Squish tip of the week: How to work with an already running application

Question: Is it possible for Squish to hook into (interact with) an application that was started manually?

Answer: Absolutely!

Here’s how

1. Start the application using start*aut instead of starting it directly:
   

   startaut --port=<portNumber> <AUT_PATH>
   

2. Register the AUT as an Attachable AUT

Going Forward

Using start*aut you can playback or interact with a running application using Squish, because the hook is already loaded and ready.

• Update your Test Suite Setting’s Application list to use <No Application>
• Now when you record, the Record Settings window displays where you can select to use the running application

Simplify starting the AUT

Create a shell or batch file and use it instead of the direct AUT executable to start your application.

C:\squish\bin\startaut --port=9999 C:\myApplication.exe

start*aut variations:

• androidobserver for android AUTs
• startaut for Qt, Mac OS X, and Tk AUTs
• startjavaaut for Java AUTs
• startwinaut for native Windows AUTs

Related topics

About start*aut
Attaching to running applications
Application Context
About the Squish Hook