Run and debug recordings

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to run and debug recordings.

For now, we’ll focus on running a test recording in its simplest form: executing recorded actions one after another. In the larger context of test automation, running a test means executing iterations based on different sets of user data, parameters, and test scenarios. We’ll deal with this in later chapters.

In this chapter

Enable turbo mode

By default, Ranorex Studio uses a predefined delay between actions to control how fast they’re replayed. You can enable Turbo mode to speed up replaying by reducing this delay to almost zero.

In the recording module toolbar, click Turbo mode to turn turbo mode on or off.

Run a recording module

This section demonstrates how to run a single recording module.

In the Recorder view, click RUN.

Watch as the run starts and progresses.

When the run finishes, the test report appears.

Run the test suite

Running individual recording modules is usually only done when editing or troubleshooting them. Normally, tests are run based on a test suite that contains test cases. This is usually done from the test suite view. The test suite view is the central point of control for modularization and test case management.

Switch to the test suite view

There are two ways to switch to the test suite view.

In the Studio toolbar, click the View test suite button.
Alternatively, click the tab Introduction.rxtst (rxtst = Ranorex test suite file).

Execute the test case

In the test suite view, click RUN. This runs the entire test suite. In our example, the test suite contains one test case, so only this test case executes.

Watch as the run starts and progresses.

When the run finishes, the test report appears.

Pause/resume a test run

You can pause a test run while it is executing and resume it later. This is useful e.g. if you notice your test environment is not set up correctly and want to correct this so your test doesn’t fail for a reason that has nothing to do with the application itself.

To pause or resume a test run:

While a test is running/paused, press End.

Label in the progress dialog indicating the test run is paused.

Info section showing the test run hotkeys. End pauses/resumes.

Global run buttons

You don’t have to be in the test suite view to run or stop a test suite. You can also click the global run and stop buttons in the Studio toolbar. They are always visible, regardless of your current view.

Run options

Sometimes, you don’t want to run an entire recording, or you might want to control the run similar to debugging a computer program, as described below.

Change to the Recorder view.

Right-click an action and select one of the options explained below.

Run selected item(s)

Runs only the selected action(s).

Run to here (excl. selection)

Runs the recording starting at action #1 and up to, but excluding, the selected action.

Run from here

Runs the recording starting at the selected action.

Record from here (after selection)

Starts a recording and adds the recorded actions between the selected action and the next.

Debug – enable/disable Continue on fail

When an action causes an exception during a test, the default behavior is that the test aborts. Sometimes, you might want the run to continue instead. This is where the option Continue on fail is useful.

Debug – insert a log message

When tests become complex, it’s often helpful to add special log messages to the report.

Enable/disable debug mode

Ranorex Studio includes a dedicated debug mode that works by setting breakpoints in programming code. This is an expert topic, which is why we only touch on it here briefly.

Turning debug mode on/off

Debug mode requires Ranorex Studio to be run as an administrator. If this isn’t the case, a prompt to restart in administrator mode appears.

Download the sample solution

Download our sample solution to try the steps and options explained in this chapter yourself.

Installation:

Unzip to any folder on your computer.

Start Ranorex Studio and open the solution file Introduction.rxsln.