🎯 UiPath Tutorial: Using the Type Into Activity

ManFrancko · July 25, 2023, 1:28am

Author : Franck MONGO. - Intelligent Process Automation Consultant
Using generative AI, I enhance RPA developers’ daily tasks with my tools, available at https://linktr.ee/ipacopilot

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will delve into one of the most commonly used activities in UiPath - the Type Into activity. This activity is a fundamental part of automating tasks that involve typing into text fields on a user interface. We will cover what the Type Into activity is, its properties, how to use it, and some troubleshooting tips.

What is the Type Into Activity

The Type Into activity in UiPath is used to simulate keystrokes on the keyboard. It can be used to type text into text fields, simulate keyboard shortcuts, or even to type special keys such as Enter or Tab. This activity is particularly useful in automating tasks that involve data entry or form filling.

Input and Properties of the Type Into Activity

The Type Into activity comes with a variety of properties that allow you to customize its behavior to suit your needs. Here are the key properties:

Text: The text to be written in the specified UI element. Special keys are supported, and you can select them from the activity’s drop-down list.
SimulateType: If selected, it simulates the type using the technology of the target application. This input method is the fastest of the three and works in the background.
SendWindowMessages: If selected, the type is executed by sending a specific message to the target application. This input method can work in the background, is compatible with most desktop apps, but it is not the fastest of the methods.
DelayBetweenKeys: Delay time (in milliseconds) between two keystrokes. The default amount of time is 10 milliseconds. The maximum value is 1000 milliseconds.
ClickBeforeTyping: When this check box is selected, the specified UI element is clicked before the text is written.
EmptyField: When this check box is selected, all previously-existing content in the UI element is erased before writing your text.
Activate: When this check box is selected, the specified UI element is brought to the foreground and activated before the text is written.

Using the Type Into Activity: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here is a diagrammatic representation of how the Type Into activity works:

Type Into Activity Diagram

In the diagram above:

The Developer creates a Type Into activity in UiPath Studio.
The developer configures the properties of the Type Into activity, such as the target selector and the text to be typed.
The Type Into activity sends the keystrokes to the target UI element.
The developer handles any exceptions that may occur within the Type Into activity.

Practical Examples of the Type Into Activity

Logging into a website: You can use the Type Into activity to automate the process of logging into a website by typing the username and password into the appropriate fields.
Filling out a form: If you have a form with several fields that need to be filled out with the same data repeatedly, you can use the Type Into activity to automate this process.
Sending an email: You can use the Type Into activity to type the recipient’s email address, the subject, and the body of the email.

Troubleshooting Tips for the Type Into Activity

If the Type Into activity is not typing into the correct field, check the target selector. The selector might not be accurate or unique.
If the text is not being typed at all, make sure that the target UI element is available and visible on the screen.
If the text is being typed too fast and the application can’t keep up, try increasing the DelayBetweenKeys property.
If the Type Into activity is not working as expected, check the input text and other properties. There might be special characters that need to be escaped, or the ClickBeforeTyping or Activate properties might need to be enabled.

Here is a diagrammatic representation of how the Type Into activity works: