21 May 2024 Leave a comment Tech-Help
Automating the validation of login fields in Android native apps can be challenging, especially when traditional methods fail to locate validation messages. This guide will help you understand the appropriate steps to take when faced with this issue and provide practical solutions to ensure successful automation.
Understanding the Challenge
When automating Android apps, developers often encounter difficulties in identifying validation messages. These messages may not be detectable by tools like Appium Inspector or UiAutomator, leading to failed attempts in automation.
Common Approaches and Their Limitations
Two common approaches to locating validation messages include:
- Using JavaScript Executor: This method involves executing JavaScript commands to retrieve validation messages. However, it often results in exceptions, as Appium may not support certain JavaScript methods.
- Checking Page Source: This method involves searching for validation text within the page source. It can be unreliable as the text may not always be present in the page source.
Alternative Solution: Using Image Recognition
An effective solution is to leverage image recognition tools like Sikuli. This approach involves taking a screenshot of the app’s screen and using image recognition to detect the validation message. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Capture a screenshot of the screen where the validation message appears.
- Save the screenshot to your local machine at runtime.
- Use Sikuli to analyze the screenshot and identify the validation message.
While this method can be lengthy, it is often more reliable than traditional methods.
Steps to Implement the Solution
Follow these steps to implement the image recognition solution:
Capture and Save Screenshot
File screenshot = ((TakesScreenshot) driver).getScreenshotAs(OutputType.FILE);
FileUtils.copyFile(screenshot, new File("path/to/screenshot.png"));
Use Sikuli for Image Recognition
Screen screen = new Screen();
Pattern pattern = new Pattern("path/to/screenshot.png");
if(screen.exists(pattern) != null) {
System.out.println("Validation message found");
} else {
System.out.println("Validation message not found");
}
Enhancing Your Automation with Repeato
If you find that using Appium for these tasks is slow or the tests are unstable, consider using Repeato. Repeato is a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android that simplifies creating, running, and maintaining automated tests for your apps. It uses computer vision and AI, making it particularly fast to edit and run tests, providing a more efficient and stable solution compared to Appium.
For more detailed information on how to use Repeato, please refer to our documentation.
