How to avoid powershell going into wait mode automatically - powershell

Question

I have a powershell script which automates the upload of a report. After the file upload dialog box opens in Internet Explorer, My code tries to get it's id and then send keys and send the file address and sendkeys enter. But unfortunately as soon as the file upload dialog box pops up my script doesn't proceed further and waits there. If I hit close (in the file upload dialog) then the script continues. Is there any way by which I can tell powershell to not wait for anything?
Here's my code :-
$dummy = get-process iexplore | where {$_.mainWindowTitle -eq "ArkAngelWeb - Hitachi Systems Security Inc. - Internet Explorer"} | select -expand id
Sleep 1
$temp = $ie.Document.documentElement.getElementsByClassName("v-button-caption") | Where-Object {$_.innerHTML -eq "Select file"}
$temp.click()
Sleep 2
$swshell=New-Object -ComObject wscript.shell
$fileUploadDialog = get-process iexplore | where {$_.mainWindowTitle -eq "ArkAngelWeb - Hitachi Systems Security Inc. - Internet Explorer" -and $_.Id -ne
$dummy.Id} | select -expand id
$swshell.AppActivate($fileUploadDialog.Id)
$swshell.SendKeys("H");
$swshell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
$swshell.SendKeys("C:\Users\ratns1\Desktop\TEST_FILE.txt")
$swshell.SendKeys("~")
Thanks

Answer 1

This is the issue with SendKeys, timing, UI controls, etc.
You are popping a model dialog box, and that is what's causing the wait.
By design, your script will not continue until you dismiss it. This is the design for dialogs.
PoSH notwithstanding, it is your use case that is the catch 22, not PoSH itself.
Take a look at the Wasp module to take the load off all the sendkey and Window lookup stuff off your plate.
Occasionally, the only way of automating processes is to send
keystrokes or mouse clicks to UI elements. A good and free PowerShell
extension is called "WASP" and is available here:
http://wasp.codeplex.com/
Once you install the module (do not forget to unblock the ZIP file
before you unpack it, via right-click, Properties, Unblock), the WASP
module provides the following cmdlets:
Get-WindowPosition
Remove-Window
Select-ChildWindow
Select-Control
Select-Window
Send-Click
Send-Keys
Set-WindowsActive
Set-WindwowPosition
Here is a simple automation example using the Windows calculator:
Import-Module WASP
# launch Calculator
$process = Start-Process -FilePath calc -PassThru
$id = $process.Id
Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
$window = Select-Window | Where-Object { $_.ProcessID -eq $id }
# send keys
$window | Send-Keys 123
$window | Send-Keys '{+}'
$window | Send-Keys 999
$window | Send-Keys =
# send CTRL+c
$window | Send-Keys '^c'