This article explains how to track and identify a single UI element using the Track… button in Ranorex Studio. Tracking creates a repository item with a RanoreXPath that identifies the UI element in the AUT.
Screencast: The Screencast Track button walks you through the information found in this chapter.
Test example definition
To explain tracking with the Track button, this article uses the Test database tab of the Ranorex Studio Demo Application.
- The Test database tab in the demo application.
- The test database working environment.
Where to find Track
The Track button is available in different locations:
- In an opened recording module in the repository toolbar
- In an opened repository file
- In Ranorex Spy
Note: The Track buttons in recording modules and repository files function identically. The Track button in Ranorex Spy behaves a little differently, so it’s described separately in the Ranorex Spy documentation.
Track a single UI element with Track
- Start the Demo Application and open the Test database tab.
- Open Ranorex Studio and create a new blank solution (or open an existing one).
- Open a recording module and click Track… in the repository toolbar.
- Ranorex Studio is minimized. In the Demo Application, hover over the Female radio button and click it when the red frame surrounds it.
Note: This workflow tracks one element at a time. After tracking the element, Ranorex Studio returns to the editor. To track another element, repeat the steps above.
Results
After the UI element is tracked, the process ends, and you return to Ranorex Studio. There you can see:
- The repository contains the repository item RdbFemale. This repository item represents the Female radio button and is the result of the tracking process.
- The RanoreXPath of the repository item. This path identifies the position of the UI element in the AUT’s UI.
Tracking mechanism for the Track button
- Track… is designed for single-element tracking.
- Tracking automatically ends after the element is identified a,nd you are returned to Ranorex Studio.
- You can press F12 to pause tracking, useful for elements that are only visible while you kthis is useful for elements that are only visible while a key is pressed or a menu is eep a key pressed or a menu open (for example, a drop-down list).
- Pressing
F12during the tracking process allows you to track the menu item Project Management from a drop-down list in the demo application.