Unable to identify the UI when we run the script through command prompt

[NivethanSK]

1. Launch the application
   System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("Application.Exe Path");

2. Create a root desktop session as mentioned in the documentation
   DesiredCapabilities appCapabilities = new DesiredCapabilities();
   appCapabilities.SetCapability("app", "Root");
   DesktopSession = new WindowsDriver(new Uri("http://127.0.0.1:4723"), appCapabilities);

var CortanaWindow = DesktopSession.FindElementByName("Cortana");
var CortanaTopLevelWindowHandle = CortanaWindow.GetAttribute("NativeWindowHandle");
CortanaTopLevelWindowHandle = (int.Parse(CortanaTopLevelWindowHandle)).ToString("x"); // Convert to Hex

// Create session by attaching to Cortana top level window
DesiredCapabilities appCapabilities = new DesiredCapabilities();
appCapabilities.SetCapability("appTopLevelWindow", CortanaTopLevelWindowHandle);
CortanaSession = new WindowsDriver(new Uri(WindowsApplicationDriverUrl), appCapabilities);

3. When I run this particular script through visual studio's developer terminal/powershell, it works fine, even when I trigger the scripts through test explorer it works fine.

4. But when I try to run the script through an individual command prompt instance outside the visual studio, it fails to identify the application session

5. The API calls that happen when I run through a command prompt instance

POST /session HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json, image/png
Connection: Keep-Alive
Content-Length: 63
Content-Type: application/json;charset=utf-8
Host: 127.0.0.1:4723

{"desiredCapabilities":{"app":"Root","platformName":"Windows"}}
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Length: 111
Content-Type: application/json

{"sessionId":"sessionID","status":0,"value":{"app":"Root","platformName":"Windows"}}

==========================================
POST /session/sessionID/element HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json, image/png
Connection: Keep-Alive
Content-Length: 41
Content-Type: application/json;charset=utf-8
Host: 127.0.0.1:4723

{"using":"name","value":"appname"}
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Length: 99
Content-Type: application/json

{"sessionId":"sessionID","status":0,"value":{"ELEMENT":"42.12345.6.78"}}

==========================================
GET /session/sessionId/element/42.12345.6.78/attribute/NativeWindowHandle HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json, image/png
Connection: Keep-Alive
Host: 127.0.0.1:4723

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Length: 75
Content-Type: application/json

{"sessionId":"sessionId","status":0,"value":"0"}

==========================================
POST /session HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json, image/png
Connection: Keep-Alive
Content-Length: 74
Content-Type: application/json;charset=utf-8
Host: 127.0.0.1:4723

{"desiredCapabilities":{"appTopLevelWindow":"0","platformName":"Windows"}}
HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request
Content-Length: 131
Content-Type: application/json

{"status":23,"value":{"error":"no such window","message":"Cannot find active window specified by capabilities: appTopLevelWindow"}}

6. When I run the same script, through test explorer or developer command prompt or powershell present inside the visual studio, it works fine

POST /session HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json, image/png
Connection: Keep-Alive
Content-Length: 63
Content-Type: application/json;charset=utf-8
Host: 127.0.0.1:4723

{"desiredCapabilities":{"app":"Root","platformName":"Windows"}}
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Length: 111
Content-Type: application/json

{"sessionId":"sessionId","status":0,"value":{"app":"Root","platformName":"Windows"}}

==========================================

POST /session/sessionId/element HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json, image/png
Connection: Keep-Alive
Content-Length: 41
Content-Type: application/json;charset=utf-8
Host: 127.0.0.1:4723

{"using":"name","value":"App name"}
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Length: 96
Content-Type: application/json

{"sessionId":"sessionId","status":0,"value":{"ELEMENT":"42.1234567"}}

==========================================
GET /session/sessionId/element/42.1234567/attribute/NativeWindowHandle HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json, image/png
Connection: Keep-Alive
Host: 127.0.0.1:4723

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Length: 81
Content-Type: application/json

{"sessionId":"sessionId","status":0,"value":"1234567"}

==========================================
POST /session HTTP/1.1
Accept: application/json, image/png
Connection: Keep-Alive
Content-Length: 79
Content-Type: application/json;charset=utf-8
Host: 127.0.0.1:4723

{"desiredCapabilities":{"appTopLevelWindow":"12345A","platformName":"Windows"}}
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Length: 127
Content-Type: application/json

{"sessionId":"sessionId","status":0,"value":{"appTopLevelWindow":"12345A","platformName":"Windows"}}

7. The issue is when I make the call to this API "POST /session/sessionID/element HTTP/1.1", by using the desktop session, its not bringing out proper ID's

call: desktopsession.FindElementByName("AppName") -> this gives some random results while we trigger the scripts through command prompt

8. I tried the following call as well, to identify all the window handles instead of the app name, but this as well not bringing out all the winow handles, again this works perfectly fine inside the visual studio's environment

call: var appwindows = desktopsession.FindElementsByClassName("Window);
var test =appwindows .Where(w => w.Text.Equals("App name")).FirstOrDefault();

I am not understanding why this is not happening through commands given outside the VS's environment

I tried even waiting for sometime to identify the elements buts its not happening.

If someone has any clue regarding this, please help

Note: I tried setting the environment variables as well, it did not help

[anunay1]

The error says that it is unable to find the opened window, please try to add some delay before you create a session on the opened window.

[kenzoviski]

I'm curious, are you using APPIUM?
Cause it seems you're only using Selenium and WinAppDriver to perform automation testing in desktop apps (Windows).

Am I right?

[NivethanSK]

The error says that it is unable to find the opened window, please try to add some delay before you create a session on the opened window.
Yes, I tried adding delays, its not working. My case however works through the studio's terminal, I have checked the API call's that happens, whenever we run it through the command prompt, the response doesn't capture my application's window

This happens only if I launch and attach my application, otherwise it works perfectly fine when I launch the application through the driver itself

[NivethanSK]

I'm curious, are you using APPIUM? Cause it seems you're only using Selenium and WinAppDriver to perform automation testing in desktop apps (Windows).

Am I right?

No no, I am using appium's package only - "Microsoft.WinAppDriver.Appium.WebDriver"

[anunay1]

It's weird. Can you schedule a zoom call?