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Automating Controls

This Documentation is only for Ranorex 1.x versions.

Click here for the Ranorex 2.0 documentation

The following code examples show how to automate GUI controls using Ranorex Automation Framework for testing purposes. Currently all examples are available for C# and VB.NET testing.

Button

Following code first finds a Button using the control name "button1". After that the button is clicked and its state read.

C#

Button button = form.FindButton("button1");
button.Click();
button.Click(MouseButtonType.RightButton);
if(button.Pressed)
  Console.WriteLine("button1 is pressed");

VB.NET

Dim button As Ranorex.Button
button = form.FindButton("button1")
Ranorex.Mouse.MoveToControl(button)
button.Click()

Python

button1 = Ranorex.FormFindChildControlName(form,'button1')
Ranorex.ButtonClick(button1)
if Ranorex.ButtonIsPressed(button1):
   print 'button1 is pressed'

CheckBox

This code finds a CheckBox by its control name, reads its state and sets the checked state to true.

C#

CheckBox checkBox = form.FindCheckBox("checkBox1");
Console.WriteLine("checkBox1 state: " + checkBox.Checked);
checkBox.Checked = true;

VB.NET

Dim checkBox As Ranorex.CheckBox
checkBox = form.FindCheckBox("checkBox1")
checkBox.Checked = True
Ranorex.Application.Sleep(1000)
checkBox.Checked = False

Python

check1 = Ranorex.FormFindChildControlName(form,'checkBox1')
print 'checkBox1 state: ' + Ranorex.ButtonIsChecked(check1)
Ranorex.ButtonCheck(check1)
Ranorex.ButtonUncheck(check1)

RadioButton

This code finds a RadioButton by its control name "radioButton1", reads its state and sets the checked state to true.

C#

String itemText;
RadioButton radio1 = form.FindRadioButton("radioButton1");
Console.WriteLine("radio1 state: " + radio1.Checked);
radio1.Checked = true;

VB.NET

Dim radioButton As Ranorex.RadioButton
radioButton = form.FindRadioButton("radioButton1")
radioButton.Checked = True

Python

radio1 = Ranorex.FormFindChildControlName(form,'radioButton1')
print 'radioButton1 state: ' + Ranorex.ButtonIsChecked(radio1)
Ranorex.ButtonCheck(radio1)
Ranorex.ButtonUncheck(radio1)

ComboBox

This example finds a ComboBox with control name "comboBox1". The methods "ShowDropDown" and "HideDropDown" causes the control to show and hide all items of the ComboBox. After that the amount of entries and it's text content will be read.

C#

ComboBox comboBox = form.FindComboBox("comboBox1");
comboBox.ShowDropDown();
comboBox.HideDropDown();
int items = comboBox.ItemCount;
Console.WriteLine("ComboBox ItemCount=" + items.ToString());
 
for(int i=0; i<items; i++)
{
    string itemText = comboBox.GetItemText(i);
    comboBox.SelectedIndex = i;
    Console.WriteLine("Item[{0}]={1}", comboBox.SelectedIndex, comboBox.SelectedText);
}
</pre>

VB.NET

Dim comboBox As Ranorex.ComboBox
comboBox = form.FindComboBox("comboBox1")
comboBox.ShowDropDown()
comboBox.HideDropDown()

Dim items As Integer
items = comboBox.ItemCount

Dim text As String
For i As Integer = 0 To items
     text = comboBox.GetItemText(i)
     comboBox.SelectedIndex = i
     Console.WriteLine(text)
     Ranorex.Application.Sleep(200)
Next

TextBox

The following example shows different ways of setting the text of a TextBox.

C#

TextBox textBox = form.FindTextBox("textBox1");
// Moves the mouse to the control
Mouse.MoveToControl(textBox);
textBox.Focus();
// Sets the content of the TextBox to "hello"
textBox.Text = "hello";
// Inserts the value "Ranorex" at the beginning of the current
// text content using a time delay of 100 milliseconds between
// each keystroke
textBox.SendKeys("Ranorex", 100);

VB.NET

Dim textBox As Ranorex.TextBox
textBox = form.FindTextBox("textBox1")
Ranorex.Mouse.MoveToControl(textBox)
textBox.Focus()

' Sets the content of the TextBox to "hello"
textBox.Text = "hello"
' Inserts the value "Ranorex" at the beginning of the current
' text content using a time delay of 100 milliseconds between
' each keystroke
textBox.SendKeys("Ranorex", 100)

ListView

This code selects and reads elements of a ListView control.

C#

ListView listView = form.FindListView("listView1");
// Moves the mouse to the control
Mouse.MoveToControl(listView);
listView.Focus();
// Reading item count
Console.WriteLine("ItemCount={0}", listView.ItemCount);
// Selects each item of the ListView and reads
// it's main and first sub entry
for (int i=0; i < itemCount;i++)
{
    // Reads main entry
    text = listView.GetItemText(i,0);
    Console.WriteLine("  Item[{0},{1}]={2}",i,0,text);
    listView.SelectItem(text);
    // Reads sub entry
    text = listView.GetItemText(i, 1);
    Console.WriteLine("  Item[{0},{1}]={2}", i, 1, text);
}

VB.NET

Dim listView As Ranorex.ListView
listView = form.FindListView("listView1")
'Moves the mouse to the control
Ranorex.Mouse.MoveToControl(listView)
listView.Focus()
'Reading and writing item count
Console.WriteLine("ItemCount=" + listView.ItemCount.ToString())
'Selects each item of the ListView and reads
'it's main and first sub entry
Dim items As Integer
Dim text As String
items = listView.ItemCount
For i As Integer = 0 To items
    'Reads main entry
    text = listView.GetItemText(i, 0)
    Console.WriteLine("Item[{0},{1}]={2}", i, 0, text)
    'Select item
    listView.SelectItem(text)
    'Reads sub entry
    text = listView.GetItemText(i, 1)
    Console.WriteLine("Item[{0},{1}]={2}", i, 1, text)
    Ranorex.Application.Sleep(200)
Next

ListBox

The following example reads the content of a ListBox and selects each item using the item's text.

C#

// Finds the ListBox by it's control name "listBox1"
ListBox listBox = form.FindListBox("listBox1");
Mouse.MoveToControl(listBox);
listBox.Focus();
// Reads the selected element
string text = listBox.SelectedText;
Console.WriteLine("  Selected text={0}", text);
// Gets the item count of the ListBox
int itemCount = listBox.ItemCount;
Console.WriteLine("ItemCount={0}", itemCount);
// Reads the currently selected index of the ListBox            
int index = listBox.SelectedIndex;
Console.WriteLine("  Selected index={0}",index);
// Selects each element of the ListBox
for (int i=0; i < itemCount;i++)
{
    // Reads item text
    text = listBox.GetItemText(i);
    Console.WriteLine("Item[{0}]={1}",i,text);
    // Using item text to select element   
    listBox.SelectedText = text;
}

VB.NET

Dim listBox As Ranorex.ListBox
listBox = form.FindListBox("listBox1")
'Moves the mouse to the control
Ranorex.Mouse.MoveToControl(listBox)
listBox.Focus()
'Reads the selected element
'Dim text As String
text = listBox.SelectedText
Console.WriteLine("Selected text: " + text)
'Gets the item count of the ListBox
Dim itemCount As Integer
itemCount = listBox.ItemCount
Console.WriteLine("Item count: " + itemCount.ToString())
'Reads the currently selected index of the ListBox 
Dim index As Integer
index = listBox.SelectedIndex
Console.WriteLine("Selected index: " + index.ToString())
'Dim items As Integer
items = listBox.ItemCount

Selects each element of the ListBox
For i As Integer = 0 To items
    'Reads item text by index
    text = listBox.GetItemText(i)
    'Using item text to select element
    listBox.SelectedText = text
    Ranorex.Application.Sleep(200)
Next

CheckedListBox

The following code sample shows how to select and check items of a CheckedListBox control.

C#


Control checkedListBox = form.FindControlName("checkedListBox1");
checkedListBox.Focus();
 
Element element = checkedListBox.Element.FindChild(Role.CheckButton, "Item2", null);                
if (element != null)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Element Item2 found");
    // Reads size and positon of "Item2"
    Point point = element.Location;
    Size size = element.Size;
                    
    Console.WriteLine("  Item Value={0} Location=({1},{2}) DefaultAction={3}", element.Value, point.X, point.Y, element.DefaultAction);
    // If elemet state is checked "DoDefaultAction" means to uncheck the check box
    element.DoDefaultAction();
    Console.WriteLine("  Item Value={0} Location=({1},{2}) DefaultAction={3}", element.Value, point.X, point.Y, element.DefaultAction);
    element.DoDefaultAction();
}

VB.NET

Dim checkedListBox As Ranorex.Control
checkedListBox = form.FindControlName("checkedListBox1")
Dim element As Ranorex.Element
element = checkedListBox.Element.FindChild(Role.CheckButton, "Item2")
If Not element Is Nothing Then
    Console.WriteLine("Element Item2 found")
    'Reads size and position of "Item2"
    Dim point As System.Drawing.Point
    Dim size As System.Drawing.Size
    point = element.Location
    size = element.Size
    Console.WriteLine("  Item Value={0} Location=({1},{2}) DefaultAction={3}", element.Value, point.X, point.Y, element.DefaultAction)
    ' If elemet state is checked "DoDefaultAction" means to uncheck the check box
    element.DoDefaultAction()
    Console.WriteLine("  Item Value={0} Location=({1},{2}) DefaultAction={3}", element.Value, point.X, point.Y, element.DefaultAction)
    element.DoDefaultAction()
End If

TreeView

The following code sample shows how to read content from a TreeView and how to select items using a recursive routine.

C#

TreeView treeView = form.FindTreeView("treeView1");
Mouse.MoveToControl(treeView);
treeView.Focus();
// Reads the text of the currently selected item 
string text = treeView.SelectedText;
 
// Gets item number of root item
Int32 actItem = treeView.RootItem;
TreeViewCheckItem(treeView, actItem);
 
// Selects each item of the TreeNode recursively
static void TreeViewCheckItem(TreeView treeView, Int32 item)
{
   text = treeView.GetItemText(item);
   Console.WriteLine("    text={0}",text);
   Int32 actItem = item;
   while ( actItem >= 0 )
   {
	Int32 subitem = treeView.GetChildItem(actItem);
	// Calls routine for each sub item
	if ( subitem > 0 )
	    TreeViewCheckItem(treeView, subitem);
	actItem = treeView.GetNextItem(actItem);
	if ( actItem == 0)
	    break;
	// Reads the text of the current element
	text = treeView.GetItemText(actItem);
	Console.WriteLine("    text={0}",text);
	// Selects current item using the item's text
	// The actItem value accelerates the selection
	treeView.SelectItem(text,actItem);
	// Reads the text of the selected element
	Console.WriteLine("    selected text={0}", treeView.SelectedText);
	Application.Sleep(100);
   }
}

VB.NET

Dim treeView As Ranorex.TreeView
treeView = form.FindTreeView("treeView1")
Mouse.MoveToControl(treeView)
treeView.Focus()
'Reads the text of the currently selected item
Dim text As String
text = treeView.SelectedItem

'Gets item number of root item
Dim actItem As Integer
actItem = treeView.RootItem
TreeViewCheckItem(treeView, actItem)

Sub TreeViewCheckItem(ByVal treeView As Ranorex.TreeView, ByVal item As Integer)
    Dim text As String
    text = treeView.GetItemText(item)
    Console.WriteLine("    text={0}", text)
    Dim actItem As Integer
    While actItem > 0
        Dim subItem As Integer
        subItem = treeView.GetChildItem(actItem)
        'Calls routine for each sub item
        If subItem > 0 Then
            TreeViewCheckItem(treeView, subItem)
        End If
        actItem = treeView.GetNextItem(actItem)
        If actItem = 0 Then
            Exit While
        End If
        'Reads the text of the current element
        text = treeView.GetItemText(actItem)
        Console.WriteLine("    text={0}", text)
        'Selects current item using the item'S text
        'The actItem value accelerates the selection
        treeView.SelectItem(text, actItem)
        'Reads the text of the selected element
        Console.WriteLine("    selected text={0}", treeView.SelectedText)
        Application.Sleep(100)
    End While        
End Sub

ProgressBar

This example shows how to read and write values from and to a ProgressBar control.

C#

ProgressBar progressBar = form.FindProgressBar("progressBar1");
// Move the mouse to the control
Mouse.MoveToControl(progressBar);
progressBar.Focus();
 
// Reads current progress bar value
int position = progressBar.Value;
// Set progress bar value to 20
progressBar.Value = 20;

VB.NET

Dim progressBar As Ranorex.ProgressBar
progressBar = form.FindProgressBar("progressBar1")
'Move the mouse to the control
Ranorex.Mouse.MoveToControl(progressBar)
progressBar.Focus()

'Reads current progress bar value
Dim position As Integer
position = progressBar.Value
'Set progress bar to 20
progressBar.Value = 20

TrackBar

The following example shows how to read the current TrackBar value and how to set different values to the TrackBar control.

C#

TrackBar trackBar = form.FindTrackBar("trackBar1");
Console.WriteLine("TrackBar \"trackBar1\" found");
// Move the mouse to the control
Mouse.MoveToControl(trackBar);
trackBar.Focus();
// Reads the current value from the TrackBar control
position = trackBar.Value;
// Sets some values to the TrackBar control
trackBar.Value = 2;
trackBar.Value = 4;
trackBar.Value = 6;

VB.NET

Dim trackBar As Ranorex.TrackBar
trackBar = form.FindTrackBar("trackBar1")
Console.WriteLine("'trackBar' found")
'Move the mouse to the control
Ranorex.Mouse.MoveToControl(trackBar)
trackBar.Focus()
'Reads the current value from the TrackBar control
Dim position As Integer
position = trackBar.Value
'Sets some values to the TrackBar control
trackBar.Value = 2
trackBar.Value = 4
trackBar.Value = 6

TabControl

The TabControl sample code describes how to access tabs within a TabControl.

C#

TabControl tabControl = form.FindTabControl("tabControl1");
// Move the mouse to the control
Mouse.MoveToControl(tabControl);
tabControl.Focus();
// Reads the text of the current active tab
string text = tabControl.SelectedText;
Console.WriteLine("  Selected text={0}", text);
// Reads the index of the current active tab
index = tabControl.SelectedIndex;
Console.WriteLine("  Selected index={0}", index);
// Gets the count of tabs within the tab control
int itemCount = tabControl.ItemCount;
Console.WriteLine("  ItemCount={0}", itemCount);
 
// Selects each tab and reads its name            
for (int i=0; i < itemCount;i++)
{
    text = tabControl.GetItem(i);
    Console.WriteLine("  Item[{0}]={1}",i,text);
    tabControl.SelectedIndex = i;
}

VB.NET

Dim tabControl As Ranorex.TabControl
tabControl = form.FindTabControl("tabControl1")
' Move the mouse tho the control
Mouse.MoveToControl(tabControl)
tabControl.Focus()
'Reads the text of the current active tab
Console.WriteLine("Selected text={0}", tabControl.SelectedText)
'Reads the index of the current active tab
Console.WriteLine("Selected index={0}", tabControl.SelectedIndex.ToString())
'Gets the count of tabs within the tab control
Console.WriteLine("ItemCount={0}", tabControl.ItemCount.ToString())

'Selects each tab and reads its name
For i As Integer = 0 To tabControl.ItemCount
    Console.WriteLine("   Item[{0}]={1}",i,tabControl.SelectedText)
    tabControl.SelectedIndex = i
Next

NumericUpDown

The following code example shows how to set values to a NumericUpDown control.

C#

NumericUpDown numericUpDown = form.FindNumericUpDown("numericUpDown1");
// Sets value to "45"
numericUpDown.Value = "45";
// Increments the current value
numericUpDown.UpButton();
// Decrements the current value
numericUpDown.DownButton();

VB.NET

Dim numericUpDown As Ranorex.NumericUpDown
numericUpDown = form.FindNumericUpDown("numericUpDown1")
'Sets value to 45
numericUpDown.Value = "45"
'Increment the current value
numericUpDown.UpButton()
'Decrement the current value
numericUpDown.DownButton()

MenuControl

This example describes the way of navigating through a menu structure using the Menu control class.

C#

String itemText;
Menu menu = new Menu(form);
int ret = 0;
if (menu != null)
{
     // Gets the item count of the submenus
     ret = menu.GetItemCount();
     Console.WriteLine("  GetItemCount={0}", ret);
 
     // Gets the item count of the first submenu
     ret = menu.GetItemCount(1);
     Console.WriteLine("  GetItemCount(1)={0}", ret);
 
     // Gets the text of the second menu item of the first submenu
     itemText = menu.GetItemText(1, 2);
     Console.WriteLine("  GetItemText(1,2)={0}", itemText);
 
     // Selects a menu item
     ret = menu.SelectItemText("MenuItem1", "SubMenu2", "SubItem1");
}

VB.NET

Dim itemText As String
Dim menu As Ranorex.Menu
menu = New Ranorex.Menu(form)
Dim ret As Integer
ret = 0
If Not menu Is Nothing Then
    'Gets the item count of the submenus
    Console.WriteLine("    GetItemCount={0}", menu.GetItemCount.ToString())
    'Gets the item count of the first submenu
    Console.WriteLine("    GetItemCount(1)={0}", menu.GetItemCount(1).ToString())
    'Gets the text of the second menu item of the first submenu
    Console.WriteLine("    GetItemText(1,2)={0}", menu.SelectItemText(1, 2).ToString())
    'Selects a menu item
    menu.SelectItemText("MenuItem1", "SubMenu2", "SubItem1")
End If

ContextMenu

The sample describes how to automate a context menu control.

C#

// Simulates a right mouse click within an existing form
Mouse.Click(MouseButtonType.RightButton, form.Location.X + 50, form.Location.Y + 100, 1);
// Waiting for context menu
Application.Sleep(50);
// Selects a subitem of "ContextMenuItem"
ContextMenu.SelectItemText("ContextMenuItem", "SubItem");

VB.NET

'Simulates a right mouse click within the existing form
Ranorex.Mouse.Click(MouseButtonType.RightButton, form.Location.X + 50, form.Location.Y + 100, 1)
'Waiting for context menu
Ranorex.Application.Sleep(50)
'Selects a subitem of "ContextMenuItem"
ContextMenu.SelectItemText("ContextMenuItem", "SubItem")

StatusBar

This sample code shows how to read text from a StatusBar control.

C#

StatusBar statusBar = form.FindStatusBar("statusBar1");
if ( statusBar != null )
{
    Console.WriteLine("StatusBar \"statusBar1\" found");
    // Moves the mouse to the control
    Mouse.MoveToControl(statusBar);
    statusBar.Focus();
    // Reads current text from StatusBar control
    string text = statusBar.Text;
    Console.WriteLine("  StatusBar text={0}", text);
}

VB.NET

Dim statusBar As Ranorex.StatusBar
statusBar = form.FindStatusBar("statusBar1")
If Not statusBar Is Nothing Then
    Console.WriteLine("StatusBar 'statusBar1' found")
    'Moves the mouse to the control
    Ranorex.Mouse.MoveToControl(statusBar)
    statusBar.Focus()
    'Reads current text from StatusBar control
    Console.WriteLine("  StatusBar text={0}", statusBar.Text)
End If

ScrollBar

The following code describes how to automate movements of a ScrollBar control. 1)

C#

// Finds horizontal ScrollBar
ScrollBar hScrollbar = form.FindScrollBar("hScrollBar1");
 
Mouse.MoveToControl(hScrollbar);
// Moves horizontal ScrollBar
for (int value = 0; value <= 100; value += 10)
{
     hScrollbar.Value = value;
     Application.Sleep(100);
}
// Reads maximum and minimum values of the ScrollBar
Console.WriteLine("Minimum = {0}", hScrollbar.Minimum);
Console.WriteLine("Maximum = {0}", hScrollbar.Maximum);

VB.NET

'Finds horizontal ScrollBar
Dim hScrollBar As Ranorex.ScrollBar
hScrollBar = form.FindScrollBar("hScrollBar1")

Ranorex.Mouse.MoveToControl(scrollBar)
'Moves horizontal ScrollBar
For i As Integer = 0 To 100 Step 10
    hScrollBar.Value = value;
    Ranorex.Application.Sleep(100)
Next
' Reads maximum and minimum values of the ScrollBar
Console.WriteLine("Minimum = {0}", hScrollBar.Minimum)
Console.WriteLine("Maximum = {0}", hScrollBar.Maximum)

DataGrid

This sample code explains how to access a DataGrid control, how to read and write data from and to it. 1)

C#

DataGrid dataGrid = form.FindDataGrid("dataGridView1");
// Reading colum text of column 1
String columnText = dataGrid.GetColumnText(1);
Console.WriteLine("DataGrid ColCount = {0} ", dataGrid.ColumnCount);
            
// Reading item text from row 1 and column 2
String itemText = dataGrid.GetItemText(1, 2);
Console.WriteLine("DataGrid ItemText={1}", itemText);
 
// Sets item text at row 1 and column 1 to "Ranorex"
dataGrid.SetItemText(1, 1, "Ranorex");
            
// Clicks the column header with text "Col1"
dataGrid.ClickColumn("Col1");

VB.NET

Dim dataGrid As Ranorex.DataGrid
dataGrid = form.FindDataGrid("dataGridView1")
'Reading colum text of column 1
Dim columnText As String
columnText = dataGrid.GetColumnText(1)
Console.WriteLine("DataGrid ColCount = {0} ", dataGrid.ColumnCount)
'Reading item text from row 1 and column 2
Console.WriteLine("DataGrid ItemText={1}", dataGrid.GetItemText(1, 2))
'Sets item text at row 1 and column 1 to "Ranorex"
dataGrid.SetItemText(1, 1, "Ranorex")
'Clicks the column header with text "Col1"
dataGrid.ClickColumn("Col1")

ToolBar

Older applications, like Microsoft WordPad, often use ToolBar controls with CommandIds. In some cases the ToolBar items are only accessible by using the CommandId shown by RanorexSpy. Use following code example to access all elements of a ToolBar control. 1)

C#

Form form = Application.FindForm("Document - WordPad", SearchMatchMode.MatchFromStart, "WordPadClass");
form.Activate();
// Find ToolBar control by ControlId - see RanorexSpy
ToolBar toolbar = form.FindToolBar(59392);
            
// Reads item information 
Int32 count = toolbar.ItemCount;            
for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
{
    int commandid = toolbar.GetItemCommandId(i);
    Point point = toolbar.GetItemLocation(commandid);
    Size size = toolbar.GetItemSize(commandid);
    Console.WriteLine("commandid ={0} loc={1} size={2}", commandid, point, size);
}
 
// Select item by CommandId - see RanorexSpy
toolbar.ClickItem(57603);

VB.NET

form = Application.FindForm("Document - WordPad", SearchMatchMode.MatchFromStart, "WordPadClass")
form.Activate()
'Find ToolBar control by ControlId - see RanorexSpy
Dim toolBar As Ranorex.ToolBar
toolBar = form.FindToolBar(59392)
'Reads item information 
For i As Integer = 0 To toolBar.ItemCount
    Dim commandId As Integer
    commandId = toolBar.GetItemCommandId(i)
    Dim point As System.Drawing.Point
    point = toolBar.GetItemLocation(commandId)
    Dim size As System.Drawing.Size
    size = toolBar.GetItemSize(commandId)
    Console.WriteLine("commandid ={0} loc={1} size={2}", commandId, point, size)
Next
'Select item by CommandId - see RanorexSpy
toolBar.ClickItem(57603)
1) This feature is only available in versions of Ranorex greater or equal to 1.3.