AutomationElement.GetUpdatedCache Method

CacheRequest comboCacheRequest;
AutomationEventHandler selectHandler;
AutomationElement elementCombo;
AutomationElement selectedItem;

/// <summary> 
/// Retrieves a combo box automation element, caches a pattern and a property, 
/// and registers the event handler. 
/// </summary> 
/// <param name="elementAppWindow">The element for the parent window.</param>
private void SetupComboElement(AutomationElement elementAppWindow)
{
    // Set up the CacheRequest.
    comboCacheRequest = new CacheRequest();
    comboCacheRequest.Add(SelectionPattern.Pattern);
    comboCacheRequest.Add(SelectionPattern.SelectionProperty);
    comboCacheRequest.Add(AutomationElement.NameProperty);
    comboCacheRequest.TreeScope = TreeScope.Element | TreeScope.Descendants;

    // Activate the CacheRequest and get the element. 
    using (comboCacheRequest.Activate())
    {
        // Load the combo box element and cache the specified properties and patterns.
        Condition propCondition = new PropertyCondition(
            AutomationElement.AutomationIdProperty, "comboBox1", PropertyConditionFlags.IgnoreCase);
        elementCombo = elementAppWindow.FindFirst(TreeScope.Descendants, propCondition);
    }

    // Get the list from the combo box.
    Condition propCondition1 = new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.ControlTypeProperty, ControlType.List);
    AutomationElement listElement = elementCombo.FindFirst(TreeScope.Children, propCondition1);

    // Register for ElementSelectedEvent on list items. 
    if (listElement != null)
    {
        Automation.AddAutomationEventHandler(SelectionItemPattern.ElementSelectedEvent, listElement,
            TreeScope.Children, selectHandler = new AutomationEventHandler(OnListItemSelect));
    }
}

/// <summary> 
/// Handle ElementSelectedEvent on items in the combo box. 
/// </summary> 
/// <param name="src">Object that raised the event.</param>
/// <param name="e">Event arguments.</param>
private void OnListItemSelect(object src, AutomationEventArgs e)
{
    // Update the cache.
    AutomationElement updatedElement = elementCombo.GetUpdatedCache(comboCacheRequest);

    // Retrieve the pattern and the selected item from the cache. This code is here only to  
    // demonstrate that the current selection can now be retrieved from the cache. In an application, 
    // this would be done only when the information was needed.
    SelectionPattern pattern = updatedElement.GetCachedPattern(SelectionPattern.Pattern) as SelectionPattern;
    AutomationElement[] selectedItems = pattern.Cached.GetSelection();
    selectedItem = selectedItems[0];
}