Browser & Results – Ranorex

Spy has two working environments: Browser & results and Path editor. This page explains Browser & results, use it to browse running applications on an endpoint, restrict the element tree, inspect UI element properties, and add elements to a repository.

Screencast: The Spy functions screencast walks you through the information found in this article.

Element tree browser

The element tree browser is on the left side of the working environment. It shows a hierarchical representation of running applications and their UI elements.

By default, it displays all applications running on an endpoint (i.e., machine) and whitelisted in Ranorex Studio. You can also restrict the tree to a specific application or node.

Hint: Need RanoreXPath syntax at a glance? RanoreXPath Quick Reference for axes and predicates you’ll test in the Path Editor.

Element tree browser displaying ALL running and whitelisted applications.
Element tree browser displays only the application RxMainFrame, which is the Ranorex Studio Demo Application.

Element tree toolbar

The toolbar above the element tree includes common actions (layout differs slightly between modes).The element tree browser shows a hierarchical representation of running applications and their UI elements.
By default, it displays applications that are running on the endpoint and whitelisted in Ranorex Studio.

Standalone Spy: Endpoints Opens the endpoints pad inside Spy to select the automation root.
Integrated Spy: Set the automation root in Ranorex Studio’s endpoints pad.

Element Tree	Description
	Browse endpoint / Endpoints Browse endpoint shows all running + whitelisted applications on the active endpoint (automation root). If you restricted the tree to one app/node, click Browse endpoint to show all apps again. If no endpoints are defined, the automation root is the current host (the machine Spy is opened on).
	Refresh: Click Refresh to update the element tree to reflect changes in the applications.
	Load from snapshot / Save as snapshot Load from snapshot… opens an existing snapshot file. Save as snapshot… saves the selected element plus its ancestors/descendants to a snapshot file.
	Highlight elements: Highlights the selected element in the actual application with a red frame. Note: The application must be running and visible on the endpoint for highlighting to work.

Status mode

Live display mode: The tree represents the applications of the currently active endpoint.
Live edit mode: You are editing an element of the currently active endpoint.
Snapshot mode: The tree was loaded from a Ranorex snapshot (a static snapshot of an endpoint’s applications).

Element tree browser context menu

Right-clicking an element in the tree opens a context menu with additional options.

Option	Description
Highlight element	Highlights the element in the application.
Update element data	Refreshes the element.
Set element as root	Makes the element the root of the element tree browser. In the tree, select the UI element you want to set as root. In the context menu, click Set element as root. The tree now has the element as root.
Add to repository	Generates a repository item for the element and adds it to the repository. You can either add only the selected element, or the element and all its children. Where the item is added depends on your Spy mode: Integrated Spy: Adds the item to the repository currently active in Ranorex Studio. Standalone Spy: Adds the item to the default Spy repository or one that you loaded.
Save as snapshot…	Saves the element to a snapshot file.
Capture screenshot	Captures a screenshot of the element as it appears in the application. Useful for image-based automation. The application containing the element must be running and the path to the element valid. Refresh the element tree beforehand if necessary. After capture, the screenshot opens in the image editor. Saved screenshots can also be used for image comparison in code, e.g. for finding and comparing images or image-based automation.

UI element details

The details area lists the properties and attributes of the selected UI element.

Primary adapter and name of element. Additionally, information about the size and position of the UI element on the desktop is displayed.
Values are in pixels and based on an x/y coordinate system.
Switch between the overview and advanced details.
The area where the details are displayed.
Edit path weights…
Opens a menu that allows you to configure the mapping of dynamic UI elements.

Further reading: UI elements and their details, for example, properties and attributes, as well as the concept of adapters, are explained in UI elements. Also, mapping dynamic UI elements is explained in Mapping dynamic UI-elements.

Image navigation area

The image navigation area shows the UI the selected element is part of. You can navigate through the UI as if you were in the application. When you click a UI element in the image, the corresponding element is selected in the tree.

The top of the image navigator shows the primary adapter type and name of the currently selected element.
When you move the mouse over a UI element in the image, the adapter type and name update accordingly.
Double-click outside the UI image to switch to the image for the parent element.