--- sourceDocument: Yokohama Data and Automation sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/yokohama/integrate-applications Release : - yokohama ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Yokohama Data and Automation ft:clusterId : - crint bundleId : - crint workflow : - Creator --- # Use the Universal App Connector # Use the Universal App Connector {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Yokohama * * Updated January 30, 2025 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 6 minutes to read Create automations for your Windows, Java, Google Chrome, and Edge browser-based applications by using the Universal App Connector (UAC). Configure the applications from a single, unified connector and capture the screens and elements or screen controls such as check boxes, and buttons. Use the methods of these screens and elements to build your automation. ## Before you begin Add the Universal App Connector plugin from the Plugins Manager before using the connector. For more information about adding the SSH plugin, see [Manage plugins in RPA Desktop Design Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/LLitlzflHWG66S_7s6gF7A "Install, update, or remove plugins to design automations while you're creating unattended and attended automation projects in RPA Desktop Design Studio."). Verify that you have open or active Windows, Java, Google Chrome, or Edge applications. Role required: None ## Procedure 1. In the Toolbox pane, navigate to Connectors, and drag Universal App Connector to Global Objects in the Project Explorer pane. The connector is added as a UniversalApplication object under Global Objects. 2. To use the methods at the Universal App Connector connector level, double-click the UniversalApplication object. | Method name | Reference | | Click | [Use the Click method for Universal App Connector](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Aj3sqX96HgKzPW8ft4gwPg "Use the Click method to perform a click action on an element.") | | GetValue | [Use the GetValue method for Universal App Connector](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/KAfMvoIMlshiMup9eTn~6w "Use the GetValue method to retrieve a value from an element.") | | SetValue | [Use the SetValue method for Universal App Connector](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/6D~1IHNGSACSD95ooPm2Lw "Use the SetValue method to assign a specified value into an element.") | | Start | [Use the Start method for Universal App Connector](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/aWhCPEjc3ai6jWM26xFZ6w "Use the Start method to launch a browser or an application for the Universal App Connector (UAC) object. You can use this method if you want a browser or application to start before interacting with any application screens or elements.") | | WaitForAnyScreen | [Use the WaitForAnyScreen method for Universal App Connector](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/eOEtrkl4TNz3qaw2pShBSw "Find one or more application screens and optionally, their child elements within a time period that you specify and then perform actions that you specify.") | |-|-| {#configure-uac__choicetable_cfy_s5s_bfc} For example, the Start method is used if you want the browser or application to start before interacting with any application screens or elements. The methods appear in the Object Explorer pane. 3. To configure the screens and elements in the UAC, do the steps. 1. Under Global Objects, right-click UniversalApplication and select Configure. 2. On the Configure screens and elements window, select the Choose from an open window drop-down (![Choose from an open window drop-down.]()) and select an application screen. Note: * If no supported applications are open, the `App window not found message` is displayed. * To display newly opened application screens on the list, select the Click to refresh windows icon (![Click to refresh windows icon.]()). {#configure-uac__ul_nht_fq1_rzb} 3. **Optional:** To filter the opened applications by their type, select the All filter application type icon (![Filter application type icon.]()) and select All or the application type. For example, if you select Chrome, only Google Chrome web pages appear in the Choose from an open window list. For example, if you select Windows Application, only Windows screens appear in the Choose from an open window list. Figure 1. Filter the opened applications 4. To add the selected application screen, select Add screen. After you do this step, you can capture the screen elements to perform actions. The application screen appears under the Screens and elements pane. 5. To capture the elements from the screen, under the Screen and elements pane, right-click the added screen and select Capture Element. The focus is set on the application screen that you had captured and the capture elements dialog appears. For example, when you are capturing elements of a Windows application such as Notepad. If you select the UIA mode (UI Automation), the scroll bar of the Notepad is also captured.Figure 2. Capture dialog for Windows application - Notepad - UIA mode If you select the AA mode (Active Accessibility), the scroll bar of the Notepad is not captured.Figure 3. Capture dialog for Windows application - Notepad - AA mode 6. To use the methods at the Universal App Connector connector level for the two modes, UI Automation and Active Accessibility, double-click the UniversalApplication object. For more information about the methods for UI Automation mode and Active Accessibility mode, see [Methods of UI Automation mode and Active Accessibility mode](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/gYgGsw2UO1V4bz0PWM~EAw "The Universal app connector provides multiple methods that perform various actions when screens are captured in Windows applications, for UI Automation mode and Active Accessibility mode."). The methods appear in the Object Explorer pane. {#configure-uac__substeps_yyp_tn1_rzb} 4. Do any of the following options for a desired action. | Option | Action | | To rename UniversalApplication | Navigate to Global Objects in the Project Explorer pane, right-click the UniversalApplication and select Rename. Figure 4. Rename UniversalApplication | | To change the name of the screen while configuring the screens and elements | 1. Select the name of the application screen under the Screens and elements pane.The information of the selected application screen appears under the Properties pane. 2. Update the name of the application screen in the Name field and press Enter. The name of the application is updated in the Screens and elements pane. {#configure-uac__ol_xv1_fws_bfc} Figure 5. Update the application screen name | | To identify the screen uniquely | Use the screen match rules to identify and locate the screen. During the execution, the plugin must identify the target screen uniquely to automate actions on the screen. Examples of attributes are the title or URL of the application screen. The attributes appear under the Screen match rules pane on the Configure screens and elements window. The UAC uses the screen match rules to identify the screen first, and uses the element match rule to identify the element, and then, perform actions on elements such as Click or Get Text. The image below shows an example of multiple elements that match the same criteria given in the Match Attributes section. A multiple number of instances, if any, appears when you refresh the captured element, is indicated within the brackets in red. In such cases, you must tweak the attributes to select exactly the element that needs to be automated. The user can refresh to check if the selected criteria match exactly one element. | | To identify an element uniquely | Use the element match rules to edit the values in the provided Locator and the Match Attributes sections. During the execution, the plugin must identify the target element uniquely to automate actions on the element. The attributes appear under the Match Attributes pane on the Configure screens and elements window. The UAC uses the screen match rules to identify the screen first, and uses the element match rule to identify the element, and then, perform actions on elements such as Click or Get Text. The image shows the match rules of an element captured. | | To find the elements on the application screen | Use the locators of the captured elements. For more information, see [Find the elements on the application screen](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/2OzPdKqghaksBnra73U3ZA "Use the locators of the captured elements to find the elements on the application screen while using the Universal App Connector (UAC) in the RPA Desktop Design Studio."). | | To view the path to an iframe, if any, in a captured element | 1. In the Screens and elements pane, select the element. 2. Select the Advanced tab. The iframe appears. 3. From the Locator list, select a locator to find the path to the iframe. {#configure-uac__ol_cxl_hzs_bfc} | |-|-| {#configure-uac__choicetable_zm4_lwz_vrb} 5. **Optional:** Right-click the application screen or element to perform any additional operations such as Refresh, Refresh screen and elements, Focus, Add custom element, Show Elements, Delete, and more. For information on the various additional operations that are available for the application screens and elements, see [Additional options for application screens and elements in Universal App Connector](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/XMARQ6I5n2KvARPBHWITig "Validate and perform additional operations for the added application screens and their captured elements. The additional options for the application screens are categorized based on the application type."). 6. Select Done after you finish configuring your application screens or elements. The application screens and their elements appear under the UAC object in Global Objects. 7. Double-click the required application screen or element and the Object Explorer pane is displayed listing the related methods. For example, if you select a Java application screen or element, the Java connector methods are displayed in Object Explorer. * For more information on Java connector methods, see [Java connector methods](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dOgVYew6LRwEYGjD2n2vtg "The Java connector exposes methods at the connector, screen, and element levels. While all types of elements have common methods, they also have different methods."). * For more information on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge connector methods, see [Chromium connector methods](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/cHS7BwGvNrVm8rCXx_OBOQ "The Chromium connector methods do different tasks on the applications, screens, and the elements on the screens of the Google Chrome and the Microsoft Edge browsers."). * For more information on Windows connector methods, see [Windows Connector methods](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/eaKuKj5yAkakf0ifkUXK8Q "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."). * If you have captured a web application screen and you want to execute a custom JavaScript on it, you can use the ExecuteJavascript method. {#configure-uac__ul_isz_5mx_gwb} 8. Capture as many screen elements as you need by using the Capture element dialog. To learn to use the Capture element dialog, see [Use the Capture element dialog](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/l_lXQoEXNIR438lBPMItZA "Identify and capture the elements on a web-based, Java, or Windows application screen by using the Capture element dialog."). The captured screen elements appear under the captured application screen as elements. 9. Drag the required method from the Object Explorer pane to the Design surface. The method is displayed with the application screen or element name in the Design surface. ## What to do next Design the automation by using the different methods for the application screens and elements, and save the automation.