Running Tested Applications

Applies to TestComplete 14.40, last modified on April 22, 2021
The information in this topic applies to desktop and mobile applications. To learn how to run web browsers, see Launch Web Browsers and Launching Mobile Browser Emulator.

TestComplete lets you automatically launch your tested application during test recording and test runs. You can launch applications from the TestComplete IDE and by using the appropriate test commands.

For generic Windows applications, TestComplete supports multiple run modes - Simple, RunAs, Debug and Profile. TestComplete launches these applications in the mode specified in the TestedApps editor or in your tests.

Running Applications From the TestComplete IDE

To run your tested application:

  • Right-click the application in the Project Explorer and select Run from the context menu.

  • Right-click the application in the TestedApps editor and select Run from the context menu.

To run all the tested applications:

  • Right-click the TestedApps node in the Project Explorer and select Run All from the context menu.

  • Right-click somewhere in the TestedApps editor and select Run All from the context menu.

Running Applications During Test Recording

To launch your tested application during test recording, select it from the application list on the Recording toolbar.

Running an application during test recording

You can also configure TestComplete to automatically launch all or specific tested applications every time you start test recording. To do this:

  • Open the TestedApps editor.

  • Select an application in the list and then select the Autorun application on recording check box in the application parameters.

Note: This option is not currently supported for iOS applications.

If your application is not in the TestedApps editor, you can launch it in a usual way (for example, by using a desktop shortcut or via the Start menu), and TestComplete will automatically add it to the TestedApps editor.

In any case, TestComplete will add the application launch operation to your recorded test.

Running Applications From Keyword Tests

In keyword tests, use the Run TestedApp operation to launch your tested application. You typically add this operation at the beginning of your tests.

To run several instances of the application, specify the number of instances in the operation’s Count parameter.

Running Applications From Scripts

To run a tested application, call the TestedApp.Run method:

JavaScript, JScript

TestedApps.AppName.Run();

Python

TestedApps.AppName.Run()

VBScript

TestedApps.AppName.Run

DelphiScript

TestedApps.AppName.Run;

C++Script, C#Script

TestedApps["AppName"]["Run"]();

If your tested application is a desktop application, you can run several instances of it:

JavaScript, JScript

TestedApps.notepad.Run(2);

Python

TestedApps.notepad.Run(2)

VBScript

Call TestedApps.notepad.Run(2)

DelphiScript

TestedApps.notepad.Run(2);

C++Script, C#Script

TestedApps["notepad"]["Run"](2);

You can also run your desktop tested application by calling the DbgServices.LaunchTestedApplication or DbgServices.LaunchAllTestedApplications method. These methods start the application and command TestComplete to act as a debugger for the application process. TestComplete will trace and report events (with call stack) and debug strings that occur during the application run.

If you have several tested applications in the Tested Applications collection, you can run all of them by calling the TestedApps.RunAll method:

JavaScript, JScript

TestedApps.RunAll();

Python

TestedApps.RunAll()

VBScript

TestedApps.RunAll

DelphiScript

TestedApps.RunAll;

C++Script, C#Script

TestedApps["RunAll"]();

Running Applications Under Another Account

To run your tested application under a different user account, you can use the TestedApps.AppName.RunAs method:

JavaScript, JScript

TestedApps.notepad.RunAs("DOMAIN", "user", "password");

Python

TestedApps.notepad.RunAs("DOMAIN", "user", "password")

VBScript

Call TestedApps.notepad.RunAs("DOMAIN", "user", "password")

DelphiScript

TestedApps.notepad.RunAs('DOMAIN', 'user', 'password');

C++Script, C#Script

TestedApps["notepad"]["RunAs"]("DOMAIN", "user", "password");

In keyword tests, you can call the RunAs method using the Call Object Method or Run Code Snippet operation.

Another way is to select the RunAs mode for your application and specify the needed user account in the TestedApps editor. In this case, if you run the application from the TestedApps editor, it will be launched under the specified account.

For more information, see Testing Applications Running Under Another User Account.

Notes

  • TestComplete will not launch an application if the Launch application from tests check box is clear for the application in the TestedApps editor.

  • To use the RunAs or Profile mode, you must run TestComplete as an administrator. See Using TestComplete With Administrator Privileges.

  • For the specifics of running mobile applications, see the following topics:

    Starting Tested Android Applications

    Starting Tested iOS Applications

  • In rare cases, your application may hang if you run it from the TestedApps editor. In this case, you can do one of the following:

    • Create a batch file (.bat) that runs your application and add this file to the TestedApps editor instead of your application. For example:

      MyApp.bat

      start "" "C:\Program Files\My App\My App.exe"

    • Run your application without using the TestedApps editor. For example, you can use the WshShell scripting object instead:

      JavaScript, JScript

      WshShell.Run("notepad");

      Python

      WshShell.Run("notepad")

      VBScript

      Call WshShell.Run("notepad")

      DelphiScript

      WshShell.Run('notepad');

      C++Script, C#Script

      WshShell["Run"]("notepad");

See Also

About Tested Applications
Working With Tested Applications in Tests
Keyword Tests
Starting Tested Android Applications
Starting Tested iOS Applications

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