UI Automation: Open File dialog elements tree contains not all elements











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I'm trying to use UI Automation with C# to type file path in opened Open dialog and then press Open button. I'm able to find the dialog itself, but searching for inner elements (file path text box and Open button) gives no result. When I traverse elements tree writing elements to log file, I see that the log is obviously too short and not all elements printed out.



Strange behavior: if I switch with mouse on another window, traversing of the dialog returns all elements and I'm able to find desired controls and interact with them.



I've tried many approaches to bypass the problem:




  • open some window, switch to it with AutomationElement.SetFocus;

  • search for element with Win API (FindWindowEx);

  • get AutomationElement by point on screen within dialog's bounding rectangle iterating by x and y with some step.


No one approach give me desired result.



What can cause incomplete elements tree using UI Automation and what is workaround for this?



My scenario is:




  1. test clicks on a button on web page

  2. standard Windows dialog to select a file is opened

  3. I'm trying to fill file path text box and press Open button using UI Automation










share|improve this question
























  • When you have found the AutomationElement (corresponding to the new Window), you can use FindAll() to find a specific class and cast it to AutomationElement. Something like: AutomationElement element = [MainElement].FindAll(TreeScope.Descendants, Automation.RawViewCondition).OfType<AutomationElement>().FirstOrDefault(elm => elm.Current.ClassName.Contains("[Some Class Name]"));
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:18












  • Yes, but problem is elements are not found due to internal elements tree is incomplete for some reason
    – Maxim
    Nov 13 at 12:23










  • They're probably just inside a different container. If you don't know the structure of the Dialog you're inspecting, use Spy++ to explore it, see what the nesting is and act on it. When you have a better view of the Dialog composition, its easier to get to the right elements while parsing the Tree. You'ld have the same problem if you were using EnumChildWindows.
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:27












  • I've inspected structure with inspectors and I see elements I need. As I wrote in my question, if I just switch to another window (while Open dialog is opened), elements are found. Also I print all structure recursively to log and don't see those elements. So there is no problem with how I search for them.
    – Maxim
    Nov 13 at 12:29










  • What is this Dialog? Is it the Shell's BrowseForFolder one?
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:31















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












I'm trying to use UI Automation with C# to type file path in opened Open dialog and then press Open button. I'm able to find the dialog itself, but searching for inner elements (file path text box and Open button) gives no result. When I traverse elements tree writing elements to log file, I see that the log is obviously too short and not all elements printed out.



Strange behavior: if I switch with mouse on another window, traversing of the dialog returns all elements and I'm able to find desired controls and interact with them.



I've tried many approaches to bypass the problem:




  • open some window, switch to it with AutomationElement.SetFocus;

  • search for element with Win API (FindWindowEx);

  • get AutomationElement by point on screen within dialog's bounding rectangle iterating by x and y with some step.


No one approach give me desired result.



What can cause incomplete elements tree using UI Automation and what is workaround for this?



My scenario is:




  1. test clicks on a button on web page

  2. standard Windows dialog to select a file is opened

  3. I'm trying to fill file path text box and press Open button using UI Automation










share|improve this question
























  • When you have found the AutomationElement (corresponding to the new Window), you can use FindAll() to find a specific class and cast it to AutomationElement. Something like: AutomationElement element = [MainElement].FindAll(TreeScope.Descendants, Automation.RawViewCondition).OfType<AutomationElement>().FirstOrDefault(elm => elm.Current.ClassName.Contains("[Some Class Name]"));
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:18












  • Yes, but problem is elements are not found due to internal elements tree is incomplete for some reason
    – Maxim
    Nov 13 at 12:23










  • They're probably just inside a different container. If you don't know the structure of the Dialog you're inspecting, use Spy++ to explore it, see what the nesting is and act on it. When you have a better view of the Dialog composition, its easier to get to the right elements while parsing the Tree. You'ld have the same problem if you were using EnumChildWindows.
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:27












  • I've inspected structure with inspectors and I see elements I need. As I wrote in my question, if I just switch to another window (while Open dialog is opened), elements are found. Also I print all structure recursively to log and don't see those elements. So there is no problem with how I search for them.
    – Maxim
    Nov 13 at 12:29










  • What is this Dialog? Is it the Shell's BrowseForFolder one?
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:31













up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











I'm trying to use UI Automation with C# to type file path in opened Open dialog and then press Open button. I'm able to find the dialog itself, but searching for inner elements (file path text box and Open button) gives no result. When I traverse elements tree writing elements to log file, I see that the log is obviously too short and not all elements printed out.



Strange behavior: if I switch with mouse on another window, traversing of the dialog returns all elements and I'm able to find desired controls and interact with them.



I've tried many approaches to bypass the problem:




  • open some window, switch to it with AutomationElement.SetFocus;

  • search for element with Win API (FindWindowEx);

  • get AutomationElement by point on screen within dialog's bounding rectangle iterating by x and y with some step.


No one approach give me desired result.



What can cause incomplete elements tree using UI Automation and what is workaround for this?



My scenario is:




  1. test clicks on a button on web page

  2. standard Windows dialog to select a file is opened

  3. I'm trying to fill file path text box and press Open button using UI Automation










share|improve this question















I'm trying to use UI Automation with C# to type file path in opened Open dialog and then press Open button. I'm able to find the dialog itself, but searching for inner elements (file path text box and Open button) gives no result. When I traverse elements tree writing elements to log file, I see that the log is obviously too short and not all elements printed out.



Strange behavior: if I switch with mouse on another window, traversing of the dialog returns all elements and I'm able to find desired controls and interact with them.



I've tried many approaches to bypass the problem:




  • open some window, switch to it with AutomationElement.SetFocus;

  • search for element with Win API (FindWindowEx);

  • get AutomationElement by point on screen within dialog's bounding rectangle iterating by x and y with some step.


No one approach give me desired result.



What can cause incomplete elements tree using UI Automation and what is workaround for this?



My scenario is:




  1. test clicks on a button on web page

  2. standard Windows dialog to select a file is opened

  3. I'm trying to fill file path text box and press Open button using UI Automation







c# ui-automation






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













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edited Nov 13 at 13:20

























asked Nov 13 at 12:04









Maxim

8181716




8181716












  • When you have found the AutomationElement (corresponding to the new Window), you can use FindAll() to find a specific class and cast it to AutomationElement. Something like: AutomationElement element = [MainElement].FindAll(TreeScope.Descendants, Automation.RawViewCondition).OfType<AutomationElement>().FirstOrDefault(elm => elm.Current.ClassName.Contains("[Some Class Name]"));
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:18












  • Yes, but problem is elements are not found due to internal elements tree is incomplete for some reason
    – Maxim
    Nov 13 at 12:23










  • They're probably just inside a different container. If you don't know the structure of the Dialog you're inspecting, use Spy++ to explore it, see what the nesting is and act on it. When you have a better view of the Dialog composition, its easier to get to the right elements while parsing the Tree. You'ld have the same problem if you were using EnumChildWindows.
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:27












  • I've inspected structure with inspectors and I see elements I need. As I wrote in my question, if I just switch to another window (while Open dialog is opened), elements are found. Also I print all structure recursively to log and don't see those elements. So there is no problem with how I search for them.
    – Maxim
    Nov 13 at 12:29










  • What is this Dialog? Is it the Shell's BrowseForFolder one?
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:31


















  • When you have found the AutomationElement (corresponding to the new Window), you can use FindAll() to find a specific class and cast it to AutomationElement. Something like: AutomationElement element = [MainElement].FindAll(TreeScope.Descendants, Automation.RawViewCondition).OfType<AutomationElement>().FirstOrDefault(elm => elm.Current.ClassName.Contains("[Some Class Name]"));
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:18












  • Yes, but problem is elements are not found due to internal elements tree is incomplete for some reason
    – Maxim
    Nov 13 at 12:23










  • They're probably just inside a different container. If you don't know the structure of the Dialog you're inspecting, use Spy++ to explore it, see what the nesting is and act on it. When you have a better view of the Dialog composition, its easier to get to the right elements while parsing the Tree. You'ld have the same problem if you were using EnumChildWindows.
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:27












  • I've inspected structure with inspectors and I see elements I need. As I wrote in my question, if I just switch to another window (while Open dialog is opened), elements are found. Also I print all structure recursively to log and don't see those elements. So there is no problem with how I search for them.
    – Maxim
    Nov 13 at 12:29










  • What is this Dialog? Is it the Shell's BrowseForFolder one?
    – Jimi
    Nov 13 at 12:31
















When you have found the AutomationElement (corresponding to the new Window), you can use FindAll() to find a specific class and cast it to AutomationElement. Something like: AutomationElement element = [MainElement].FindAll(TreeScope.Descendants, Automation.RawViewCondition).OfType<AutomationElement>().FirstOrDefault(elm => elm.Current.ClassName.Contains("[Some Class Name]"));
– Jimi
Nov 13 at 12:18






When you have found the AutomationElement (corresponding to the new Window), you can use FindAll() to find a specific class and cast it to AutomationElement. Something like: AutomationElement element = [MainElement].FindAll(TreeScope.Descendants, Automation.RawViewCondition).OfType<AutomationElement>().FirstOrDefault(elm => elm.Current.ClassName.Contains("[Some Class Name]"));
– Jimi
Nov 13 at 12:18














Yes, but problem is elements are not found due to internal elements tree is incomplete for some reason
– Maxim
Nov 13 at 12:23




Yes, but problem is elements are not found due to internal elements tree is incomplete for some reason
– Maxim
Nov 13 at 12:23












They're probably just inside a different container. If you don't know the structure of the Dialog you're inspecting, use Spy++ to explore it, see what the nesting is and act on it. When you have a better view of the Dialog composition, its easier to get to the right elements while parsing the Tree. You'ld have the same problem if you were using EnumChildWindows.
– Jimi
Nov 13 at 12:27






They're probably just inside a different container. If you don't know the structure of the Dialog you're inspecting, use Spy++ to explore it, see what the nesting is and act on it. When you have a better view of the Dialog composition, its easier to get to the right elements while parsing the Tree. You'ld have the same problem if you were using EnumChildWindows.
– Jimi
Nov 13 at 12:27














I've inspected structure with inspectors and I see elements I need. As I wrote in my question, if I just switch to another window (while Open dialog is opened), elements are found. Also I print all structure recursively to log and don't see those elements. So there is no problem with how I search for them.
– Maxim
Nov 13 at 12:29




I've inspected structure with inspectors and I see elements I need. As I wrote in my question, if I just switch to another window (while Open dialog is opened), elements are found. Also I print all structure recursively to log and don't see those elements. So there is no problem with how I search for them.
– Maxim
Nov 13 at 12:29












What is this Dialog? Is it the Shell's BrowseForFolder one?
– Jimi
Nov 13 at 12:31




What is this Dialog? Is it the Shell's BrowseForFolder one?
– Jimi
Nov 13 at 12:31












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I finally came to this workaround:




  1. the dialog is opened with textbox focused, so get handle to currently focused control;

  2. get AutomationElement by the handle;

  3. send Alt + O using SendKeys.SendWait.






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    up vote
    0
    down vote













    I finally came to this workaround:




    1. the dialog is opened with textbox focused, so get handle to currently focused control;

    2. get AutomationElement by the handle;

    3. send Alt + O using SendKeys.SendWait.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      I finally came to this workaround:




      1. the dialog is opened with textbox focused, so get handle to currently focused control;

      2. get AutomationElement by the handle;

      3. send Alt + O using SendKeys.SendWait.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        0
        down vote










        up vote
        0
        down vote









        I finally came to this workaround:




        1. the dialog is opened with textbox focused, so get handle to currently focused control;

        2. get AutomationElement by the handle;

        3. send Alt + O using SendKeys.SendWait.






        share|improve this answer












        I finally came to this workaround:




        1. the dialog is opened with textbox focused, so get handle to currently focused control;

        2. get AutomationElement by the handle;

        3. send Alt + O using SendKeys.SendWait.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Nov 14 at 15:12









        Maxim

        8181716




        8181716






























             

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