Deploying Windows Store Tested Applications on Test Computers

To test a Windows Store application on some computer, you need to deploy the application on that computer. To do this, QA engineers typically use the developer sideloading procedure (as during testing, the tested application is typically not uploaded to the Windows Store yet). Sideloading includes running the PowerShell installation script on the target computer and answering a number of confirmation questions. You may also need to install a developer certificate on the target computer. Depending on the security settings on this computer, the certificate installation may require that you answer the questions asked by the operating system’s User Account Control.

You can automate the sideloading procedure by recording your actions with the PowerShell installation script, and playing them back on the target computers. The entire procedure includes the following steps:

1. Copy the application package files to the target computer.

2. Record a test:

   1. Start recording in TestComplete.

   2. Run the PowerShell installation script.

   3. Wait until the script is over. Answer the questions when needed.

3. Modify the recorded test to avoid errors.

4. Put the test into the appropriate place in your tests.

Below are some specifics of automating the sideloading procedure:

• During sideloading, you need to answer a number of questions in the command line window. The PowerShell script performs some actions after each answer, so some time passes between the questions. However, by default, TestComplete does not record time delays between user actions. So, in the recorded test, the “answers” will be too close to each other. The commands will be executed too fast and the recorded tests may not run properly.

  To avoid issues, do any of the following:

  • Before recording, enable the Real-time mode setting. When it is enabled, TestComplete records time delays between user actions. To find the setting, choose Tools | Options from the TestComplete main menu, and select Engines | Recording in the subsequent dialog.

  – or –

  • After recording, go through the recorded test and insert the aqUtils.Delay method calls into the appropriate places. This method pauses the test execution for the specified period of time.

• When installing a developer certificate, the operating system can display a confirmation request from User Account Control (UAC). User actions on this message box are not recorded and cannot be automated.

  To avoid issues, you can do any of the following:

  • The certificate installation needs to be done only once. You can perform the entire sideloading procedure manually for the first time, and automate this process when you do this for the second time. The certificate will be installed and there will be no need to automate answers to UAC questions.

  • Alternatively, you can disable UAC in the Control Panel on your test computer.

See Also

Testing Windows Store Applications
Adding Windows Store Applications to the List of Tested Applications