About Running Tests via Remote Desktop

Applies to TestComplete 15.63, last modified on April 23, 2024

Remote Desktop is a built-in Windows feature that lets you access a Windows session running on one computer from another computer. To use Remote Desktop, the workstation on which TestComplete or TestExecute will be running must have special server-side software. This software may be included in the operating system (for example, Remote Desktop Connection is included in Windows), or it can be a third-party software (for example, VNC, DameWare or NetOp).

To run automated tests via Remote Desktop, you install TestComplete (or TestExecute) on the remote computer, and then you use the Remote Desktop to connect to the remote computer and start testing.

TestComplete cannot access a Remote Desktop session from your local computer. To interact with the remote computer, TestComplete must be installed on that computer.

Why Use Remote Desktop

You can use the Remote Desktop if you need, for example, to:

  • Observe the tested application’s behavior on remote computers.

  • Run tests on remote computers.

  • Run tests on computers that are locked due to security purposes (see Running Tests on Locked Computers).

  • View and analyze results on test runs on one or several remote computers, and save them to a local computer.

  • And so on.

To Run Tests via Remote Desktop

  1. Make sure that a remote computer where you will run tests has TestComplete (or TestExecute) installed.

  2. If needed, lock the remote computer where TestComplete (TestExecute) is installed.

  3. From your local computer, log on to the TestComplete (TestExecute) workstation via Remote Desktop.

  4. On the remote computer, start running tests with TestComplete (TestExecute).

TestComplete (TestExecute) will run tests on the remote computer the same way as if they were running on your local computer.

Important Notes

When running GUI tests via the Remote Desktop, do not do the following:

  • Do not lock the computer.
    See the tips below.

  • Do not disconnect from the Remote Desktop Connection session.
    See the workaround below.

  • Do not minimize the Remote Desktop window.
    See the workaround below.

When you do any of these, the operating system switches the Remote Desktop session to the GUI-less mode and does not draw the GUI. In this case, TestComplete fails to interact with the GUI and the test fails.

We would like to note that these restrictions apply only to tests that involve interaction with the GUI. As for other tests, they can be run if the Remote Desktop window is minimized or if you disconnect from the Remote Desktop.

Tips and Workarounds

  • To prevent the computer from locking automatically during the test run, do the following:

    • Disable the screen saver.

    • Disable power saving options that may turn off the computer or its display, such as Put the computer to sleep.

    • Disable the Windows logon screen.

  • If you need to disconnect from the Remote Desktop session, you can retarget the session to the remote computer’s console before starting your tests. For detailed information, see Disconnecting From Remote Desktop While Running Automated Tests.

  • If you need to minimize the Remote Desktop window, you need to change the Registry settings on your local machine. See Running Tests in Minimized Remote Desktop Windows.

  • If you need to resize the Remote Desktop window, you can do this by setting certain values for the connection properties. For more information on how to do this, see Smart Resizing of Remote Desktop Windows.

  • You open several user sessions to the same server computer. The number of TestComplete instances that can work concurrently in sessions depends on your license.

    • If you have a Node-Locked license, then only one TestComplete instance can run on the server computer at a time. That is, you can use TestComplete in one user session only.

    • If you have a Floating User license, then the number of TestComplete instances that can run concurrently is determined by the license key. That is, the number of user sessions, in which you can use TestComplete, cannot exceed the limit set by the license.

    Note: If you want to use TestComplete in several user sessions connected to the same server, we recommend that you install and use a TestComplete Floating User license for the desired number of instances on the server. Alternatively, to run tests in user sessions, you can install and use TestExecute.

See Also

Running Tests via Remote Desktop
Running Tests in Minimized Remote Desktop Windows
Smart Resizing of Remote Desktop Windows
Disconnecting From Remote Desktop While Running Automated Tests
Running Tests
Running Tests on Locked Computers

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