Type the path in file dialogs and check where the export went

demo/ShopDesk.Core/AppText.cs

@@ -26,5 +26,7 @@ public static class AppText
 
     public static string Total(decimal amount) => "Total: " + Money.Format(amount);
 
+    public static string Exported(string path) => $"Cart exported to {path}";
+
     public static string OrderPlaced(OrderResult order) => $"Order {order.OrderId} placed. Total: {Money.Format(order.Total)}";
 }

demo/ShopDesk.WinForms/MainForm.cs

@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ private void Export()
         if (dialog.ShowDialog(this) == DialogResult.OK)
         {
             File.WriteAllText(dialog.FileName, Services.Cart.ToCsv());
-            status.Text = "Cart exported";
+            status.Text = AppText.Exported(dialog.FileName);
         }
     }
 

demo/ShopDesk.Wpf/MainWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ private void OnExport(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
         if (dialog.ShowDialog(this) == true)
         {
             File.WriteAllText(dialog.FileName, Services.Cart.ToCsv());
-            StatusText.Text = "Cart exported";
+            StatusText.Text = AppText.Exported(dialog.FileName);
         }
     }
 

docs/windows-and-locators.md

@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ there are no stale references. Every action is a report step.
 |---|---|
 | `Click()`, `DoubleClick()`, `RightClick()` | `Ui:ClickMode`: `Auto` (Invoke for WPF/XAML, mouse for WinForms/Win32), `Invoke`, `Mouse` |
 | `Type(text)`, `Clear()` | through UI Automation when the field accepts it, otherwise typed. Password fields are masked in the report. |
+| `TypeKeys(text)` | always typed on the keyboard, for controls that ignore values set through UI Automation (file dialogs) |
 | `Check()`, `Uncheck()`, `SetChecked(bool)` | toggle pattern; only toggles when needed |
 | `Select(item)` / `Select()` | an item of a combo box or list (expands and collapses as needed) / this element itself |
 | `OpenMenu("File", "Export cart...")` | menu bars, including WinForms drop-downs that open as separate popup windows |

examples/Taf.Desktop.Examples/Tests/MenuAndDialogTests.cs

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public void ExportWritesTheCartAsCsv()
             var main = On<MainWindow>();
             main.StartExport();
             On<FileDialog>().Choose(file);
-            main.WaitStatus("Cart exported");
+            Verify.Equal(main.WaitStatus("Cart exported"), $"Cart exported to {file}", "Status bar");
 
             File.ReadAllLines(file).Should().Equal("Product,Quantity,Amount", "Canvas Backpack,2,59.98");
         }

examples/Taf.Desktop.Examples/Windows/MainWindow.cs

@@ -65,11 +65,11 @@ public MainWindow StartSearch(string text)
         return this;
     }
 
-    /// <summary>Waits until the status bar shows <paramref name="text"/> (the app finished an action).</summary>
-    public MainWindow WaitStatus(string text)
+    /// <summary>Waits until the status bar starts with <paramref name="prefix"/> (the app finished an action).</summary>
+    public string WaitStatus(string prefix)
     {
-        status.WaitText(text);
-        return this;
+        status.WaitUntil(s => s.Text.StartsWith(prefix, StringComparison.Ordinal), $"starts with '{prefix}'");
+        return Status;
     }
 
     public MainWindow WaitUntilLoaded()

src/Taf.Desktop.Core/Ui/Dialogs.cs

@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ public void Choose(string path) => Step.Run($"Choose '{path}' in {Name} ('{Title
         {
             fileName = Element("fileName", Locator.ById("1148", ControlType.Edit));    // open dialog
         }
-        fileName.Type(path);
+        // Typed, not set: the dialog keeps its own file name and may ignore text set through UI Automation.
+        fileName.TypeKeys(path);
         fileName.Press(VirtualKeyShort.ENTER);
         WaitClosed();
     });

src/Taf.Desktop.Core/Ui/UiElement.cs

@@ -133,6 +133,12 @@ private static bool TrySetValue(IUiNode node, string text)
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Replaces the content by typing on the keyboard, like a user. For controls that ignore values set through UI
+    /// Automation (the file name box of Windows file dialogs).
+    /// </summary>
+    public void TypeKeys(string text) => Step.Run($"Type '{text}' into {Name} (keyboard)", () => WaitEnabled().TypeText(text));
+
     public void Clear() => Step.Run($"Clear {Name}", () =>
     {
         var node = WaitEnabled();