AutomationElement.TryGetCachedPattern(AutomationPattern, Object) Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System.Windows.Automation

Assembly:: UIAutomationClient.dll

Important

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Retrieves a control pattern from the cache.

public:
 bool TryGetCachedPattern(System::Windows::Automation::AutomationPattern ^ pattern, [Runtime::InteropServices::Out] System::Object ^ % patternObject);

public bool TryGetCachedPattern(System.Windows.Automation.AutomationPattern pattern, out object patternObject);

member this.TryGetCachedPattern : System.Windows.Automation.AutomationPattern * obj -> bool

Public Function TryGetCachedPattern (pattern As AutomationPattern, ByRef patternObject As Object) As Boolean

Parameters

pattern: AutomationPattern

The identifier of the control pattern to retrieve.

patternObject: Object

On return, contains the pattern if it is in the cache; otherwise null.

Returns

Boolean

true if the pattern is in the cache; false if it is not in the cache or not supported.

Examples

The following example shows how to cache and retrieve a control pattern.

/// <summary>
/// Caches and retrieves properties for a list item by using CacheRequest.Activate.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="elementList">Element from which to retrieve a child element.</param>
/// <remarks>
/// This code demonstrates various aspects of caching. It is not intended to be 
/// an example of a useful method.
/// </remarks>
private void CachePropertiesByActivate(AutomationElement elementList)
{
    AutomationElement elementListItem;

    // Set up the request.
    CacheRequest cacheRequest = new CacheRequest();
    cacheRequest.Add(AutomationElement.NameProperty);
    cacheRequest.Add(AutomationElement.IsEnabledProperty);
    cacheRequest.Add(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern);
    cacheRequest.Add(SelectionItemPattern.SelectionContainerProperty);

    // Obtain an element and cache the requested items.
    using (cacheRequest.Activate())
    {
        Condition cond = new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.IsSelectionItemPatternAvailableProperty, true);
        elementListItem = elementList.FindFirst(TreeScope.Children, cond);
    }
    // The CacheRequest is now inactive.

    // Retrieve the cached property and pattern.
    SelectionItemPattern pattern;
    String itemName;
    try
    {
        itemName = elementListItem.Cached.Name;
        pattern = elementListItem.GetCachedPattern(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern) as SelectionItemPattern;
    }
    catch (InvalidOperationException)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Object was not in cache.");
        return;
    }
    // Alternatively, you can use TryGetCachedPattern to retrieve the cached pattern.
    object cachedPattern;
    if (true == elementListItem.TryGetCachedPattern(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern, out cachedPattern))
    {
        pattern = cachedPattern as SelectionItemPattern;
    }

    // Specified pattern properties are also in the cache.
    AutomationElement parentList = pattern.Cached.SelectionContainer;

    // The following line will raise an exception, because the HelpText property was not cached.
    /*** String itemHelp = elementListItem.Cached.HelpText; ***/

    // Similarly, pattern properties that were not specified in the CacheRequest cannot be 
    // retrieved from the cache. This would raise an exception.
    /*** bool selected = pattern.Cached.IsSelected; ***/

    // This is still a valid call, even though the property is in the cache.
    // Of course, the cached value and the current value are not guaranteed to be the same.
    itemName = elementListItem.Current.Name;
}

''' <summary>
''' Caches and retrieves properties for a list item by using CacheRequest.Activate.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="elementList">Element from which to retrieve a child element.</param>
''' <remarks>
''' This code demonstrates various aspects of caching. It is not intended to be 
''' an example of a useful method.
''' </remarks>
Private Sub CachePropertiesByActivate(ByVal elementList As AutomationElement)

    ' Set up the request.
    Dim myCacheRequest As New CacheRequest()
    myCacheRequest.Add(AutomationElement.NameProperty)
    myCacheRequest.Add(AutomationElement.IsEnabledProperty)
    myCacheRequest.Add(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern)
    myCacheRequest.Add(SelectionItemPattern.SelectionContainerProperty)

    Dim elementListItem As AutomationElement

    ' Obtain an element and cache the requested items.
    Using myCacheRequest.Activate()
        Dim myCondition As New PropertyCondition( _
            AutomationElement.IsSelectionItemPatternAvailableProperty, True)
        elementListItem = elementList.FindFirst(TreeScope.Children, myCondition)
    End Using


    ' The CacheRequest is now inactive.
    ' Retrieve the cached property and pattern.
    Dim pattern As SelectionItemPattern
    Dim itemName As String
    Try
        itemName = elementListItem.Cached.Name
        pattern = DirectCast(elementListItem.GetCachedPattern(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern), _
            SelectionItemPattern)
    Catch ex As InvalidOperationException
        Console.WriteLine("Object was not in cache.")
        Return
    End Try
    ' Alternatively, you can use TryGetCachedPattern to retrieve the cached pattern.
    Dim cachedPattern As Object = Nothing
    If True = elementListItem.TryGetCachedPattern(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern, cachedPattern) Then
        pattern = DirectCast(cachedPattern, SelectionItemPattern)
    End If

    ' Specified pattern properties are also in the cache.
    Dim parentList As AutomationElement = pattern.Cached.SelectionContainer

    ' The following line will raise an exception, because the HelpText property was not cached.
    '** String itemHelp = elementListItem.Cached.HelpText; **

    ' Similarly, pattern properties that were not specified in the CacheRequest cannot be 
    ' retrieved from the cache. This would raise an exception.
    '** bool selected = pattern.Cached.IsSelected; **

    ' This is still a valid call, even though the property is in the cache.
    ' Of course, the cached value and the current value are not guaranteed to be the same.
    itemName = elementListItem.Current.Name
End Sub

Applies to

Product	Versions
.NET Framework	3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
Windows Desktop	3.0, 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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