Choosing application loading scheme

There are two ways to make your application ready for automation: using RIATest Runtime Loader or by embedding RIATest Agent at compile time. Using RIATest loader is the simple approach and does not require you to compile your application with automation libraries.

RIATest Loader is composed of an HTML page contained a loader Flex application. The loader application is capable of loading another Flex application and perform automation actions the loaded application. The loader application itself is compiled with RIATest Agent and Flex automation libraries.

You can use RIATest Runtime Loader when your application can be loaded as plain SWF file.

Not all applications can be automated using runtime Loader. For more sophisticated cases (for example when your application requires custom HTML wrapper and cannot be loaded as plain SWF file) you will need to statically compile RIATest Agent and automation libraries with your application. See Compiling your application with RIATest Agent.

Using RIATest Runtime Loader

Depending on the location of your application SWF file you will be using RIATest Loader either locally or remotely.

Using RIATest Loader Locally

If you will be running your application from a local disk drive no special actions are needed. When creating RIATest project you will specify appropriate project option 'Use local Loader'. When starting a test session RIATest will launch the browser, RIATest Loader will be loaded in the browser. RIATest will pass your application SWF file location to the loader. Loader will load and run your application SWF. Your application is now ready record and play actions.

Using RIATest Loader Remotely

If you will be runing your application from a web server you need to upload RIATest Loader to the server so that RIATest Loader and your application URLs will be served from same domain name (otherwise security policy will not allow the Loader to access your application). Copy the contents of C:\Program Files\RIATest\loader to a location on your web server (usually in the same directory where your main application SWF file resides). Now open your browser and access the following location:

http://your-server-name/your-directory/RIATestLoader.html?rtLoadURL=url-of-your-applicaiton.swf

Make sure to substitue server name, directory and application name with actual parameters. If everything was done correctly the RIATest Loader will appear first then your application should load and run within the loader. Close the browser and proceed to creating RIATest Project.