Effective Solutions for Running Selenium Tests in Internet Explorer

Effective Solutions for Running Selenium Tests in Internet Explorer

21 May 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

When it comes to automating web functional tests, Selenium is a popular choice. However, many users face challenges when their web applications are restricted to running on Internet Explorer (IE). While Selenium IDE is tailored for Firefox, there are still ways to execute Selenium tests in IE. This guide will walk you through some effective solutions for this scenario.

Using SeleniumRC for Internet Explorer

Selenium does not offer a dedicated IDE for Internet Explorer. However, you can utilize SeleniumRC to run tests in IE. Here’s how you can achieve this:

  • Record your tests using Selenium IDE in Firefox.
  • Use SeleniumRC to launch Internet Explorer and execute the recorded tests.

This approach allows you to leverage the recording capabilities of Selenium IDE while still running your tests in IE.

Exploring WatiN for Internet Explorer

If you are looking for an IDE experience similar to Selenium’s Firefox IDE but for Internet Explorer, consider using WatiN. WatiN stands for Web Application Testing in .NET and provides a robust framework for automating web applications in IE.

Additional Tools and Utilities

There are other utilities that can assist in writing Selenium code for web applications that only function in IE. These tools help retrieve locator strings used in Selenium APIs to refer to elements in the DOM. While not recorders, they are valuable for coding and debugging.

Using TestMaker

Another noteworthy tool is TestMaker, which provides functionalities similar to what you might be looking for. Although the product has evolved and may no longer be free, links to the community edition are still available on their website.

Running Selenium Tests in IE using Older Firefox IDE

For those using older versions of Firefox and Selenium IDE, there’s an unconventional method to run tests in IE:

  1. Install Firefox 54 or older and Selenium IDE 2.9.1.
  2. Download selenium-server-standalone-2.53.1.jar and IEDriverServer.
  3. Start the Selenium server with the following command:
  4. java -jar c:\\selenium\\selenium-server-standalone-2.53.1.jar -Dwebdriver.ie.driver=IEDriverServer.exe
  5. Open the Firefox IDE, navigate to Options, and under the “WebDriver” tab, enable WebDriver Playback and set the browser to “internet explorer”.

This setup allows you to record tests in Firefox and run them in IE, although recording and executing single commands directly in IE is not supported.

Enhancing Efficiency with Repeato

While these methods can help you run Selenium tests in Internet Explorer, consider using a no-code test automation tool like Repeato for enhanced efficiency. Repeato allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests for your iOS and Android apps without coding. It uses computer vision and AI for quick test editing and execution.

Repeato also provides a scripting interface for advanced testers, making it a versatile tool for complex automation scenarios. With upcoming explicit web testing support, Repeato will further streamline your testing processes.

For more information, visit our documentation or contact us.

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