trim in excel

 removes multiple spaces on between words

get current connection string- cute

 select

    'data source=' + @@servername +

    ';initial catalog=' + db_name() +

    case type_desc

        when 'WINDOWS_LOGIN' 

            then ';trusted_connection=true'

        else

            ';user id=' + suser_name()

    end

from sys.server_principals

where name = suser_name()

Simulated clicks

 can mess up angular pages

number of cores

 wmic cpu get numberofcores/format:list

synthesizing keys error

Oh My

PROGRAMMERS

Cannot connect to packages feed

we had a file that didn't have an extension

UIPath Best Practices

Things that we have learned over time

 

·        Always use descriptive variables and parameters (I don’t care about length if it makes it easier to read what is happening). Use camel case.

·        Name the activities with a helpful name, remove meaningless boilerplate

·        Whenever logic is not obvious – add an annotation

·        Add comments for warnings to other developers

·        Group activities with properly named sequences

·        Rename the outermost sequence that is automatically generated with a name showing that it is the top level, otherwise variable scope is confusing

·        Remove default parameters (only use default parameters for initial testing), if the value is always the same use variables

UIPath says there are 2 ways of looking at this, but I have found this to be a source of bugs

·        Parameters should have IN_, OUT_, INOUT_ prefix so there won’t be confusion with variables

·        No Hardcoded values (e.g. locations on spreadsheet)

To search for hardcoded values, you can do a search on numbers 1,2,3, etc.

·        If you copy and rename a XAML file, go into the file with notepad++ and change the original name that is stuck in the code

·        Try to have the expected process in the left pane of an IF statement

·        Don’t store workflows under the root

·        Use folders to group functionality

·        Soft close applications and then only kill if the process is still there

UIPath Suggestions

·        Don’t use hardcoded delays

I believe there is a time and place for small delays. Code to check for existence of elements can clutter the code. Also there are less obvious things that we can wait for like a change in value

·        When using typeinto use emptyField

·        Use simulated click

UIPath’ s reason is for attended solutions. We have found that this helps for forms off-screen. However, this won’t always work and testing must be done (sometimes the program is handling onKeyDown events etc.)

·        Use flowcharts instead of nested if’s

Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation

usually null value

Read cell conversion error

If the value is for example 1.0 – uipath will not write that value to a string

RPA works only when you are watching

Why would a bot running on a vdi work properly only when someone is viewing the bot?

Possible reasons

·        The viewer has a screen resolution that is different than the bot when it runs unattended

Always view the bots at 1024X768

·        Sometimes an unattended bot has a problem with selecting elements on a browser because it doesn’t have the focus – use set focus before selecting