Installation

(These instructions assume python is installed. This was tested with Mac so, they might vary for other OS)

  1. Install Appium. For Detailed Instructions
  2. Install pip for Python. Instructions

  3. Install Robot. For Detailed Instructions

    pip install robotframework

  4. Install Appium Library from the link or use the following command.

    pip install robotframework-appiumlibrary

Keyword Reference

Appium Library

Writing our first TestCase

We are going to use UICatalog app that is available on Apple’s website. We are dealing with 11.3 version here.

  1. Compile UICatalog.app with either Xcode or commandline

    For commandline, Command is –

    • xcodebuild -configuration ${BUILD_TYPE} -target ${TARGET_NAME} -arch ${CPU_ARCHITECTURE} -sdk ${SIMULATOR_OR_IOS_SDK}

    where –

    • {Build_Type} – Release or Debug
    • {Target_Name}–
    • {CPU_ARCHITECTURE}– i386 for Simulator, armv6 or armv7 for Devices
    • SIMULATOR_OR_IOS_SDK– Essentially looking for iPhone or iPhoneSimulator

So our commands would look like –

  • cd <UICatalog folder containing *.xcodeproj file>
  • rm -rf build (Assuming you have build folder)

  • if you are building for Simulator

    • xcodebuild -configuration Release -target UICatalog -arch i386 -sdk iphonesimulator8.2
  • Or if you are building for iPhone

    • With Keys (In my case Found under KeyChains ->Login->My Certificates) -

    • xcodebuild -configuration Release -target UICatalog -arch armv7 -sdk iphoneos8.2 CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY="iPhone Developer: user" You may need to allow access to keys which is done by
      • Right clicking Certificate->GetInfo->”Always Trust”
      • Right clicking Key->GetInfo->Access Control -> “Allow all applications to …”
    • With Provision Profile(Found under ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/ – -xcodebuild -configuration Release -target UICatalog -arch armv7 -sdk iphoneos8.2 PROVISIONING_PROFILE="<uuid>"
  • ls build/Release-iphonesimulator/ (To List UICatalog.app)

  1. Create a Robot file

    Robot files contain Settings, Variables, Keywords and TestCases. Some keywords are already predefined by the plugin. Rest we need to define them. You can see them in the Sample File. We are going to do following Testcases -

    • Open Application
    • Check Element Exists
    • Check Element with Text Exists
    • Click the Element
    • Scroll in the list
    • Put application to Background
    • Close the application
    • Close any other application.

    (Last two Test cases are important to ensure Appium closes the session properly) You can find the sample file here

Reference –

  1. Robot Appium Plugin
  2. XCode Build SO Link