Manual action automation for PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC - (Moved)

[MakzNovice]

Hello Experts,

I have Zero experience with Autoit + Adobe Acrobat, and I really in need to get this working as PoC.
I am trying to automate some manual actions below are the steps I would like to do.

INPUT to script : 
1. PDF file to open
2. String that I would like to add as \\Server\Directory name

Steps : 
1. Open the file in Adobe Acrobat Pro
2. Browse to View > Tools > Send For Review > Open (see image 1)
3. On the launched tool bar click on "Send for Shared Connecting" (see image 2)
4. Next select option "Automatically Collect comments on my..." in dropdown and click 'Next' (see image 3)
5. Select radiobutton "Network folder" and paste the input "\\Server\Directory" in text field and click 'Next' (see image 4)

Experts, I would really appreciate a quick script which I can run and get rolling.

Please note, I would not likwe to rely on MouseClick and/or cordinates match approach.

PLEASE SUPPORT!!!!

Makz

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[MakzNovice]

Hello Experts,

I have Zero experience with Autoit + Adobe Acrobat, and I really in need to get this working as PoC.
I am trying to automate some manual actions below are the steps I would like to do.

INPUT to script : 
1. PDF file to open
2. String that I would like to add as \\Server\Directory name

Steps : 
1. Open the file in Adobe Acrobat Pro
2. Browse to View > Tools > Send For Review > Open (see image 1)
3. On the launched tool bar click on "Send for Shared Connecting" (see image 2)
4. Next select option "Automatically Collect comments on my..." in dropdown and click 'Next' (see image 3)
5. Select radiobutton "Network folder" and paste the input "\\Server\Directory" in text field and click 'Next' (see image 4)

Experts, I would really appreciate a quick script which I can run and get rolling.

Please note, I would not likwe to rely on MouseClick and/or cordinates match approach.

PLEASE SUPPORT!!!!

Makz

**********************************************************************************************************

Image 1

 

Image 2

 

Image 3

 

Image 4

[Earthshine]

Welcome to the forum.

We are here to help you with scripts YOU write. If you need this ASAP, you should go hire someone who is capable to do it. However, it has been the case sometimes when very nice people here will write up a starter script. I am not guaranteeing it, but it could happen.

If you want to start a small script of your own, people here could certainly help you along with the questions you have.

 

I have a feeling automating Adobe Acrobat might be a challenge (UIAutomation probably--and that isn't so easy to do for a beginner)

Edited January 9, 2020 by Earthshine

[MakzNovice]

@Earthshine Thank you for your reply.

I would have definitely taken some professional help had this been a sponsored project. 
For now could you give me a starter that would let me work in a direction?

I do not expect a fully working script ( although I would highly appreciate one), but any working code will be huge help.

[Earthshine]

Sorry. I have my own work demands and can't spend time on this. you need to probably hire someone, and adobe has an Software Dev Kit for people wanting to interact with it. 

AutoIt might not be the best tool to automate it.

 

https://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/documentation.html

Edited January 9, 2020 by Earthshine

[Akos]

You can maybe try UFT to handle visual objects.

[Jos]

Moved to the appropriate forum, as the AutoIt Example Scripts forum very clearly states:

Quote

Share your cool AutoIt scripts, UDFs and applications with others.

---

Do not post general support questions here, instead use the AutoIt Help and Support forums.

Also merge the second topic opened in another  WRONG forum. Please take notice where to post questions and never post a question twice in different forums!  Thanks

Moderation Team

Edited January 9, 2020 by Jos

[seadoggie01]

@MakzNovice I don't have any working code for what you're doing, but I can tell you what I've learned about trying to automate things in Adobe Acrobat Pro...

1. If at all possible, use JavaScript. They have an extensive API for it and many scripts already exist on the web for managing PDFs. This will likely be your best option.

2. If you need to use AutoIt for Acrobat, be prepared to use UIAutomation. It's a bit confusing to look at in the beginning, but look at LarsJ's examples to clear everything up.

3. Simplify your life with the Action Wizard as much as possible. You can run basic batch commands on a huge list of PDFs. It looks like this may not work with the Action Wizard, however.

[MakzNovice]

@seadoggie01I have explored that javascript option, infact I have tried to connect to Adobe support too.

Can  you provide me link for LarsJ’s forum

thread?

[MakzNovice]

1 hour ago, Akos said:

You can maybe try UFT to handle visual objects.

@Akos Thank you for your replies

two questions I have related to UFT

1. have you worked for n something like this in UFT?

2. Can I get a complied exe as output from UFT that I can invoke from May be my JavaScript?

[seadoggie01]

I would still try going the JavaScript route. It's likely going to work much better if anything with your Acrobat version changes. The documentation for DC is here: https://help.adobe.com/en_US/acrobat/acrobat_dc_sdk/2015/HTMLHelp/#t=Acro12_MasterBook%2FIntroduction_Help_TitlePage%2FAbout_This_Help.htm

Also note that there are some very helpful sample projects you can download along with the SDK, which Earthshine kindly linked to above.

Here's the UI Automation topic I mentioned:

[junkew]

Microfocus UFT will not help much on PDF. Uia automation will work fine.

Potentially you have an activex installed for pdf manipulation which you can load with objcreate.

The names AcroExch.App and AxAcroPDFLib.AxAcroPDF are the external strings OLE clients use to 
create objects of certain types. The Acrobat developer type libraries call them CAcro.App and 
AcroPDFLib, respectively.

Edited January 9, 2020 by junkew

[Subz]

Here is how I configure Adobe Acrobat Pro for our users:

Using a test account

• Delete HKCU\Software\Adobe
• Open: Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Export HKCU\Software\Adobe registry key to AdobeAcrobat1.reg
• Make changes to the preferences, including the review settings above
• Once completed, export HKCU\Software\Adobe registry key to AdobeAcrobat2.reg
• Download and install WinMerge https://winmerge.org/ (free comparison tool)
• Compare AdobeAcrobat1.reg with AdobeAcrobat2.reg

All the highlighted items are the changes you made in Adobe Acrobat, for instance in my case Review Servers are found here: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\Collab\cReviewServers\c0, I then deploy those settings via Group Policy or script.  This is most reliable way of configuring Adobe Acrobat settings imho.

 

 

[MakzNovice]

8 hours ago, junkew said:

Microfocus UFT will not help much on PDF. Uia automation will work fine.

Potentially you have an activex installed for pdf manipulation which you can load with objcreate.

The names AcroExch.App and AxAcroPDFLib.AxAcroPDF are the external strings OLE clients use to 
create objects of certain types. The Acrobat developer type libraries call them CAcro.App and 
AcroPDFLib, respectively.

@junkew Thanks a ton!!!!!

I must say you are the GOD of UI automations...

The UIA automation does the trick, except not being able to identify drop-down very well and click on popped up 'Next >' button.

I will soon be posting my script here for others once I have done some more error handling.

Again Thank you very much!!!!

[MakzNovice]

@junkew

I am having strange problem here with using the UI automation toolkit. May be as I do not understand the exact usage.

My programs launches pdf file, then on the 'right side pane' click on 'find tools' and then 'Send' in the command to a launch

(see image below)

I ran the SimpleSpy.exe with 'Find tool' highlighted, I got the code after 'Ctrl + w' and used it 'as is' in my code.

My code then works fine but only under condition that simplespy.exe is launched in background, do you know what is my mistake here?

Below is my code for reference 

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#AutoIt3Wrapper_Au3Check_Parameters=-q -d -w 1 -w 2 -w 3 -w- 4 -w 5 -w 6 -w- 7
#include <EditConstants.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <constants.au3>
#include <WinAPI.au3>
#include <debug.au3>
#include "CUIAutomation2.au3"
#include "UIAWrappers.au3"

$COMMAND_STRING = "My Command in Find tool of right side pane"

$fileName = "C:\Temp\MyPDF.pdf"
$Run = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe" & " " & $fileName
ConsoleWrite("$Run : " & $Run & @CRLF)
$PID = Run($Run, "", @SW_MAXIMIZE)
ConsoleWrite("$PID : " & $PID & @CRLF)
Local $list = WinList()
For $i = 1 To $list[0][0]
    If WinGetProcess($list[$i][0]) = $PID And $list[$i][0] Then     ;we need activate only window that matches our PID and has a title
        ConsoleWrite("Found $PID : " & $PID & @CRLF)
        WinSetState($list[$i][1], "", @SW_SHOW)
        WinActivate($list[$i][1])
        ExitLoop
    EndIf
Next

Dim $szDrive, $szDir, $szFName, $szExt
_PathSplit($fileName, $szDrive, $szDir, $szFName, $szExt)

ConsoleWrite("$szDrive : " & $szDrive & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("$szDir : " & $szDir & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("$szFName : " & $szFName & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("$szExt : " & $szExt & @CRLF)

;~ Make the PDF file as active and on top
WinWait($szFName)
WinActivate($szFName)
;WinWaitActive("[CLASS:AcrobatSDIWindow]")

ConsoleWrite("Activated : " & $szDrive & @CRLF)

;~ Wait for all the contents to be loaded since file could be huge
Sleep(5000)

_UIA_setVar("oP1", "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_WindowControlTypeId;class:=AcrobatSDIWindow")     ;
_UIA_setVar("oP2", "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView")     ;
_UIA_setVar("oP3", "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView")     ;
_UIA_setVar("oP4", "Title:=Right Hand Tools Pane;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView")     ;Right Hand Tools Pane
_UIA_setVar("oP5", "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=")     ;
_UIA_setVar("oP6", "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=")     ;

;~ $oUIElement=_UIA_getObjectByFindAll("FindTools.mainwindow", "title:=Find Tools;ControlType:=UIA_ButtonControlTypeId", $treescope_subtree)
_UIA_setVar("oUIElement", "Title:=Find Tools;controltype:=UIA_ButtonControlTypeId;class:=")     ;ControlType:=UIA_ButtonControlTypeId;classname:=")

;~ Actions split away from logical/technical definition above can come from configfiles
_UIA_Action("oP1", "highlight")
_UIA_Action("oP1", "setfocus")
_UIA_Action("oP2", "highlight")
_UIA_Action("oP2", "setfocus")
_UIA_Action("oP3", "highlight")
_UIA_Action("oP3", "setfocus")
_UIA_Action("oP4", "highlight")
_UIA_Action("oP4", "setfocus")
_UIA_Action("oP5", "highlight")
_UIA_Action("oP5", "setfocus")
_UIA_Action("oP6", "highlight")
_UIA_Action("oP6", "setfocus")

_UIA_action("oUIElement", "highlight")
_UIA_action("oUIElement", "click")


ConsoleWrite("I clicked Find tool " & @CRLF)

;~ Add the 'my command text' in find tools editor
Send($COMMAND_STRING)

 

[junkew]

Some tools need to know there is screenreader software active. I think there is some code in simplespy. Look for sendmessage in simplespy that probably will help you in a direction.

[MakzNovice]

@junkew One query related to UIA Automation. The PDF automation program I was having up and running and ready to publish for all till I hit another roadblock.

I have raised request for that problem here :

 

In short the problem now is that when I run the script on remote machine, with me watching the script it works fine.

But as soon as I minimize the remote machine screen, the program stops after launching PDF file.

I dug inside you UIAAutomation.au3 file and saw in _UIA_action method you have used Send. 

My specific query to you-

1. On minimized screen will _UIA_getObjectByFindAll return me the Control ?

2. If yes, Can I use ControlSend instead of _UIA_action which I use for 'click' and/or 'set focus' button and editor in pdf?

I am not able to test it directly, I can only get back to it on Monday morning. But I was too curious to hold on my query and would like to know if it was possible.

Reply with any small example if possible will be highly appreciated.

 

[MakzNovice]

Hello All,

Can anyone help me with alternates for running the script on 'minimized remote machine' ? 

This is just part of script but I have many WinWait and WinActivates used.

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#include <FileConstants.au3>
#include <StringConstants.au3>
#include <EditConstants.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <constants.au3>
#include <constants.au3>
#include <WinAPI.au3>
#include <debug.au3>
#include "CUIAutomation2.au3"
#include "UIAWrappers.au3"


#include <Array.au3>
#include <File.au3>
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>

; used for chcking is the script is Singleton
#include <Misc.au3>

#include <ColorConstantS.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <StaticConstants.au3>

Global $ACROBAT_DC_EXE_PATH = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe" 
Global $PdfFileName = "AppDevGuide.pdf"
MyFunction

Func MyFunction()
    
    Local $Run = $ACROBAT_DC_EXE_PATH & " " & @ScriptDir & "\" & $PdfFileName
    ConsoleWrite("$Run : " & $Run & @CRLF)
    Local $PID = Run($Run, "", @SW_MAXIMIZE)
    ConsoleWrite("$PID : " & $PID & @CRLF)
    Local $list = WinList()
    For $i = 1 To $list[0][0]
        If WinGetProcess($list[$i][0]) = $PID And $list[$i][0] Then ;we need activate only window that matches our PID and has a title
            ConsoleWrite("Found $PID : " & $PID & @CRLF)
            WinSetState($list[$i][1], "", @SW_SHOW)
            WinActivate($list[$i][1])
            ExitLoop
        EndIf
    Next

    Local $szDrive, $szDir, $szFName, $szExt
    _PathSplit($fileName, $szDrive, $szDir, $szFName, $szExt)

    ConsoleWrite("$szDrive : " & $szDrive & @CRLF)
    ConsoleWrite("$szDir : " & $szDir & @CRLF)
    ConsoleWrite("$szFName : " & $szFName & @CRLF)
    ConsoleWrite("$szExt : " & $szExt & @CRLF)

;~ Make the PDF file as active and on top
    WinWait($szFName)
    WinActivate($szFName)

    ConsoleWrite("Activated : " & $szFName & @CRLF)
    _FileWriteLog($LOG_FILE_PATH, "Activated : " & $szFName)

;~ Wait for all the contents to be loaded
    Sleep(5000)
    ConsoleWrite("Sleep(5000)" & @CRLF)
    
    ConsoleWrite("Trying to get Find tools command" & @CRLF)

    Local $oP5 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($UIA_oDesktop, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_WindowControlTypeId;class:=AcrobatSDIWindow", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP5, "setfocus")
    Local $oP4 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP5, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP4, "setfocus")
    Local $oP3 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP4, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP3, "setfocus")
    Local $oP2 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP3, "Title:=Right Hand Tools Pane;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP2, "setfocus")
    Local $oP1 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP2, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=", $treescope_children)
    Local $oP0 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP1, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=", $treescope_children)
;~ First find the object in the parent before you can do something
    Local $oUIElement = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP0, "title:=Find Tools;ControlType:=UIA_ButtonControlTypeId", $treescope_subtree)
    _UIA_action($oUIElement, "click")

    ConsoleWrite("I clicked Find tool " & @CRLF)

;~ Add the Send For Shared Commenting text in editor
    Send("Send For Review")
    ConsoleWrite("I Entered text in search Send For Review" & @CRLF)
    

    ; MOST important wait for some time after sending $COMMAND_STRING
    Sleep(5000)
    ConsoleWrite("Sleep(5000)" & @CRLF)
    
    $oP5 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($UIA_oDesktop, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_WindowControlTypeId;class:=AcrobatSDIWindow", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP5, "setfocus")
    $oP4 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP5, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP4, "setfocus")
    $oP3 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP4, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP3, "setfocus")
    $oP2 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP3, "Title:=Right Hand Tools Pane;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP2, "setfocus")
    $oP1 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP2, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP1, "setfocus")
    $oP0 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP1, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP0, "setfocus")
    _UIA_setVar(".mainwindow", "title:=;classname:=AVL_AVView")
    _UIA_action(".mainwindow", "setfocus")

    ConsoleWrite("Highliting the Send For Review command" & @CRLF)
    
    ; Send
    ;Send("{TAB 1}")

    ;Send("{ENTER}")
    Local $oP8 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($UIA_oDesktop, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_WindowControlTypeId;class:=AcrobatSDIWindow", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP8, "setfocus")
    Local $oP7 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP8, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP7, "setfocus")
    Local $oP6 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP7, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP6, "setfocus")
    $oP5 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP6, "Title:=Right Hand Tools Pane;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP5, "setfocus")
    $oP4 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP5, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP4, "setfocus")
    $oP3 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP4, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP3, "setfocus")
    $oP2 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP3, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_PaneControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP2, "setfocus")
    $oP1 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP2, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=AVL_AVView", $treescope_children)
    _UIA_Action($oP1, "setfocus")
    $oP0 = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP1, "Title:=;controltype:=UIA_GroupControlTypeId;class:=", $treescope_children)
;~ First find the object in the parent before you can do something
    $oUIElement = _UIA_getObjectByFindAll($oP0, "title:=Send for Shared Commenting;ControlType:=UIA_ButtonControlTypeId", $treescope_subtree)

    _UIA_action($oUIElement, "click")

    ConsoleWrite("Must have clicked Send for Review " & @CRLF)

    Sleep(500)

    WinActivate($szFName)
;~ Close the opened file
    Send("!f")
    Send("c")
    Sleep(2000)
    ConsoleWrite("Alt + F then C to close file.... " & @CRLF)
    _FileWriteLog($LOG_FILE_PATH, "Alt + F + C to close file.... " )
    _FileWriteLog($LOG_FILE_PATH, "Sleep(2000)")

;~ Close the Acrobat Application
    Send("!f")
    Send("x")
    Sleep(3000)
    ConsoleWrite("Alt + F then  X to Exit Acrobat .... " & @CRLF)
    _FileWriteLog($LOG_FILE_PATH, "Alt + F then  X to Exit Acrobat .... " )
    _FileWriteLog($LOG_FILE_PATH, "Sleep(3000)")

;~ Now close the pdf application forcefully if it still exists
    If ProcessExists($PID) Then
        ProcessClose($PID)
        ConsoleWrite("Acrobat found, Killing it.... " & @CRLF)
        _FileWriteLog($LOG_FILE_PATH, "Acrobat found, Killing it.... " )
    EndIf

EndFunc

 

[junkew]

Your remote screen probably locks when you minimize. Is your script running on the remote machine? Alternative is not to minimize but make it smaller 1*1 pixel for example or mobe to 2nd desktop.

[MakzNovice]

@Junkew Thank you for response.

yes my program works on remote machine at different geographical location and I can only take remote of it using mstsc

1. Launching program is from Task scheduler and yes hence the screen locking is one scenario (for which I am seeking solution too)

But, currently, I launch my program and minimize the remote desktop and bring back screen within 30 secs - 1 min, even though during this time remote screen does not lock still the process is not started. The Adobe does launch but remains minimized to Task bar and if I bring it on top program works based on Sleep time in my code.

You can try the code snippet if you have a remote machine with you.

2. Getting second desktop is little difficult as this program will be used by someone else who will not have access to more than one screen

3. Minimizing the screen looks a option.. do you have any snippet which can show me how can I kind of dock it on right bottom corner near system Tray like windows media player or something? How do I maximize it back if needed?