Win32 Connector

(Available from version 7.0 onwards.)

Automation Studio is designed to provide powerful and reliable screen element capturing from applications that are based on Windows API technologies.

Connector Features

The built-in Win32 connector provides the following features:

Configure the Connector

No configuration is required for the Win32 connector. This connector is enabled by default.

Capture a Screen Element

The procedure for capturing a Win32 object is the same as for all screen elements. See Capture a Screen Element.

Edit a Screen Element

The Edit Screen Element window opens after capturing a screen element. This screen allows you to customize how the screen element is treated and identified. See Edit a Screen Element.

Information specific to Win32 objects is provided below.

Element Hierarchy

The element hierarchy for a captured Win32 object is as follows:

  • Root branch for the Win32 Process

    • Win32 Form element, which is the parent to the rest of the Win32 screen elements, including the captured screen element at the bottom of the hierarchy.

      • The Win32 screen element.

See View the Element Hierarchy.

Screen Element Types Supported

The screen element type values available differ between levels in the hierarchy.

Type

Screen Element Types

Win32 Screen Elements

  • General Win32

  • Win32 List View

  • Win32 Edit

  • Win32 Tab

  • Win32 Combo

  • Win32 Tool Bar

  • Win32 List Box

  • Win32 Tree View

  • Win32 Flex Grid

  • Win32 Radio Button

  • Win32 Check Box

  • Win32 Button

  • Win32 Slider

  • Win32 Form

  • Win32 Poller

    Win32 Poller is a class that identifies a screen element based on its self-properties, where some of these self-properties may change without an event after the screen element has been identified. In such dynamic cases, the screen element type should be manually changed to Win32 Poller. The Poller type functionality includes a Text property that is updated every time the screen element is polled.

  • Win32 Status Bar

Win32 Form

  • Win32 Form

Win32 Process

  • Process

Recognition Properties Supported

The recognition properties available differ between levels in the hierarchy.

Main Relation Type

The element's main relation type is displayed in the Edit Screen Element window, but cannot be changed.

This section is not displayed for the Win32 Process.

See Identify an Element's Main Relation Type.

Multi Instance Support

The Win32 connector provides support for multiple instances.

You can specify which instance of the application to relate to if multiple instance of the same application are open.

Multi instance support differs between levels in the hierarchy.

Type

Multi Instance Support

Win32 Screen Element Optional, inactive by default.

Win32 Form

Optional, inactive by default.

Win32 Process

Active by default, cannot be deactivated.

See Set Multi Instance Behavior

Screen Element Assets

Each screen elements has its own properties, functions, and events. These are visible in the Assets Panel.

For information on screen element assets, see here.

Monitor Screen Elements in Debug Mode

When in debug mode, you can view and modify the values of a screen element's properties.

For example, the text entered in the editing area can be viewed or modified during debug.

See Monitor Screen Elements in Execution Mode.