'''--------------------------------------------------------------------
''' <summary>
''' Obtains a ScrollPattern control pattern from an 
''' automation element.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="targetControl">
''' The automation element of interest.
''' </param>
''' <returns>
''' A ScrollPattern object.
''' </returns>
'''--------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Function GetScrollPattern( _
ByVal targetControl As AutomationElement) As ScrollPattern
    Dim scrollPattern As ScrollPattern = Nothing

    Try
        scrollPattern = DirectCast( _
        targetControl.GetCurrentPattern(scrollPattern.Pattern), _
        ScrollPattern)
    Catch
        ' Object doesn't support the ScrollPattern control pattern
        Return Nothing
    End Try

    Return scrollPattern

End Function 'GetScrollPattern

'''--------------------------------------------------------------------
''' <summary>
''' Obtains a ScrollPattern control pattern from an automation 
''' element and attempts to horizontally scroll the requested amount.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="targetControl">
''' The automation element of interest.
''' </param>
''' <param name="vScrollAmount">
''' The requested vertical scroll amount.
''' </param>
'''--------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sub ScrollElementVertically( _
ByVal targetControl As AutomationElement, _
ByVal vScrollAmount As ScrollAmount)
    If targetControl Is Nothing Then
        Throw New ArgumentNullException( _
        "AutomationElement argument cannot be null.")
    End If

    Dim scrollPattern As ScrollPattern = GetScrollPattern(targetControl)

    If scrollPattern Is Nothing Then
        Return
    End If

    If Not scrollPattern.Current.VerticallyScrollable Then
        Return
    End If

    Try
        scrollPattern.ScrollVertical(vScrollAmount)
    Catch exc As InvalidOperationException
        ' Control not able to scroll in the direction requested;
        ' when scrollable property of that direction is False
        ' TO DO: error handling.
    Catch exc As ArgumentException
        ' If a control supports SmallIncrement values exclusively 
        ' for horizontal or vertical scrolling but a LargeIncrement 
        ' value (NaN if not supported) is passed in.
        ' TO DO: error handling.
    End Try

End Sub