Low Level Recording

Low-level recording in SimplifyQA is an advanced mobile testing feature that captures interactions at the element or coordinate level, rather than relying solely on high-level UI elements. This method is particularly useful when certain elements are not detectable through conventional object recognition methods.

When to use Low-Level Recording?

• When UI elements are not identifiable using XPath or accessibility IDs.

• For gesture-based interactions like drag, swipe, long press, and coordinate taps.

• In hybrid or native mobile apps with complex or dynamic UI components.

• For troubleshooting failed recordings caused by object hierarchy issues.

How it Works

• When recording a test using the SimplifyQA mobile recorder, if the recorder is unable to fetch an element, the user can switche to low-leve recording.

• The recorder will then capture the exact screen coordinates of the tap, swipe, or input action.

• These actions are stored and replayed based on screen coordinates rather than element properties.

How to enable Low-Level Recording

• Start Mobile Recording:

  • Launch SimplifyQA and initiate the mobile recording session either on an android or iOS device.

• Activate Low-Level Recording:

  • On the right side of the recording interface, click the Low-Level Recording icon.

• Perform Required Actions on the Device:

  • Every tap, gesture, or interaction will now be recorded as coordinate-based actions.

  • The tool logs each gesture as a separate step in the background.

• Adding Validations During Recording:

  • While recording, press Shift key twice quickly.

  • A pop-up window will appear listing available validation actions such as:

    • LowLevel click

    • Scroll till text if text not present

    • Scroll till text if text present

    • Type text

    • Wait until text is not present

    • Wait until text is present

  • Choose the relevant validation from the list.

  • The selected validation will be recorded as a separate step in the test case.

• Review and Save Recorded Steps:

  • Once actions are captured, SimplifyQA will log them as steps

  • You can optionally switch back to standard recording to continue element-based recording.

  • Click Stop Recording once you're done.

  • The recorded steps will appear in the test case editor, which you can review, re-order, or edit.

Important Notes:

• Low-level steps are more fragile to UI layout changes, so use them only when element identification fails.

• You can mix standard and low-level steps in a single test case.

• Coordinate-based validations or inputs should be tested across screen resolutions if using cloud/mobile farms.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I add multiple validations during one recording session?

Yes, you can press Double Shift multiple times during a session to add as many validations as needed.

When should I use Low Level Recording?

Use it when standard recording doesn't detect certain UI interactions, especially in native mobile apps, games, or dynamic UI environments.

Can I pause or resume Low Level Recording?

Yes. Use the left-side panel options to pause or resume the recording session without losing the current context.

Do I need a connected real device to perform Low Level Recording?

You can perform Low Level Recording on both real devices and emulators, provided they are properly connected and recognized by SimplifyQA.