Extracting the Activity Name for Your Android App: A Guide for Appium Users
The Challenge:
Finding the correct activity name for your Android app is crucial when using Appium for mobile automation testing. This unique identifier is necessary for Appium to locate and interact with specific elements within your application. However, figuring out the exact activity name can feel like a daunting task for many testers.
Scenario and Original Code:
Let's assume you're working on an app called "MyAmazingApp," and you need to access its login screen. You've set up your Appium test script, but you're stuck on identifying the right activity name for the login screen.
Here's a snippet of your basic Appium script:
import io.appium.java_client.android.AndroidDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.remote.DesiredCapabilities;
public class AppiumTest {
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
// Set DesiredCapabilities
DesiredCapabilities capabilities = new DesiredCapabilities();
capabilities.setCapability("platformName", "Android");
capabilities.setCapability("deviceName", "MyDevice");
capabilities.setCapability("appPackage", "com.example.myamazingapp"); // Your app package name
// Initialize driver
AndroidDriver driver = new AndroidDriver(new URL("http://localhost:4723/wd/hub"), capabilities);
// This is where you need the activity name
driver.startActivity("com.example.myamazingapp", "**MISSING ACTIVITY NAME**");
// ... Your test logic ...
}
}
Finding the Activity Name:
There are a few reliable methods to uncover the elusive activity name:
1. AndroidManifest.xml:
- Location: The activity name is defined within the
AndroidManifest.xmlfile of your app. - Search: Look for
<activity>tags within the file. Theandroid:nameattribute will reveal the activity name. - Example:
<activity android:name=".LoginActivity">
<!-- Other activity settings -->
</activity>
2. Appium Inspector:
- Visual Exploration: Appium Inspector provides a user-friendly interface to explore the app's UI hierarchy.
- Identify and Extract: By clicking on the login screen element you want to interact with, the inspector will reveal the activity name within the
resourceIdproperty. - Bonus: Appium Inspector also helps identify other UI elements and their attributes, which can significantly streamline your test creation process.
3. ADB (Android Debug Bridge):
- Command Line Tool: ADB is a powerful command-line tool for interacting with Android devices.
- Command: Use the
adb shell dumpsys activitycommand to get a list of currently running activities. The output will contain the activity name for the login screen. - Example:
adb shell dumpsys activity activities | grep "mResumedActivity"
4. Using startActivity for Appium:
- Convenient Approach: Once you have the activity name, you can utilize the
startActivitymethod in your Appium script to launch the desired screen directly. - Example:
driver.startActivity("com.example.myamazingapp", ".LoginActivity");
Additional Insights:
- Appium Desired Capabilities: For more advanced control, consider using additional desired capabilities in your script, such as
appActivityandappWaitActivityto influence Appium's behavior. - Best Practices: Always verify the activity name you've identified. Test your script thoroughly to ensure the correct screen is being targeted.
Conclusion:
Finding the right activity name for your Android app can be a vital step in your Appium automation journey. Using a combination of the methods mentioned above, you can confidently identify the correct activity name, allowing you to write robust and efficient tests for your mobile applications. Remember to double-check your findings and explore the vast potential of Appium Inspector for a smoother automation workflow.
References:
