Application methods are single-purpose automations that you can create to
use in solutions, just like any out-of-the-box method. Use the Application method
feature to automate common tasks and make the end-to-end process more
efficient.
For example, you need to create a solution that logs into an
application, searches for a customer, and updates the customer address. Because these are
common tasks that you are likely to use again, create application methods for each task and
call them from the external automation.
Applications have methods that are available out of the box, such as Start, Stop,
Hide, and Show. The Application methods feature allows you to add your own custom
methods to applications. Use application methods as building blocks that perform
commonly used functions, such as Login,
AccountSearch, and AddNote.
Application methods are private to the application and cannot be used by automations
directly. Instead, the application methods are available on the Select
action dialog along with out-of-the-box methods.
In the Project Explorer, right-click an application, and then click AddApplication method. Result: On the Add menu, you see an additional option:
Application method.
The following figure shows the
Application method menu options:
Add context menu and Application Method selection
Select Application method.
In the Add new automation dialog box, enter a name for the
automation, as shown in the following figure:Result:
Sample screenshot of an application method name
The system creates an automation that is a child of the application. The
name of the application method reflects its dependency on the application. with
the application name preceding the name you gave the automation, as shown in the
following figure:
File name of Application method
On the automation surface, right-click, and then select Add Entry point for the scoped
automation.
Click the automation surface, and then click IsExternal
in the Property Grid to the right.Result: This setting makes the application method public and available in the
Select action dialog box. Note that you can have an
external (public) application method that calls an internal (private)
application method. For example, an UpdateCustomer
Application method can call the internal Search method.
The following figure shows the Login application
method as a method in the Select Action dialog box
that an automation can use or call.
Application method in the Select Action dialog box
Build your automation using controls from the Toolbox
and Palette.Result: Limit the scope of application methods. In this example, an Application
method performs one specific task: Login or Search. Limiting the scope makes it
easier to share, reuse, and test scoped automations.
The Project Explorer
shows the dependency of the application methods to their application, as
shown in the following figure. When working with Application methods, you
see only the controls and methods that exist for the specific Application
method. For example, there is no access to Globals or
other applications.Stored Application methods
The external automation calls the Login
and UpdateAddressApplication methods to perform the
address-change task.
Automation using Application methods
The UpdateAddress Application method calls the
internal or private Search method.
