Record and Playback a Sample SWT Test

WindowTester SWT records and playback UI tests for SWT applications. The following describes how to generate and play back a UI test for SWT applications.

Prerequisite: This tutorial requires either RCP Developer v2.7.0 and above or WindowTester 2.2.0 and above. 

  1. Create  the Sample SWT project in your workspace.
  2. Setup a recording configuration and record user interactions.
  3. Stop recording and save recorded test.
  4. Playback the recorded test.
  5. Slower playback (optional).

1. Import the Address Book SWT example project

  • Select File > Import from the main menu.

File Impoort

  • From the list of wizards, select WindowTester > AddressBookSWT Example Project. Please note, this wizard is only available in WindowTester v2.2.0 and above.
  • Click Next.

  • Click Finish. The AddressBookSWT example project is now created in your workspace.

2. Set up a recording configuration and record user interactions

Look for a tool item ( ) that looks like the run arrow with a little console under it (should be next to external tools).

  • From its pull-down menu select "Record..." (in Eclipse 3.2) or "Open Record Dialog..." (in 3.3) or "Record Configurations..." (in 3.4).

Eclipse 3.3 Record pull down menu

SWT Record Configuration

  • Select SWT Application on the left navigation.
  • Click the New (New Config icon) icon.
  • Name: Enter AddressBookUI
  • Project: Click Browse... and select the AddressBookSWT project
  • Main class: Click Browse and select com.demo.AddressBookUI
  • Click the Record button. This will run the AddressBook SWT application  in recording mode and opens the recording control shown below.
Recorder Controller Recording control view
  • To start recording, click on the record button (red ball) in the recorder. Perform user interactions by entering some text in the text fields.
Note: The buttons in the AddressBook application is non-functional. This is just to demonstrate how you can enter and record text entries.

3. Stop recording and save the recorded test

To stop the recording, just close your application. A New UI Test dialog will open.

Test Configuration

Fill in the following:
  • Source folder: This is the source folder of your test plug-in project. We recommend that tests be placed into a project separate from the code under test.
  • Create folder automatically if they do not exist - If the Source folder does not exist and this option is checked, it will automatically create the test project with the src and bin folders. If your project structure does not have a separate src and bin folders, uncheck this option and make sure your test project exists.
  • Package: The package in your test project where you want to save the tests.
  • Name: A name to call your test class.
  • Click Finish to save your test.

4. Play back the recorded test

SWT UI tests must be run as JUnit Tests. 


  • Right click on the newly recorded test class.
  • Select "Run As > JUnit Test"
  • The recorded test is played back. You should now see the AddressBookSWT application with the user interactions that you recorded.
If you change the Test runner to JUnit 4, you also need to add the junit4 jar to your project's build path.

5. Slower playback (optional)

You can slow down the playback by enabling the playback delay preference.

Note: If you receive something like the following errors when you playback your test, then see the corresponding FAQ entries for possible solutions:
java.lang.SecurityException: class "junit.extensions.TestDecorator"'s...
java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: com/instantiations/eclipse/debug/Tracer
java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError" or "java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError
org.eclipse.swt.SWTException: Device is disposed
java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException