CacheRequest.Activate Method

Definition

Namespace:

System.Windows.Automation

Assembly:

UIAutomationClient.dll

Sets this CacheRequest as the active specification for the items that are returned when an AutomationElement is requested on the same thread.

public:
 IDisposable ^ Activate();

public IDisposable Activate ();

member this.Activate : unit -> IDisposable

Public Function Activate () As IDisposable

Returns

IDisposable

The object that can be used to dispose the CacheRequest.

Examples

The following example shows how to use Activate to cache patterns and properties.

/// <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

Remarks

Using this method is usually preferable to using Push and Pop as a means of activating the CacheRequest. The object is pushed onto the stack when Activate is called, and then popped off when it is disposed. To ensure disposal, place the return value within a using block (Using in Visual Basic).

See also

• Push()
• Pop()
• Caching in UI Automation Clients
• Use Caching in UI Automation