How to type in the file explorer using PyWinAuto

Question

I am trying to write a web scraper in python that uploads a file to a website (through a dashboard). To upload a file, I need to click on this box.

When I click on this box it opens a File Explorer window. I want to be able to type into the 'File Name:' box.

I assume it's possible with PyWinAuto but I have never used it before and have no idea how I'm supposed to go about it. The furthest I've got is connecting to the window

app = Application(backend="uia").connect(path="explorer.exe", title="Open")

Are you sure to be connected to the good window? I think it is the taskbar Try app.top_window().draw_outline() To easily do what you want to do try Pywinauto recorder — David Pratmarty
– David Pratmarty, Commented Jun 2, 2021 at 19:16
Please post your solution as answer and mark it as accepted. It's better signal for others the problem is solved. Thanks! — Vasily Ryabov
– Vasily Ryabov, Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 19:27
Well done! Vasily is right: posting your solution as an answer and also adding the method by which you found the solution would certainly be of great help to others. — David Pratmarty
– David Pratmarty, Commented Jun 5, 2021 at 7:29

GlitchedData64 · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-10 14:22:43Z

2

I managed to figure it out in the end.

Instead of connecting to 'explorer.exe', I had to connect to the browser window that contained the file explorer box using this code.

app = Application(backend='uia').connect(title='Browser window name',timeout=100)

fileBox = app.BrowserWindowName.child_window(title="File name:", auto_id="1148", control_type="Edit").wrapper_object()

This targeted the 'File Name:' box that I was then able to send a file path to by using the type_keys() method

fileBox.type_keys('pathToFile', with_spaces=True)

edited Aug 10, 2021 at 14:22

answered Jun 7, 2021 at 17:20

GlitchedData64

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2 Comments

Vidya Marathe Over a year ago

set_text() would be a more reliable method instead of type_keys()

Guven Degirmenci Over a year ago

@VidyaMarathe not only reliable but is also faster method.

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