Robotic process automation (RPA) comprising automatic document scrolling
AssigneeUiPath, Inc.
InventorsIulian Mircea, Lev Kushnir
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, a robotic process automation (RPA) robot is configured to search for a target element within a first part of a document currently exposed within a user interface. When the search fails, the robot may automatically actuate a scroll control of the respective UI to cause it to bring another part of the respective document into view. The robot may then continue searching for the RPA target within the newly revealed part of the document. In some embodiments, the robot automatically determines whether the respective document is scrollable, and identifies the scroll control according to a type of target application (e.g., spreadsheet vs. web browser).
Claims21
A method comprising employing at least one hardware processor of a computer system to expose a robotic process automation (RPA) robot design interface to a user, the robot design interface configured to:
- receive a user input indicating a target element of a user interface (UI) displaying an electronic document, the user input further indicating an RPA activity to be performed on the target element;
- display a control enabling the user to indicate whether an automatic scroll option is active;
- and
- output an RPA script including an indicator of whether the automatic scroll option is active, wherein executing the RPA script causes an RPA robot to:
- perform an attempt to identify a runtime instance of the target element within a runtime instance of the UI, the runtime instance of the UI currently displaying an initial part of the electronic document;
- in response to the attempt failing, determine according to the RPA script whether the automatic scroll option is active;
- in response to determining that the automatic scroll option is active, activate a scroll control of the runtime instance of the UI to cause a display of a subsequent part of the electronic document;
- in response to activating the scroll control, perform another attempt to identify the runtime instance of the target element within the subsequent part of the electronic document;
- and
- in response to a successful identification of the runtime instance of the target element, carry out the RPA activity on the runtime instance of the target element.
A computer system comprising at least one hardware processor configured to expose a robotic process automation (RPA) robot design interface to a user, the robot design interface configured to:
- receive a user input indicating a target element of a user interface (UI) displaying an electronic document, the user input further indicating an RPA activity to be performed on the target element;
- display a control enabling the user to indicate whether an automatic scroll option is active;
- and
- output an RPA script including an indicator of whether the automatic scroll option is active, wherein executing the RPA script causes an RPA robot to:
- perform an attempt to identify a runtime instance of the target element within a runtime instance of the UI, the runtime instance of the UI currently displaying an initial part of the electronic document;
- if the attempt fails, determine according to the RPA script whether the automatic scroll option is active;
- in response to determining that the automatic scroll option is active, activate a scroll control of the runtime instance of the UI to cause a display of a subsequent part of the electronic document;
- in response to activating the scroll control, perform another attempt to identify the runtime instance of the target element within the subsequent part of the electronic document;
- and
- in response to a successful identification of the runtime instance of the target element, carry out the RPA activity on the runtime instance of the target element.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by at least one hardware processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to expose a robotic process automation (RPA) robot design interface to a user, the robot design interface configured to:
- receive a user input indicating a target element of a user interface (UI) displaying an electronic document, the user input further indicating an RPA activity to be performed on the target element;
- display a control enabling the user to indicate whether an automatic scroll option is active;
- and
- output an RPA script including an indicator of whether the automatic scroll option is active, wherein executing the RPA script causes an RPA robot to:
- perform an attempt to identify a runtime instance of the target element within a runtime instance of the UI, the runtime instance of the UI currently displaying an initial part of the electronic document;
- if the attempt fails, determine according to the RPA script whether the automatic scroll option is active;
- in response to determining that the automatic scroll option is active, activate a scroll control of the runtime instance of the UI to cause a display of a subsequent part of the electronic document;
- in response to activating the scroll control, perform another attempt to identify the runtime instance of the target element within the subsequent part of the electronic document;
- and
- in response to a successful identification of the runtime instance of the target element, carry out the RPA activity on the runtime instance of the target element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.