About SmartBear Test Extension

Applies to TestComplete 14.92, last modified on September 16, 2021

The SmartBear Test Extension makes it possible to record and run web tests in Google Chrome and Chromium-based Microsoft Edge. This extension is automatically installed in Chrome and Edge during the TestComplete installation, and is shared among all user accounts in these browsers.

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

SmartBear Test Extension icon in Chrome

Install and enable the extension

The web browser (Chrome or Chromium-based Edge) must be installed before installing the extension.

Exit Edge before installing the extension. There is no need to exit Chrome though.

Automatic installation

The SmartBear Test Extension is installed automatically during the TestComplete (or TestExecute) installation. After the extension is installed in Chrome, it is enabled automatically. In Edge, enable the extension manually.

Note: If Chrome has been running during the extension installation, you may need to reload web pages opened in Chrome so that the test engine could access them.

Manual installation

  1. Launch the browser (Chrome or Chromium-based Edge).

  2. If you use Edge, click Settings > Extensions and select the Allow extensions from other stores check box.

  3. Open the SmartBear Test Extension page of the Chrome Web Store:

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

  4. Click Add to Chrome.

If you start test recording in a browser 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 your browser and reinstall TestComplete in the Modify mode.

Enable the extension

In Chrome

  1. Launch Chrome. Note that its menu icon (three points at the top right) changes the view and becomes orange.

  2. Click the Chrome menu icon and then select New extension added (SmartBear Test Extension).

    Installing SmartBear Test Extension

  3. In the dialog that appears, click Enable extension.

    Enabling SmartBear Test Extension
In Edge

Open the browser’s Extensions page and enable the extension there:

Enable the SmartBear Test Extension in Edge

Click the image to enlarge it.

After the extension is enabled, you may need to restart the browser as the latter may need some auto configuring after the extension is added. When the extension is added to a running browser instance, it may not function unless the browser is restarted.

If you install the extension during test recording, we recommend that you stop the recording and start it anew.

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 Chrome or Edge, open the browser’s Extensions page.

  2. Switch to the Developer mode. The switcher is in the right corner of the opened page in Chrome, and in the bottom left corner in Edge.

  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 browser’s Extensions page.

  5. Click Add extension in the subsequent dialog (the image below shows the dialog in Chrome. Edge offers a similar dialog):

    Adding SmartBear Test Extension Manually

  6. Restart the web browser to apply the changes.

Reinstalling

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:

Option Description
Allow in incognito (Chrome)
Allow in InPrivate (Edge)

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 the web browser. Otherwise, TestComplete will not be able to access web pages in it.

See Also

Preparing Chrome for Web Testing
Considerations for Web Testing
Classic Web Testing
Requirements for Web Testing

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