Adding Design Blocks

Once you add an automation to your project, you define the project integration, automation, and event tracking logic by adding properties, methods, and events for application controls. You can also add Studio components for performing specific functions, such as displaying a message box, comparing data values, and executing custom methods (scripts).

Events

An automation must contain at least one initiating event to execute. The event can originate from interrogated controls, Studio adapters, entry points, and Windows form/App Bar controls.

After you have identified the initiating event, you drag the event from the Object Inspector onto the automation. A design block is displayed on the automation to represent the event. Here is an example of a design block for the Click event of a button interrogated from the Calculator windows application:

Note that event blocks do not have input event ports and the only data that can be sent from an event is the sender object.

Properties

Accessible properties for controls can also be added to automations from the Object Inspector. Here is an example of the Text property for a Textbox control on a Windows application:

Design blocks for properties always display the designation Properties. The event ports next to the Properties designation are used to trigger the property to pull data to the input data port and output a trigger after the input trigger occurs. The data ports are used to input or output data for the property. Note that for some properties, you can statically set the value of the property by clicking under the Properties designation and typing a value:

Methods

Standard methods for controls can be added to an automation from Object Explorer. (You can also create your own methods using the Script component.) Here is an example of the WaitForCreate method for a Windows application text box:

Note: All methods require an input trigger to execute.

Related information

Data and Execution Paths

General Windows Control Properties Methods Events

General Web Control Properties, Methods and Events