About SmartBear Test Extension

Applies to TestComplete 14.30, last modified on November 21, 2019

Web test recording and playback in Google Chrome is made possible by the SmartBear Test Extension. This extension is automatically installed in Chrome during the TestComplete installation, and is shared among all user instances of Chrome.

SmartBear Test Extension adds its icon to the Chrome navigation bar - this way, you can confirm that the extension is installed and enabled.

SmartBear Test Extension icon in Chrome

Installing SmartBear Test Extension

The SmartBear Test Extension is automatically installed during the TestComplete installation, provided that Chrome is already installed (either for the current user or for all users on the computer).

If you install Chrome after installing TestComplete, you will have to install the extension manually:

  1. Launch Chrome.

  2. In Chrome, open the SmartBear Test Extension page of the Chrome Web Store:

    chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/smartbear-test-extension/gmhjclgpamdccpomoomknemhmmialaae

  3. Click Add to Chrome.

If you start recording in Chrome and the extension is not installed, TestComplete will suggest that you install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.

As an alternative, you can close Chrome and reinstall TestComplete in the Modify mode.

After the extension is installed (or updated), you may need to restart Chrome to enable the extension. Chrome may need some auto configuring after the new extension is installed. When the extension is installed to an already running Chrome instance, it may not function unless Chrome is restarted.

Since version 25, Chrome disables all third-party extensions upon installation and update. The first time you start Chrome after installing or updating it, you need to enable the extension manually:

Instructions

If your testing environment is deployed automatically and it includes unattended installation of TestComplete, TestExecute or Google Chrome, enabling the extension manually is not an acceptable option. In this case, you can add the SmartBear Test Extension to the list of force-installed Chrome extensions. Learn about the workaround and its limitations.

If the extension’s icon does not appear on the Chrome navigation bar, make sure the extension is enabled in Chrome:

  1. From the Chrome main menu, select More tools, and then select Extensions from the context menu.

    – or –

    Navigate to the chrome://extensions page.

  2. Locate SmartBear Test Extension in the list and make sure that it is enabled (that is, the Enabled check box is selected).

Installing Without Internet Access

If you do not have Internet access or do not have access to the Chrome Web Store (for example, because of the security policy in your company), you can install and activate the SmartBear Test Extension manually as described below:

  1. In Google Chrome, open the Extensions page:

    From the Chrome main menu, select More tools, and then select Extensions from the context menu.

    – or –

    Navigate to the chrome://extensions page.

  2. Switch to the Developer mode in the right corner of the opened page.

  3. In Windows Explorer or any other file manager, open this folder:

    <Program Files> \Common Files\SmartBear\tcCrExtension\gmhjclgpamdccpomoomknemhmmialaae – on 32-bit Windows versions

    <Program Files (x86)> \Common Files\SmartBear\tcCrExtension\gmhjclgpamdccpomoomknemhmmialaae – on 64-bit Windows versions

    Note: TestComplete must be already installed on your machine.

  4. Drag the tcCrExtension.crx file from your file manager to the Extensions page in Chrome.

  5. Click Add extension in the displayed dialog.

    Adding SmartBear Test Extension Manually

  6. Restart Chrome to apply the changes.

Reinstalling SmartBear Test Extension

If you remove SmartBear Test Extension from Chrome, reinstall it from its page in the Chrome Web Store:

chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/smartbear-test-extension/gmhjclgpamdccpomoomknemhmmialaae

For detailed instructions, see above.

Extension Options

The SmartBear Test Extension provides a number of options to customize web testing recording and playback capabilities. To view or change these options, click the arrow on the left of the SmartBear Test Extension on the Extensions page in Chrome.

The following options are available:

  • Allow in incognito - Enable this option to test web pages during private browsing.

  • Allow access to file URLs - Select this option to test local web pages or web pages stored as local files (their URLs start with the file:// prefix).

After you change these options, you must restart Chrome. Otherwise, TestComplete will not see web pages in Chrome.

See Also

Preparing Chrome for Web Testing
Considerations for Web Testing
Testing Web Applications
Requirements for Web Testing

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