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Can i automate windows application on Remote desktop

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:45 pm
by Olu
Is it possible to use Ranorex to automate windows application that sitting on remote desktop and Citrix

We have windows application built and customised for our company by third party company and this application is deployed in Citrix on remote desktop. I have been tasked to developed automated regression testing.

I am recommending Ranorex for my company but want to be sure if Ranorex would recognises the application controls before getting a licence.


Looking forward to your response

Many thanks

Re: Can i automate windows application on Remote desktop

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:27 am
by odklizec
Hi,

There is definitely no way to automate application via citrix/remote desktop. You see, both citrix and remote desktop simply shows one large image and so there is nothing Ranorex can track and automate. The only proper way to automate on remote system would be to use Ranorex on that remote system. In other words, Ranorex must be installed and started on remote system.

Re: Can i automate windows application on Remote desktop

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 10:01 am
by Olu
Hi,

Thanks for your response.

Yes we can install Ranorex on Remote Desktop as we already have Visual Studio installed there. To make sure i understand your point clearly, please see below steps to the application in question:

1. From my pc i logon to remote desktop called UAT (Visual studio installed there)
2. I click on citrix icon, citrix launches
3. I click on AUT a windows logon pops up, find attached.
4. I logon and AUT launches successfully.


My question now is where do you mean Ranorex should be installed in above step?


Many thanks
Olu

Re: Can i automate windows application on Remote desktop

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 11:42 am
by odklizec
Hi,

I'm afraid, it may be impossible to automate windows login started via citrix, no matter if you install Ranorex on target computer (the one started via citrix). You see, Ranorex requires realized desktop to be able to automate desktop apps. In other words, you need to be logged in first.

Your only hope is, that Ranorex installed on remote desktop (UAT) is able to track and automate citrix based app started from this computer. Have you tried to track the login dialog elements with Ranorex (Spy or recorder)? Is Ranorex able to track 'user name', 'password' and 'confirm' button? If not, then I'm afraid, your only hope is using screenshot-based automation. But in my opinion, this should be the last way of doing automation. Screenshot-based automation is quite unreliable way of automation.

Some of the apps I'm automating are citrix based. It's possible to automate certain elements from citrix-started apps, e.g. HTML login dialog. However, certain elements are not reachable at all.

Re: Can i automate windows application on Remote desktop

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 9:25 am
by Olu
Thanks for your response, I agreed with your points. i'm requesting to get AUT install on the same machine where VS installed, hopefully that should solve my problem.

Re: Can i automate windows application on Remote desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 8:31 pm
by pmaladi
hello all ,

i am launching some applications via citrix, after launching it looks like a windows tool that installed in windows, but if we try to spy that window, not able to locate any element in it.

please let me know if we have plug-ins that supports this type of tools or any other way to do it ?

Re: Can i automate windows application on Remote desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:38 pm
by Support Team
pmaladi wrote:i am launching some applications via citrix, after launching it looks like a windows tool that installed in windows, but if we try to spy that window, not able to locate any element in it.

please let me know if we have plug-ins that supports this type of tools or any other way to do it ?
Hi Pmaladi,

I am assuming you are talking about a Citrix XenApp, or something similar. This is basically a fancy RDP connection to another machine. You basically only have a screenshot of the application on your machine, which is why you not able to identify any elements. Ranorex must be used on the same machine as the machine running your AUT. If your application is being run on another machine, then so must Ranorex.

To resolve this issue, you will need to either run Ranorex from the same machine running your AUT or run your AUT locally where you currently trying to use Ranorex.

I hope this helps!

Cheers,
Ned