Partager via


Mobile Native App Automation using Appium with Visual Studio Android Emulator

Appium is an open source cross platform automation tool for native/hybrid and mobile web based apps.

Why?

You can use Appium with various language like c#, java, Objective C with Selenium driver. Thus a truly cross platform automation tool!

How?

Machine which is running the web driver scripts communicates with Appium server through Http/JSON and in turn the Appium sends/receives the command to Devices/Emulators of Android or IOS platforms.

capture1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we will discuss about Integration of Appium with Visual Studio using C#.

Pre Requisites:

  • JAVA_HOME: Pointing to the Java SDK folder\bin
  • ANDROID_HOME: Pointing to the Android SDK Folder.

Setting up the Visual Studio Android Emulator.

  • Search for the visual studio android emulator and open it.
  • Select the latest API level and download the emulator.
  • Run the Emulator.

create9

Setting up the Appium Server

  • Launch the Appium.exe from the downloaded folder.

create6

  • Click on Android Icon and change the settings as highlighted.

create20

 

  • Click Play button.

How to get the Device Name ?

Goto Android SDK folder in command prompt. And type adb devices -l. This will list all the running devices.

create14

 

Steps:

Create a new Unit Test project in Visual Studio.

create-project

Under Reference in Solution Explorer, Click Add Manage Nuget Packages.

create2

Search for ‘Appium’ and install.

create3

Post installation, the references will be updated.

create4

In the .cs file, enter the below code. In the below code, we would do a simple arithmetic operation using a custom calculator.

create15

 

How to install  the apk in the emulator?

Visual Studio Android Emulator gives us a flexible way of installing the apk by dragging and dropping the apk file onto the emulator ! which is as simple as anything !

Results:

create10 create16 create17 create18  

How to get the Element Properties?

Open command prompt and navigate to Android SDK\tools. Launch uiautomatorviewer.bat file which will be displayed as below.

 

create21

Click on the Device Screenshot (second icon from left in the above screen)

Once captured, the screen is visible with the UI metadata. Click on number '7'. Once selected, the number '7' is highlighted and get the ID value under the resource-id node.

create22

Most common Issues faced !

1. Unable to connect to remote server - no connection could be made because the target server actively refused it 127.0.0.1:4723

Resolution : Ensure the Appium server is running. And the IP address is entered correct in the Appium server settings page. Verify the desired capabilities parameters.

2.  A new connection could not be created. An unknown server side error occurred while processing the command. Unknown error. Device <IP address> is not online.

Resolution:

- Verify if the emulator/device is connected through adb devices -l in command prompt.

- Desired capabilities should be properly entered. Ex: devicename/platformversion/udid/platformname.

- Check for Appium settings. Restart the Appium server.

 

3. Could not find a connected Android device.

Resolution:

Ensure the android device or emulator is running. (goto command prompt, goto Android SDK\Tools\ and run adb devices -l)

 

4. An element could not be located on the page using the given search parameters.

Resolution: Verify the UI Control Parameter and add the proper reference in the code.

5. Appium not running.

Please check the type of operating system (x84 or x64) and install accordingly. Its better to keep a separate folder for appium related resources.