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RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 4:08 pm
by Andymann
Hi everybody,

we are using Ranorex in conjunction with Aqua ALM and I have an issue that the screenshots of my repo-items are regularly gone.

First step: I have a Repo-file on a webserver (*.rxrep, *.cs and *.rximg). Those are valid. I can doubleclick on the *.rxrep-file and the Repo-Viewer opens up. Screenshots are shown.

Whenever I open a new testcase in Aqua the first automated step I create is called _Setup (to be precise: the Namespace in Aqua is calles "_Setup"). I open the Editor from Aqua and it creates and opens a new Ranorex solution with a Folder called "_Setup" and an empty recording module. I add an existing Item into this Folder via the context menu. This is the repository from the fileserver, saying 'copy' when being asked if I want to link, etc.

It works and I have Access to the repository AND to the screenshots.

After some back and forth I cannot see the screenshots of the items any more. (Fortunately, the repo is working well). I also have a rather large *.rximg-file in the Folder of the *.rxep file. When I Close everything and open the repo-file by doubleclicking I have the full repo but the screenshots aren't shown either.

Is there a way that I can test/ relink the repo with the rximg-file?

[Edit]After some more tinkering I can say that it all basically works. At leat I wasn't able to recreate that issue instantly. However, the Problem still exists.[/Edit]

[Edit 2] After some more tinkering ( =) ) I came to the conclusion that it might be some General instability.... had the 3 files for the repo (*.rxep, *.rximg, *.cs) in a ffolder on our fileserver and without using Aqua or Ranorex I wasn't able to view the screenshots after this Weekend when I opened the *.rxrep-file via doubleclick. This surely isn't a Ranorex-issue ( ~might be~ some Virus scan, etc. ) but did anybody encounter These issues? Are the repo-ffiles generally prone to causing These issues? Also the question still remains: is there a way how I can find out what's causing the issue?[/Edit 2]

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 7:30 am
by Support Team
Hi Andymann,

Thank you for reaching out to us in regards to your repository issue.

I'm not really sure what could be causing the issue; Have you been able to talk with your IT staff to see if any AV activity is happening on any Ranorex based files? Does this happen with repositories which are stored in a local directory on your local machine? Are you using any sort of source control?

I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing from you!

Regards,

Jon

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 12:41 pm
by Andymann
I investigated a Little more and I'm pretty sure it's not an AV issue or something caused by using Ranorex together with Aqua etc.:

Please have a look at the situation from my first post. In Addition to that Situation I added another Folder within the _Setup-Folder and placed a copy of the working Repository from the _Setup-Folder into it (*.rxrep, *.rximg, *.cs).The Intention is to have a working Repo and make it go through all the steps (uploading into the Aqua DB, downloading frim there, etc.) without actively working on it.


Now I have the siuation that "suddenly" (while -from my Observation- locally working with Ranorex only) I do not have any screenshot of any repoitem again. It seems to be the exact Problem I'm facing. The backed up copy in the subfolder of my _Setup-Folder, however, is working. Uploading, Downloading etc. didn't have any Impact on the repo-files. That leads me to the conclusion that it must be some Kind of Ranorex-related issue which makes my loose all screenshots repeatedly.

The *.rximg file has a 'valid' size (~3.4MB) so the screenshot-data should be 'there', at least in some parts.

(Of course, I backed up both Versions for later Review)

p.s.: It's Ranorex 8.1.1- we will be updating in the next weeks. If this is a known issue then everything is 'fine'. If not it keeps being interesting.
p.p.s.: there is no additional source control or any other things involved.

[Edit]
And another one: The broken *.rximg-file has a size of ~3.5MB but the *.rximg-file within the backup-Folder, which might have 3 or 4 screenshots less, is just ~1.7MB ... might be that's another hint.

[/Edit]

[Edit2]
Now I was able to identify the Moment the issue occured:

Was working on a module (local copy of all the ranorex files). Everything was fine.
saved the module via CTRL SHIFT S (Save all), closed the module.
and again: the size of the *.rximg-file is roughly 2 times the size of the working one (I did not add any repo items inbetween the moments.
opened another module - no screenshots.

[/Edit3]
the size of the *.rximg-file "explodes" as soon as I select the repository as the repository of the module (instead of going twith the ebedded one. As Long as the module is opened I have no Problem viewing all the screenshots. Opening another module is also fine. As soon as the last module is closed and another onee is opened I am not able to view the screenshots.
[Edit3]

[Edit 4]
the issue doesn't seem to occur when I open a new module, close it, re-open it, add an Action (e.g. capture screenshot), save it, close it, re-open it again and THEN change the repo
[/Edit 4]

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 2:19 pm
by Andymann
Obviously it's just the *.rximig-File which needs to be replaced to recreate functionality.

Unfortunately it happens with EVERY new module.

Ideas, anyone?

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 5:42 am
by Support Team
Hi Andymann,

Thank you for the detailed information. After testing on my end I was ultimately unable to reproduce the problem in a new solution. Here are the steps I took so please let me know if I missed anything:
  • Created steps for Recording1 which populated the default repository
  • Created Recording2 which uses an embedded repository
  • Populated Recording2's embedded repository with items
  • Switched Recording2's repository to the default one
I did notice the spike in file size, but this makes sense as at least in my case I was doubling the repository size. When I switched to the default repository in Recording2 from the embedded repo, the items from the embedded repo are added to the new repo being used. Are you able to reproduce this with a new blank solution?

If you are able to reproduce this is a new blank solution then I would definitely recommend opening a support query.

I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing from you!

Regards,

Jon

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:01 am
by Andymann
H i Jon,

thx for the reply.
I think you got me slightly wrong - maybe because I really posted lots of ...stuff:

A new Ranorex Project is automatically created via Aqua.
(Within this Project there is a Folder for every Namespace in Aqua. Within every Folder is a generically created empty module called "MainRecording.rxrec" and a "Main.cs" file. Aqua creates what they call a "Namespace" (a Folder in Ranorex) with one module for every automarted teststep .

I add an existing Repository by copying it into one of the Folders which hold a module (it's the Folder for the first step in the testcase: my "Setup"-folder).
I open an empty module within the project. (the module was also created by Aqua.)
It doesn't matter if I add new Actions or not (important: the module's empbedded repo is always empty). As soon as I change the module's repo from "embedded" to the copied one the *.rximg of the copied repo (my "Master"-Repo) expands to roughly 2* the size. As Long as the module is opened in the Editor everything Looks fine but as soon as I Close and re-open it I am not able to view the repository's screenshots. I don't even Need to save the module. The issue occurs in the second that I select the Repo.

(Neither am I able to view the screenshots with the standalone repo-viewer, then.)

I was not able to recreate the issue by doing a quick check with a new solution which was created with Ranorex.
I was able to recreate the issue with a new Project which was created by Aqua.

The Project created by Aqua only consists of the bare Minimum, I'd say:

generic references Folder (recreated every time you pull it from the Aqua DB)
generic reports Folder (recreated every time)
Runner.cs -file (recreated every time)
1 Folder for every Namespace within Aqua (that's 1 atomated test step)
within these Folders there is one generically created "MainRecording.rxrex" which holds the Automation steps for the step within the testcase.
One generically created Main.cs file within every folder.

I also tried Messing around a Little bit: renaming namespaces in Aqua, changing module's names, keeping it all original, etc. but the issue persists in every Situation.
The issue also occurs with different Repository-files

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:32 am
by Andymann
It seems that in a 'faulty' rximg-file the screenshots exist multiple times. That's kind of obvious but using a hex editor I semi-randomly extracted two images from an *.rximg file which became boosted in fileesize: one somewhere from the middle of the file (according to the hex editors vertical slidebar) and the very last image from the *.rximg-file. turns out they are identical (image, size, pixels etc.)

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 2:30 pm
by Andymann
After some messing around I found that the problem is Ranorex-only:

Steps to reproducing the issue:
Create a new solution, open the auto-created modue, change the repo to 'embedded', save the module.
add an external repo from disk to the solution, select 'copy'.

change the module's repo to the newly added one: the rximg-file gets boosted and the screenshots for the repoitems are not available any more.
verified with ranorex 8.1.1

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 4:30 am
by Support Team
Hi Andymann,

Thank you for the update.

I'm glad you were able to narrow down the exact steps for the issue. I've tried to reproduce the problem with the provided steps but have not been able to thus far. I am however using Ranorex 8.2.1; would it be possible for you to update to Ranorex version 8.2.1? I know you are likely busy and understand if you are not in a position to upgrade your production environment, but if you have access to a virtual machine just to test that would be very helpful.

Please let me know if you continue having issues after updating to the latest version of Ranorex!

Regards,

Jon

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 8:31 am
by Andymann
Hi Jon,

I was able to reproduce the issue with a fresh install of Ranorex 8.2.1 on a new machine as well
I have a rather detailed video that shows how to reproduce the issue - just in case. (it's a 7mb zip...can't attach it here)


Best regards,
Andy

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 7:25 pm
by Support Team
Hi Andymann,

That would be great! I have sent you a private message containing a link you may use to upload the file. Please let me know if you did not receive it!

Regards,

Jon

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 7:34 am
by Andymann
Hi Jon,

txh for the quick response. I just uploaded the video. Here's some explanation to it;
First half shows the Setup of a new Project. At 0:23 I change the default module's repo to 'embedded'. I then add a new Repo from c:\temp and copy it into the solution. At 0:56 I Highlight the *.rximg file of the added repo. Its size is 2259kb.

At 1:12 I change the module's repo. See how the size of the *.rximg-file changes in that second (without saving anything). I can view the screenshots as Long as the module is opened but if I would open the repo via the repo Viewer there would be no screenshots from that Moment on.

The Problem is that, when using Ranorex in conjunction with Aqua (as described above), every module is autocreated with an embedded repo as ist initial setting and our repo file becomes invalid with every new module that we work with.

Re: RXRep-file and RXimg-file messed up

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:45 am
by Support Team
Hello,

The behavior was handed over to us and it seems to be a bug within Ranorex. It was already forwarded to our development department.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
Robert