Robot (Java Platform SE 7 )
Keywords: java.awt.Robot class

java.awt

## Class Robot

- java.lang.Object
- - java.awt.Robot

-     public class Robot
      extends Object

  This class is used to generate native system input events for the purposes of test automation, self-running demos, and other applications where control of the mouse and keyboard is needed. The primary purpose of Robot is to facilitate automated testing of Java platform implementations.

  Using the class to generate input events differs from posting events to the AWT event queue or AWT components in that the events are generated in the platform's native input queue. For example, `Robot.mouseMove` will actually move the mouse cursor instead of just generating mouse move events.

  Note that some platforms require special privileges or extensions to access low-level input control. If the current platform configuration does not allow input control, an `AWTException` will be thrown when trying to construct Robot objects. For example, X-Window systems will throw the exception if the XTEST 2.2 standard extension is not supported (or not enabled) by the X server.

  Applications that use Robot for purposes other than self-testing should handle these error conditions gracefully.

  Since:
    1.3

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `Robot()` Constructs a Robot object in the coordinate system of the primary screen.
    `Robot(GraphicsDevice screen)` Creates a Robot for the given screen device.

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `BufferedImage` | `createScreenCapture(Rectangle screenRect)` Creates an image containing pixels read from the screen.
    `void` | `delay(int ms)` Sleeps for the specified time.
    `int` | `getAutoDelay()` Returns the number of milliseconds this Robot sleeps after generating an event.
    `Color` | `getPixelColor(int x, int y)` Returns the color of a pixel at the given screen coordinates.
    `boolean` | `isAutoWaitForIdle()` Returns whether this Robot automatically invokes `waitForIdle` after generating an event.
    `void` | `keyPress(int keycode)` Presses a given key.
    `void` | `keyRelease(int keycode)` Releases a given key.
    `void` | `mouseMove(int x, int y)` Moves mouse pointer to given screen coordinates.
    `void` | `mousePress(int buttons)` Presses one or more mouse buttons.
    `void` | `mouseRelease(int buttons)` Releases one or more mouse buttons.
    `void` | `mouseWheel(int wheelAmt)` Rotates the scroll wheel on wheel-equipped mice.
    `void` | `setAutoDelay(int ms)` Sets the number of milliseconds this Robot sleeps after generating an event.
    `void` | `setAutoWaitForIdle(boolean isOn)` Sets whether this Robot automatically invokes `waitForIdle` after generating an event.
    `String` | `toString()` Returns a string representation of this Robot.
    `void` | `waitForIdle()` Waits until all events currently on the event queue have been processed.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### Robot

          public Robot()
                throws AWTException

      Constructs a Robot object in the coordinate system of the primary screen.

      Throws:
        `AWTException` - if the platform configuration does not allow low-level input control. This exception is always thrown when GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless() returns true
        `SecurityException` - if `createRobot` permission is not granted
      See Also:
        `GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless()`, `SecurityManager.checkPermission(java.security.Permission)`, `AWTPermission`

    - #### Robot

          public Robot(GraphicsDevice screen)
                throws AWTException

      Creates a Robot for the given screen device. Coordinates passed to Robot method calls like mouseMove and createScreenCapture will be interpreted as being in the same coordinate system as the specified screen. Note that depending on the platform configuration, multiple screens may either:
      - share the same coordinate system to form a combined virtual screen
      - use different coordinate systems to act as independent screens
      This constructor is meant for the latter case.

      If screen devices are reconfigured such that the coordinate system is affected, the behavior of existing Robot objects is undefined.

      Parameters:
        `screen` - A screen GraphicsDevice indicating the coordinate system the Robot will operate in.
      Throws:
        `AWTException` - if the platform configuration does not allow low-level input control. This exception is always thrown when GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless() returns true.
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `screen` is not a screen GraphicsDevice.
        `SecurityException` - if `createRobot` permission is not granted
      See Also:
        `GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless()`, `GraphicsDevice`, `SecurityManager.checkPermission(java.security.Permission)`, `AWTPermission`

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### mouseMove

          public void mouseMove(int x,
                       int y)

      Moves mouse pointer to given screen coordinates.
      Parameters:
        `x` - X position
        `y` - Y position

    - #### mousePress

          public void mousePress(int buttons)

      Presses one or more mouse buttons. The mouse buttons should be released using the `mouseRelease(int)` method.
      Parameters:
        `buttons` - the Button mask; a combination of one or more mouse button masks.

        It is allowed to use only a combination of valid values as a `buttons` parameter. A valid combination consists of `InputEvent.BUTTON1_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON2_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON3_DOWN_MASK` and values returned by the `InputEvent.getMaskForButton(button)` method. The valid combination also depends on a `Toolkit.areExtraMouseButtonsEnabled()` value as follows:

        - If support for extended mouse buttons is `disabled` by Java then it is allowed to use only the following standard button masks: `InputEvent.BUTTON1_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON2_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON3_DOWN_MASK`.
        - If support for extended mouse buttons is `enabled` by Java then it is allowed to use the standard button masks and masks for existing extended mouse buttons, if the mouse has more then three buttons. In that way, it is allowed to use the button masks corresponding to the buttons in the range from 1 to `MouseInfo.getNumberOfButtons()`.
          It is recommended to use the `InputEvent.getMaskForButton(button)` method to obtain the mask for any mouse button by its number.

        The following standard button masks are also accepted:

        - `InputEvent.BUTTON1_MASK`
        - `InputEvent.BUTTON2_MASK`
        - `InputEvent.BUTTON3_MASK`
        However, it is recommended to use `InputEvent.BUTTON1_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON2_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON3_DOWN_MASK` instead. Either extended `_DOWN_MASK` or old `_MASK` values should be used, but both those models should not be mixed.
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the `buttons` mask contains the mask for extra mouse button and support for extended mouse buttons is `disabled` by Java
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the `buttons` mask contains the mask for extra mouse button that does not exist on the mouse and support for extended mouse buttons is `enabled` by Java
      See Also:
        `mouseRelease(int)`, `InputEvent.getMaskForButton(int)`, `Toolkit.areExtraMouseButtonsEnabled()`, `MouseInfo.getNumberOfButtons()`, `MouseEvent`

    - #### mouseRelease

          public void mouseRelease(int buttons)

      Releases one or more mouse buttons.
      Parameters:
        `buttons` - the Button mask; a combination of one or more mouse button masks.

        It is allowed to use only a combination of valid values as a `buttons` parameter. A valid combination consists of `InputEvent.BUTTON1_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON2_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON3_DOWN_MASK` and values returned by the `InputEvent.getMaskForButton(button)` method. The valid combination also depends on a `Toolkit.areExtraMouseButtonsEnabled()` value as follows:

        - If the support for extended mouse buttons is `disabled` by Java then it is allowed to use only the following standard button masks: `InputEvent.BUTTON1_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON2_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON3_DOWN_MASK`.
        - If the support for extended mouse buttons is `enabled` by Java then it is allowed to use the standard button masks and masks for existing extended mouse buttons, if the mouse has more then three buttons. In that way, it is allowed to use the button masks corresponding to the buttons in the range from 1 to `MouseInfo.getNumberOfButtons()`.
          It is recommended to use the `InputEvent.getMaskForButton(button)` method to obtain the mask for any mouse button by its number.

        The following standard button masks are also accepted:

        - `InputEvent.BUTTON1_MASK`
        - `InputEvent.BUTTON2_MASK`
        - `InputEvent.BUTTON3_MASK`
        However, it is recommended to use `InputEvent.BUTTON1_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON2_DOWN_MASK`, `InputEvent.BUTTON3_DOWN_MASK` instead. Either extended `_DOWN_MASK` or old `_MASK` values should be used, but both those models should not be mixed.
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the `buttons` mask contains the mask for extra mouse button and support for extended mouse buttons is `disabled` by Java
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the `buttons` mask contains the mask for extra mouse button that does not exist on the mouse and support for extended mouse buttons is `enabled` by Java
      See Also:
        `mousePress(int)`, `InputEvent.getMaskForButton(int)`, `Toolkit.areExtraMouseButtonsEnabled()`, `MouseInfo.getNumberOfButtons()`, `MouseEvent`

    - #### mouseWheel

          public void mouseWheel(int wheelAmt)

      Rotates the scroll wheel on wheel-equipped mice.
      Parameters:
        `wheelAmt` - number of "notches" to move the mouse wheel Negative values indicate movement up/away from the user, positive values indicate movement down/towards the user.
      Since:
        1.4

    - #### keyPress

          public void keyPress(int keycode)

      Presses a given key. The key should be released using the `keyRelease` method.

      Key codes that have more than one physical key associated with them (e.g. `KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT` could mean either the left or right shift key) will map to the left key.

      Parameters:
        `keycode` - Key to press (e.g. `KeyEvent.VK_A`)
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `keycode` is not a valid key
      See Also:
        `keyRelease(int)`, `KeyEvent`

    - #### keyRelease

          public void keyRelease(int keycode)

      Releases a given key.

      Key codes that have more than one physical key associated with them (e.g. `KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT` could mean either the left or right shift key) will map to the left key.

      Parameters:
        `keycode` - Key to release (e.g. `KeyEvent.VK_A`)
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `keycode` is not a valid key
      See Also:
        `keyPress(int)`, `KeyEvent`

    - #### getPixelColor

          public Color getPixelColor(int x,
                            int y)

      Returns the color of a pixel at the given screen coordinates.
      Parameters:
        `x` - X position of pixel
        `y` - Y position of pixel
      Returns:
        Color of the pixel

    - #### createScreenCapture

          public BufferedImage createScreenCapture(Rectangle screenRect)

      Creates an image containing pixels read from the screen. This image does not include the mouse cursor.
      Parameters:
        `screenRect` - Rect to capture in screen coordinates
      Returns:
        The captured image
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `screenRect` width and height are not greater than zero
        `SecurityException` - if `readDisplayPixels` permission is not granted
      See Also:
        `SecurityManager.checkPermission(java.security.Permission)`, `AWTPermission`

    - #### isAutoWaitForIdle

          public boolean isAutoWaitForIdle()

      Returns whether this Robot automatically invokes `waitForIdle` after generating an event.
      Returns:
        Whether `waitForIdle` is automatically called

    - #### setAutoWaitForIdle

          public void setAutoWaitForIdle(boolean isOn)

      Sets whether this Robot automatically invokes `waitForIdle` after generating an event.
      Parameters:
        `isOn` - Whether `waitForIdle` is automatically invoked

    - #### getAutoDelay

          public int getAutoDelay()

      Returns the number of milliseconds this Robot sleeps after generating an event.

    - #### setAutoDelay

          public void setAutoDelay(int ms)

      Sets the number of milliseconds this Robot sleeps after generating an event.
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - If `ms` is not between 0 and 60,000 milliseconds inclusive

    - #### delay

          public void delay(int ms)

      Sleeps for the specified time. To catch any `InterruptedException`s that occur, `Thread.sleep()` may be used instead.
      Parameters:
        `ms` - time to sleep in milliseconds
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `ms` is not between 0 and 60,000 milliseconds inclusive
      See Also:
        `Thread.sleep(long)`

    - #### waitForIdle

          public void waitForIdle()

      Waits until all events currently on the event queue have been processed.
      Throws:
        `IllegalThreadStateException` - if called on the AWT event dispatching thread

    - #### toString

          public String toString()

      Returns a string representation of this Robot.
      Overrides:
        `toString` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        the string representation.

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