AppsWorks on Free
How to wait until an app has fully loaded before the next step
After an Open app step in KeyRoutines, add a Wait until container with the App is ready condition. App is ready waits until the main window is big enough to not be a splash screen, answers Windows and has stopped loading, so the next step, such as Press keys, lands in a ready app.
Steps
- 1
Open the app
Add Open app with Wait for set to process.
- 2
Wait for it to be ready
Add Wait until with the App is ready condition for the same app. Set a minimum window size if the app has a big splash screen, and a timeout such as 60 seconds.
- 3
Do the next thing
Now add the step that needs the app, for example Press keys with Ctrl+N, or Move and resize.
Tips
- App is ready can also check that CPU use has settled, which helps with apps that keep loading after their window appears.
- For games use Game is ready instead; KeyRoutines only arranges things around a game and never sends keys to it.
Questions
- Why not just use a Delay?
- A delay that's long enough on a slow day wastes time on a fast one, and a short one fails. Waiting for readiness adapts to how quickly the app actually loads.
- What happens if it never becomes ready?
- Wait until stops after its timeout and fails the step, or carries on, depending on what you choose.