Description of the Windows Automation API

This article describes the Windows Automation API. This set of libraries is available as a stand-alone download for Windows XP and for Windows Server 2003. The Windows Automation API is a component of the Platform Update for Windows Vista, and also a component of the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008.

Windows Automation API

The Windows Automation API library enables accessibility tools and test automations to access the Windows user interface in a consistent way across operating system versions.

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:

Download information

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Update For Windows Server 2003, x86-based versions

Download the Update for Windows Server 2003 for x86-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=05101d13-1bbf-407e-80bd-4a538d96590e)

Update for Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions

Download the Update for Windows Server 2003 for x64-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=199333ad-a9af-4ccd-839a-4d526c6457c5)

Update for Windows Server 2008, x86-based versions

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 for x86-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=468e4f78-d411-4932-8719-76a0b2eb1443)

Update for Windows Server 2008, x64-based versions

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 for x64-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5cc9aaae-9f7a-442a-8af6-113fa0068c48)

Update for Windows Vista, x86-based versions

Download the Update for Windows Vista for x86-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6936fcf6-a63b-4b0c-afa4-ec90ed4caee6)

Update for Windows Vista, x64-based versions

Download the Update for Windows Vista for x64-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=ed01a526-82d8-49a3-b6c0-2722586b1c12)

Update for Windows XP, x86-based versions

Download the Update for Windows XP for x86-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=cd55456d-9703-42a0-b982-8a8a89ca0aa3)

Note The integrated installation of this package may not work correctly when you use the procedures that are described in the Knowledge Base article 828930. This is a known issue. If Microsoft releases a software update to resolve this problem, this article will be updated with additional information.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.