") is the way to go, and then a series of oie.SetProperty("propertyname",luValue) - but you'd have to dig deep into the object model to find things out. And I'm not sure you'd get too far before you start pulling your hairs out. There are things which have meaningless names - like TheaterMode. What does it mean, "play it like a movie", "there are live actors on the scene", "don't even start before you make sure there's a fireperson on duty in the building", "make breaks between acts" or what?

Good luck out there.