What is the most effective way to handle clicking on a UI element that is not always available?

Handling clicks on a UI element that is not consistently available requires a robust strategy to manage exceptions and ensure that the automation process can adapt to varying conditions. Placing the click action inside a try/catch block is the most effective approach in this scenario because it allows the automation to attempt the click and gracefully handle any errors that may arise if the UI element is not available at that moment.

Using a try/catch structure lets the RPA workflow continue running by capturing exceptions, which can then be dealt with in a controlled manner. This might involve logging the error, attempting alternative actions, or retrying the click after a certain condition is met. This method enhances the resilience of the automation process, as it does not stop execution but allows for proper error handling.

In contrast, retrying until the element is available could lead to an infinite loop if the element is never displayed, which can cause the automation to hang or crash. Using a delay before the click might not be reliable as the timing can vary depending on different system loads or network issues. Clicking with a keyboard shortcut may not always be applicable since not all UI elements can be activated this way, and it could complicate the interaction further.