Identifying and creating UI elements

In Chapter 1, we learned that PAD comes from the robotic process automation (RPA) area and that this involves remotely controlling local applications. It is those applications that supply input options, which can be used for flow processing. These input options are identified by PAD through so-called UI elements, such as buttons, lists, or other controls used by the application.

In this example, we want to control the built-in Windows calculator application. The easiest way to create UI elements is to use the recorder. Follow these steps:

1. Start the Windows calculator from your desktop and leave it open.
2. Create a new flow called Windows Calculator Remote or provide some other meaningful name.
3. Switch to the UI Elements pane on the far right-hand side and click the Add UI element button. This will start the unified recorder of PAD. You should now see the recorder window next to the Windows calculator. If you hover over the different...