Main, dialog, and child windows
You can use IBM RPA to automate applications on Microsoft™ Windows™. IBM RPA bots interact with these applications by attaching to their windows, assigning and obtaining field values, and handling controls from these windows.
Windows are sections of the viewing area on your screen that are usually rectangular-shaped, where the application's controls, also called elements, are loaded. You interact with these controls by using your mouse, keyboard, or other input device.
There are three different types of windows: main, dialog, and child windows.
Main window
The main window is a graphical user interface (GUI) section of the computer's display that shows the program currently being used. It usually contains the Title bar, Minimize, and Maximize controls, and other standard interface elements managed by the operating system. The other elements arranged in the main window, such as menus and buttons, are managed by the application itself and are positioned in relation to the main window – when you drag the main window, all other elements inside it are dragged together in relation the main window. These other elements can be thought as daughters of the main window, where the applications’ functions take place.
By interacting with the main window elements, you trigger the application's business logic, which can interact with databases or external applications or create new components such as new controls or other windows.
Dialog windows
Dialog windows are temporary windows that are created by an application to get user input. They appear in front of the application window and lock the application window until you close it.
Child windows
A child window is a window that starts inside a parent window inheriting the coordinate system and depends on the parent window. Usually, child windows divide the client area of the parent window into functional areas. Child windows can also be dialog boxes or any other type of window that spawns from the parent window.
Even though they can appear as an independent window, they are bound to their parent window. Closing the parent window effectively closes the child window as well.