Simulate vs. sendwindow message

[DreadPirates (Aalfani)]

Hi team,
i’ve seen the documentation about the differences between input methods.

In some examples, like below:

To change these behaviors, we will update the input methods for the activities: for the Type Into activities, let’s enable SendWindowMessages, and for the Click, we’ll enable SimulateClick.

Why is it not used simulate in both activities, is there a difference when used in type into compared to click activity?

Thanks in advance

[pikorpa (Piotr Kołakowski)]

Hey,
please try take a look this tutorial.

Differences between Send Windows Message and Simulate Click Activity

There may be mutlitiple questions around UiPath Input Methods? For a UiPath Learner it is important to note and understand the diffrences between Send Windows Message and Simulate Type input methods. We need to understand as to how the activities respond differently when these options are selected? Let us face this UiPath Certification Practice Test Question and understand the real differences between Send Windows Message and Simulate Type Input Methods in UiPath. Kindly Click on VOTE (Left T…

[Jobin_Joy]

Hi @DreadPirates

Please look into the below video as well.

Difference between Send Window Message and Simulate Click in UiPath | UiPath Certification Prep

Hope this will be useful. Thank you.

[DreadPirates (Aalfani)]

Thanks for sharing…

Probably my question wasn’t clear…

I know the differences between the three input methods, what i don’t understand is why, in some example, uipath reports the type into with “send window message” and click with “simulate click” properties selected.

Apart from the support of the hotkey, there are other differences to prefer “send window message” instead of “simulate type” when using “type into”?

Thanks!

[Jobin_Joy]

@DreadPirates

To change these behaviors, we will update the input methods for the activities: for the Type Into activities, let’s enable SendWindowMessages, and for the Click, we’ll enable SimulateClick.

Why is it not used simulate in both activities, is there a difference when used in type into compared to click activity?

Hi @DreadPirates

In Type Into activity, we might need to send special keyboard shortcuts. So SendWindowsMessages is a input methods which supports HotKey, where as SimulateType is not support Hotkey.

While you are adding a Type Into activity, UiPath Studio is choosing input method as neither SendWindowsMessages nor SimulateType as in the below inline screenshot. The Default input method is applied.

In Click Activity - When we are using SimulateClick, there is no HotKey support available but the activity itself having an option to set KeyModifiers alone with the click.

Same like Type Into activity, UiPath Studio is choosing input method as neither SendWindowsMessages nor SimulateType for Click Activity as in the below inline screenshot. Default input method is applied

To Answer your question - Why is it not used simulate in both activities, the answer is SimulateType is not support Hotkey on Type Into activity. There is no other difference to my knowledge.

The differences are in terms of capability.

Thank you.