Perceptive Content Fundamentals

LearnMode Type Methods

The first task in learning your business application is to determine which LearnMode method to try first. Once you have determined the LearnMode method, you can create screens for each business application screen to which you need to link documents. There is no "correct" method; many times it is a case of trial and error to find the LearnMode method that fits the needs of your particular business application, its design, and the index values you need to capture to link your images into Perceptive Content. You need to understand how the system captures data from different types of applications. It is extremely helpful to understand certain features of your business application. This includes what type of application it is, the type of interfaces it uses, and how it is accessed by your users. Each section below gives an extended explanation of each method.

Window Walker

This LearnMode method is used with some GUI applications that conform to the Microsoft Windows interface design guidelines. Many applications in use today have a graphical user interface that operates entirely within a single window on the desktop. Examples of applications that run inside a single window are Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Custom-built applications may also fall into this category.

These application windows are published to the operating system in such a way that LearnMode can easily communicate with them. Different information is contained within easily distinguishable controls, such as fields, images, and objects. Data is obtained automatically and dynamically from the Windows application running on your desktop. When capturing data from your business application, LearnMode will deliver the unique control IDs to the application plan. These control IDs are used in the captured window to define document keys. A control ID is also used to define the screen label for the screen. Window Walker can learn many Java applications that run in browsers.

HyperLearn

This LearnMode method is used for GUI applications that do not make themselves as accessible to Perceptive Content as others. For instance, some custom—bui|t applications may not adhere to all current Windows interface standards. These applications can only deliver bitmapped data to a Windows screen. HyperLearn uses an on—screen character recognition process to gather data from the business application. in simple terms, LearnMode takes a screen shot of the business application window, analyzes its content, and converts the screen characters into text.

HyperLearn intelligently interprets the characters presented within a defined region on the window. Although this process can be very demanding, it is a very reliable method. Using this method requires that you know the specific window font used by the business application. You will need to know the specific type face, point size, and formatting style. Without this knowledge, you will be unable to use this LearnMode method. Once the font is determined, document keys are defined by drawing boxes around the text boxes in the captured window. This method can usually define the screen label for you by getting the text in the title bar of the captured window.

Viewpoint

This LearnMode method is used with some GUI applications that conform to the Windows interface design guidelines. it is a hybrid between the Window Walker and HyperLearn methods that is used with some Windows applications. It is similar to Window Walker in that it is control~based. However, instead of using address of node in the control tree to identify and locate data, Viewpoint (formally known as Window Text) uses x,y coordinates (similar to HyperLearn) to locate a control. The controls can be in a disabled state and the window can be dragged off the screen. Document keys are defined by clicking the pointer in each text box in the captured window. This method can usually define the screen label for you by getting the text in the title bar of the captured window.

The Viewpoint LearnMode method expands options for learning web-based applications that were built with tools such as Macromedia Flash. This is also is a good option for Mozilla Firefox users.

DOS Command Prompt

The DOS Command Prompt method is for DOS-based applications that can run in a Command Prompt window. This LeamMode method is used with most DOS—based programs. The most common type of program that uses a DOS window is a legacy program written prior to the widespread use of the Windows graphical user interface. If you are uncertain whether your business application runs in a DOS window, contact the person or group responsible for its maintenance.

Many programs are written with a DOS template. These programs behave similar to programs running under terminal emulation. Therefore, this method is similar to the Terminal Capture method. LearnMode uses a method of capturing the screen data and copying it to the system clipboard. The clipboard contents are then copied into the captured window in the screen. Document keys are defined by highlighting the text in the captured window. The screen label is deï¬Âned in the same way.

Terminal Capture

Applications that users access with a terminal emulator usually require the Terminal Capture method. This LearnMode method is used with terminal emulator programs and mainframe programs. This method uses a straightforward technique of copying the business application screen contents to the system clipboard. This method is most commonly used with Terminal Emulation programs. The terminal emulator displays data screens from a mainframe or online business application.

Depending on the terminal emulator that you use, the method to copy screen data to the clipboard will vary. A connect string is necessary for each screen that is created, The connect string provides LearnMode with a set of system level program calls that relate specifically to the terminal emulation program being used. Determining the connect string is probably one of the most difficult tasks in this method. The clipboard contents are then copied into the captured window in the screen. Document keys are deï¬Âned by highlighting the text in the captured window.

Internet Explorer

This LearnMode method is used with web—based applications. Programs that are rendered via HTML, ActiveX, Java, Macromedia Flash, or some combination of these can be integrated with Perceptive Content.

This method uses an HTML parser that conducts browser interrogation to identify index values. Data is obtained automatically and dynamically from the web application running on your desktop. When capturing data from your business application, LearnMode will deliver the unique controls to the application plan. These controls are used in the captured window to define document keys. A control is also used to deï¬Âne the screen label for the screen.

Other LearnMode Options

OLE, DDE or COM Scripts

These options are used with business applications that possess OLE, DDE or COM capabilities. It is becoming more common for applications to offer a programmatic interface to other applications on the desktop. This allows applications to communicate back and forth, requesting and retrieving data for various uses. The Perceptive Content Client API enables you to reuse or call Perceptive Content objects outside of Perceptive Content using standard Microsoft Windows Component Object Modeling (COM). You can make API calls when you learn a business application using OLE/DDE scripting.

Use Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting (VBScrip't) as a tool to extend functionality. In a LearnMode script, you could capture data from the business application. The captured data is used as the document key, and you provide a separate VBScript for each document key you want. Your document key scripts can include any type of VBScript call, including Perceptive Content Client API calls and ActiveX calls. For information about how to write a VBScript to make calls into your business application, refer to your business application documentation.

Every application is a little different and requires a good knowledge of the objects and properties that are available to an external application. However, it is extremely effective, and can open the doors to more advanced automation techniques.