Get Certificate Files (Legacy)

Applies to TestComplete 15.45, last modified on December 01, 2022
The information below concerns legacy mobile tests that work with mobile devices connected to the local computer. For new mobile tests, we recommend using the newer cloud-compatible approach.

In order for TestComplete to be able to test your iOS application, the application must be instrumented, that is, it must be prepared for testing in a special way.

To instrument your application, you compile it with the TestComplete-agent-static.a library and then validate the application by using certificate files:

  • the Apple WWDR file,

  • a developer certificate,

  • the PEM file,

  • a provisioning profile.

To learn more about instrumenting iOS applications, see About Instrumenting iOS Applications (Legacy).

This topic describes how to get the required certificates files.

Do not submit instrumented applications to the App Store. Instrumented applications use private APIs and will be rejected. Create a separate build configuration for test builds.

Requirements

  • To get the files, you must have access to the Mac computer where the developer certificate you want to use is installed.

    If you do not have access to the Mac computer, you will have to ask the developer of your tested application to get the files as described below.

  • If you use the iOS Developer Program (not the iOS Developer Enterprise Program) to develop your tested application, the provisioning profile you will use for instrumentation must include the devices where you will run your tests. Register the devices before you start instrumenting your application:

    Registering iOS Devices for Testing (Legacy)

We recommend that you use the iOS App Development profile for your applications. This way, you will be able to automate the deployment of the tested applications to your iOS devices and launching the applications on them with specific TestComplete scripting methods or keyword-test operations.

Get the Apple WWDR Certification Authority File

The Apple Worldwide Developer Relations (WWDR) certificate will link your development certificate to Apple, completing the trust chain for your application.

To get the certificate, do one of the following:

  • For Big Sur and later Mac operating systems:

    Use the Keychain Access application on your Mac computer.

    Getting the WWDR Certificate

    Click the image to enlarge it.

    Choose the item that expires in 2030.
  • In other cases:

    Download the certificate from the Apple website:

    developer.apple.com/certificationauthority/AppleWWDRCA.cer

Copy the file to your TestComplete computer.

Get Certificate Files

By Using the Certificate Exporter Utility

This approach does not work if you use Big Sur or later Mac operating systems. In this case, get certificate files manually as described below.

To get a developer certificate, the PEM file and a provisioning profile, you can use the Certificate Exporter utility that is shipped with TestComplete. The utility is in the <TestComplete>/Bin/Extension/iOS/CertificateExporter.zip archive. To get the files by using the utility:

  1. On the computer where TestComplete is installed, locate the Certificate Explorer utility archive:

    <TestComplete>/Bin/Extension/iOS/CertificateExporter.zip

    Do not unpack the utility on a Windows machine. This will corrupt the utility.

  2. Copy the archive to the Mac computer where the needed developer certificate and provisioning profile are installed.

  3. Unpack the archive on the Mac computer.

  4. Run CertificateExporter.app. It will show a list of available provisioning profiles.

  5. Select a profile from the list. The utility will show you the assigned certificates in the list below.

  6. Select the certificate you want to export and click Export.

  7. Specify the directory to which you want to export the files.

  8. If a dialog appears asking you to allow the utility to access your keychain, click Allow.

The Certificate Exporter utility

Click the image to enlarge it.

The utility will export the developer certificate, provisioning profile and the PEM file to the specified directory. To learn how to use these files to instrument your application, see below.

Manually

Getting a Developer Certificate and the PEM File

Getting a Developer Certificate

Getting the PEM File

Getting a Provisioning Profile

The provisioning profile must belong to the same developer as the certificate and PEM file.

Getting the Provisioning File

Next Steps

After you get all the required files, you are ready to instrument your iOS application:

See Also

Preparing iOS Applications (Legacy)
Preparing Test Computers and TestComplete for iOS Testing (Legacy)
Preparing iOS Devices (Legacy)
Testing iOS Applications - Overview (Legacy)

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