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Mouse Hover

Moves the mouse pointer to a specified location

Common Properties​

  • Name - The custom name of the node.
  • Color - The custom color of the node.
  • Delay Before (sec) - Waits in seconds before executing the node.
  • Delay After (sec) - Waits in seconds after executing node.
  • Continue On Error - Automation will continue regardless of any error. The default value is false.
info

if ContinueOnError property is true, no error is caught when the project is executed even if Catch node is used.

Input​

  • X Coordinate - The X coordinate of the location to move the mouse pointer.
  • Y Coordinate - The Y coordinate of the location to move the mouse pointer.

Options​

  • Smooth - Selects whether to move the pointer smoothly. When enabled, the mouse will animate from the current position to the target position. When disabled, the mouse jumps instantly.

How It Works​

The Mouse Hover node moves the mouse pointer to a specified location on the screen without clicking. The execution follows these steps:

  1. Delay Before - Waits for the specified delay before execution (if configured)
  2. Coordinate Retrieval - Retrieves the X and Y coordinates from input variables
  3. Mouse Movement - Moves the mouse cursor to the target coordinates:
    • If "Smooth" is enabled: Animates the cursor movement from current position to target
    • If "Smooth" is disabled: Instantly jumps the cursor to the target position
  4. Delay After - Waits for the specified delay after execution (if configured)

This node is useful for triggering hover effects, positioning the cursor before other actions, or revealing tooltips.

Requirements​

  • Robomotion Deskbot - This node only works with Robomotion Deskbot (desktop automation)
  • Screen Coordinates - Valid screen coordinates within your display resolution
  • Operating System Support - Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Permissions - May require accessibility permissions on macOS and some Linux distributions

Error Handling​

Error CodeDescriptionCommon Cause
Core.Mouse.Hover.ErrOnCreateConfiguration parse errorInvalid node configuration or corrupted flow
Core.Mouse.Hover.ErrOnMessageMessage parse errorInvalid input message format

Usage Examples​

Example 1: Trigger Tooltip​

Hover over an element to display its tooltip:

X Coordinate: 500
Y Coordinate: 300
Smooth: true

The smooth movement makes the hover appear more natural and allows tooltips to trigger properly.

Example 2: Reveal Dropdown Menu​

Hover over a menu item to reveal a dropdown submenu:

X Coordinate: 150
Y Coordinate: 80
Smooth: false

Instant positioning (no smooth) for quick menu navigation.

Example 3: Position Before Click​

Position the mouse before performing a click action:

X Coordinate: {{buttonX}}
Y Coordinate: {{buttonY}}
Smooth: true

Use variables for dynamic positioning and smooth movement for realistic automation.

Example 4: Trigger Hover Effects​

Hover to reveal hidden UI elements or change element states:

X Coordinate: 720
Y Coordinate: 450
Smooth: true

Many modern web applications show additional options or information on hover.

Usage Notes​

  • No Click - This node only moves the cursor; it does not perform any click action
  • Smooth vs. Instant - Smooth movement is more realistic and better for triggering hover effects, but instant is faster
  • Coordinate System - Screen coordinates start at (0,0) in the top-left corner
  • Hover Timing - Use "Delay After" to give hover effects time to appear before the next action
  • Multi-Monitor - Coordinates are absolute and work across multi-monitor setups
  • No Validation - The node does not validate if coordinates are within screen bounds

Tips​

  1. Use Smooth for UI Effects - Enable smooth movement when you need to trigger hover-based UI effects
  2. Use Instant for Speed - Disable smooth for faster execution when hover effects aren't needed
  3. Add Delays - Use "Delay After" to wait for tooltips, dropdowns, or other hover effects to fully appear
  4. Combine with Wait - Follow with a wait or delay node if the hovered element takes time to load
  5. Variable Coordinates - Store coordinates in variables for reusable and maintainable automation
  6. Test Positions - Use screen capture tools to identify exact hover coordinates
  7. Before Clicks - Use this node before Mouse Click to ensure the cursor is in position
  8. Hover Menus - For multi-level hover menus, chain multiple hover nodes with appropriate delays