Choosing an application loading scheme

There are two ways to make your application ready for automation:

• using RIATest Runtime Loader
• embedding RIATest Agent at compile time

Using RIATest loader is the simpler approach and does not require you to compile your application with automation libraries. Note that AIR applications cannot be automated using Runtime Loader.

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

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

Not all applications can be automated using Runtime Loader. For more sophisticated cases (for example when your application requires a customised HTML wrapper and cannot be loaded as a 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's SWF file you will be using RIATest Loader either locally or remotely.

Using RIATest Loader Locally

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

Using RIATest Loader Remotely

If you intend running 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 you correctly substitute the server name, directory and application name with actual parameters. If everything has been 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 a RIATest Project.