Report descriptions for .NET Framework WinForms ToolStrip menu items using UIA

source/NVDAObjects/UIA/__init__.py

@@ -2565,13 +2565,24 @@ def _get_positionInfo(self):
 
 
 class MenuItem(UIA):
-	def _get_description(self):
+	def _get_description(self) -> str | None:
 		name = self.name
-		description = super(MenuItem, self)._get_description()
-		if description != name:
-			return description
-		else:
-			return None
+		description = super()._get_description()
+		if not description or description == name:
+			providerDescription = self.UIAElement.cachedProviderDescription or ""
+			if (
+				self.UIAElement.cachedFrameworkID == "WinForm"
+				and "System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0" in providerDescription
+				and "ToolStripMenuItem" in providerDescription
+			):
+				legacyDescription = self._getUIACacheablePropertyValue_handlesCOMErrors(
+					UIAHandler.UIA_LegacyIAccessibleDescriptionPropertyId,
+					ignoreDefault=True,
+					onError=None,
+				)
+				if isinstance(legacyDescription, str):
+					description = legacyDescription
+		return description if description != name else None
 
 
 class UIColumnHeader(UIA):

tests/unit/test_NVDAObjects_UIA.py

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# A part of NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)
+# Copyright (C) 2026 NV Access Limited, Cary-rowen
+# This file may be used under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later, as modified by the NVDA license.
+# For full terms and any additional permissions, see the NVDA license file: https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/copying.txt
+
+"""Unit tests for NVDAObjects.UIA."""
+
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
+
+from NVDAObjects.UIA import MenuItem, UIA
+
+
+class TestMenuItemDescription(unittest.TestCase):
+	def test_legacyDescriptionFallback(self) -> None:
+		menuItem = object.__new__(MenuItem)
+		menuItem.name = "Name"
+		menuItem.UIAElement = Mock(
+			cachedFrameworkID="WinForm",
+			cachedProviderDescription=(
+				"managed:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem+ToolStripMenuItemAccessibleObject, "
+				"System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0"
+			),
+		)
+		notSupportedValue = object()
+		testCases = (
+			("UIA description", "Legacy description", "UIA description", False),
+			("", "Legacy description", "Legacy description", True),
+			("Name", "Legacy description", "Legacy description", True),
+			("Name", "Name", None, True),
+			("Name", notSupportedValue, None, True),
+		)
+		for uiaDescription, legacyDescription, expectedDescription, shouldReadLegacyDescription in testCases:
+			with (
+				self.subTest(
+					uiaDescription=uiaDescription,
+					legacyDescription=legacyDescription,
+				),
+				patch.object(UIA, "_get_description", return_value=uiaDescription),
+				patch.object(
+					MenuItem,
+					"_getUIACacheablePropertyValue_handlesCOMErrors",
+					return_value=legacyDescription,
+				) as getLegacyDescription,
+			):
+				self.assertEqual(expectedDescription, menuItem._get_description())
+				if shouldReadLegacyDescription:
+					getLegacyDescription.assert_called_once()
+				else:
+					getLegacyDescription.assert_not_called()
+
+	def test_legacyDescriptionFallbackIsLimitedToNetFrameworkWinFormsToolStripMenuItems(self) -> None:
+		menuItem = object.__new__(MenuItem)
+		menuItem.name = "Name"
+		for frameworkID, providerDescription in (
+			(
+				"WPF",
+				"managed:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem+ToolStripMenuItemAccessibleObject, "
+				"System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0",
+			),
+			(
+				"WinForm",
+				"managed:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem+ToolStripMenuItemAccessibleObject, "
+				"System.Windows.Forms, Version=8.0.0.0",
+			),
+			("WinForm", "System.Windows.Forms.Button, System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0"),
+		):
+			with (
+				self.subTest(frameworkID=frameworkID, providerDescription=providerDescription),
+				patch.object(UIA, "_get_description", return_value=""),
+				patch.object(
+					MenuItem,
+					"_getUIACacheablePropertyValue_handlesCOMErrors",
+					return_value="Legacy description",
+				) as getLegacyDescription,
+			):
+				menuItem.UIAElement = Mock(
+					cachedFrameworkID=frameworkID,
+					cachedProviderDescription=providerDescription,
+				)
+				self.assertEqual("", menuItem._get_description())
+				getLegacyDescription.assert_not_called()

user_docs/en/changes.md

@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 Previously these keys had no function when pressed on their own. (#20366, @fla-rion)
 * The HID keyboard input simulation setting for ALVA braille displays is now remembered across reconnects and restarts. (#20455, @Cary-rowen)
 * Braille now follows the spoken text during say all in browse mode when braille is tethered to focus. (#3287, @LeonarddeR)
+* Object descriptions are now reported for .NET Framework Windows Forms ToolStrip menu items exposed through UI Automation. (#20486, @Cary-rowen)
 
 ### Changes for Developers