Inspecting IOS elements and recording tests using Appium on Simulator

1.Download & Install the GUI version of Appium server(check appium.io)
2.Open the Appium server. You should see some thing like below

3. We would be inspecting the IOS element using this GUI version of appium
4. Check the flag AppPath an provide the path to your .app(you can find the path from Xcode)
Ex: The path I provided here is '/Users/kiran/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/UICatalog-fqsvdhmisheuvqbsuomezsujnqgi/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/UICatalog.app'
5.Ensure you pick the .app path which is in 'Debug-iphonesimulator' folder and not 'Debug-iphoneos folder (when you run the UICatalog code on a real device from Xcode, the .app will be created in 'Debug-iphoneos).
6.Now click on 'Launch' button to start the appium server.
7.Click on 'i' button to launch the IOS inspector
8.Check the below video to see how to inspect elements on IOS simulator and record the tests

You can even play back  the tests with in the appium recorder
Check the following video link to have a glance on how to inspect and record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNgFixhS_AM&feature=youtu.be

You can run your tests either starting the appium from GUI mode or from terminal mode.
Now lets c how to run the tests when appium is launched from terminal
Stop the GUI mode appium server
open the terminal and type the command appium &. This will launch the appium server on default port 4723

Inspecting IOS elements using Appium Inspector for .app file

1. Launch the appium Server (GUI version)
2. You need to setup additional Parameters using to run the tests on Real Devices
3. Choose the app path. Here you need to choose from Xcode iphoneos folder as mentioned in one of my previous blog ex: /Users/kiran/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/UICatalog-fqsvdhmisheuvqbsuomezsujnqgi/Build/Products/Debug-iphoneos/UICatalog.app
4. Check the option UDID. UDID is the device ID. You can find it from Xcode Organiser.
5. Open xcode. Open organiser which is on top right of your Xcode
6. Select you device in the left list of the organiser
7. You should be able to see the device information
8. Here Identifier is the UDID.
9. provide this is identifier in the appium server option UDID
10. Select option Force Device with selected option as iPhone
11. Select option BundleID. This is the application bundle id. To find this Id follow the below screenshot

1. I used Iphone configuration utility(freeware) to find the app bundle path. Google it and your should be able to find the download references
2. Open the Iphone config utility, Under Application you should be able to see the app bundle id. In this case, 'com.yourcompany.UICatalog'. Set this to the appium server option 'BundleID'

1. Start the appium server
2. Click on Inspector Icon
3. You should see your Iphone Screen in the Inspector

Running tests on Real Device when app is installed using .ipa file