Prerequisites for Testing Mobile Applications on iOS

Before you can test a mobile application (app) on an iOS device or on an iOS Simulator, ensure that the following prerequisites are met:
  • Ensure that Java is installed on the machine on which Silk4NET is running, and that the path to Java is added to the Path environment variable. Silk4NET requires either a JRE or a JDK for mobile testing. If Java is not installed, add C:\Program Files (x86)\Silk\SilkTest\ng\jre\bin to the Path and restart the machine.
  • The iOS device is connected to a Mac or the desired iOS Simulator image is installed on a Mac.
  • The information service is installed on the Mac. For additional information, see Installing the Silk Test Infoservice on a Mac.
  • A supported version of Xcode is installed on the Mac. For information about the supported versions of Xcode, refer to the Release Notes.
  • Silk4NET is installed on a Windows machine.
  • The Mac is located in the same network as the Windows machine and is added as a remote location to the Windows machine.
  • To test a native mobile app on an iOS device, ensure that the .ipa file of your app has been signed with a developer account. For additional information, see Preparing an iOS App for Testing.
  • To test a native mobile app on an iOS Simulator, ensure that the app has been zipped. For additional information, see Testing Native Mobile Applications on an iOS Simulator.
  • To test a native mobile app on both an iOS device and an iOS Simulator, ensure that both the signed .ipa file and the zipped .app directory are located in the same folder.
  • If you want to test a native mobile app, ensure that the ID of the iOS device is associated with the developer profile which was used to sign the app.
  • If you want to test a mobile web application, use Xcode to build the SafariLauncher.app. The files that are required to build the app are located under /Applications/Silk/Mobile/osx/Appium/node_modules/appium/node_modules/appium-ios-driver/node_modules/safari-launcher. The output must be generated to the folder /Applications/Silk/Mobile/osx/Appium/node_modules/appium/node_modules/appium-ios-driver/build/SafariLauncher.
  • The iOS device must not fall into sleep mode during testing. To turn the screen lock and password off, select Settings > General > Passcode Lock.
  • The Mac should not switch off the screen during testing, otherwise the Playback Status dialog box will not display anything.
  • If you want to test a mobile application on an iOS Simulator, the Mac, on which the iOS Simulator is installed, must not have the display sleep activated during testing.
  • To test a native mobile app on a physical iOS device, enable the UI automation on the device. For additional information, see Preparing an iOS Device for Testing.
  • To test a mobile web application with Apple Safari on a physical iOS device, activate the Web Inspector. For additional information, see Preparing an iOS Device for Testing.
  • Micro Focus recommends using iOS devices which have a Lightning connector. Silk4NET does not support showing a live view of the device screen for iOS devices that are not connected to a Mac through a Lightning cable.