Appcenter: Cannot take a screenshot using Xamarin.UITest 3.0

[DimaOrdenov]

What App Center service does this affect?
Xamarin.UITest 3.0

Describe the bug
I'm trying to call app.Screenshot("name") method in test, but gets an error during test run:
_Exception: System.Exception: Failed to create C:\Windows\system32\screenshot-1.png. You may need to set the working directory, which can be done using System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory()._

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Enable taking screenshots via ConfigureApp.EnableLocalScreenshots(). Write test and call method app.Screenshot("name").
2. Run or Debug test
3. Wait for running
4. See error

Expected behavior
Test passed. Screenshot made.

Screenshots
https://monosnap.com/file/lkHIqS8cJfaoRGjhykmfG2NGldoGuN

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: Windows 7
• Browser Chrome

Smartphone (please complete the following information):

• Device: OnePlus 5T
• OS: Android 9

Additional context
I've also tried to call System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory(@"my\best\path");. But I've also got that error with new path:
_Exception: System.Exception: Failed to create my\best\path\screenshot-1.png. You may need to set the working directory, which can be done using System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory()._

[Oddj0b]

@DimaOrdenov The team is looking into potential fixes for your bug. Thank you for reporting it.

[DimaOrdenov]

@Oddj0b Hello, any updates on this?

[stoneman]

There is now a pre-release version of UITest which changes the behaviour of screenshot creation: https://www.nuget.org/packages/Xamarin.UITest/3.0.1-dev1

Screenshots are saved to the current directory by default but falls back to the directory that Xamarin.UITest.dll is in, which is typically your bin/Debug or bin/Release directory.

Please try it and let us know if it fixes the problem for you.

[DimaOrdenov]

There is now a pre-release version of UITest which changes the behaviour of screenshot creation: https://www.nuget.org/packages/Xamarin.UITest/3.0.1-dev1

Screenshots are saved to the current directory by default but falls back to the directory that Xamarin.UITest.dll is in, which is typically your bin/Debug or bin/Release directory.

Please try it and let us know if it fixes the problem for you.

So, I've tried two times with different configurations:

• w/o setting _System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory()_ I've got same error
  https://monosnap.com/file/TUiWq6oatYjw2h2MzQRU9X7UdYt4Z4
  It's trying to save in bin/Debug as you've said, but unsuccessfully
• w/ setting _System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory()_ to some common folder
  System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory(@"C:\Users\dmitry.ordenov");
  the result is
  https://monosnap.com/file/DDG2SpD9wb4GdvU0jRRxKWpjbeBIxC
  So, like previous try and no changes at path

[stoneman]

Could you add code immediately before you call Screenshot() which creates files in bin/Debug and C:\Users\dimitry.ordenov please?

If your test is unable to create these files then you'll need to use another directory which your tests can write to or to run them in a way that they do have permissions.

[DimaOrdenov]

@jonstoneman
Here is how I initialize app:

public class AppInitializer
    {
        public static IApp StartApp(Platform platform)
        {
            if (platform == Platform.Android)
            {
                System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory(@"C:\Users\dmitry.ordenov");

                return ConfigureApp
                    .Android
                    .InstalledApp("<MY_PACKAGE_NAME>")
                    .Debug()
                    .EnableLocalScreenshots()
                    .StartApp();
            }

            return ConfigureApp.iOS.StartApp();
        }
    }

Here is my set-up and test-method:

[SetUp]
        public void BeforeEachTest()
        {
            _app = AppInitializer.StartApp(_platform);
        }

[Test]
        public void TestTakeScreenshot()
        {
            _app.Screenshot("Test_Screenshot");
        }

[stoneman]

We just need to confirm that the test really does have permission to create files in either bin/Debug and in C:\Users\dimitry.ordenov. Could you add some code to TestTakeScreenshot() (before the call to _app.Screenshot()) which creates new files in those locations please? Just a file named dummy.txt containing "Success" would do.

[DimaOrdenov]

@jonstoneman Got you
This one creates test_file.txt in C:\Users\dimitry.ordenov if I am setting System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory(@"C:\Users\dmitry.ordenov") :

private string _filePathToWrite => @"C:\Users\dmitry.ordenov\TestTextFile.txt";

[Test]
        public void TestTakeScreenshot()
        {
            File.WriteAllBytes(
                Path.Combine(System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), "test_file.txt"),
                File.ReadAllBytes(_filePathToWrite));

            _app.Screenshot("Test_Screenshot");
        }

And another one (w/o setting current directory) creates test_file.txt in Debug folder:

private string _projectPath = @"C:\Users\dmitry.ordenov\<MY_PATH_TO_UI_TEST_PROJECT>";
        private string _filePathToWrite => @"C:\Users\dmitry.ordenov\TestTextFile.txt";

        [Test]
        public void TestTakeScreenshot()
        {
            File.WriteAllBytes(
                Path.Combine(_projectPath, @"bin\Debug\test_file.txt"),
                File.ReadAllBytes(_filePathToWrite));

            _app.Screenshot("Test_Screenshot");
        }

[stoneman]

Those look good - what happens when you run them? Does it successfully create the files and then still throw and Exception at _app.Screenshot("Test_Screenshot")?

[DimaOrdenov]

@jonstoneman
Yep, *.txt files creates successfully, which cannot be said about screenshots.

[stoneman]

How very odd. Would you be able to share your app and test code with me so I can see if I experience the same problem? You can send files to us securely by crating a new conversation with support in https://appcenter.ms (button is bottom right of the screen).

[DimaOrdenov]

@jonstoneman
If we are talking about this button https://monosnap.com/file/jg8boLI1ARWnGkAG8CfYe5SbeOr2M6 , I've created new conversation there and linked this issue and your profile.

[Oddj0b]

Closing here, to keep all the communication through the support chat.

[codrinamerigo]

Did you managed to find a solution for this problem ? I am facing the same...

[DimaOrdenov]

@codrinamerigo
Nope. I was trying on Windows 7, possibly this is the problem.

[codrinamerigo]

@codrinamerigo
Nope. I was trying on Windows 7, possibly this is the problem.

I am trying on Windows 10 and for the Android ui tests, is not working...

[cocowalla]

Having the same issue on Xamarin.UITest 3.0.3, on Windows 7 if it makes any difference.

I found a little more detail in the test log:

java.io.IOException: EOF
    at com.android.ddmlib.AdbHelper.read(AdbHelper.java:874)
    at com.android.ddmlib.AdbHelper.getFrameBuffer(AdbHelper.java:333)
    at com.android.ddmlib.CalabashAdbHelper.getFrameBuffer(Unknown Source)
    at com.android.ddmlib.CalabashDevice.getScreenshot(Unknown Source)
    at sh.calaba.screenshot.ScreenshotTaker.takeScreenshot(Unknown Source)
    at sh.calaba.screenshot.ScreenshotTaker.main(Unknown Source)
...
   at Xamarin.UITest.Android.JavaScreenshotTaker.Screenshot(String title)
   at Xamarin.UITest.Android.AndroidApp.<>c__DisplayClass84_0.<Screenshot>b__0()
   at Xamarin.UITest.Utils.ErrorReporting.With[T](Func`1 func, Object[] args, String memberName)