Problem scenario
You want to try Sikulix to test it. What do you do to implement a prototype of GUI automation of a basic procedure?
Solution
Prerequisite #1
This assumes that Sikulix has been installed. If you do not know how, see this posting.
Prerequisite #2 (specific to this example only)
For this example we will set up an automation to open a web browser, go to the http://rpaforum.net website and log in. For this example, you will need credentials to log into the http://rpaforum.net.
For this example cookies cannot be blocked from http://rpaforum.net. If you are using the typical, recommended settings of I.E., do the following:
1. Open I.E. If you are prompted, you may want to accept the recommended settings.
2. Go to the gear icon in the upper righthand corner. Go to "Internet Options."
3. Go to Security tab and then click on "Trusted Sites."
4. Click on the "Sites" button.
5. Enter this text with no quotes "rpaforum.net" and click "Add".
6. Enter this text with no quotes "https://ajax.googleapis.com" and click "Add".
7. Enter this text with no quotes "https://www.google-analytics.com" and click "Add".
(There are different ways of eliminating pop-ups for web UI automation purposes. Adding the above three URLs as Trusted Sites allows you use maintain I.E.'s recommended security settings.)
Warning
This does not encrypt a saved password. This is acceptable as a proof-of-concept. It is not advisable if the password used in this example is sensitive.
Procedures
1. Log into the Windows server with Sikulix. Right click the desktop. Go to New -> Shortcut.
2. Insert this text (with no quotes): "http://rpaforum.net"
3. Click Next.
4. Use the name "RPAForum" (with no quotes) and click "Finish".
5. Open Sikulix. Normally you would double click the file named "Sikulix" that is an "Executable JAR File." If you need assistance, read the following:
If Java was already installed or you rebooted since installing it, there will be a file called "sikulix" that is of the file type "Executable Jar File" in C:\Sikulix. Right click the file named Sikulix in the C:\Sikulix\ folder. Go to Create Shortcut -> on Desktop. This will start the Sikulix program.
If you installed Java without rebooting it since, click the "runsikulix" Windows Command Script in the C:\Sikulix\ folder. This will start the Sikulix program.
6. In the Sikulix GUI (aka the IDE), there should be a new, untitled file with white space in the middle.
7. In the "Mouse Actions" section on the lefthand side, find the "doubleclick" word with a small camera picture. Click on the camera icon. You will now be able to create a rectangle anywhere on the desktop (outside of Sikulix). Create a square around the shortcut created in step #4.
8. Separate from Sikulix, double click the shortcut created in step #4.
9. Return to Sikulix. For second line of this automated sequence, type "wait(8)" with no quotes.
10. Under "Mouse Actions" find the word "click" with a small camera icon. Click this line (either the camera icon or the word "click"). Create a rectangle around the "Log in" button in the upper righthand corner.
11. Separate from Sikulix, click the "Log in" button.
12. Return to Sikulix from the "Keyboard Actions" section on the lefthand side, find the "type" word with a small icon of a camera followed by a comma and the word "text." Click on the camera icon or anywhere associated with this "type...text" line. You will now be able to create a rectangle anywhere on the desktop. Put the mouse above the last two letters of "email address" and move the mouse to create a rectangle that includes one "s" and some of the field for the "email address:" Release the mouse such that the rectangle captured has the middle point being in a clickable portion of the field for email address. For the "text" in Sikulix, enter the email address that will log a user into rpaforum.net surrounded by quotes (e.g., "rpa@continualintegration.com").
13. All the rest of these steps are done in Sikulix. From the "Keyboard Actions" section on the lefthand side, find the "type" word with a small icon of a camera followed by a comma and the word "text." Click on the camera icon or anywhere associated with this "type...text" line. You will now be able to create a rectangle anywhere on the desktop. Put the mouse above the last two letters of "password:" and move the mouse to create a rectangle that includes the letter "d" and some of the field for the "password:" Release the mouse such that the rectangle captured has the middle point being in a clickable portion of the field for password. For the "text" in Sikulix, enter the password that will log a user into rpaforum.net (e.g., "goodPassword").
14. Under "Mouse Actions" find the word "click" with a small camera icon. Click this line (either the camera icon or the word "click"). Create a rectangle around the "Log in" button under the "Password" icon.