UI Browser 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.

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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.

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Setting up the Appium Server

  • Launch the Appium.exe from the downloaded folder.

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

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  • 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.

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Steps:

Create a new Unit Test project in Visual Studio.

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

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Search for ‘Appium’ and install.

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Post installation, the references will be updated.

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In the .cs file, enter the below code. Initially we instantiate the Appium web driver and set the desired capabilities.

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We would perform the actions on the default browser. The action is to search the text ‘Microsoft’ in the https://www.bing.com website.

Results:

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Most common Issues !

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)