UIElementInspector

This software review presents an API that can be used by both Carbon and Cocoa applications to manipulate the UI of other applications through accessibility. The API provides an abstraction layer that enables accessibility applications to interact with other applications by calling on UI elements. While the API may be used by either Carbon or Cocoa applications, this sample focuses on its use in Cocoa applications.

One of the features of the Accessibility API in UIElementInspector is the ability to obtain information about AXUIElements or widgets that are currently under the mouse. The API provides detailed information about the AXUIElement, and allows actions to be performed on it. As the mouse moves across the screen, the new API displays the information obtained in the inspector window. Users can also lock the inspector window on an element to get more information about that object and activate its actions through the interaction window.

However, the UIElementInspector sample does not demonstrate how to make a custom UI element accessible for the Accessibility API. Typically, custom Cocoa widgets will have the right behavior inherited from their superclass, while Carbon applications need to provide more code to provide the correct information to interested applications. The sample focuses on how to use the Accessibility API to obtain information about other applications and UI elements on the screen, which is necessary for accessibility applications.