Windows Connector methods

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
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    Summary of Windows Connector methods

    The Windows Connector methods in RPA Desktop Design Studio enable interaction with Windows applications at multiple levels: connector, window, and element. These methods facilitate automation tasks such as starting or terminating applications, manipulating windows, handling form data, capturing screenshots, and sending keystrokes. This functionality helps ServiceNow customers automate repetitive Windows application workflows effectively.

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    Connector level methods

    These methods control the overall Windows application session and include:

    • CloseMainWindow: Closes the active application window.
    • GetMainWindowHandle: Retrieves the handle ID of the active window.
    • GetMainWindowTitle: Retrieves the title of the active window.
    • SetWorkingDirectory: Defines the working directory for file operations via the application.
    • Start: Launches the application.
    • Terminate: Ends the application process.

    Window level methods

    These methods operate on specific windows within the application and enable:

    • Focus: Bring an inactive or background window to the foreground.
    • GetFields: Extract data from form fields; requires prior configuration to select form elements and update data types.
    • GetScreenShot: Capture a bitmap image of the current window screen.
    • IsCreated: Boolean check whether a window matches predefined rules.
    • Maximize/Minimize: Adjust window size.
    • SendKeys: Simulate keystrokes; accepts keys input, with options to clear existing values and set typing delay.
    • SetFields: Populate form fields after configuration to specify elements and data types.
    • WaitForCreate: Wait for a window or webpage to load within a specified timeout.

    Element level methods

    Available when interacting with individual application elements under Global Objects, these include:

    • Click: Perform click operations on UI elements.
    • IsCreated: Verify if an element matches configured criteria.
    • SendKeys: Send keyboard inputs to specific elements with options for clearing existing values and typing delay.
    • SetPassword: Securely automate password entry. Accepts a secured string for the password and a Boolean to toggle SendKeys usage if the default method fails.

    Practical application for ServiceNow customers

    By leveraging these methods, customers can design robust RPA workflows to automate Windows application processes, including launching and closing apps, managing window states, extracting and inputting form data, handling secure credentials, and simulating user interactions. Proper configuration of form elements and understanding method inputs and outputs ensure reliable automation outcomes.

    The Windows methods in RPA Desktop Design Studio interact with the Windows applications to perform various tasks. The connector provides methods at different levels of the Windows applications.

    Windows connector method levels

    Connector level methods

    Window level methods

    Element level methods

    Connector level methods

    CloseMainWindow

    Closes the active window of the application.

    GetMainWindowHandle

    Retrieves the handle ID of the active window of the application.

    GetMainWindowTitle

    Retrieves the title of the active window of the application.

    SetWorkingDirectory

    Sets the working directory of the application for all file operations through the application to be performed in the specified directory.

    Input
    Path

    Start

    Starts the application.

    Input
    Path Args

    Terminate

    Terminates the application.

    Window level methods

    Focus

    Sets the focus on a window that is inactive, minimized, or in the background.

    GetFields

    Returns the data in the form fields of the screen. You must configure the method before using.

    To configure, do the following steps.
    1. Click the method settings icon (Method settings icon.).
    2. Select the form elements.
    3. Update the form element data type.
    4. Click OK.
    Output
    Form element data

    GetScreenShot

    Captures the screenshot of the screen.
    Output
    Return (Bitmap)

    IsCreated

    Returns the Boolean response depending on whether a specific window matches the rules set in the MATCH CHILDREN section of the configuration window.
    Inputs
    MatchAllChildren
    Outputs
    Return (Boolean)

    Maximize

    Maximizes the window.

    Minimize

    Minimizes the window.

    SendKeys

    Simulates keystrokes on web pages and windows.
    Inputs
    Keys
    ClearExistingValue (Boolean)
    TypeDelay

    SetFields

    Sets data in form field types. To set the form fields, you must first configure the method. To configure, do the following steps.
    1. Click the method settings icon (Method settings icon.).
    2. Select the form elements.
    3. Update the form element data type.
    4. Click OK.
    Input
    Form data field

    WaitForCreate

    Sets delay before a web page or a window loads.
    Inputs
    timeoutInSeconds
    MatchAllChildren
    Outputs
    Return (Boolean)

    Element level methods

    These methods are exposed when you double-click an application element under the Global Objects in the Project Explorer.

    Click

    Performs a click operation.

    IsCreated

    Checks whether an element matches the rules set in the MATCH CHILDREN window.
    Outputs
    Return (Boolean)

    SendKeys

    Simulates keystrokes on web pages and windows.
    Inputs
    Keys (String)
    ClearExistingValue
    TypeDelay (Double)

    SetPassword

    Automate entering password securely in the password field of a Windows application.

    To provide inputs to the fields see Configure port properties.
    Table 1. SetPassword method parameters
    Parameter Description Data Port type Data type Default value Mandatory? Notes
    Password Accepts the password as a secured string. Data In Secured string None Yes Since it accepts the password as a secured string, it only shows the length of the string when you right-click on the parameter and then click Preview Data.
    UseSendKeys SendKeys is a method used to send keyboard inputs such as characters, numbers, and symbols to text boxes inside an application. Data In Boolean False Yes
    Tip:
    If the SetPassword method fails to input the password in the password field, set the value to True and execute the method again.