InvokeMethod

Example

Here’s an example of how the “InvokeMethod” activity is used in workflow –

The following example helps you to understand how the DLL is added and utilized into the workflow.

In this case, I have added a sample DLL that is used to automate “Calculation” functionality in it. To perform this method, we need two input values during automation.

Here I have already added the DLL, refer the steps on how to add the DLL.

Steps to execute a bot:

1. Create a solution named “DLLDOC” or open an existing solution.
2. Drag and drop the “Invoke Method” activity from the “Invoke” feature to the workflow.
a. It is used to invoke the method from external DLLs. Here we are performing “Addition” method from the DLL.
b. Now, choose the “Target type” as “Browse for types.”
c.  In this case, we are choosing the “datatype” of added DLL from the “.Net window”.
d. The datatype will be added to the “.NET Window” once the DLL has been invoked to the solution.
3. Next, moving to the “MethodName” property.
a. In this case, I am going to use the method name as “Add” from the DLL. 
4. Now, navigating to the “Parameters” in the properties to provide the input values to perform the method.
a. Choose the “three dots” and the “Arguments panel” will appear on the screen.
b. I am choosing the “direction” of the input values as “IN” here as the values are passed as input to the method during the execution.
c. In this case, we require only “INTEGER” datatype to perform the addition method. Choosing the “Arguments type” as “INT32” from the drop-down for both the input values5
d. Now, I am providing the first value as “12” in the “Value” field as input here.
e. And the second value as “56” in the box and then click on “Ok” button.
f. Now the values to perform the “Addition” method has been added. 
5. Next, to view the output of the method performed, we are going to declare an “Out” argument.
a. Navigate to the “Arguments” panel,
b. Here I am using the “ArgumentName” as “FinalResult” and choose the “AgurmentType” as “Int32” as the “Output” will be in numbers.
c. Next, Choose the argument type as “Out” as it is used only to return output.
6. Next, we are providing the declared argument to the “Result” property in the activity.
a. It is used to view the output of the method performed with the DLL.
b. Navigate to the property and providing the value as “FinalResult” here.
7. Drag and drop the ‘Write Line’ activity to view the result of InvokeMethod”. It will return the output of the method.
8. Enter the input text as “FinalResult.ToString”.
9. The “.ToString” extension is advised to use along with any other data types other than string format. It converts any data type into string.
10. Now, execute the workflow.

The bot will execute the “Add” method with provided input values and returns the output. Below is the sample of the output of the workflow execution.