Some apps don’t expose a traditional .exe in File Explorer. You can still add them as your Application Under Test (AUT) with either of the methods below.
Method 1: Select it from running applications in the setup wizard (recommended)
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Open the app manually first, press the Windows key, type the app name (e.g., “Calculator” or “To Do”), and launch it so it’s running in the background.
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In Ranorex Studio, start the Desktop solution wizard, New test solution using wizard… > Desktop > Name your solution > Continue.
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Click Running Applications and choose your app from the list, then Continue. Ranorex detects running desktop apps and lets you select them directly.
Method 2: Start with an empty project, launch during your first recording, then move to Setup
Use this when you already have a solution or prefer to add the AUT later.
- Create (or open) your test suite project by right-clicking Solution > Add > Project wizard… > Desktop > follow the steps. The same Select application step as the wizard is available for projects, too.
- Begin recording by pressing the Windows key, launching the target app (e.g., Calculator), interacting with one or two controls, and then stop recording.
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In Test suite view, right-click the test suite and select Add setup.
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Drag the module that starts the AUT (or use your project’s StartAUT module) into the Setup region so the app reliably starts before the test case. Add ExitAUT (or a close step) to Teardown.
Note: If you prefer, use Ranorex Spy to capture the running app and add items to your repository; Spy lists running applications so you can track UI elements even for store apps.