How to automate Outlook?

david_masters · April 30, 2019, 1:21pm

Hi Alesia,
I have following this video.
I open Outlook using Launch Application. I then use the Action Window(Inbox - drmasters2014@outlook.com -Outlook - rctrl_renwnd32) which I retrieved from the drop down list in Select a Window. I have tried multiple combinations of this window with the same result:
Error Executing SwitchWindowAction
Any ideas what’s going wrong. This is simply 2 statements. Launch and Window.
Kind Regards,
David

ashapkina · April 30, 2019, 1:26pm

Are you sure the name of the window is correct?
Maybe, it doesn’t open the Inbox but another view?

I would recommend using this option is the Window action - it is more reliable.

Another reason can be that the window is not opened yet when the bot tries to switch to it. In this case, you need to add a timeout to the Window action.

david_masters · April 30, 2019, 1:30pm

OK that worked. Interesting because I used the Selector from Inspector, selected the window and followed the video which declared a similar title for the Window. But if it works …

david_masters · April 30, 2019, 1:42pm

As I thought. When I then Click the Mouse on Inbox it fails. Click%20window%20Inbox

ashapkina · April 30, 2019, 1:56pm

It is probably because the Inspector doesn’t see that separate line, but the whole section.

Try clicking on Inbox instead.

Here is a sample script that switches to Inbox, looks for emails from a particular address and downloads attachments from it in a particular folder. Hope it will help with your use case.

outlook-aut.zip (62.0 KB)

ashapkina · April 30, 2019, 2:05pm

Also, this link can be helpful for Outlook automation.

david_masters · May 1, 2019, 1:12pm

Hi Alesia,
I downloaded attachment. I am assuming this is code I put into my project once launched?
Secondly I tried the option of clicking on the inbox instead. No good. Also, if you click on Inbox using UI object wont this confuse RPA when the Inbox shows mail in the Inbox, i.e., the Selector shows [CLASS: NetUIWBTreeDisplayNode; Name:Inbox: 28 unread messages]. What happens when the unread messages is reduced to zero. Won’t the UI object be different.
Kind Regards,
David

ashapkina · May 2, 2019, 9:50am

To import this script in WF Studio, follow this guide: https://kb.workfusion.com/display/RPAe/How+to+Use+RPA+Recorder#HowtoUseRPARecorder-Addrecording

You can then add it in another script like this.

You can remove this info from the selector to make it work when the number of unread emails changes and leave only [CLASS: NetUIWBTreeDisplayNode; Name:Inbox].

david_masters · May 2, 2019, 1:24pm

Hi Alesia,
Here is the situation.
Outlook opens with my OuItlook inbox by default.
I have been able to click on Menu Bar and Search within this Window. This window is:
Inbox - drmasters2014@outlook.com - Outlook. That works, I saw it highlight the title when I used the Window action.
I go to the left hand panel to click on my david.masters@strat2exec.com.au Inbox.
[CLASS:NetUIWBTeeDisplayNode;NAME:Inbox]
This mouse click FAILS.
It is worth noting that as soon as you click on this Inbox the Window goes to:
Inbox - david.masters@strat2exec.com.au - Outlook
Question is this Window action confusing RPA and causing the action to fail?
Any other suggestions?
Kind Regards,
David

ashapkina · May 2, 2019, 2:33pm

If you have several accounts in Outlook, it makes things a bit more complicated

Try doing this:

After opening Outlook and switching to it, first, click on the account in which you will need to open the Inbox.
It will most likely have this selector: .NetUIWBTreeDisplayNode[name="david.masters@strat2exec.com.au"].
The bot may click on any folder in this account, but it will activate it.

After that, switch to this window ‘Inbox - david.masters@strat2exec.com.au - Outlook’ and click on the Inbox link in it.

Let me know how it goes!

david_masters · May 6, 2019, 6:40am

Hi Alesia,
Thanks for the feedback. I have not tried the above. Thought I would try something else which I will share with you.
I have another computer, Microsoft Pro which I was working with prior to purchasing the new Dell (which i bought ironically to better handle RPA Express). It has Workfusion 2.2 installed on it. I wrote a script to perform the above and it worked successfully. Not only that it was straight-forward. Performed exactly as I expected and with a few simple actions!
So the next steps for me is to work what the differences are between the 2 computers and the installed software.
*RPA Express version 2.2 versus 2.3

Outlook which I just ruled out
Configuration of Outlook, i.e., Outlook on MS Pro opens with the strat2exec box whilst on Dell it opens with outlook box meaning I have to switch
Other
I will let you know how I go. Thanks for continued support.
Kind Regards,
David

david_masters · May 6, 2019, 1:47pm

Hi Alesia,
Tried the above.
Did not work.
.NetUIWBTreeDisplayNode[name=“david.masters@strat2exec.com.au”] took Outlook to Contacts - drmasters2014@outlook.com - Outlook. Not sure why??
Kind Regards,
David

ashapkina · May 13, 2019, 3:28pm

Hi @david_masters did it click on the icon in the footer instead and opened contacts?

david_masters · May 14, 2019, 12:38am

Hi Alesia,
I am still having problems with server not found as per previous post. I believe the matter is in hand. Once resolved I will try the above action.
Kind Regards,
David

ashapkina · May 14, 2019, 7:51am

Thank you @david_masters please let me know how it goes.

ashapkina · May 14, 2019, 8:25am

Also, I did some testing and managed to click on the Inbox of non-active account in Outlook using a custom XPath:
//*[@class='NetUIWBTreeDisplayNode'][@name='email_address']/*[@name='Inbox']

just insert your email instead of email_address.

Hope it helps!

ashapkina · May 30, 2019, 10:15am

Hi @david_masters did you have a chance to test this last XPath?

david_masters · June 10, 2019, 4:03pm

Hi Alesia,
Not yet. I have been focused on sorting out creating a manual process which I hope to resolve today. Also I was waiting in the release of 2.3.1 to fix the bug.
So progress on these fronts.
Having said that i did play around with Outlook with success. As discussed I have 2 or more email accounts. Outlook was opening with one of those with one of those accounts and hence the associated window. I have now changed it so that Outlook opens with my business account. This involves not only setting the email account to default settings but also the data email account to default.
So when Outlook opens it does so with my preferred account. I can now avoid the Inbox panel to the left and changing windows.
However I am keen to work through your proposed solution regardless it gives me a deeper knowledge of Outlook and WF for other clients.
Kind Regards,
David

ashapkina · May 31, 2019, 8:33am

Great glad you made it work

david_masters · July 12, 2019, 7:47am

Hi Alesia,
I am just going through all the Actions. I tried Get(ting) a cell value in a spreadsheet with text in it using the subset of Excel actions. Then I tried changing the text to Capitals using the Change Case text action. It failed. Is this because the Text actions don’t work within the Excel actions?
Kind Regards,
David