Introduction¶
The UIA Studio User’s Guide has been created to assist users who are new to UIA Studio by giving them a thorough introduction to the technology. This guide describes the DSLs of the UIA family and uses sample code to explain how to use the DSLs, best practices for using the DSLs, and tips and tricks for maximizing the performance of your UIA application.
What’s DSL?¶
A DSL is a language that’s for a specific problem. It contains the syntax and semantics that model concepts at the same level of abstraction that the problem domain offers.
UIA DSL is a language for User Interface Automation, It’s designed with these principles in mind:
Simple
It’s in the user’s native language, e.g., in English, Chinese, or plain Japanese. Non-technical people can understand and use it because it’s conceptually simple. It’s short and expressive, concise and complete. It has a very simple resoure model, any folder can be a workspace for scripts.
Efficient
It’s very fast because it exposes the underlying system’s capability involving minimum waiting. It supports UI stack cache and object variables. Minimum coding effort, your can record, edit and replay Transparent Remote automation It’s very small in size. Easy to share your bots
Non-intrusive and forgiving
It does not require extra instrumentation to work. It’s possible that the user can view and edit UIA script in their native language with instant translation. It supports pause, edit and continue Runtime state can be persisted, restored later. Scripts can run from any line
Extensible
Data and Logic are cleanly separated and the canonical data representation is JSON Scripts can include other scripts, Scripts can call other scripts and pass along parameters. User can add new languages, keywords very easily. It supports literals, which can be very long text, xml or JSON It supports templates, code generation.
Long term saving
It’s cost effective for long term maintenance. It can work from Windows XP to the latest Window 10, so it protects your investment. New systems always incur extra cost.
It brings positive changes
It reduces boredom and anxiety. It facilitates a learning organization because the focus is shifted from mundane tasks to improving key workflows.
UIA Studio for You¶
UIA Studio is your primary tool for creating, managing and running uia scripts.
You can create scripts via recording and then manual editing
gaining insight by reverse-engineering and re-building an existing software.
Share your best practices with others.
Automating many computers at the sametime.
For QA, you have a test tool that’s a lot easier to use. e.g., you can pause, edit, continue the test anytime, you can start test from any script line. that means you will never be afraid of a long test breaking down in the middle.
In the Cloud¶
It’s easy to get lost in the Cloud. With the ever more prevalent use of cloud based services, automation is becoming more popular. In fact, everything is automatable in the cloud. and everyone can and must automate the cloud.