.NET 3.0+ and UIAutomation namespace : Automation API

[Gryphyn]

A couple of questions.

We're starting to develop using VS2008. which gives us .NET3.0 & .NET3.5
Not that I'm expecting immediate support, but will these addition .NET targets be included in Spring release of Ranorex? (1.4)

Further to this, will the UIAutomation namespace (.NET3.0) features be compatible with the resulting Ranorex offerings?

Cheers
Gryphyn

[Support Team]

The RanorexNet 1.1 and 2.0 assemblies may be used with .NET 3.0 and 3.5 as well, since .NET is downward compatible. So you can use all Ranorex versions with VS2008.

Ranorex has a much more intuitive interface and thus allows an easier way of automation than UIAutomation. Furthermore, Ranorex supports additional features like:

• Mouse control
• Access to .NET Windows.Forms.Controls properties and methods
• Image find and compare methods
• ...

Jenö
Ranorex Support Team

[Gryphyn]

Jenö

Yes, we are already developing with VS2008, and we can 'target' .NET2.0
And 'target'ing a higher .NET, we can still use the .NET2.0 assemblies.
I was just wondering if we would see a new build with some updated tech behind it (even if in reality it's just a cascade to a prior .NET)

Ranorex is far more intuitive than UIAutomation (which prompted the question) however it falls short with what you can do with 'custom' controls/elements. Never fear we won't be going down the UIAutomation path any time soon... everything being an AutomationEntity gets way too confusing. (Oh, and UIAutomation is designed to get .NET/Win32/Web controls including properties & methods. It requires extensive use of windows handles)

We have a substantial investment in Ranorex, I just don't want to see it stagnate, while others catch-up, and/or over-take

Cheers
Gryphyn

[Support Team]

Hi Gryphyn

First, thank you for your feedback.

We are currently working on some new features, but we will release most of them only in version 2.0.
The new core of the V2.0 will support not only all Microsoft automation technologies from Windows95 until Vista (Win32 API, Windows Messages, Active Accessibility, DOM, UIAutomation) but also Adobe Flash and Flex applications.
You will be able to automate all kind of Windows applications and Web pages the same way with standard programming languages. This version will come also with a new Recorder and an XML based interface for non-programmers.

I'm sure, this will be the best Automation Framework you've ever seen.

The most difficult part will be the automation of custom and 3rd party controls, we will support a general way like the Element class today in V2.0.

Jenö
Ranorex Support Team

[Gryphyn]

Sounds good

G