[PAD; Windows 11] Does the "Click UI element in a window" action only work in web browsers? Any time I attempt to use it in an application (like MS Word), I get stuck with a perpetual "Wait for action" message. This is making it 10x harder to create my flow...

[paul_cranberry]

I realize an alternative would be to have the flow click at a specified XY coordinate, but I'm hesitant to do this because the flow will be used across different computers and display sizes. Any workarounds?

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @paul_cranberry 

Click UI element in a window action should work in Non-browser UI Elements as it is deisgned to action for that. Regarding wait for action to display selector- sometimes it may take time but not too longer- so did you tried it again by closing and opening the flow to see any change in detection speed ?

Thanks & Regards,

Nived N 🚀

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[paul_cranberry]

Thanks for your response. Rather than close out of the UI picker once I got that "Wait for action" message, I tried waiting, and eventually, it worked. It took about 15 seconds of waiting before the UI element "registered." Previously, I assumed it was frozen. Turns out it just took a long time.

Unfortunately, once I play the flow, it takes 45 seconds to click the element in MS Word. Any idea why? My flow is relatively short and simple: opens Word, changes some dates in the text, runs a macro, done. It's bizarre to me that it's getting bogged down by just clicking a UI element (the "Macros" button under the Development tab).

[NathanAlvares24 · Accepted solution]

Hi @paul_cranberry !

Instead of using "Click UI element", use "send keys" action.

Here is one flow:

So I open my word file, find and replace the text maybe a date or simple text and then switch to the developer tab using send keys.

Configuration of some actions:

This action is to go to developer tab, and then click on the macros section

Then this will send keys like up or down depending on how many macros are there. So the no. of up and down keys will change based on how many macros are there and which specific macro you wish to run. Then simply hit enter key to run the macro.

my macros:

This is just a test so my macros are blank.

If the process of macros are huge, try to put "Wait" action after this before closing the word file.

Code (just copy and paste into your flow):

Word.LaunchWord.LaunchAndOpen Path: $'''C:\\Users\\UserName\\Desktop\\Doc1.docx''' Visible: True ReadOnly: False Instance=> WordInstance
UIAutomation.SetWindowState.SetStateByInstanceOrHandle WindowInstance: WordInstance State: UIAutomation.WindowState.Maximized
# find the text to replace with
Word.FindAndReplaceWord.FindAndReplaceAllWithoutWildcards Instance: WordInstance TextToFind: $'''June 26, 2024''' TextToReplaceWith: $'''26th June 2024''' MatchCase: True MatchEntireWord: False
# Go to developer tab and then go to macro tab
MouseAndKeyboard.SendKeys.FocusAndSendKeysByInstanceOrHandle WindowInstance: WordInstance TextToSend: $'''{Alt}({L}){PM}''' DelayBetweenKeystrokes: 10 SendTextAsHardwareKeys: True
# Select the macro using up and down keys (if many) to select your macro. This needs to be changed if you want a particular macro. Then hit Enter to run the macro
MouseAndKeyboard.SendKeys.FocusAndSendKeysByInstanceOrHandle WindowInstance: WordInstance TextToSend: $'''{Down}{Return}''' DelayBetweenKeystrokes: 10 SendTextAsHardwareKeys: True
# Close and save the word file
Word.CloseWord.CloseAndSave Instance: WordInstance

Before:

Between this a macro will run using the send keys.

After:

I hope this helps.

[paul_cranberry]

I like the idea of using Send Keys instead of UI elements. Great solution.