Recording and Running Scripts Under Windows Vista

One of the enhancements included in Windows Vista compared to previous Windows versions is a tighter security model. The changes in this model may limit access to data in some applications. The following changes can cause TestComplete to malfunction:

To test your application under Windows Vista, TestComplete and the application you are testing must have the same security privileges level.

To launch an application under Windows Vista with administrator privileges, right-click on the application shortcut and select Run as administrator from the context menu:

This image shows how to launch TestComplete with administrator privileges. You can launch the application under test the same way.

You can also modify the shortcut properties, so the application will always be executed with administrator privileges.

Note that when a tested application is launched from TestComplete, the application will automatically gain the same privilege level as TestComplete. So if you call the tested application from the context menu of the TestedApps project item or by calling the TestedApps.RunAll method in your script, you do not need to modify the application properties.

Testing WPF (XAML) Applications

TestComplete supports testing of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications. Also, it includes a special WPF Controls Support plug-in that provides access to properties of XAML controls.

When the plug-in is installed, it allows TestComplete to detect XAML (WPF) windows and controls, and if the window or control is XAML, the plug-in exposes the methods and properties of this window (or control) to TestComplete. The plug-in provides access to private, protected and public fields, properties and methods of the controls. In other words, the plug-in makes XAML (WPF) applications an Open Application for TestComplete. Without the plug-in, you can work with these controls as black-box application windows.

To address XAML controls TestComplete uses a special WPFObject method. Also, TestComplete automatically associates special program objects with each XAML control. These program objects contain the exposed methods and properties as well as a number of specific properties and methods added by TestComplete for the control. Using these specific methods and properties, you can simulate user actions over controls. For instance, you can select or unselect items in a list box or check or uncheck items in a menu.

Support for the Microsoft UI Automation Technology

Windows Vista includes Microsoft UI Automation Framework. One of this framework’s purposes is to assist in application testing by providing program access to user interface elements. The framework includes special providers that expose properties of buttons, check boxes, menus and menu items, data grids, list boxes and other controls.

TestComplete UI Automation Support plug-in (included in TestComplete Standard edition) provides support for this technology. The plug-in uses the standard UI Automation providers to obtain information on UI elements of the application under test. The properties, which TestComplete retrieves, depends on the control type. All retrieved properties are displayed in the Properties page of the Object Browser:

You can then use these properties for testing. To work with objects, methods and properties exposed by the UI Automation Support plug-in, TestComplete uses the UIAObject method and NativeUiaObject namespace.

For detailed information on support for the UI Automation technology, see TestComplete's help.

Testing .NET Framework 3 Applications

.NET Framework 3 includes the same Common Language Runtime as .NET Framework 2, so, testing of .NET Framework 3 applications does not differ from testing of other .NET applications. To work with them, you use TestComplete’s .NET Open Application Support plug-in. The plug-in provides access to all internal elements of .NET applications. All public, protected, private, internal and protected internal properties and methods become accessible to external testing.

The access the plug-in provides, does not depend on the compiler that was used during compilation. The plug-in equally supports Microsoft and non-Microsoft compilers. The only requirement is that Microsoft .NET Framework v. 1.0.3705 or later must be installed on your computer.