Windows Automation API 3.0 release notes

Microsoft has released Windows Automation API 3.0.

Windows Automation API 3.0 is included in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2. However, this updated technology is also available for download to computers that are running earlier versions of Windows.

Windows Automation API 3.0 contains the following changes and improvements.

For Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

• The default State property of many Win32 controls (controls that are supplied by User32.dll or Comctl32.dll) has been updated. The default State property of the following controls is now STATE_SYSTEM_FOCUSABLE.
  • Client
  • Combo box
  • List
  • List item
  • Menu
  • Menu bar
  • Menu item
  • Tree
  • Outline item
  • Page tab
  • Tab list
  • Window
  However, the default State property for the up-down control is no longer STATE_SYSTEM_FOCUSABLE.
  
  The progress bar control now supports the STATE_SYSTEM_READONLY state. The split button control now supports the STATE_SYSTEM_HASPOPUP state. The button control now supports the STATE_SYSTEM_HOTTRACKED state, when the button control is under the mouse pointer.
• When the tree-view (SysTreeView32) control includes check boxes as elements of the outline items, the Role property of the available object will be updated to ROLE_SYSTEM_CHECKBUTTON (check box).
• To provide consistency with Windows 7, and to continue the deprecation of the accDescription property, Windows common edit controls now display the Cuebanner text through IAccessible::accHelpText instead of IAccessible::accDescription.
  
  Note The Cuebanner text is the shaded text that is displayed when there is no content.

For Windows XP and for Windows Server 2003

• The updates to the default State property of the Win32 controls in Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008 also apply to Windows XP and to Windows Server 2003. In addition, the default State property of the animation control is STATE_SYSTEM_ANIMATED.
• The updates to the states that are supported by the Win32 controls in Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008 also apply to Windows XP and to Windows Server 2003. The combo box control now supports the STATE_SYSTEM_COLLAPSED and the STATE_SYSTEM_EXPANDED states. The progress bar control now supports the STATE_SYSTEM_READONLY and the STATE_SYSTEM_MARQUEED states.
• The buttons on slider controls (the clickable area next to the thumb of the control) now support the DoDefaultAction method and the DefaultAction property.
• To provide consistency with Windows 7and to continue the deprecation of the accDescription property, Windows common edit controls now display the Cuebanner text through IAccessible::accHelpText instead of IAccessible::accDescription.
• Windows Automation API 3.0 removes special-casing for the Start button. Earlier versions had contained special cases for this button. However, the Start button is now treated the same as all other buttons. The most noticeable change is to the accName of the button, which is now "start" instead of "Start." Small changes to other properties may also be observed, depending on the UI theme.

For information about the State property, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For information about the Role property, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For information about the DefaultAction property, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about Windows Automation API, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: