Before you can use test automation for a mobile app, you must instrument it.
Instrumenting an app means configuring it so that Ranorex Studio can access its GUI and functions to create and execute tests.
Instrumentation works differently for Android and iOS, which is why the procedures are explained separately in this article.
Important: After you update Ranorex Studio (e.g., by using newer automation libraries/Ranorex Service App), reinstrument your apps. Otherwise, automation may not work as intended.
Important for iOS developers: Instrumentation compiles your app with the Ranorex automation library, which adds additional functions and permissions to your IPA.
- Do NOT publish instrumented apps to the App Store.
- Instrumented apps do not work with TestFlight.
Download and install the Ranorex Web Browser
For web tests on iOS devices, the Ranorex Web Browser is required.
Obtain the Ranorex Web Browser for iOS on your PC from the Ranorex installation folder, or download it from Mobile downloads. Then instrument the application using your company’s Apple Developer certificate and install it on the iOS device.
For detailed instructions, see Install RxServiceApp, RxBrowser, and RxMiniKeePass.
Instrument an iOS app
You need to instrument iOS apps before you can use them for mobile tests with Ranorex Studio.
To evaluate iOS testing with Ranorex Studio without instrumenting your own app, you can use the preinstrumented RxMiniKeePass sample app.
Important: Instrumenting iOS apps is challenging and not self-explanatory. It is best done by experienced iOS developers.
Note: It’s not possible to instrument apps that have been downloaded from the App Store, as they are subject to DRM restrictions.
What does "instrumenting an iOS app" mean?
In practice, instrumentation means:
- Integrating the Ranorex libraries into the app (or using the wizard to do it),
compiling the app, and
- signing it with a P12 certificate and a valid provisioning profile.
For more information on iOS development and release procedures, please refer to the official Apple documentation.
Recommended approach: Instrumentation Wizard
Use the Ranorex Instrumentation Wizard and follow the step-by-step instructions in Install RxServiceApp, RxBrowser, and RxMiniKeePass.
Alternative approach: Manual instrumentation in Xcode
iOS developers can integrate the Ranorex library, compile the app, and sign it manually using Xcode.
Manual instrumentation is explained in iOS source-code instrumentation.
Attention: After instrumenting and deploying the iOS app for the first time, start the app manually once! Otherwise, it will not be visible within the Ranorex Service App.
Preinstrumented iOS sample app
Ranorex provides a preinstrumented iOS sample app for evaluation and learning purposes. The app is KeePass for iOS, distributed under the GNU General Public License.
For information about the copyright holder and license agreement, see the KeePass license information https://keepass.info/help/v1/license.html.
Download and install the sample app
Go to Mobile downloads and download and install the RxMiniKeePass app for iOS devices that corresponds to your Ranorex Studio version. The required IPA file is also available in the Ranorex Studio installation folder.
For more information, see Install RxServiceApp, RxBrowser, and RxMiniKeePass.