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UI Automation Activities
Last updated Oct 28, 2024

UI Automation Modern Project Settings

Use Project Settings to configure changes at the project level. These global settings impact all activities in the package that have the properties listed below. For more information, see Configuring Activity Project Settings.

Important: The properties configured in Project Settings only take effect in the activities of the workflow if their properties have not been edited. Editing properties manually no longer applies the project settings to them.

To configure the UI Automation Modern project settings, follow these steps:

  1. In the Project panel, go to Project Settings.
  2. Navigate to Activities Settings > UI Automation Modern.
  3. Modify the settings according to what you want to change.
  4. Click OK to save changes.

You can reset all settings to their default values or copy all values between the debug and production fields using the Bulk Actions drop-down menu at the top of the window.

Generic

The settings below apply to all of the UI Automation Modern activities.

Property nameDescription
Delay after (seconds)Delay time between the current activity and the next activity.
Delay before (seconds)Delay time between the previous activity and the current activity.
Timeout (seconds)How long to wait for the current activity to be executed before throwing an error.
Wait for page loadBefore performing the action, wait for the application to become ready to accept input. The following options are available:
  • None - Does not wait for the target to be ready.
  • Interactive - Waits until only a part of the application is loaded.
  • Complete - Waits for the entire application to load.
Capture screenshotsDictates if screenshots are captured at design time by all the activities that support this feature. If the setting is set to false, the Remove informative screenshot option from the context menu is disabled.
Show closest matches in the 'Element not found' error messageIf set to True, ten suggestions of the closest selector matches that can be used to replace the faulty selectors are displayed in the logs.
Alter disabled elementIf set to True, the Select Item action is executed even if the specified UI element is disabled. This property does not apply if the Input Mode property is set to Hardware Events.
Wait for primary targeting method until timeoutIf set to True, this setting allows the primary targeting method to consume its full timeout until any fallback targeting method can be used.
Ask user on runtime errorIf set to True, a prompt is displayed allowing you to decide what to do next and continue the automation instead of just stopping the execution.
Automatically add UI elements to Object RepositoryIf set to True, all UI elements are automatically added to Object Repository.

Targeting methods - Desktop applications

The settings below apply to indicated targets and anchors for desktop applications.

Property nameDescription
Input modeSelect how to execute the action:
  • Hardware Events - Simulates the click by using the hardware driver. This is the slowest method, it cannot work in the background, but it is compatible with all desktop applications.
  • Simulate - Simulates the click using accessibility APIs. Recommended in browser automation, Java apps, or SAP. More reliable than Hardware Events. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Window Messages - Simulates using Win32 messages. Recommended for desktop apps. Usually more reliable than Hardware Events. Sends all text in one go. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Before using this method, test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Background - Runs actions in the background. Tries to use Simulate where possible, while complex activities (image, native text) run as usual, in the foreground.

    Note: Using the Background input mode with Universal Windows Platform applications is not supported, which means apps of this type cannot be automated in the background.

Strict selectorIf set to True, uses the Strict selector method.
Fuzzy selectorIf set to True, uses the Fuzzy selector method.

Computer Vision

If set to True, uses the Computer Vision method. The default value is True.
ImageIf set to True, uses the Image targeting method.

Note: This method is only used for the Check App State activity if the other methods are disabled.

Ignore selectors with IDX / tableRow / tableColDisable the full selector if the target selector has a tableRow, tableCol, or an idx attribute with a value higher than 1 and anchors exist.
Generate native WPF selectors (Preview)Enable the generation of native WPF selectors for WPF applications.

Targeting methods - Web browsers

The settings below apply to indicated targets and anchors for web applications.

Property nameDescription
Input mode for Edge, ChromeSelect how to execute the action:
  • Hardware Events - Simulates the click by using the hardware driver. This is the slowest method, it cannot work in the background, but it is compatible with all desktop apps.
  • Simulate - Simulates the click using accessibility APIs. Recommended in browser automation, Java apps, or SAP. More reliable than Hardware Events. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • ChromiumAPI - Performs actions using debugger APIs. Works for Chromium elements only. Sends all text in one go. Works even if the target application is not in focus. For more details, check out the Chromium API page.

    Note: When the browser is started with Chromium API, a ribbon shows up stating that the browser started in debug mode. This message does not appear if the extension is installed via policy.

  • Window Messages - Simulates using Win32 messages. Recommended for desktop apps. Usually more reliable than Hardware Events. Sends all text in one go. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Before using this method, test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Background - Runs actions in the background. Tries to use Simulate where possible, while complex activities (image, native text) run as usual, in the foreground.
Input mode for Firefox, IE, Edge in IE ModeSelect how to execute the action:
  • Hardware Events - Simulates the click by using the hardware driver. This is the slowest method, it cannot work in the background, but it is compatible with all desktop apps.
  • Simulate - Simulates the click using accessibility APIs. Recommended in browser automation, Java apps, or SAP. More reliable than Hardware Events. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Window Messages - Simulates using Win32 messages. Recommended for desktop apps. Usually more reliable than Hardware Events. Sends all text in one go. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Before using this method, test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Background - Runs actions in the background. Tries to use Simulate where possible, while complex activities (image, native text) run as usual, in the foreground.
Strict selectorIf set to True, uses the Strict selector method.
Fuzzy selectorIf set to True, uses the Fuzzy selector method.
Computer VisionIf set to True, uses the Computer Vision method. The default value is True.
ImageIf set to True, uses the Image targeting method.

Note: This method is only used for the Check App State activity if the other methods are disabled.

Ignore selectors with IDX / tableRow / tableColDisable the full selector if the target selector has a tableRow, tableCol, or an idx attribute with a value higher than 1 and anchors exist.

Targeting methods - Java

The settings below apply to indicated targets and anchors for Java applications.

Property nameDescription
Input modeSelect how to execute the action:
  • Hardware Events - Simulates the click by using the hardware driver. This is the slowest method, it cannot work in the background, but it is compatible with all desktop apps.
  • Simulate - Simulates the click using accessibility APIs. Recommended in browser automation, Java apps, or SAP. More reliable than Hardware Events. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Window Messages - Simulates using Win32 messages. Recommended for desktop apps. Usually more reliable than Hardware Events. Sends all text in one go. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Before using this method, test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Background - Runs actions in the background. Tries to use Simulate where possible, while complex activities (image, native text) run as usual, in the foreground.
Strict selectorIf set to True, uses the Strict selector method.
Fuzzy selectorIf set to True, uses the Fuzzy selector method.
Computer VisionIf set to True, uses the Computer Vision method. The default value is True.
ImageIf set to True, uses the Image targeting method.

Note: This method is only used for the Check App State activity if the other methods are disabled.

Ignore selectors with IDX / tableRow / tableColDisable the full selector if the target selector has a tableRow, tableCol, or an idx attribute with a value higher than 1 and anchors exist.

Targeting methods - SAP

The settings below apply to indicated targets and anchors for SAP.

Property nameDescription
Input modeSelect how to execute the action:
  • Hardware Events - Simulates the click by using the hardware driver. This is the slowest method, it cannot work in the background, but it is compatible with all desktop apps.
  • Simulate - Simulates the click using accessibility APIs. Recommended in browser automation, Java apps, or SAP. More reliable than Hardware Events. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Window Messages - Simulates using Win32 messages. Recommended for desktop apps. Usually more reliable than Hardware Events. Sends all text in one go. Works even if the target application is not in focus. Before using this method, test if your target application UI element supports this.
  • Background - Runs actions in the background. Tries to use Simulate where possible, while complex activities (image, native text) run as usual, in the foreground.
Strict selectorIf set to True, uses the Strict selector method.
Fuzzy selectorIf set to True, usesthe Fuzzy selector method.
Computer VisionIf set to True, uses the Computer Vision method. The default value is False.
ImageIf set to True, uses the Image targeting method.

Note: This method is only used for the Check App State activity if the other methods are disabled.

Ignore selectors with IDX / tableRow / tableColDisable the full selector if the target selector has a tableRow, tableCol, or an idx attribute with a value higher than 1 and anchors exist.

Verify execution

Settings for all the activities that have the Verify Execution feature.

Property nameDescription
Timeout (seconds)The amount of time (in seconds) to wait for the verification element to appear/disappear. If Retry is set to True , the action is performed again, followed by the verification, for the duration specified in the Timeout property.
RetryIf set to True, the action is retried for the duration of the activity timeout, if the expected outcome was not achieved. By default, this check box is selected.
Always auto-verify typed textIf set to True, any action that types text is verified using the Verify Execution feature.
Display verification for Click, Hover, Keyboard Shortcuts activitiesIf set to True, the Click, Hover, and Keyboard Shortcuts activities are always verified using the Verify Execution feature.

Application/Browser

The settings below apply to the Use Application/Browser activity.

Property nameDescription
OpenIn which cases to open the target application before executing activities in it. The following options are available:
  • IfNotOpen
  • Never
  • Always
CloseIn which cases to close the target application after executing activities in it. The following options are available:
  • IfOpenedByAppBrowser
  • Never
  • Always
Resize windowDefines whether the application/browser is resized when initialized.
  • None – No resize is applied to the application/browser.
  • Maximize – The application/browser is maximized when initialized.
  • Restore to design-time size – The application/browser is resized and moved to the position and size it had when indicated, if possible.
  • Minimize – The application/browser is minimized when initialized.
Runtime browserSpecifies which browser you want to use at runtime. The following options are available:
  • Firefox
  • Edge
  • Chrome
  • None
WebDriver ModeIndicates how the WebDriver is used when opening a new browser session. The following options are available: Disabled - Disables the use of WebDriver. WithGUI - The GUI of the browser is displayed. Headless - The browser is launched silently, with no GUI.
Automatically download WebDriverIf set to True, specifies whether you want to automatically download the WebDriver.
User data folder modeThe user data folder mode you want to set. It is used to start the browser with a specific user data folder.
  • Automatic - Picture In Picture mode uses a different folder than the default mode, automatically generated if UserDataFolderPath is not set.
  • DefaultFolder - Uses the default browser folder, no matter if it runs in the main or PIP session.
  • CustomFolder - Uses the folder specified in UserDataFolderPath or an auto generated path if UserDataFolderPath is not set.
User data folder pathThe path to the user data folder that the browser uses.
Open browser timeout (seconds)Configure the browser startup timeout.

Keyboard events

The settings below apply to the Type Into and Keyboard Shortcuts activities.

Property nameDescription
Type Into - Click before typingWhether to click the specified UI element before typing the text, and the type of click to perform. The following options are available:
  • None
  • Single
  • Double
Type Into - Empty fieldWhether to delete the existing content before typing the text, and how to clear the field. The following options are available:
  • None
  • Single line [End, Shift + Home, Del]
  • Multi line [Ctrl +A, Del]
Type Into - Delay between keys (seconds)Delay time between consecutive keystrokes.
Keyboard Shortcuts - Delay between shortcuts (seconds)Delay time between consecutive special keys.
Keyboard Shortcuts - Delay between keys (seconds)Delay time between consecutive keystrokes.

Other activities

The settings below apply to the Check App State, Extract Table Data, Highlight, Hover, and Inject Js Script activities.

Property nameDescription
Check App State - Timeout (seconds)How long to wait for the target element to appear or disappear.
Extract Table Data - Delay between pages (seconds)If the data spans multiple pages, how long to wait for each page to be loaded.
Highlight - Duration (seconds)How long to highlight the target element.
Hover - Duration (seconds)How long to hover over the target element.
Inject Js Script - Execution worldApplies the InjectJs.ExecutionWorld setting globally. For details, see the Inject Js Script activity.
Close Popup - Popup Appear TimeoutThe amount of time (in seconds) to wait for a pop-up to appear.

Robot Logging

Information about the methods used to identify targets and anchors, and the performance of each method at runtime can be saved in the Robot execution logs. The options apply to all supported activities.

Property nameProperty DescriptionImpacted Activities
Log target & anchor search stepsLog the methods used to identify targets and anchors.
  • Check/Uncheck
  • Check App State
  • Click
  • Extract Table Data
  • Get Text
  • Highlight
  • Hover
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Select Item
  • Type Into
Log targeting methods timingsLog the performance of each targeting method.
  • Check/Uncheck
  • Check App State
  • Click
  • Extract Table Data
  • Get Text
  • Highlight
  • Hover
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Select Item
  • Type Into
Log audit informationSpecifies at what level the logs generated by the Use Application/Browser activity are stored. The following options are available:
  • Off
  • Info
  • Trace
Use Application/Browser

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