WinAppDriver OutLook New Email Elements not found - outlook

Question

Trying to mimic (automate) email sending through outlook using WinAppDriver, the "New E-mail" element is recognized and new window opens but on the new Window the "To","CC" etc controls are not recognized.
I suspect the new windows session is not available for the driver.
try {
DesiredCapabilities capabilities = new DesiredCapabilities();
capabilities.setPlatform(Platform.WIN10);
//capabilities.setCapability("appTopLevelWindow", "0xBB880A");
capabilities.setCapability("app", "C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\OUTLOOK.exe");
outlookSession = new WindowsDriver(new URL("http://127.0.0.1:4723"), capabilities);
outlookSession.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(20, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
} catch (MalformedURLException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
newEmail = outlookSession.findElementByName("New E-mail");
System.out.println("newEmail:::::: " + newEmail);
newEmail.click();
outlookSession.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(20, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
outlookSession.findElementByName("To").sendKeys("<email>"); (the 'To' element is not recognized.

Answer 1

I think that the problem you are facing is cause by the fact that Outlook will create a new Windows for your new email. That will result in the window not being part of your current session. The best way to address this, is probably creating a desktop session, finding your new window and then attaching a new session and then controlling your new window from there.
Hope this helps.
~Gilles

Answer 2

switchTo().activeElement() didn't work for me so I had to create a new session to interact with the elements on the new email page. Hopefully, this helps others who had the same issue as me
DesiredCapabilities capabilities = new DesiredCapabilities();
capabilities.setCapability("app", "Root");
driver = new WindowsDriver<>(new URL("http://127.0.0.1:4723"), capabilities);

Answer 3

You have to write the code for switching the window from outlook to New email.
Thread.Sleep(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5));
var allWindowHandles1 = driver.WindowHandles;
driver.SwitchTo().Window(allWindowHandles1[0]);
When ever you have new window then you have to switch the control from one window to other.