Use the SendKeys component

task australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read use-utilities-keyboard-sendkeys.md

Simulate the actions of the standard Microsoft Windows supported keys on various applications and programs with the SendKeys component in the RPA Desktop Design Studio.

Before you begin

Role required: none

About this task

The standard Microsoft Windows keyboard provides many keyboard functions to perform various day-to-day tasks quickly and efficiently. For example, [Alt+A] can select all content on a file.

Note: You must specify the keyboard shortcuts within the square brackets []. For example, [Ctrl+A].

To see the various supported keys, see Supported keys and functions.

You can configure the properties for the SendKeys component. For more information about these properties, see Properties of keyboard components.

Procedure

In the Toolbox pane, navigate to Utilities > Keyboard.
Drag the SendKeys component to the Design surface.
To configure the input fields, see Configure port properties.
Connect the data and control ports of the SendKeys component to the corresponding ports of the other components as described in the following table.

Port type Port name Data type Purpose of connection Mandatory?

Data In keys String Takes keys that perform an action on the application. Yes
To test the component, under the DESIGN tab, click Run.

Port type	Port name	Data type	Purpose of connection	Mandatory?
Data In	keys	String	Takes keys that perform an action on the application.	Yes

Parent Topic:Keyboard

50 lines · 2.6 KB Wrap lines

---
title: Use the SendKeys component
description: Simulate the actions of the standard Microsoft Windows supported keys on various applications and programs with the SendKeys component in the RPA Desktop Design Studio.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/integrate-applications/use-utilities-keyboard-sendkeys.html
release: australia
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Keyboard, Utilities, Automation components, RPA Desktop Design Studio, Robotic Process Automation \(RPA\) Hub, Workflow Data Fabric]
---

# Use the SendKeys component

Simulate the actions of the standard Microsoft Windows supported keys on various applications and programs with the SendKeys component in the RPA Desktop Design Studio.

## Before you begin

Role required: none

## About this task

The standard Microsoft Windows keyboard provides many keyboard functions to perform various day-to-day tasks quickly and efficiently. For example, **\[Alt+A\]** can select all content on a file.

**Note:** You must specify the keyboard shortcuts within the square brackets \[\]. For example, \[Ctrl+A\].

To see the various supported keys, see [Supported keys and functions](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/supported-keys-and-functions.md).

You can configure the properties for the SendKeys component. For more information about these properties, see [Properties of keyboard components](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/properties-of-keyboard-components.md).

## Procedure

1.  In the Toolbox pane, navigate to **Utilities** &gt; **Keyboard**.

2.  Drag the SendKeys component to the Design surface.

3.  To configure the input fields, see [Configure port properties](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/configure-input-port-properties.md).

4.  Connect the data and control ports of the SendKeys component to the corresponding ports of the other components as described in the following table.

    |Port type|Port name|Data type|Purpose of connection|Mandatory?|
    |---------|---------|---------|---------------------|----------|
    |Data In|keys|String|Takes keys that perform an action on the application.|Yes|

5.  To test the component, under the **DESIGN** tab, click **Run**.


**Parent Topic:**[Keyboard](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/keyboard-utilities.md)