Problems with WinWait

[DrLarch]

I've been using AutoIt for some time now (started with AutoIt 2.x), but this is my first post. The problem I'm having is with the WinWait() function. I've read older posts with people complaining that it won't recognize windows properly (returns a 0 even though the window is present) and some chalked it up to an Adlib problem which supposedly is fixed in recent versions (running 3.3.6.1). But it is STILL a problem that I'm experiencing - it simply seems to be a rather unreliable function. It seems I have to go through heroic measures just to detect the pesky window that WinWait() simply can't see. Other functions can see it just fine (ie. WinGetText(), WinMove(), etc). I'm by no means an advanced coder, but I know when something isn't working.

Here's my code that won't detect a particular window:

$wincheck= WinWait ("Exercise Pro V5 ", "",  4)
MsgBox (0, "test'", $wincheck) ; for troubleshooting
If $wincheck= 0 Then
  MsgBox (0, "Installer Error", "Installation couldn't be completed." & @CRLF & "Please try again after other installs are finished." & @CRLF & "Cancelling...")
  WinWait  ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  WinActivate ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  WinWaitActive ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  SendKeepActive ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  Sleep (100)
  Send ("!f")
  WinWaitClose ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  Exit
EndIf

...versus if I do this it works just fine:

For $i = 1 to 6
$checktext = WinGetText ("Exercise Pro V5")
$checktest = StringInStr ($checktext, "Please wait while Windows configures Exercise")

If $checktest <> 0 Then ; Success - Correct window exists
  ExitLoop
EndIf

Sleep (1000)

if $checktest = 0 And $i = 6 Then
  MsgBox (0, "Installer Error", "Installation couldn't be completed." & @CRLF & "Please try again after other installs are finished." & @CRLF & "Cancelling...")
  WinWait  ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  WinActivate ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  WinWaitActive ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  SendKeepActive ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  Sleep (100)
  Send ("!f")
  WinWaitClose ("BioEx Software", "Click the Finish button")
  Exit
EndIf
Next

I hate having to add WinWait, WinActivate, WinWaitActive, just to provide a bit of insurance for commands that don't seem to work reliably as well. Anyone have any feedback on these buggy (at least that's my impression) window sensing functions? I've tried using controls or handles for dealing with windows, but these don't stay consistent in one of the installers I'm automating. I've had to often turn my own routines that work into my own functions, but am still a little perplexed why the built-in ones seem to be flakey... Thanks!

[goldenix]

in first code you have a space at the end of the window name, in second sample you dont.

when dealing with windows hire are some useful functions:

Opt("WinTitleMatchMode", 2)  ;1=start, 2=subStr, 3=exact, 4=advanced, -1 to -4=Nocase
or
Opt("WinTitleMatchMode", 4)  ;1=start, 2=subStr, 3=exact, 4=enables winhandles, -1 to -4=Nocase

there is also WinGetHandle() & WinList()

[guinness]

Also use Au3Info to help you find more information about the window you're trying to interact with.

[Valoo]

Hi,

Just to let you know, on a project i am working on, I was having irreliable behavior with the winwait function...

The thing was, I was trying to get the focus on a window with the title "Ouvrir" (french for "open") and then Send a local url to automate the "Save as..." function on a specific software...

When I realised I could compare the title of a window, returned form the winwait function via the handle of the window :

WinGetTitle(WinGetHandle("Ouvrir"))

I found that there was a conflict with the firefox window (always opened of course ). There was some sort of a hidden windows with a title like "Ouvrir dans un nouvel onglet" which corresponds to a line in a "right-clic" menu in firefox... strange...

anyway, problem solved,

Hope that helps,

cheers

Edit : Opt("WinTitleMatchMode", 3) would have solved the problem

Edited February 13, 2012 by Valoo