/// <summary>
/// Caches and retrieves properties for a list item by using CacheRequest.Activate.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="elementList">Element from which to retrieve a child element.</param>
/// <remarks>
/// This code demonstrates various aspects of caching. It is not intended to be 
/// an example of a useful method.
/// </remarks>
private void CachePropertiesByActivate(AutomationElement elementList)
{
    AutomationElement elementListItem;

    // Set up the request.
    CacheRequest cacheRequest = new CacheRequest();
    cacheRequest.Add(AutomationElement.NameProperty);
    cacheRequest.Add(AutomationElement.IsEnabledProperty);
    cacheRequest.Add(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern);
    cacheRequest.Add(SelectionItemPattern.SelectionContainerProperty);

    // Obtain an element and cache the requested items.
    using (cacheRequest.Activate())
    {
        Condition cond = new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.IsSelectionItemPatternAvailableProperty, true);
        elementListItem = elementList.FindFirst(TreeScope.Children, cond);
    }
    // The CacheRequest is now inactive.

    // Retrieve the cached property and pattern.
    SelectionItemPattern pattern;
    String itemName;
    try
    {
        itemName = elementListItem.Cached.Name;
        pattern = elementListItem.GetCachedPattern(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern) as SelectionItemPattern;
    }
    catch (InvalidOperationException)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Object was not in cache.");
        return;
    }
    // Alternatively, you can use TryGetCachedPattern to retrieve the cached pattern.
    object cachedPattern;
    if (true == elementListItem.TryGetCachedPattern(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern, out cachedPattern))
    {
        pattern = cachedPattern as SelectionItemPattern;
    }

    // Specified pattern properties are also in the cache.
    AutomationElement parentList = pattern.Cached.SelectionContainer;

    // The following line will raise an exception, because the HelpText property was not cached.
    /*** String itemHelp = elementListItem.Cached.HelpText; ***/

    // Similarly, pattern properties that were not specified in the CacheRequest cannot be 
    // retrieved from the cache. This would raise an exception.
    /*** bool selected = pattern.Cached.IsSelected; ***/

    // This is still a valid call, even though the property is in the cache.
    // Of course, the cached value and the current value are not guaranteed to be the same.
    itemName = elementListItem.Current.Name;
}

/// <summary>
/// Caches and retrieves properties for a list item by using CacheRequest.Push.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="autoElement">Element from which to retrieve a child element.</param>
/// <remarks>
/// This code demonstrates various aspects of caching. It is not intended to be 
/// an example of a useful method.
/// </remarks>
private void CachePropertiesByPush(AutomationElement elementList)
{
    // Set up the request.
    CacheRequest cacheRequest = new CacheRequest();

    // Do not get a full reference to the cached objects, only to their cached properties and patterns.
    cacheRequest.AutomationElementMode = AutomationElementMode.None;

    // Cache all elements, regardless of whether they are control or content elements.
    cacheRequest.TreeFilter = Automation.RawViewCondition;

    // Property and pattern to cache.
    cacheRequest.Add(AutomationElement.NameProperty);
    cacheRequest.Add(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern);

    // Activate the request.
    cacheRequest.Push();

    // Obtain an element and cache the requested items.
    Condition cond = new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.IsSelectionItemPatternAvailableProperty, true);
    AutomationElement elementListItem = elementList.FindFirst(TreeScope.Children, cond);

    // At this point, you could call another method that creates a CacheRequest and calls Push/Pop.
    // While that method was retrieving automation elements, the CacheRequest set in this method 
    // would not be active. 

    // Deactivate the request.
    cacheRequest.Pop();

    // Retrieve the cached property and pattern.
    String itemName = elementListItem.Cached.Name;
    SelectionItemPattern pattern = elementListItem.GetCachedPattern(SelectionItemPattern.Pattern) as SelectionItemPattern;

    // The following is an alternative way of retrieving the Name property.
    itemName = elementListItem.GetCachedPropertyValue(AutomationElement.NameProperty) as String;

    // This is yet another way, which returns AutomationElement.NotSupported if the element does
    // not supply a value. If the second parameter is false, a default name is returned.
    object objName = elementListItem.GetCachedPropertyValue(AutomationElement.NameProperty, true);
    if (objName == AutomationElement.NotSupported)
    {
        itemName = "Unknown";
    }
    else
    {
        itemName = objName as String;
    }

    // The following call raises an exception, because only the cached properties are available, 
    //  as specified by cacheRequest.AutomationElementMode. If AutomationElementMode had its
    //  default value (Full), this call would be valid.
    /*** bool enabled = elementListItem.Current.IsEnabled; ***/
}