Send Value

The Send Value action A feature that supplies the instructions in a botflow. sends a value to a target An element within an application Nintex RPA interacts with, such as a button, text field, or checkbox., such as a text box.

Using the Send Value action, you can:

  • Send text data to a text editor.
  • Send shortcut keys to a target.
  • Send a Ctrl+C command to copy information.

Some examples of target applications for the Send Value action using the Selector tool are:

  • Microsoft Excel spreadsheet cells.
  • Nintex Forms.
  • Browser windows.

Add a Send Value action to a botflow

This example provides the steps necessary to add a Send Value action to a botflow.

To add a Send Value action to a botflow A file that stores the actions and variables designed to automate tasks.:

  1. Drag the Selector tool from the Build Pane Area to add new actions and edit existing actions. and drop it onto an application to display the Target Preview.
  2. Select Send Value from the Data actions list.

    3. The Send Value Action Builder window displays.

  3. Enter the value to send to the target application.

    4. See the Send Value settings for more information about:

    • Hide Value: Hides the sent value.
    • Click before sending: Clicks the target before sending the data to the target.
    • Tab after sending: Sends a Tab command after the value is sent.
    • Bypass the keyboard: This setting displays when the target resides in a browser window.

    • Change Case: Changes the sent value to Upper, Lower, or Proper case.
    • Remove Spaces: Removes Leading, Trailing, or All spaces from sent values.

    • Mode: Sets the mode of sent value.
    • Speed: Sets the speed of the sent value.

  4. If needed, adjust the Rule settings to modify how Nintex RPA finds the application target.
  1. If needed, adjust the Run Error Task settings and Timing settings to fine tune how the action runs.
  2. View the action Details settings.
  3. If needed, adjust the Run Switch setting to create the action without running it.
  4. Optionally, add an action note.
  5. Click OK to add the Send Value action to the botflow.

Send Value Action field and button descriptions

Field or button Description
Selector Tool

The Selector Tool allows you to choose the target element the botflow interacts with, such as a button, text field or check box.

Ensure your machine's Windows Settings (Start Menu > Settings) are set as follows when using the Selector Tool:

  • Windows Display Scale and layout set to 100% (Settings->System->Display).
  • Windows Display Make text bigger set to 100% (Settings->Ease of Access->Display).

You can use the Selector tool to do things such as:

  • Click a button in an application.
  • Send information to a web page or Windows application.
  • Copy information from a web or Windows application.

Drag the Selector tool from the Task Pane Area to create and manage actions within a specific task. onto the desired application target An element within an application Nintex RPA interacts with, such as a button, text field, or checkbox. and choose the appropriate action from the Build Pane Area to add new actions and edit existing actions..

Selector Tool
Build Pane

The Build Pane displays after you select a targeted element in a Windows application.

The Build Pane lets you:

Selected target elements display in the Build Pane with a list of actions supported by the targeted item. The Build Pane also displays how long the item has been targeted.
Recent Target

The most recent target may be accessed by clicking the Recent Target button to the right of the Selector.

This is useful when creating Excel, Emulator, and Web Table Targets allowing you to create new actions with existing targets.
Field or button Description
Send Value Options/Settings General
  • Send: Enter the value to send to the target application. Optionally, use the Expression Builder to build the action settings using variables or other token values.
  • Hide Value: Hides the sent value, such as a password. The value will be protected using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), as described in Encryption Standards. Once encrypted the value can't be changed.
  • Click before sending: Clicks the target before sending the data to the target. Use when the target application requires focus to the target before sending data, such as when then target application requires first putting the cursor into a text box before typing into that text box.
  • Tab after sending: Sends a Tab command after the value is sent. Some target applications require a tab out of a field before the data is saved.
  • Bypass the keyboard: This setting displays when the target resides in a browser window. This setting can increase the speed of your Botflow when supported by the target application.

    • Note: Nintex RPA sends data to a field using the keyboard. Bypass the keyboard sends the information without the physical keyboard. Some applications only respond to changes submitted by an actual keyboard. These applications will not support Bypass the keyboard. To determine if your target application supports this feature, perform the action and confirm that changes have been made.

Format

  • Change Case: Changes the sent value to Upper, Lower, or Proper case.
  • Remove Spaces: Removes Leading, Trailing, or All spaces from sent values.

Keystrokes

  • Mode: Sets the mode of sent value.
    • Overwrite: Clears any existing text in the target before sending the value.
    • Append: Moves the cursor to the end and adds the value to the end of the existing value.
    • Insert at Front: Moves the cursor to the beginning and adds the value to the beginning of the existing value.
    • None: Does not clear the existing value. The value is sent to the location of the target's cursor.
  • Speed: Sets the speed of the sent values.
    • Auto: Recommended
    • Very Fast
    • Fast
    • Medium
    • Slow
    • Very Slow
    • Slowest: A noticeable pause precedes keystrokes which are sent at an extremely slow rate.

      • Note: When the keyboard Speed is set to Auto, Nintex RPA attempts to adapt the keystroke speed to the target application. Navigational keys (such as Tab, Enter, and Right Arrow) are sent using Nintex RPA smart speed technology, causing botflows to be more reliable.

      A consistent delay is added between each keystroke when using Very Fast, Fast, Medium, Slow, Very Slow, or Slowest. Slowest causes a noticeable delay between keystrokes which are sent at an extremely slow rate and is needed in rare cases.

Preview: Shows the exact value that will be sent to the target.
Rules

Some actions have rules required to locate a target and vary based on the targeted application.

Rules of a targeted application element are configured and saved with the action. The rules are then used to locate the proper targeted element, such as an Microsoft Excel workbook.

To set the most common rules type:

  1. Click Rules from the Build Pane Area to add new actions and edit existing actions. or the Action Builder The Action Builder window provides access to the tools needed to create and modify Actions or instructions within a botflow. window.

    2. The Rules window displays the Rules available for the selected targeted application.

  2. Adjust the available rules as required.
  1. Click OK to save the Rules.
  • Some targets provide no rules.
  • Most targets provide at least the text of the target, such as 'Log in' for a log in screen action.
  • Some targets provide a name to identify the target (a unique developer-defined control name).
  • Some targets provide an ID (a unique identifier that locates an item based on how it appears in the target).
  • All targets use the following rules:
    • Ignore: Ignores the value of the selected rule.
    • Exact Match: Uses an exact match when considering the value of the rule.
    • Best Match: Uses a best match when considering the value of the rule and uses a variety of information to locate the target.
    • Left Match: Uses leading characters when considering the value of the rule based on a specified number of leading characters.
    • Right Match: Uses trailing characters when considering the value of the rule based on a specified number of trailing characters.
Preview All actions created using the Selector Tool include a Preview of the targeted element.
Details

When directed by Nintex Support, click Details from the Preview Panel of the Action Builder. If needed, Nintex Support will supply additional information.
Timing Settings

Some actions have timing settings and vary based on the targeted application. The timing settings of a targeted application element are configured and saved with the action. The timing settings are then used to control when the action starts.

  1. Click Wait up to 1 sec.
  1. Open the Time drop-down list and select the required setting:
    • Do not wait: Immediately attempts to execute the action and applies any error settings or rules.
    • Wait up to: Waits up to one (1) second to execute the action per any configured rules. The time specified is the wait time prior to continuing the botflow. In the event of an application being unavailable, the action adheres to the error settings. Time units include numeric settings for seconds, minutes, and hours.
    • Wait forever: Waits until the target application is in a ready state and applies any error settings or rules.
  1. Click X to close the drop-down list and save the setting.
Run error task
  1. Click Run error task.
  2. Open the On Error drop-down list and select the required setting:
    • Run error task: A botflow containing an error task automatically runs the error task in the event of an error. If the botflow does not contain an error task, the botflow stops in the event of an error.
    • Stop on error: The botflow stops in the event of an error.
    • Ignore errors: The action is skipped in the event of an error and the botflow attempts to execute the next action
  1. Click X to close the drop-down and save the setting.
Note

(Optional) Type a Note to document any special instructions or functionality.    
Run Switch

The Run Switch toggle controls how Nintex RPA runs an action when adding or editing an action in a botflow.

  • Run: To run the action automatically when you click OK, turn the toggle to Run.

  • Don't Run: If you do not want to run the action automatically when you click OK, turn the toggle to Don't Run.
OK/Cancel Click OK to save the action or click Cancel to discard the action or any changes.