AutoIT and Tableau Help Please

[JessicaJG]

Hello,

I am trying to automate the printing of PDF files from a dashboard that I created in Tableau. I found a "how to" video suggesting that I use AutoIT and it looked to be exactly what I needed so I tried it. I have been unable to get my script to work at all however, even when I used the sample script provided by the author of the video. Therefore, I've come here to ask for help. I was able to find the various _Excel functions that let me get my excel workbook to open, but I can't find anything similar for Tableau. Here is my script, if anyone can help me figure out how to get this working it would be a great help to me.

; This script shows how to use AutoIt to print multiple Tableau dashboard to PDF files based on a parameter
; all values of the parameter are copied to an Excel file, startig with cell A2. When Excel is first opened,
; the active cell is A1, which is blank
; The default printer has been set to PDF. The option "View PDF after printing" has been disabled

#include<excel.au3>

Local $excelfile = "E:\AutoIT Scripts\Category.xlsx" ;this is the location and name of my excel file
Local $oExcel_1 = _Excel_Open()
Local $tableaufile = "E:\AutoIT Scripts\DemoForPOC" ;this is the location and name of my tableau file
Local $repeattime = 3

for $i = 3 to $repeattime

    _Excel_BookOpen($oExcel_1, $excelfile); this opens the Excel file with the filter values
    Send("{DOWN}"); Send a down arrow, which moves cursor to cell A2
    Send("^c");Copy value in cell A2. For all menu command, use lower case if upper case doesn't work
    sleep(1000)

    WinActivate($tableaufile); Activate Tableau - NOT WORKING FROM THIS POINT ONWORD...
    WinWaitActive($tableaufile); waiting for Tableau window to show up
    MouseClick("Left",848,120); click the parameter window
    Send("{BACKSPACE 3}"); delete existing content
    Sleep(1000); wait 1 second
    Send("^v"); paste in new code from the Excel file
    Send("{ENTER}"); Send enter key
    Do
        sleep(500)
    until WinExists("Computing visualization of ")= 0 ; wait until tableau finishes processing

    Send("^p"); print out current dashboard
    WinWaitActive("Print"); wait for print window to show up
    sleep(1000)
    Send("{ENTER}");send enter to select ADOBE PDF printer
    WinWaitActive("Save PDF File As"); wait for window to prompt for file name
    Send("^v"); send paremeter name as file name
    Send("{Enter}"); print
    sleep(3000); wait until ADOBE finishes printing

Next

msgbox(0,"Complete","Finished printing. Please verify the output and compile into one document using binder.")

Category.xlsx

DemoForPOC.twb

ScriptforAutoITTableauDemo.au3

[Subz]

You need to get the Tableaus Window Handle, so something like:

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; This script shows how to use AutoIt to print multiple Tableau dashboard to PDF files based on a parameter
; all values of the parameter are copied to an Excel file, startig with cell A2. When Excel is first opened,
; the active cell is A1, which is blank
; The default printer has been set to PDF. The option "View PDF after printing" has been disabled

#include <Array.au3>
#include <Excel.au3>

Local $sExcelFile = "E:\AutoIT Scripts\Category.xlsx" ;this is the location and name of my excel file
Local $oExcel = _Excel_Open()
Local $oWorkBook = _Excel_BookOpen($oExcel, $sExcelFile)
Local $aWorkBook = _Excel_RangeRead($oWorkBook, Default, $oWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Usedrange.Columns("A:A"))
_Excel_Close($oExcel)

Local $hTableauWnd
Local $sTableauWndTitle = "Tableau - DemoForPOC"
If WinExists($sTableauWndTitle, "") Then
    $hTableauWnd = WinGetHandle($sTableauWndTitle, "")
Else
    Local $iTableauPid = ShellExecute("E:\AutoIT Scripts\DemoForPOC\DemoForPOC.twb")
        WinWaitActive($sTableauWndTitle, "", 15)
    $hTableauWnd = _ProcessWindow($iTableauPid)
EndIf

For $i = 0 To UBound($aWorkBook) - 1
    WinActivate($hTableauWnd); Activate Tableau - NOT WORKING FROM THIS POINT ONWORD...
    WinWaitActive($hTableauWnd); waiting for Tableau window to show up
    MouseClick("Left",848,120); click the parameter window
    Send("{BACKSPACE 3}"); delete existing content
    Sleep(1000); wait 1 second
    Send($aWorkBook[$i]); paste in new code from the Excel file
    Send("{ENTER}"); Send enter key
    Do
        sleep(500)
    until WinExists("Computing visualization of ")= 0 ; wait until tableau finishes processing

    Send("^p"); print out current dashboard
    WinWaitActive("Print"); wait for print window to show up
    sleep(1000)
    Send("{ENTER}");send enter to select ADOBE PDF printer
    WinWaitActive("Save PDF File As"); wait for window to prompt for file name
    Send($aWorkBook[$i]); send paremeter name as file name
    Send("{Enter}"); print
    sleep(3000); wait until ADOBE finishes printing

Next

msgbox(0,"Complete","Finished printing. Please verify the output and compile into one document using binder.")

Func _ProcessWindow($iPID)
    Local $hWnd
    If ProcessExists($iPID) = 0 Then Exit MsgBox(32, "Error", "Process cannot be found")
    Local $aWinList = WinList()
    For $i = 1 to $aWinList[0][0]
        If $aWinList[$i][0] <> "" And BitAnd(WinGetState($aWinList[$i][1]),2) Then
            $hWnd = WinGetProcess($aWinList[$i][0])
            If $hWnd = $iPID then Return $aWinList[$i][0]
        EndIf
    Next
    MsgBox(32, "Error", "Process cannot be found")
    Exit
EndFunc

 

[JessicaJG]

Thank you! I'll try that!

[martinberlin]

Hello,

 

thanky you very much for your help. I am trying to use this script and is seems to work fine until

this point and then it stops here.

    WinWaitActive("Save PDF File As"); wait for window to prompt for file name
    Send($aWorkBook[$i]); send paremeter name as file name
    Send("{Enter}"); print
    sleep(3000); wait until ADOBE finishes printing

  It does open the window, but it does not enter what I entered into the search filter and it does not save it.

Any idea why that might be? Could you please help me with that? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Thanks

[water]

Do not use Send to automate the parameter window.
Use the AutoIt Window Info Tool to get the IDs of the controls and then use Control* functions to automate this controls. Much more reliable

[martinberlin]

Hello Water,

 

would you mind providing an example for this?

I am completely new to AutoIt so some example would be really helpful.

 

Martin

[water]

This are the functions I use in another project to print PDF files. If needed I can translate the german comments.

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;===============================================================================
; Function _PrintPDF
;   PDF Datei ausdrucken
;===============================================================================
Func _PrintPDF()
    _Splash()
    ShellExecute($AcrobatReader, '"' & $In & '"')
    $DocumentOpened = 1
    $TitelPDF = $InName & ".PDF - Adobe Reader"
    $RC = WinWait($TitelPDF)
    $RC = WinActivate($TitelPDF)
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Ctrl-P: Drucken
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = Send("^p")
    $TitelDrucken = "Drucken"
    $RC = WinWait($TitelDrucken, "")
    $RC = WinActivate($TitelDrucken, "")
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Favorit des Druckers einrichten - Button Eigenschaften
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = ControlClick($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button2]")
    $TitelEinrichten = "Eigenschaften von "
    $RC = WinWait($TitelEinrichten, "")
    $RC = WinActivate($TitelEinrichten, "")
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Favorit einrichten
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = ControlCommand($TitelEinrichten, "", "[CLASSNN:ComboBox1]", "SelectString", $Favorit)
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; OK Button klicken
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = ControlClick($TitelEinrichten, "", "[CLASSNN:Button35]")
    If $Groesse <> "" Then
        ;----------------------------------------
        ; Button: Seite einrichten
        ;----------------------------------------
        $RC = ControlClick($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button45]")
        $TitelEinrichten = "Seite einrichten"
        $RC = WinWait($TitelEinrichten, "")
        $RC = WinActivate($TitelEinrichten, "")
        ;----------------------------------------
        ; Papierformat festlegen
        ;----------------------------------------
        $RC = ControlCommand($TitelEinrichten, "", "[CLASSNN:ComboBox1]", "SelectString", $Groesse)
        If @error Then
            MsgBox(4096, @ScriptName, "Format '" & $Groesse & "' ist auf dem Drucker '" & $Drucker & "' nicht definiert.")
            $RC = Send("{ESC}")
            $TitelDrucken = "Drucken"
            $RC = WinWaitActive($TitelDrucken, "")
            $RC = Send("{ESC}")
            _ClosePDF("")
            SetError(3)
            Return
        EndIf
        ;----------------------------------------
        ; OK Button klicken
        ;----------------------------------------
        $RC = ControlClick($TitelEinrichten, "", "[CLASSNN:Button6]")
    EndIf
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Name des Druckers festlegen
    ;----------------------------------------
    #cs
        $RC = ControlCommand($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:ComboBox1]", "SelectString", $Drucker)
        If @error Then
        MsgBox(4096, @ScriptName, "Drucker '" & $Drucker & "' ist auf diesem System nicht definiert.")
        $RC = WinWaitActive($TitelDrucken, "")
        $RC = Send("{ESC}")
        _ClosePDF("")
        SetError(2)
        Return
        EndIf
    #ce
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Button "Größe" klicken
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = ControlClick($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button13]")
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Übergroße Seiten verkleinern
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = ControlCommand($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button19]", "Check", "")
#cs - Wird ignoriert - Favorit dazu verwenden
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Beidseitig drucken
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = ControlCommand($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button28]", "UnCheck", "")
    If $Zweiseitig = "Ja" Then $RC = ControlCommand($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button28]", "Check", "")
#ce
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Anzahl Exemplare
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = ControlSetText($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:RICHEDIT50W1]", $Exemplare)
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Sortieren - damit bei mehreren Kopien in Reihenfolge 1,2,3 - 1,2,3
    ; und nicht 1,1 - 2,2 - 3,3 gedruckt wird
    ;----------------------------------------
    If $Exemplare > 1 Then $RC = ControlCommand($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button1]", "Check", "")
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Papierquelle anhand der PDF Seitengröße auswählen
    ;----------------------------------------
    If $Groesse = "" Then
        $RC = ControlCommand($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button21]", "Check", "")
    Else
        $RC = ControlCommand($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button21]", "UnCheck", "")
    EndIf
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Drucken Button klicken
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = ControlClick($TitelDrucken, "", "[CLASSNN:Button47]")
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Warten bis Druckvorgang beendet ist
    ;----------------------------------------
    $RC = WinWait("Vorgang wird bearbeitet", "")
    $RC = WinWaitClose("Vorgang wird bearbeitet", "")
    ;----------------------------------------
    ; Datei beenden
    ;----------------------------------------
    _ClosePDF("")
EndFunc   ;==>_PrintPDF

;===============================================================================
; Function _ClosePDF
;   Aktuell offene PDF Datei schliessen
;===============================================================================
Func _ClosePDF($Param)
    If $Param = "F" Then
        $TitelPDF = "Adobe Reader"
    Else
        $TitelPDF = $InName & ".PDF - Adobe Reader"
    EndIf
    WinWait($TitelPDF)
    WinActivate($TitelPDF)
    WinWaitActive($TitelPDF)
    If $Param = "F" Then
        Send("^q")
    Else
        Send("^w")
    EndIf
EndFunc   ;==>_ClosePDF

 

[kangwei]

Hi, I am interested to use Tableau to split my files into different twbx files and send them out. There are around 100 files to be split. Anyone got the code to get this done effectively?