When Does the Error Occur?
TestComplete displays this message if you selected the Work With Object Through Property menu command for the On-Screen Action keyword-test operation and the command cannot be applied to the object with which this operation works.
What Does It Mean?
The On-Screen Action operation simulates user actions over a process, window or control existing in the operating system. Using the “Work With Object Through Property” command you can change the object, with which the operation works, to some other object that is not available in the object hierarchy and that is accessed through a property of the current object. A typical example is that you use this command for a top-level window to work with the main menu displayed by this window. See Calling Methods and Properties of "Internal" Objects.
In order for the “Work With Object Through Property” command to be able to work successfully, the current object must contain one or more properties that return references to other objects. If TestComplete fails to find these properties, it displays this message to inform you about the problem.
About the Object Name in the Message
In the message, TestComplete displays the full object name. Keyword tests typically work with mapped object names, that is why the full object name starts with the Alias or NameMapping prefix. The Keyword Test editor does not display objects' full names to make name notation shorter. However, you can see the full names in the properties of some operations.
Why TestComplete Fails to Find Appropriate Properties
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The current object does not contain properties that return object references
One possible reason is that the current object simply does not contain the properties that return object references.
To check whether an object contains the needed properties, launch your tested application and explore its object hierarchy and objects' properties in the Object Browser panel. To quickly find an object in the Object Browser upon launching the application, right-click the operation in your keyword test and choose Show in Object Browser from the context menu.
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The current object does not exist
If the tested application is not running, or the tested object does not exist in the system, TestComplete searches for properties among the data it saved for the object earlier during test recording, test editing or name mapping. It is quite possible this data does not contain information on properties that return object references, as these properties were not used in previous work.
To solve the problem:
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Launch your application.
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Make sure the tested object is available (for instance, make sure the tested form is visible).
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Try using the “Work With Object Through Property” command again. TestComplete will re-read information on the object’s properties and will display a list of appropriate properties, if it finds them.
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The current object exists, but the appropriate properties not found
If the tested application is running and the tested object exists, but TestComplete is unable to find the appropriate properties in it, then, perhaps, TestComplete fails to find the object in the system, or it finds another object, not the one you need.
Typically, keyword tests work with mapped objects. This means TestComplete recognizes objects by using the properties and values specified in the Name Mapping editor. The recognition properties and values can change from one application build to another, or in certain cases, they can even change from one application run to another.
To check whether TestComplete finds the appropriate object, right-click the operation in the Keyword Test editor and choose Highlight on Screen from the context menu. TestComplete will highlight the object with a blinking red frame.
If TestComplete highlights an incorrect object or if it cannot highlight the object, you need to modify the object’s mapping settings in the Name Mapping editor. To switch to the editor quickly, right-click the operation in the Keyword Test editor and select Show Object in Name Mapping Editor from the context menu.
After you modify the settings, try using the “Work With Object Through Property” command again.
See Also
Calling Methods and Properties of "Internal" Objects
On-Screen Action Operation
About Keyword Test Editor