Managing Applications

Any application that is used in an automation must first be defined in Nintex Admin Tool.

To add an application:

  1. Access the Admin Tool.

  2. Click Applications in the Menu Pane.

  3. Click New Application on the toolbar.

    4. An application called New Application is created in the Entities Pane.

    The new application is automatically selected, and its properties appear in the Properties Pane, with the General tab active.

  4. Enter a name for the application on the General tab.

    There are many properties available on the General tab. However, when adding an application, the only General tab field that is required is the Application Name.

  5. Define the application's identification methods on the Identification Methods tab.

  6. Click Save Changes.

  7. Click Wizard Catalog in the Menu Pane.

  8. Select the newly created application.

  9. Select the company name to assign it to the company.

  10. Click Save Changes.

Application Identification Methods are the ways in which the Nintex RPA Platform identifies the application being used. In order to add an application, you must define at least one identification method.

One or more? AND or OR?

There are numerous methods by which an application can be identified, and it is possible to specify more than one for each application. Additionally, within each method, one or more conditions can be specified.

  • If more than one method is specified, ALL the specified methods must be satisfied in order for the application to be properly identified (i.e., each method is separated by an AND)

  • If more than one condition within a single method is specified, ONLY ONE of the conditions must be met in order for the method to be satisfied (i.e., each condition is separated by an OR)

Adding identification methods and conditions

To add an identification method:

  1. Tick its checkbox.

  2. Enter the details of the condition under that method.

To add a condition under an identification method, click the button

To remove a condition under an identification method, click the button

Recommended identification methods

Best practice is to use one of the following identification methods (depending on whether the application is desktop- or web-based) and add other identification methods only as necessary.

Process name is the recommended identification method for desktop applications.

  • In the condition, enter the application's process name as it appears in the Windows Task Manager > Details tab – without the .exe extension (e.g., outlook)

Application URL is the recommended identification method for web-based applications.

  • To maximize the probability that the web application is properly identified:

    • In the condition, enter the website's URL without the protocol (usually, http or https) and without the path (i.e., the section of the URL following the domain name)

    • Use an operator other than Equals (e.g., Contains, Starts With, etc.)

Additional identification methods

You can use additional identification methods either instead of or in addition to the recommended methods. These additional methods include:

  • Installation registry values

  • Company name

  • Class name

  • Application container

  • Product name

  • Product version

  • Window caption

  • Main module name

  • Registry values

To facilitate migrating defined applications among different environments, Nintex Admin Tool allows you to export an application's properties to an XML file and import them into the new environment.

An application's general properties and identification methods are included when you export/import its properties.

Exporting application properties

To export an application's properties:

  1. In the Menu Pane, click Applications.

  2. In the Entities Pane, select the application whose properties you want to save.

  3. In the Properties Pane, click the button.

  4. Navigate to the location in which to save the file.

  5. Click Save.

An XML file is saved to the selected location.

Importing application properties

To import an application's properties:

  1. In the Menu Pane, click Applications

  2. If the application you wish to import already appears in the Entities Pane:

    1. Select the relevant application.

    2. In the Properties Pane, click the button.

    3. Navigate to the XML file you previously saved for this application.

    4. Click Open.

      The application's general properties and identification methods are loaded into the Properties Pane.

    5. Click the button.

  3. If the application you wish to import does NOT appear in the Entities Pane:

    1. From the toolbar, click the button.

    2. In the Properties Pane, click the button.

    3. Navigate to the XML file you previously saved for this application.

    4. Click Open.

      The application's general properties and identification methods are loaded into the Properties Pane.

    5. Click the button.