Add selection_view: container selection + view switching

select_control_item selects one item, but the container-level
SelectionPattern answers what is currently selected and whether multiple
selection is allowed - the assertion target after selecting.
MultipleViewPattern switches a control between its views (Explorer
list/details/tile). get_selection / list_views / set_view extend the
backend ABC + Windows UIA backend via the same fake-backend seam.

Author: JE-Chen

WHATS_NEW.md

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # What's New — AutoControl
 
+## What's new (2026-06-25) — Container Selection + View Switching (Selection / MultipleView)
+
+Read what's selected in a listbox/grid, and switch Explorer-style views. Full reference: [`docs/source/Eng/doc/new_features/v201_features_doc.rst`](docs/source/Eng/doc/new_features/v201_features_doc.rst).
+
+- **`get_selection` / `list_views` / `set_view`** (`AC_get_selection`, `AC_list_views`, `AC_set_view`): `select_control_item` selects *one* item, but the container-level `SelectionPattern` answers "what is currently selected, and may it select multiple?" — the assertion target after selecting. `MultipleViewPattern` switches a control between its views (Explorer's list / details / tile / thumbnail), a precondition that otherwise needs fragile menu clicking. `get_selection` returns `{items, can_select_multiple, is_required}`, `list_views` returns `{current, views}`, and `set_view` switches by view name. Dispatched through the injectable accessibility backend seam (headless-testable via a fake backend; real UIA in the Windows backend). No `PySide6`.
+
 ## What's new (2026-06-25) — Advanced TextPattern (find / select / read attributes)
 
 Search a control's text, select a match to replace it, and read font/colour formatting. Full reference: [`docs/source/Eng/doc/new_features/v200_features_doc.rst`](docs/source/Eng/doc/new_features/v200_features_doc.rst).

docs/source/Eng/doc/new_features/v201_features_doc.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+Container Selection + View Switching (Selection / MultipleView)
+===============================================================
+
+``select_control_item`` (SelectionItemPattern) selects *one* item; the
+container-level ``SelectionPattern`` answers the natural follow-up — **what is
+currently selected** in a listbox / grid / tab, and **may it select multiple?** —
+the assertion target after selecting. ``MultipleViewPattern`` switches a control
+between its views (Explorer's list / details / tile / thumbnail), a common
+precondition that otherwise needs fragile menu clicking.
+
+* :func:`get_selection` — ``{items, can_select_multiple, is_required}``,
+* :func:`list_views` — ``{current, views: [...]}``,
+* :func:`set_view` — switch to a named view.
+
+Each is a thin dispatch onto the injectable ``accessibility.backends.get_backend()``
+seam — headless-testable via a fake backend; the real UIA calls live in the
+Windows backend. Imports no ``PySide6``.
+
+Headless API
+------------
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    from je_auto_control import get_selection, list_views, set_view
+
+    get_selection(name="File List")
+    # {"items": ["report.pdf", "notes.txt"], "can_select_multiple": True,
+    #  "is_required": False}
+
+    list_views(name="File List")
+    # {"current": "Details", "views": ["List", "Details", "Tiles"]}
+    set_view("Tiles", name="File List")        # switch the view
+
+The control is located by ``name`` / ``role`` / ``app_name`` / ``automation_id``
+(same as the other native-control actions). ``get_selection`` / ``list_views``
+return their dict (or ``None`` if the control or pattern isn't found);
+``set_view`` returns ``bool`` (False when the named view isn't supported).
+
+Executor commands
+-----------------
+
+``AC_get_selection`` (``{found, selection}``), ``AC_list_views`` (``{found,
+views}``) and ``AC_set_view`` (``view``). They are exposed as the matching
+``ac_*`` MCP tools (the reads read-only, ``set_view`` destructive) and as Script
+Builder commands under **Native UI**.

docs/source/Zh/doc/new_features/v201_features_doc.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+容器選取 + 檢視切換(Selection / MultipleView)
+==============================================
+
+``select_control_item``(SelectionItemPattern)選取*單一*項目;容器層級的 ``SelectionPattern``
+回答自然的後續問題——listbox / grid / tab 中**目前選了什麼**,以及**是否可多選?**——這正是選取
+之後的斷言目標。``MultipleViewPattern`` 在控制項的各檢視之間切換(檔案總管的清單 / 詳細資料 /
+並排 / 縮圖),這是個常見前置條件,否則就得靠脆弱的選單點擊。
+
+* :func:`get_selection` ——``{items, can_select_multiple, is_required}``,
+* :func:`list_views` ——``{current, views: [...]}``,
+* :func:`set_view` ——切換到具名的檢視。
+
+每個都是對可注入的 ``accessibility.backends.get_backend()`` 接縫的薄分派——可透過注入 fake
+backend 進行無頭測試;真正的 UIA 呼叫位於 Windows 後端。不匯入 ``PySide6``。
+
+無頭 API
+--------
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    from je_auto_control import get_selection, list_views, set_view
+
+    get_selection(name="File List")
+    # {"items": ["report.pdf", "notes.txt"], "can_select_multiple": True,
+    #  "is_required": False}
+
+    list_views(name="File List")
+    # {"current": "Details", "views": ["List", "Details", "Tiles"]}
+    set_view("Tiles", name="File List")        # 切換檢視
+
+控制項以 ``name`` / ``role`` / ``app_name`` / ``automation_id`` 定位(與其他原生控制動作相同)。
+``get_selection`` / ``list_views`` 回傳其字典(找不到控制項或模式則為 ``None``);``set_view``
+回傳 ``bool``(具名檢視不支援時為 False)。
+
+執行器指令
+----------
+
+``AC_get_selection``(``{found, selection}``)、``AC_list_views``(``{found, views}``)與
+``AC_set_view``(``view``)。皆以對應的 ``ac_*`` MCP 工具(讀取類為唯讀、``set_view`` 為破壞性)
+及 Script Builder 指令(位於 **Native UI** 分類下)形式提供。

je_auto_control/__init__.py

@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@
 from je_auto_control.utils.legacy_accessible import (
     legacy_default_action, legacy_info,
 )
+# Container selection state + view switching (Selection / MultipleView patterns)
+from je_auto_control.utils.selection_view import (
+    get_selection, list_views, set_view,
+)
 # Rich clipboard formats — RTF + CSV/TSV codecs and Windows get / set
 from je_auto_control.utils.clipboard_rich_formats import (
     build_rtf, csv_to_rows, get_clipboard_csv, get_clipboard_rtf, rows_to_csv,
@@ -1692,6 +1696,7 @@ def start_autocontrol_gui(*args, **kwargs):
     "move_element", "resize_element", "set_window_state",
     "window_interaction_state",
     "legacy_info", "legacy_default_action",
+    "get_selection", "list_views", "set_view",
     "build_rtf", "rtf_to_text", "rows_to_csv", "csv_to_rows",
     "set_clipboard_rtf", "get_clipboard_rtf",
     "set_clipboard_csv", "get_clipboard_csv",

je_auto_control/gui/script_builder/command_schema.py

@@ -1676,6 +1676,21 @@ def _add_native_control_specs(specs: List[CommandSpec]) -> None:
         fields=fields,
         description="Fire an old control's MSAA default action (fallback).",
     ))
+    specs.append(CommandSpec(
+        "AC_get_selection", "Native UI", "Get Container Selection",
+        fields=fields,
+        description="Read a container's selection (SelectionPattern).",
+    ))
+    specs.append(CommandSpec(
+        "AC_list_views", "Native UI", "List Control Views",
+        fields=fields,
+        description="List a control's selectable views (MultipleViewPattern).",
+    ))
+    specs.append(CommandSpec(
+        "AC_set_view", "Native UI", "Set Control View",
+        fields=(FieldSpec("view", FieldType.STRING),) + fields,
+        description="Switch a control to the named view (MultipleViewPattern).",
+    ))
     specs.append(CommandSpec(
         "AC_get_control_text", "Native UI", "Get Control Text",
         fields=fields,

je_auto_control/utils/accessibility/backends/base.py

@@ -257,6 +257,30 @@ def legacy_default_action(self, name: Optional[str] = None,
         success — the fallback when Value / Invoke / Toggle all do nothing."""
         self._unsupported("legacy_default_action")
 
+    # --- container selection + views (Selection / MultipleView patterns) ----
+
+    def get_selection(self, name: Optional[str] = None, role: Optional[str] = None,
+                      app_name: Optional[str] = None,
+                      automation_id: Optional[str] = None,
+                      ) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Return a container's selection state — ``{items, can_select_multiple,
+        is_required}`` (SelectionPattern), or None."""
+        self._unsupported("get_selection")
+
+    def list_views(self, name: Optional[str] = None, role: Optional[str] = None,
+                   app_name: Optional[str] = None,
+                   automation_id: Optional[str] = None,
+                   ) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Return a control's selectable views — ``{current, views: [...]}``
+        (MultipleViewPattern: list / details / tile / …), or None."""
+        self._unsupported("list_views")
+
+    def set_view(self, view: str = "", name: Optional[str] = None,
+                 role: Optional[str] = None, app_name: Optional[str] = None,
+                 automation_id: Optional[str] = None) -> bool:
+        """Switch a control to the named view (MultipleViewPattern); True on success."""
+        self._unsupported("set_view")
+
     def _unsupported(self, operation: str):
         """Raise a clear error for an action this backend can't perform."""
         raise AccessibilityNotAvailableError(

je_auto_control/utils/accessibility/backends/windows_backend.py

@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@
 _UIA_TRANSFORM_PATTERN_ID = 10016
 _UIA_WINDOW_PATTERN_ID = 10009
 _UIA_LEGACYIACCESSIBLE_PATTERN_ID = 10018
+_UIA_SELECTION_PATTERN_ID = 10001
+_UIA_MULTIPLEVIEW_PATTERN_ID = 10008
 _UIA_AUTOMATIONID_PROPERTY = 30011
 _EXPAND_STATES = {0: "collapsed", 1: "expanded", 2: "partial", 3: "leaf"}
 _WINDOW_VISUAL_STATES = {"normal": 0, "maximized": 1, "minimized": 2}
@@ -370,6 +372,54 @@ def legacy_default_action(self, name=None, role=None, app_name=None,
             "IUIAutomationLegacyIAccessiblePattern",
             lambda pattern: pattern.DoDefaultAction())
 
+    def get_selection(self, name=None, role=None, app_name=None,
+                      automation_id=None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        raw = self._find_raw(name, role, app_name, automation_id)
+        pattern = self._pattern(raw, _UIA_SELECTION_PATTERN_ID,
+                                "IUIAutomationSelectionPattern") if raw else None
+        if pattern is None:
+            return None
+        try:
+            items = _header_names(pattern.GetCurrentSelection())
+            can_multiple = bool(pattern.CurrentCanSelectMultiple)
+            required = bool(pattern.CurrentIsSelectionRequired)
+        except (OSError, AttributeError):
+            return None
+        return {"items": items, "can_select_multiple": can_multiple,
+                "is_required": required}
+
+    def _multiple_view(self, name, role, app_name, automation_id):
+        raw = self._find_raw(name, role, app_name, automation_id)
+        return self._pattern(raw, _UIA_MULTIPLEVIEW_PATTERN_ID,
+                             "IUIAutomationMultipleViewPattern") if raw else None
+
+    def list_views(self, name=None, role=None, app_name=None,
+                   automation_id=None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        pattern = self._multiple_view(name, role, app_name, automation_id)
+        if pattern is None:
+            return None
+        try:
+            view_ids = list(pattern.GetCurrentSupportedViews())
+            current = int(pattern.CurrentCurrentView)
+        except (OSError, AttributeError, ValueError, TypeError):
+            return None
+        return {"current": _view_name(pattern, current),
+                "views": [_view_name(pattern, view_id) for view_id in view_ids]}
+
+    def set_view(self, view="", name=None, role=None, app_name=None,
+                 automation_id=None):
+        pattern = self._multiple_view(name, role, app_name, automation_id)
+        if pattern is None:
+            return False
+        try:
+            for view_id in pattern.GetCurrentSupportedViews():
+                if _view_name(pattern, view_id) == str(view):
+                    pattern.SetCurrentView(int(view_id))
+                    return True
+        except (OSError, AttributeError, ValueError, TypeError):
+            return False
+        return False
+
     def get_table_headers(self, name=None, role=None, app_name=None,
                           automation_id=None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
         raw = self._find_raw(name, role, app_name, automation_id)
@@ -511,6 +561,14 @@ def _read_row(pattern, row: int, cols: int):
         return cells
 
 
+def _view_name(pattern, view_id) -> str:
+    """Return a MultipleViewPattern view's name, or '' on failure."""
+    try:
+        return str(pattern.GetViewName(int(view_id)) or "")
+    except (OSError, AttributeError, ValueError, TypeError):
+        return ""
+
+
 def _header_names(array) -> List[str]:
     """Read an IUIAutomationElementArray of header elements into name strings."""
     names: List[str] = []

je_auto_control/utils/executor/action_executor.py

@@ -2573,6 +2573,35 @@ def _legacy_default_action(name: Optional[str] = None, role: Optional[str] = Non
                                  automation_id=automation_id)
 
 
+def _get_selection(name: Optional[str] = None, role: Optional[str] = None,
+                   app_name: Optional[str] = None,
+                   automation_id: Optional[str] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Adapter: a container's selection state (SelectionPattern)."""
+    from je_auto_control.utils.selection_view import get_selection
+    selection = get_selection(name=name, role=role, app_name=app_name,
+                              automation_id=automation_id)
+    return {"found": selection is not None, "selection": selection}
+
+
+def _list_views(name: Optional[str] = None, role: Optional[str] = None,
+                app_name: Optional[str] = None,
+                automation_id: Optional[str] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Adapter: a control's selectable views (MultipleViewPattern)."""
+    from je_auto_control.utils.selection_view import list_views
+    views = list_views(name=name, role=role, app_name=app_name,
+                       automation_id=automation_id)
+    return {"found": views is not None, "views": views}
+
+
+def _set_view(view: str, name: Optional[str] = None, role: Optional[str] = None,
+              app_name: Optional[str] = None,
+              automation_id: Optional[str] = None) -> bool:
+    """Adapter: switch a control to a named view (MultipleViewPattern)."""
+    from je_auto_control.utils.selection_view import set_view
+    return set_view(str(view), name=name, role=role, app_name=app_name,
+                    automation_id=automation_id)
+
+
 def _get_control_text(name: Optional[str] = None, role: Optional[str] = None,
                       app_name: Optional[str] = None,
                       automation_id: Optional[str] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
@@ -6559,6 +6588,9 @@ def __init__(self):
             "AC_window_interaction_state": _window_interaction_state,
             "AC_legacy_info": _legacy_info,
             "AC_legacy_default_action": _legacy_default_action,
+            "AC_get_selection": _get_selection,
+            "AC_list_views": _list_views,
+            "AC_set_view": _set_view,
             "AC_get_control_text": _get_control_text,
             "AC_find_control_text": _find_control_text,
             "AC_select_control_text": _select_control_text,

je_auto_control/utils/mcp_server/tools/_factories.py

@@ -1283,6 +1283,33 @@ def a11y_control_tools() -> List[MCPTool]:
             handler=h.legacy_default_action,
             annotations=DESTRUCTIVE,
         ),
+        MCPTool(
+            name="ac_get_selection",
+            description=("Read a container's selection via SelectionPattern: "
+                         "{found, selection:{items:[names], can_select_multiple, "
+                         "is_required}} — what's selected in a listbox/grid/tab."),
+            input_schema=schema(dict(_M)),
+            handler=h.get_selection,
+            annotations=READ_ONLY,
+        ),
+        MCPTool(
+            name="ac_list_views",
+            description=("List a control's selectable views via "
+                         "MultipleViewPattern: {found, views:{current, views:"
+                         "[names]}} — e.g. Explorer list / details / tile."),
+            input_schema=schema(dict(_M)),
+            handler=h.list_views,
+            annotations=READ_ONLY,
+        ),
+        MCPTool(
+            name="ac_set_view",
+            description=("Switch a control to the named 'view' via "
+                         "MultipleViewPattern. Returns True on success."),
+            input_schema=schema({"view": {"type": "string"}, **_M},
+                                required=["view"]),
+            handler=h.set_view,
+            annotations=DESTRUCTIVE,
+        ),
         MCPTool(
             name="ac_get_control_text",
             description=("Read a control's full text via TextPattern: "

je_auto_control/utils/mcp_server/tools/_handlers.py

@@ -885,6 +885,21 @@ def legacy_default_action(name=None, role=None, app_name=None,
     return _legacy_default_action(name, role, app_name, automation_id)
 
 
+def get_selection(name=None, role=None, app_name=None, automation_id=None):
+    from je_auto_control.utils.executor.action_executor import _get_selection
+    return _get_selection(name, role, app_name, automation_id)
+
+
+def list_views(name=None, role=None, app_name=None, automation_id=None):
+    from je_auto_control.utils.executor.action_executor import _list_views
+    return _list_views(name, role, app_name, automation_id)
+
+
+def set_view(view, name=None, role=None, app_name=None, automation_id=None):
+    from je_auto_control.utils.executor.action_executor import _set_view
+    return _set_view(view, name, role, app_name, automation_id)
+
+
 def get_selected_text(name=None, role=None, app_name=None, automation_id=None):
     from je_auto_control.utils.executor.action_executor import _get_selected_text
     return _get_selected_text(name, role, app_name, automation_id)