Multiple file explorer instances(Window automation)

[ChethanaManjego]

Hi all, I am unable to attach to the window explorer launched by Blue prism, as there are two instances of explorer.exe found during the same. I had tried changing the child index also, but had not been able to attach to the launched explorer window. Currently before trying to attach, in-order to make sure that single instance of explorer.exe exists, I had to manually kill all the explorer.exe due to which the task bar vanishes. Below are the version details of Blue Prism tool being used. BP version : 5.0.12 Windows edition : Windows 7 Enterprise System Type : 64 bit OS Please find the screenshots for your reference. Appreciate any suggestions.

[John__Carter]

Chetana - so what you are trying to do is drag a file from Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) to Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe)? If that is the case then I don't think it can be done, because you can't manipulate 2 applications with the same object, and you can't execute a drag with 2 objects. I would investigate other mechanisms - it sounds unusual that dragging would be the only option, is there no Add File button? As Indika says, for the web app to react to drag & drop there must be some client side script. Another option would be to try copy & paste using global keystrokes.

[charanjiv_janju]

Hi John, we are using the Utility - File Management object to Kill iexplore. But the thing is there are some dormant sessions open (used powershell script get-process -Name iexpl*) and Utility is unable to KILL it. We have tried loops to ensure it kills but it does not kill. Another thing that we want is BP should pick the next iexplore session but its not doing that. Its always sticking to the dormant one. Is there a way to make this work.

[Anonymous]

Hi, Can you not attach using a child index? If we assume that the task bar instance is associated to the child index of 0 then the windows explorer should have a child index of 1. try that and see if it works, Lee.

[DharmendraJhari]

Hello John, Just wanted to check if you found any feasible option to work with such scenario ? If Yes, Could You Please share the same as we have one similar requirement. (Drag from Windows explorer and Drop to a Web application ) Thanks !

[ivan.gordeyev]

There is a need in 'Click and Hold' and 'Click to release' action by the sounds of things. Since BP doesn't have an alternative, I would say that a 'Code' stage is actually appropriate here. Windows has an option called 'ClickLock' you can enable it in mouse settings with value set as 'Short' for ClickLock settings. In this case you would use Navigate stage: To click where the file is: Code stage: To Click and hold for lets 10 milliseconds Navigate stage: To click where the file needs to be There are plenty of examples online to do this.