Perl on Windows: automate WPF applications, similar to Win32::GUI ?

localJoe has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Dear PerlMonks,

Greetings.

I am working on Windows. Is there a module similar to Win32::GUI but will work with WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) applications?

Win32::GUI works great for older style Win32 applications but ... it does not work well with WPF-type applications, as it does not see the child controls within an WPF application.

If possible, I wish to use Perl to automate the UI in a WPF application.

Thanks,

localJoe

Comment on Perl on Windows: automate WPF applications, similar to Win32::GUI ?

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Re: Perl on Windows: automate WPF applications, similar to Win32::GUI ? by dasgar (Priest) on Oct 13, 2015 at 21:45 UTC
I believe that either you're looking at the wrong module or you've listed the wrong module name in your post. The Win32::GUI module is used to create a GUI interface. The Win32::GuiTest module is used to automate GUI based applications. I haven't tried to automate a GUI based application in a while, but is there a reason why you think that Win32::GuiTest can't/won't automate a GUI based WPF application?	[reply]
Re^2: Perl on Windows: automate WPF applications, similar to Win32::GUI ? by Anonymous Monk on Oct 13, 2015 at 22:06 UTC
Hi dasgar, Since all windows is based on window ids/handles ... you can use Win32::GUI to automate the widgets provided by the module, they use the same APIs (user32.dll / gdi32.dll), its must easier to use Win32::GUI to deal with a list control than it is to use straight guitest calls WPF is a totally new api/library, and neither guitest nor win32::gui will work well with those, you have to use WPF IUAutomation... good luck with that	[reply]
Re^2: Perl on Windows: automate WPF applications, similar to Win32::GUI ? by localJoe (Initiate) on Oct 13, 2015 at 22:38 UTC
@dasgar: Yes, you are right, I was wrong. I had the wrong module in mind, it is Win32:GuiTest that I meant. Win32::GuiTest detects the application but does not detect the child controls in a WPF application.	[reply]
Re^3: Perl on Windows: automate WPF applications, similar to Win32::GUI ? by Anonymous Monk on Oct 13, 2015 at 22:52 UTC
Win32::GuiTest detects the application but does not detect the child controls in a WPF application. yes, wpf doesn't use gdi32.dll/user32.dll, so guitest isn't going to work, you have to use something else specific to wpf So maybe its possible to make use of UI Automation Overview via http://docs.activestate.com/pdk/8.0/PerlNET_overview.html	[reply]