Action Recording Playback does not find window

Question

I have the following action recording:

---------------------

Start testing
Parent window changed to '* Neu * - EAWS Digital v1.2.12044.5'
Click 'Unknown Name' pane
Type 'Dresden 1' in 'TextBoxPlant' text box
Type 'A' in 'TextBoxLIne' text box
Type 'Test zum Löschen einer vorhandenen Analyse' in 'TextBoxDetails' text box

....

----------------------

Since the window title is dynamic containing the opened file, version number and localized. Why the action recording is not preferring AutomationID or Name if available?

Answer 1

Hi,

If your application windows has the AutomationID, you could choose to use that in CodedUI test. Generally developer needs to add this in design.

You can set search properties when locate the UI element. Visual Studio Feature Pack2 contains feature that allows people to configure Coded UI test visually. You can select the control in UI Map and modify its search properties.

Visual Studio Feature Pack2 could be downloaded at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/ff655021 MSDN subscription is required.

Please let me know if there's anything unclear, I'll try to assist.

Best Regards,

---

Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 2

I believe there is a bug in Dev10 wherein any property other that window relevant properties (Name, ControlType, ClassName, ControlId, ControlName) is ignored for the TopLevelWindow. So you need to be cautious in setting the search property of the top level window. 'Name' property should just work fine.

Thanks,

~ Tapas

Answer 3

I don't mean Coded UI Tests. A tester can not develop! He can only record and play action recordings.

Answer 4

Hi,

I got your point, the test engineer just record and replay the scenarios. However, he may look into the recorded test and fine tune it. If he can not tune, a developer may help over there.

Best Regards,

---

Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 5

Hi,

Based on your description, you might be using Microsoft Test Manager, test recorder. If that's the case, we have dedicated forum for it. I can move the thread over.

Would you please check the Playback Error dialog, copy the Error details and paste over here?

Thanks.

---

Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 6

For Example:

Log

 Steps  Detailed actions
2 Home Menü öffnen   Parent window changed to '* Neu * - EAWS Digital v1.2.12044.8'
Click 'RibbonApplicationMenu' popup menu

 

Details

Exception:
The playback failed to find the control with the given search properties. Additional Details: TechnologyName: 'UIA' ControlType: 'Menu' AutomationId: 'RibbonApplicationMenu' Search may have failed at '' TabList as it may have virtualized children. If the control being searched is descendant of '' TabList then including it as the parent container may solve the problem.

Failed action:
Click 'RibbonApplicationMenu' popup menu

Primary search properties:
Property Value
ControlType Menu
AutomationId RibbonApplicationMenu

Answer 7

Hi,

I have tried to reproduce the issue in Test Runner, but it doesn't reproduce with a small sample winform app. What I did:

• Start the Winform application    Application started by launching shortcut.
  
• Locating Winform title bar     Locating the winform successfully
  
• Locating textbox       Locate the textbox successfully.
  
• Click Pick File button      Open file dialog opens
  
• Select file of localized file name   Text box filled with selected file name
  
• Relocate textbox       textbox filled with localized text
  
• Relocate winform title bar     title bar filled with localized file name

As I don't have your application detail, like the menu etc. The steps are not that exact as yours. But this at least proves window with dymanic title could be located without problem.

On the othe hand, I don't see there's a way to tune action recording details, like in Exception details, the search properties. But anyway, you think about the tips in that exception.

Let me know if you can provide more application details, so I may look further into it.

Regards,

---

Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 8

Herwig,

I'm wondering if you have some progress of this issue. Basically there'e few actions we can take in Test Manager. If you work together with the that application development team, you may consult them with the exception. Or you may contact Microsoft professional phone support, they will provided more in-depth level support. 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?id=fh;en-us;offerprophone.

Thanks,

---

Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 9

Hello,

Herwig asked me to provide a small example because I am the one who ran into trouble with the Test Manager. He's the developer who might be responsible.

Somebody already told me, that there is no possibility to get the action playback working with dynamic window titles. I have to use Coded UI Tests for that. But there is still another problem with the action playback. I am not able to access any menu item in our ribbon menu. Even the smallest action recording (start & close the application) fails.

Here is the XAML code of the small example:

<ribbon:RibbonWindow x:Class="RibbonExample.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:ribbon="clr-namespace:Microsoft.Windows.Controls.Ribbon;assembly=RibbonControlsLibrary"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
    <DockPanel>
        <ribbon:Ribbon x:Name="Ribbon" DockPanel.Dock="Top">
            <ribbon:Ribbon.ApplicationMenu>
                <ribbon:RibbonApplicationMenu 
                    x:Name="RibbonApplicationMenu"
                    SmallImageSource="/Icons/ribbon_list.png"
                    >
                    <ribbon:RibbonApplicationMenuItem 
                        Header="Out Of Order"
                        x:Name="MenuItem1"
                        ImageSource="/Icons/button1.png"
                        />
                    <ribbon:RibbonApplicationMenuItem 
                        Header="Out Of Order"
                        x:Name="MenuItem2"
                        ImageSource="/Icons/button2.png"
                        />
                    <ribbon:RibbonSeparator />


                    <ribbon:RibbonApplicationMenu.FooterPaneContent>
                        <DockPanel LastChildFill="False">
                            <ribbon:RibbonButton Command="ApplicationCommands.Close"
                                     Label="Exit"
                                     SmallImageSource="/Icons/close.png"
                                     KeyTip="X"
                                     DockPanel.Dock="Right"
                                     Margin="2"/>
                        </DockPanel>
                    </ribbon:RibbonApplicationMenu.FooterPaneContent>

                </ribbon:RibbonApplicationMenu>
            </ribbon:Ribbon.ApplicationMenu>

            <ribbon:RibbonTab x:Name="HomeTab" 
                              Header="Home">
                <ribbon:RibbonGroup 
                    x:Name="GroupA" 
                    Header="Group A">
                    <ribbon:RibbonButton 
                        x:Name="RibbonButton2"
                        LargeImageSource="/Icons/button2.png"
                        Label="Some Action" 
                        />
                </ribbon:RibbonGroup>

            </ribbon:RibbonTab>
        </ribbon:Ribbon>
        <StackPanel
            DockPanel.Dock="Bottom"
            >
            <GroupBox 
                Name="Testcase1" 
                Header="Testcase 1"
                >
                <RichTextBox>
                    <FlowDocument>
                        <Paragraph>
                            Try to do the following:
                        </Paragraph>
                        <List>
                            <ListItem>
                                <Paragraph>Start the application</Paragraph>
                            </ListItem>
                            <ListItem>
                                <Paragraph>Close the application (Use the Exit-button in the ribbon menu)</Paragraph>
                            </ListItem>
                            <ListItem>
                                <Paragraph>Automate these steps with Microsoft Test and Lab Manager</Paragraph>
                            </ListItem>
                        </List>
                    </FlowDocument>
                </RichTextBox>

            </GroupBox>
        </StackPanel>
    </DockPanel>
</ribbon:RibbonWindow>

There is no more logic than the command binding "ApplicationCommands.Close"

Answer 10

Hi Tobias, Herwig

Sorry getting back late. I managed to get above xmal sample running, and it turns out I can reproduce the problem. CodedUI test builder just could not address WPF ribbon button.  I have just created an issue on Connect website to track this issue. Product team supposed to evaluate this and follow up.  https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/729724/fail-to-identify-wpf-ribbon-button-in-codedui-test

Btw, another community member has mentioned a workaround, that is to write automation code, you may refer to it for idea.  Note that I haven't test it.  http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsribbondevelopment/thread/fb82ab84-c00c-46fe-9af8-89f06ff049fb

AutomationElement shellVlewWindow = AutomationElement.RootElement.FindFirst(TreeScope.Descendants, new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.AutomationIdProperty, "ShellView"));
 AutomationElement ribbon = shellVlewWindow.FindFirst(TreeScope.Descendants, new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.AutomationIdProperty, "ribbon"));
 AutomationElement accountsTabView = ribbon.FindFirst(TreeScope.Descendants, new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.ClassNameProperty, "HomeTabView"));
 AutomationElementCollection accountsTabButtons = accountsTabView.FindAll(TreeScope.Descendants, new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.ClassNameProperty, "RibbonToggleButton"));
 AutomationElement accountsButton = accountsTabButtons.OfType<AutomationElement>().SingleOrDefault(i => i.GetCurrentPropertyValue(AutomationElement.NameProperty).ToString() == "Accounts");
 System.Windows.Point accountsButtonPoint = (System.Windows.Point)accountsButton.GetCurrentPropertyValue(AutomationElement.ClickablePointProperty);
 Mouse.Click(new System.Drawing.Point((int)accountsButtonPoint.X, (int)accountsButtonPoint.Y));

Best Regards,

---

Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 11

Hi Forrest,

thanks a lot for your help!

I will try the proposed workaround in the next day. Nevertheless I hope that the MS Ribbon development team will fix this issue in the next months. Otherwise it will put back our aspired test automation plans for years.