Ranorex

Ranorex WebSpy

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The Ranorex WebSpy tool is used to explore and analyze the HTML structure of a web page. It provides all necessary information to implement code for web testing applications. The main task of Ranorex WebSpy is to clearly identify all elements of a web page. This is realized by providing a specific RanoreXPath – similar to the W3C HTML XPath useful in finding web elements or web controls.

WebSpy RanoreXPath navigation pane HTML Tree & RanoreXPath results Web element properties pane Browser pane The application GUI is separated into four main window panes.
  1. RanoreXPath navigation pane
  2. HTML tree & RanoreXPath results
  3. Web element properties pane
  4. Browser pane

1. RanoreXPath navigation pane

The navigation pane is mainly used to track or select a web element of a web page shown within the WebSpy browser.

Tracking elements

Clicking the “Track” button switches on the hot track functionality. Move the mouse pointer over some web elements of the web site. Stop moving to get detailed information about the chosen web element and to get the RanoreXPath displayed in the navigation pane. Instead of using the "Track" button you can also press the <CTRL> key briefly while moving the mouse pointer over some web elements in the browser pane.

Moreover, the navigation pane offers an “Optimize” check box to shorten the RanoreXPath. Please note that an optimized RanoreXPath may cause a more time-consuming element search within a Ranorex web test automation.

Code Snippet

Clicking the “Code Snippet” button shows a few code lines describing how to implement web automation code for the web element currently beeing analyzed.

The RanoreXPath navigation pane could also be used to learn how RanoreXPath works.

Green, yellow or red result

If you track a specific web element, Ranorex WebSpy shows the distinct RanoreXPath for the hot tracked web element highlighted in green.

If you type a RanoreXPath in the edit box, the WebSpy tries to resolve this path. If the WebSpy is not able to find any suitable web element, the edit box will be highlighted in red.

If the specified path finds more than one matched web element, the edit box would be highlighted yellow. Moreover, all returned web elements are listed within the RanoreXPath results tab.

2. HTML Tree & RanoreXPath results


After tracking a web element, the Ranorex WebSpy also highlights the current position of the web element within the HTML tree view. This can be helpful when implementing more complex web automation code, to distinguish between parent and child objects.

Selecting a specific item within the HTML tree also causes an update of the RanoreXPath. In addition, the selected tree item is highlighted within the web browser pane.

This result tab is used to display multiple web elements when searching for more than one specific web element within a page.

3. Web element properties pane

The 'Attributes' tab shows all attributes of the current web element.

The 'Styles' tab lists all style properties of the current web element.

The 'Text' tab displays the text content of the current web element.

Use the 'Actions' tab to quickly test common web automation methods.

4. Browser pane

This window pane provides simplified functionality similar to Internet Explorer. In addition, the browser highlights all hot-tracked web elements of the web page.