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Testing web apps using Windows Coded UI

Coded UI Deprecation

Coded UI Test for automated UI-driven functional testing is deprecated. Visual Studio 2019 is the last version where Coded UI Test will be fully available. We recommend using a different desktop app automation tool like WinAppDriver.

The Applitools Eyes CodedUI SDK allows you to easily add visual checkpoints to your CodedUI tests. It takes care of getting screenshots of your application from the underlying CodedUI driver, sending them to the Eyes server for validation and failing the test in case differences are found.

Install the SDK

Install-Package Eyes.CodedUI

Run your first test

Applitools Eyes reports differences by comparing screenshots of your application with baseline images that define the expected appearance of the application at each step of the test. By default, the Eyes SDK detects the environment in which the application is running (namely, the operating system, the executable name and its window size) and compares the screenshots against baseline images that are specific to that environment. The first time you run a test in a given environment, its screenshots will be automatically saved as its baseline. Starting from the second run onward, you always have a baseline to compare against.

The test below is a simple C# program that visually validates the default notepad program, before and after it types some text into it. It consists of two visual checkpoints, each validating the entire application window. The first time you run this test a new baseline will be created, and subsequent test runs will be compared to this baseline. If any screenshot mismatch its baseline image in a perceptible way, eyes.Close() will throw a DiffsFoundException which includes a URL that points to a detailed report where you can see the detected differences and take appropriate actions such as reporting bugs, updating the baseline and more.

Before running the test, make sure to set the API key that identifies your account in the environment variable APPLITOOLS_API_KEY or directly assign it to the eyes.api_key property. You can find your API key under the user menu located at the right hand side of the test manager toolbar. If you don't yet have an account create it now to obtain your key.


namespace Applitools
{
using CodedUI;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UITesting;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UITesting.WinControls;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Drawing;

[CodedUITest]
public class NotepadTest
{
[TestMethod]
public void TestNotepad()
{
Process notepad = Process.Start("notepad");

// Open notepad
WinWindow testApp = new WinWindow();
testApp.SearchProperties[WinWindow.PropertyNames.ClassName] = "Notepad";

// Initialize the eyes SDK and set your private API key.
var eyes = new Eyes();
eyes.ApiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

try
{
// Start the test and set the application's viewport size to 800x600
eyes.Open(testApp, "Hello World!", "My first CodedUI C# test", new Size(800, 600));

// Visual checkpoint #1
eyes.CheckWindow("Hello!");

// Write something
WinEdit edit = new WinEdit(testApp);
Keyboard.SendKeys("Applitools CodedUI Demo");

// Visual checkpoint #2
eyes.CheckWindow("Write!");

// End the test
eyes.Close();
}
finally
{
// Close the app.
notepad.CloseMainWindow();

// If the test was aborted before eyes.Close was called, ends the test as aborted.
eyes.AbortIfNotClosed();
}
}
}
}

Analyze your test results

Congratulations! You've successfully run your first visual UI test with Applitools Eyes! A detailed report is ready for your inspection at the Applitools Eyes test manager. Watch this 5 minute video to get acquainted with the test manager and to learn the basics of baseline maintenance.

Login to Applitools and analyze the results.

Having Trouble?

Don't suffer in silence! Let us help you. Please reach out to us to get your project working.

Taking the next steps with Applitools

Congratulations on completing this quickstart! There's still so much to learn about visual testing with Applitools, but you're off to a great start.

Resources for next steps:

  1. 🤖 Learning how visual testing works
  2. ↔️ Setting match levels for visual checkpoints
  3. 💥 Troubleshooting common issues
  4. 🐞 Reporting bugs
  5. 🗺 Detailed overview of visual testing with Applitools

You can also: