Expecco Remote Control APP/en
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Introduction[Bearbeiten]
The expecco Remote Control app allows for a running testsuite to be monitored and controlled by a mobile device (phone or tablet). It can connect to a running expecco and then shows a list of testplans as well as their state (passed/failed). Furthermore, it supports remote control (stop/pause/run) of the test as well as responding to prompts.
Your testsuite does not need to be modified in any way. The remote control operates transparently. Warning- and info dialogs, Yes/No confirmations and Text input as requested by expecco are shown in the app and can be answered either on your PC's screen (as usual) or on the mobile device.
This is especially useful on the factory floor, with large test machinery or with machines where additional manual interaction is required: you can move away from your expecco-PC and still interact with the testrun as required (especially answer input requests, enter comments or photos).
Installation[Bearbeiten]
No official release version of the app is available yet, but versions for Android and iOS are in development. They will be applicable for expecco 23.1. Please contact us, if you already are interested in the app.
Bislang steht keine offizielle Version der App zur Verfügung, es befinden sich aber Versionen für Android und iOS in Entwicklung. Diese werden ab expecco 23.1 einsetzbar sein. Melden Sie sich gerne, wenn Sie bereits jetzt Interesse an der App haben.
Connecting to expecco[Bearbeiten]
Any expecco which is to be remote controllable has to have a running service client. Activate the service via the expecco menu under:
"Extras" → "Web-Services" → "expecco Remote Service (REST)" → "Start...".
If the "Start..." item is disabled, the service is already running. Otherwise, a dialog appears, asking for a port number and an optional password for the connection.
Please make sure, that you mobile device can reach the PC on which expecco is running (both should be inside the same network and/or any router or firewall should open the given port number).
After start of the App (on the mobile), you are asked for the port number and possibly for the password.
Any arbitrary port can be used, in case the default port conflicts with other services of your infrastructure. In addition, a password may be entered on the expecco side, which needs to be confirmed on the mobile device (to control/restrict access).
Connecting with SSDP[Bearbeiten]
Since expecco 23.1 there is the possibility for the expecco Remote Service to make its address public by SSDP. You have to activate this before starting the service in the the settings:
"Extras" → "Settings" → "Communication" → "SSDP".
The app can find the service by this and you don't to have to type the address manually.
App Functionality[Bearbeiten]
Overview[Bearbeiten]
After connecting, you will see an overview of all testsuites that are loaded in expecco, as well as blocks that have been or are being executed without a testsuite. For each entry you can see the current status. If a test is waiting for user input, you can recognize this by a corresponding icon.
You can select an entry from this list to get more detailed information about the test steps or to interact with the test.
Testsuite View[Bearbeiten]
If you have selected a testplan (or single block), you see a list of its test steps and their states.
Dialogs for User Input[Bearbeiten]
If the test currently shows a dialog or the Manual Test Wizard, the app will display this window. You can interact with it by making inputs and press buttons, which will be forwarded to expecco and submitted there.
Start/Stop/Pause[Bearbeiten]
To suspend a running test, click on "Pause"; to resume, click on "Run". The "Stop"-button aborts the test.
Attachments and Comments[Bearbeiten]
You can take pictures or enter comments at any time during the test execution. Those will be recorded as file attachments (text- or image attachment) to the test result.
Security Warning[Bearbeiten]
Please note that the Mobile Remote App is only to be used in isolated secure networks and should never be used in a network which can be reached from the outside world. The current version does not provide any security measures (neither authentication, nor the transmission is secured in any way). The password is transmitted as plain text, unless an HTTPS connection is used (this is only to prevent your colleagues from making fun of you - do not use passwords for this, which are also in use in other situations). The same applies for the passwords requested by the tests.
Under no circumstances should you enable the remote-client on an expecco-PC, which can be reached from untrusted machines (something you should not do anyway).
Be reminded the the intention for this app is to allow for the tester to be able to walk away from the machine which executes expecco and operate/manipulate/configure the system under test while still interacting with expecco's confirmation dialogs. Especially on a machine floor with long distances.
It is NOT meant to start/stop or otherwise configure tests. For this, use the ALM interface (Aidymo) which cares for both synchronization (i.e. prevents multiple users from entering conflicting data) and provides security via its web interface (usually with SSL connection and firewall protection).
