Advanced Settings and Configurations

The Advanced tab contains configuration options for Ranorex object recognition and RanoreXPath generation. Be cautious when modifying these settings, as they impact core automation behavior.

1. Enable 32/64 Bit Bridge: Automatically enables or disables the bit bridge required to handle 32/64 bit-based applications on 64-bit operating systems.
2. Use hidden screenshot capturing (if possible): Allows Ranorex to capture screenshots from recordings, repositories, or Ranorex snapshot files, even from application windows that are not in the foreground. If disabled, Ranorex attempts to bring the window to the front first.
3. Disable expensive attributes in tools: Instructs plug-ins to skip computationally intensive attributes for Ranorex Spy, Recorder, and Ranorex Studio to improve performance. If you enable this option, attributes like Row.Index do not have a value for certain technologies when shown in Ranorex Spy. 
4. Let snapshot contain complete ancestor subtree:  Saves the entire application subtree when creating a snapshot. If you do not enable this option, Ranorex only saves the direct subtree to the selected item. 
5. Use asynchronous dispatching of mouse and keyboard events: Enables asynchronous dispatching of mouse and keyboard events during recording. If you enable this option, events are forwarded to an application only after Ranorex finishes processing them during recording.
6. Use UiaLauncher to elevate privileges for processes started by tools: Specifies whether the system starts test execution with elevated administrative privileges.
7. Synchronize element selection of Studio’s repository with element selection in Spy: Specifies whether the application automatically selects a UI element in Ranorex Spy when you select the corresponding repository item.

8. Enable IME Hook:  Enables input support for complex characters (e.g., Chinese or Japanese).

   Note: This does not work for Windows Store apps, WPF applications, or in Edge, Internet Explorer, and Firefox.

9. Delay before pressing a key sequence (ms): Defines the wait time before performing a key sequence simulation.
    

Speed/robustness slider

This slider balances speed (flexibility) against robustness (resistance to UI changes). Review the following examples to understand how this setting influences RanoreXPath generation. 

50 % setting – balanced

At the default setting, Ranorex Studio generates a RanoreXPath that is equally balanced in terms of execution speed and resistance to UI changes. 

1. Button in the Ranorex Studio Demo Application: The target element for path generation.
2. The button in the element tree in Ranorex Spy: It is located on the fourth level of the tree.
3. The generated RanoreXPath for the button: It contains two ? wildcards between the root node and the parent of the UI element, giving the path reasonable flexibility.

0 % setting – speed

Ranorex Studio generates a path focused on the highest execution speed. This results in a definitive path without wildcards that is fast but breaks easily if the UI structure changes.

1. Button in the Ranorex Studio Demo Application: The target element for path generation.
2. The button in the element tree in Ranorex Spy: It is located on the fourth level of the tree.
3. The generated RanoreXPath for the button: It does not contain any wildcards. This makes the path fast, but changes in the UI structure likely prevent successful identification.

100 % setting – robustness

Ranorex Studio generates a path that is focused on achieving the highest robustness. This results in a slower, flexible path that has the most resistance against UI changes.

1. Button in the Ranorex Studio Demo Application: The target element for path generation.
2. The button in the element tree in Ranorex Spy: It is located on the fourth level of the tree.
3. The generated RanoreXPath for the button: It consists only of the root node, a // wildcard, and the final node. This allows any number of nodes between the root and the final node, making the path slower but very resistant to UI changes.

Note: A setting between 30% and 50% typically provides the best results for balanced path generation.

Attribute weights and Expert settings

1. Edit attribute weights...: Defines which UI attributes Ranorex prefers when generating paths.
2. Expert settings: Contains critical settings for the core RanoreXPath generation algorithm, including the Robust RanoreXPath mode used for self-healing.

See also: Mapping dynamic UI elements and Self-Healing.

1. Send anonymous usage statistics: Enables the transmission of anonymous data to help improve Ranorex Studio.
2. Restore defaults: Reverts all advanced settings to their original factory values.
3. Import/Export: Allows you to transfer settings between different solutions or machines.