Windows Desktop Control
Use this plugin when the task involves native Windows desktop apps or browser surfaces that do not have a stronger structured integration available.
Operating modes
Pick one of these modes before taking action:
- UIA-first mode: preferred for native Windows apps with accessible controls.
- Visible-display mode: for quick manual-adjacent automation on the user’s active screen.
- Isolated-display mode: for non-interrupting automation on a secondary or virtual display that Windows exposes.
- Coordinate-fallback mode: for canvas apps, remote surfaces, or controls that UI Automation cannot reach reliably.
Decision rules
- Prefer structured browser automation for websites when a browser tool or MCP server already exists.
- Prefer
uia_inspectanduia_invokefor native Windows controls before coordinate clicks. - Prefer
list_displaysand display-aware screenshots before assuming the primary screen is the correct target. - Prefer
move_windowto place apps on a non-user display before interacting when isolation matters. - Use screenshots to verify state before and after mutating actions.
- Ask for human confirmation before destructive actions such as deleting data, closing unsaved work, submitting forms, or sending messages.
Mode patterns
UIA-first mode
- Call
list_windowsandfocus_windowto target the correct app. - Call
uia_inspectto find stable selectors. - Use
uia_invoke,type_text, orpress_keys. - Capture a
screenshotafter important mutations.
Isolated-display mode
- Call
list_displaysand choose the non-user display bydisplayIdordisplayName. - Launch or find the app with
launch_apporlist_windows. - Call
move_windowto place the window on that display. UsefitToDisplay: truewhen full-display placement is better than a preserved window size. - Use
screenshotagainst that display, then preferuia_*actions. - If coordinate fallback is required, pass
displayRelative: trueso coordinates stay local to the isolated display.
Coordinate-fallback mode
- Capture a display-specific
screenshot. - Use
click,double_click,drag, orscrollwithdisplayRelative: truewhen you are targeting a specific monitor. - Re-capture a
screenshotafter each mutation that could change layout or focus.
Desktop-overview mode
- Use
screenshotwithvirtualScreen: trueto inspect the full multi-monitor layout. - Use
list_displaysto resolve the right target display before moving windows or clicking.
Guardrails
launch_appis allowlisted by default. Expand the allowlist intentionally instead of disabling it.- For risky key chords, pass
confirm: trueonly after the user has explicitly approved the action. - Treat browser work inside Edge, Chrome, or Electron as browser automation first unless the task specifically needs full-desktop interaction.
- Treat “hidden display” as a Windows-visible secondary or virtual monitor. If Windows does not expose the target as a display, this plugin cannot safely target it as one.
Source: virtengine/bosun — distributed by TomeVault.