Google Chrome browser support

With IBM® Rational® Functional Tester, you can test HTML applications that are loaded in the Google Chrome browser in Microsoft Windows environments.

You can test HTML applications that contain the following controls:
  • HTML controls
  • Dojo controls in applications built using Dojo Toolkit versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3.2, 1.4.2, 1.5, 1.6.1, 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9
You can also perform the following actions:
  • Test HTML applications that are loaded in multiple browser windows or embedded frames and inline frames, with varying zoom levels
  • Record a functional test script in a Microsoft® Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox browser and play it back in a Google Chrome browser, provided that the Document Object Model (DOM) is compatible with the Google Chrome browser.
  • Record a functional test script in a Google Chrome browser and play it back in a Microsoft® Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox browser, provided that the Document Object Model (DOM) is compatible with the other browsers.
  • Use the manual scripting find() method while testing applications in a Google Chrome browser. To use the manual scripting find() method, a browser instance is required. The browser instance is returned only after the document is completely loaded and not when the browser starts.

Support for functional testing in the Google Chrome browser is version independent, so you can test HTML applications in any version of a Google Chrome browser. Support has been validated up to Google Chrome 23.0.

The Rational® Functional Tester Google Chrome™ extension

To perform functional testing in the Google Chrome browser, an extension is required to be added to the browser that enables communication between Rational® Functional Tester and the Google Chrome browser through a web server. This extension, known as IBM® Rational® Functional Tester for Google Chrome™, is available with your Rational® Functional Tester installation. Alternatively, it is also available on the Google Chrome web store. To test applications loaded in Google Chrome, you must enable the browser.

Prerequisites for functional testing in the Google Chrome browser

Before you use Rational® Functional Tester to test applications on the Google Chrome browser, complete these procedures:
  1. In the Google Chrome browser settings, ensure that extensions are allowed, and that both Java and JavaScript are also allowed. Do not change the default browser settings.
  2. Enable the browser manually for functional testing. To do this, complete one of the following steps:
    • Enable the browser manually from the Enable Environments dialog box in Rational® Functional Tester. The browser opens and you are prompted to add the IBM® Rational® Functional Tester for Google Chrome extension to the browser. For instructions to enable the Google Chrome browser manually, see the related task named Enabling the Google Chrome browser.
    • Add the IBM® Rational® Functional Tester for Google Chrome extension to the browser from the web store. Verify that the browser is enabled by using the Enable Environments dialog box in Rational® Functional Tester. For instructions to add the extension from the web store, see the related task named Adding the extension IBM® Rational® Functional Tester for Google Chrome. Ensure that you have an Internet connection to access the extension from the Google Chrome web store.
  3. The default web server port for communication between Google Chrome and Rational® Functional Tester is set on the Webserver Configuration page in the Preferences dialog box, as well as in the options for the IBM® Rational® Functional Tester for Google Chrome extension. If this default port number is in use, you must specify an available port. Ensure that you specify the same port in both the Preferences dialog box as well as in the options for the extension.
  4. Ensure that you start Rational® Functional Tester before you start the application-under-test (AUT) in the Google Chrome browser. After you start Rational® Functional Tester, open the AUT by completing one of the following steps:
    • Configure the AUT in the Application Configuration Tool in Rational® Functional Tester and start the application from there. Alternatively, you can start the AUT at the time of recording by using the Start Application icon on the recording toolbar.
    • To start the Google Chrome browser independent of Rational® Functional Tester, append -allow-outdated-plugins -allow-file-access-from-files -always-authorize-plugins to the Google Chrome shortcut, and then start the browser.

Points to remember while testing in the Google Chrome browser

  • Record an action on an application page only after the document has loaded completely.
  • Ensure that you start the browser only after you start either Rational® Functional Tester or the recording monitor.
  • To record and play back on local files that can be opened in a Google Chrome browser, ensure that you select the Allow access to file URLs check box in the extensionIBM® Rational® Functional Tester for Google Chrome™.

Troubleshooting functional tests in the Google Chrome browser

For useful information that will help you troubleshoot problems you face while testing in the Google Chrome browser, see Troubleshooting functional tests in the Google Chrome browser.or

Current limitations in Google Chrome testing:
  • Recording on the Back and Forward buttons in the browser are not supported. Use browser-level back() and forward() APIs to play back these actions.
  • When you record a script, actions on controls in dialog boxes are recorded as click(atPoint()) relative to the dialog box. You can also use keystrokes to record on dialog box controls.
  • Playback of actions on combo box drop-down controls is not supported. To play back these actions, modify the script manually and specify the option that must be selected during playback.
  • The browser-level deletecookies() API is not supported. Cookies must be deleted manually.
  • Recording on tabs is not supported.
  • Recording on applications built using Dojo toolkit might be slow compared to other browsers such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
  • Recording and playback is not supported in the Google Chrome browser in cases where the browser is started with a blank home page, that is, without a home URL.