"Failed to launch browser" when recording test in WebUI Test Studio Developer

[Joel Corley]

Scenario:
Attempting to recording the first test (e.g. as in Developer Quick Start Guide) fails to work as expected.

Expected behavior:
A browser is displayed with instructions to create test and a test tool bar in the browser title area.

Actual behavior:
An empty browser is launched but it does not record steps (nothing happens).

Issue:
This is the same issue the first FAQ question is dealing with ("When trying to run my first test, the browser gets launched and nothing happens").

The suggested fix is to disable the security settings for the browser or operating system.  However, running Visual Studio in administrator mode requires that the user has the rights to manipulate the browser has the same effect, but only when needed.

This is not really a bug in the product, but it is more of a usability issue.  This will occur after a new build of Visual Studio 2008 and 2010 in a Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2 environment (presumably Vista also).  At least in the Win 2008 R2 environment, checking or clearing the "Enable Protected Mode" check box for IE settings or removing IE ESC had no real effect.

[Missing User]

Hi again Joel,

Thanks for the post and information. The settings you mentioned are recommend as tested for WebUI Test Studio.

We have found them to cover the range of installation, activation, and all testing or automation scenarios that would apply when using WebUI.

We suggest them in order to avoid any possible problems in these areas, but understand that you could effectively use WebUI without configuring all of them in cases. 

We are also looking to have WebUI support as many of these settings by default as possible in later versions of the product.

Sincerely,
Nelson Sin
the Telerik team

[Mike]

Hi,
I have a same issue, but I can't resolve it still. I use Windows XP and VS 2008 and can't understand which security settings should be disabled :(

Regards,
Mike

[Cody]

Hello Mike,

Please try running Visual Studio as administrator and see if that helps.

1. Right click on your Visual Studio link contained in your start menu
2. Select "Run as administrator"

Let me know whether or not that solves your problem.

All the best,
Cody
the Telerik team

[Mike]

Thank you for quick reply. It works now. (I've uninstalled KB976769V2 :))
But I still have a big problem, I can't detect some components on the Form. Are any workarounds for finding controls with turned on  Windowless mode?

Regards,
Mike

[Cody]

Hi Mike,

I assume you're dealing with a Silverlight application, correct? There isn't anything specialy you need to do to record a Windowless Silverlight application. Specifically what problem are you having? Is it not recognizing some HTML elements on your web page or some Silverlight elements? Which elements? Is your application publicy accessible so i can see this problem? Or can you take screenshots and point out what's not working?

Regards,
Cody
the Telerik team

[HSLaw]

Hi guys,
We have the same problem when click record:
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/5320/testingwebuiprotectedof.png

Machine on Windows7 64bit.
Visual Studio Pro 2010, run as administrator.

[Konstantin Petkov]

Hi HSLaw,

Can you please make sure you don't have some older version of WebUI Test Studio installed on that machine as well? Looking at your account history it seems you have the product downloaded last year and I suspect you may hit a conflict with our browser add-on.

All the best,
Konstantin Petkov
the Telerik team

[HSLaw]

Hi,
Yes, I did have older version.
I already uninstalled them from Program and Features. Older version no longer appear on Program and Features.
Is it because the uninstall process is not clean enough or interrupted?
Is there a way to really clean up my older version's installation?
Thanks.

[Konstantin Petkov]

Hello HSLaw,

No, the installer should have done it's job. You have first uninstalled the older version then installed the new one, right? Problems are expected if you first install the new version then uninstall the older.

Can you please also make sure the browser is configured as per these requirements? Also, is that a problem in IE or do you run the tests fine in Firefox?

Kind regards,
Konstantin Petkov
the Telerik team

[HSLaw]

Hi Petkov,
I have installed new one without uninstall old one.
Then I uninstall old one, uninstall new one and reinstall new one.
But it is still not working.
I also uninstalled new one and reinstall new one a few times.

And yes, I have followed the requirement for IE.
Let me go through the list again.

By the way, how to record in Firefox?
I only see Internet Explorer in the record drop down.

Thanks.

[Konstantin Petkov]

Hello HSLaw,

I've confused you, sorry about that. WebUI Test Studio doesn't support recording in Firefox, just test execution. I was thinking if the tests execute fine in Firefox and not in IE.

Please check the IE AddOns and try to disable those except the two used by WebUI Test Studio. I've attached an image with the add-ons -- we need the recorder and execution enabled and have unfortunately met conflicts with other add-ons.

Sincerely yours,
Konstantin Petkov
the Telerik team

[HSLaw]

Thanks Petkov,
It can record now.
Not sure what disabled the IE Add-On before this.