Exploring the Graphical User Interface (GUI) in UiPath Part 1

UiPath’s core operations are based on its GUI elements which allow the user to perform simple and complex actions without using any command or code. In this tutorial, we will explore all of UiPath's GUI as well as other interactive elements that are necessary to develop automation scripts. 

UiPath studio’s start up screen

Upon launching UiPath studio, the user is greeted with the above screen. Now, there are various elements on this screen that needs a proper explanation.

Start

This is the default option that is selected when a user opens the UiPath studio. Under this tab, one can open a local project that is saved on the local drive using the first option “Open a Local Project”.

Next comes the “Clone or Check Out” option which allows a user to open/clone online code repositories from popular websites such as GIT, TFS, and SVN. This is mostly used by advanced users who want to implement codes within their automation scripts. 

New Project

This element allows an individual to create a new project. It comprises three unique choices, starting from Process then Library, and finally Test Automation.

Process

This enables an individual to create an automation process/script from scratch. Upon selecting this option, a user can jump right into UiPath studio’s automation environment.

Library

It allows a user to develop processes, scripts, or sequences that can be imported in other processes or published online, much similar to packages in R and Python. These libraries can act as dependencies to other automation processes as well.

Test Automation

This is primarily used for automation testing, quality check, and verification procedures which validates functionalities of the application. Using this option, a user can create a script to perform test procedures on their test application using UiPath Robot.

Open Recent

This element includes all of the recent projects that you have created and worked on. In this case, a "Just Dial" process was created, which can be understood from the “P” alphabet used as an icon. For Libraries, the icon changes to “L” and similarly for Test automation it is “T”.

The VB mentioned alongside the alphabets show the programming language used to create those processes. In this case, Visual Basic has been used and hence it is mentioned as VB. If an alternate programming language is used (which is only C#), a user can identify that by looking at the icon as well.  

Tools

This tab primarily comprises UiPath Extensions, Add ons, and Packages to integrate it with popularly used applications. This includes an extension for browsers like Chrome and Firefox as well as plugin for Citrix and Java.

Team

This tab provides various options to connect to popular online repositories such as GIT, TFS, and SVN. This allows multiple users to work on the same project such that they can collaborate and coordinate with ease. This tab is named “Teams” as it is solely built for working in a group especially people working on the same project.

Inside UiPath automation studio

Let us create a new blank project and dive into the various GUI elements that UiPath offers to develop easy automation workflows.

  • Upon selecting a new process, the "New Blank Process" dialog box appears.
  • One can choose a Project's name, Storage Location, and Description as per their requirements.  For this tutorial, we will create a Blank Process. Note: The default save location for UiPath studio is “C:\Users\User Name\Documents\UiPath\

This window constitutes of various elements and hence can be overwhelming for first time users; however, once all of their functionalities are understood, they are easy to get used to.

Let us start with the “Open Main Workflow” window.

This window contains various options that allow a user to dive into a specific requirement with just one click or shortcut. The very first option "Open Main Workflow" takes an individual straight to the Main Workflow environment. We will explain the workflow window in the later part of the tutorial.

Open Command Palette

Selecting this option takes a user to a search bar with which he/she can choose from previously saved commands or code snippets that they want to use. By default, there are two options in the command palette, "Go to File” and "Universal search".

Open Universal Search

This helps an individual to open the Universal Search functionality that allows them to open, import, or include any snippet or activity into the main workflow window.

Add an activity

Much similar to universal search, this allows an individual to add a specific activity into the workflow.

Focus Project Panel

This simply opens up the project panel on the left-hand side. The Project Panel displays an overview of the dependencies used in a project with a click to view option. The entire project mapping is displayed using a tree branching sequence.

Focus Activities Panel

This opens up the Activities Panel on the left-hand side which includes all usable activities that an individual can drag and drop into their workflow sequence.

This panel also has an integrated activity search option which also is triggered using Ctrl + Alt + F.

Focus UI Objects Browser

This switches to UI Objects Browser on the right-hand side. Using Object Browser one can handle their project's UI Descriptors, and upload them to online UI repositories, which can be further republished as UI libraries for use globally.

Go to Documentation

This redirects the user to their default browser which opens up the documentation portal of UiPath. This documentation portal contains information about all inbuilt packages, activities, and elements. Also, there are detailed explanations of all attributes that are present in an activity.

To further help the users to understand, there are examples, videos, tutorials with downloadable workflows that can be loaded up in the user’s local machine as well.