The control could not be found by id. SAP GUI bug? - automation

Question

I am trying to automate SAP data extraction using scripting. The problem I am facing is a recorded script in SAP isn't working when I'm running it, when I use findById("id") method it comes out that cannot be found, however the tabs are there.
The idea is to move between the tabs (using session.findById("id").Select) to extract info in that panels. Use a list of Purchase Orders (PO's), make a loop and extract the information, it's simple.
However, these tabs aren't found randomly. Sometimes it works, sometimes it is not found. All PO's (if I do it manually) have tabs with the data, but in the script it doesn't work.
For example:
The red box is the tabs that I am trying to select
Output of the recorded script (just moving between tabs):
If Not IsObject(application) Then
Set SapGuiAuto = GetObject("SAPGUI")
Set application = SapGuiAuto.GetScriptingEngine
End If
If Not IsObject(connection) Then
Set connection = application.Children(0)
End If
If Not IsObject(session) Then
Set session = connection.Children(0)
End If
If IsObject(WScript) Then
WScript.ConnectObject session, "on"
WScript.ConnectObject application, "on"
End If
session.findById("wnd[0]").resizeWorkingPane 183,24,false
session.findById("wnd[0]/usr/subSUB0:SAPLMEGUI:0015/subSUB3:SAPLMEVIEWS:1100/subSUB2:SAPLMEVIEWS:1200/subSUB1:SAPLMEGUI:1301/subSUB2:SAPLMEGUI:1303/tabsITEM_DETAIL/tabpTABIDT13").select
' Extract info
session.findById("wnd[0]/usr/subSUB0:SAPLMEGUI:0019/subSUB3:SAPLMEVIEWS:1100/subSUB2:SAPLMEVIEWS:1200/subSUB1:SAPLMEGUI:1301/subSUB2:SAPLMEGUI:1303/tabsITEM_DETAIL/tabpTABIDT15").select
' Extract info
session.findById("wnd[0]/usr/subSUB0:SAPLMEGUI:0015/subSUB3:SAPLMEVIEWS:1100/subSUB2:SAPLMEVIEWS:1200/subSUB1:SAPLMEGUI:1301/subSUB2:SAPLMEGUI:1303/tabsITEM_DETAIL/tabpTABIDT18").select
' Extract info
Error:
The control could not be found by id.
I'm using:
My theory, the tab is hidden and doesn't find it, that I would have to use the arrows to move, however when I use the arrows at the time of making the script recording, it simply doesn't add them to the code.
Sorry for my English, and thanks in advance for your time.

Answer 1

I can only offer a workaround on this phenomenon.
for example:
...
for i = 1 to 99
on error resume next
session.findById("wnd[0]/usr/subSUB0:SAPLMEGUI:00" & right("0" & cstr(i),2) & "/subSUB3:SAPLMEVIEWS:1100/subSUB2:SAPLMEVIEWS:1200/subSUB1:SAPLMEGUI:1301/subSUB2:SAPLMEGUI:1303/tabsITEM_DETAIL/tabpTABIDT13").select
if err.number = 0 then exit for
on error goto 0
next
on error goto 0
' Extract info
for i = 1 to 99
on error resume next
session.findById("wnd[0]/usr/subSUB0:SAPLMEGUI:00" & right("0" & cstr(i),2) & "/subSUB3:SAPLMEVIEWS:1100/subSUB2:SAPLMEVIEWS:1200/subSUB1:SAPLMEGUI:1301/subSUB2:SAPLMEGUI:1303/tabsITEM_DETAIL/tabpTABIDT15").select
if err.number = 0 then exit for
on error goto 0
next
on error goto 0
' Extract info
for i = 1 to 99
on error resume next
session.findById("wnd[0]/usr/subSUB0:SAPLMEGUI:00" & right("0" & cstr(i),2) & "/subSUB3:SAPLMEVIEWS:1100/subSUB2:SAPLMEVIEWS:1200/subSUB1:SAPLMEGUI:1301/subSUB2:SAPLMEGUI:1303/tabsITEM_DETAIL/tabpTABIDT18").select
if err.number = 0 then exit for
on error goto 0
next
on error goto 0
' Extract info
Regards,
ScriptMan

Answer 2

Ah yes, my favorite SAP screen: ME23N. Who knows what the SAPLMEGUI:00XX will be! But, if you find the element by it's name you'll never run into this problem. Additionally, this solves the problem of the tab you want not being there; because, depending on the line item of the PO, who knows what tabs will be available.
Here's how I get over this every time, without fail.
In your sub procedure use the function below. If the tab is there it will select it and return true and you can continue extracting your data. You need the tab text and the name of the tab strip.
You can find the name of the tab strip easily. Look at what has been recorded. It has the "tabs" prefix.
session.findById("wnd[0]/usr/subSUB0:SAPLMEGUI:0015/subSUB3:SAPLMEVIEWS:1100/subSUB2:SAPLMEVIEWS:1200/subSUB1:SAPLMEGUI:1301/subSUB2:SAPLMEGUI:1303/tabsITEM_DETAIL/tabpTABIDT13")
Public Sub Main()
If IsTabThere("ITEM_DETAIL", "Account Assignment") = True Then
' Extract info
End If
If IsTabThere("ITEM_DETAIL", "Purchase Order History") = True Then
' Extract info
End If
End Sub
Public Function IsTabThere(ByVal tabStripName As String, ByVal tabText As String) As Boolean
Dim userArea As Object
Dim tabStrip As Object
Dim tabToSelect As Object
Set userArea = session.FindById("wnd[0]/usr")
Set tabStrip = userArea.FindByName(tabStripName, "GuiTabStrip").Children
For Each tabToSelect In tabStrip
If tabToSelect.Text = tabText Then
tabToSelect.Select
IsTabThere = True
' Will exit here if the tab was selected and return true
Exit Function
End If
Next
IsTabThere = False
End Function
Hope this makes your day. Good luck!
If your interested in making your script more dynamic checkout my answer on this post. I explain how to get started using the SAP GUI Scripting API.
how-to-run-sap-gui-script-from-excel-macro