Understanding Certify eXtensibility Framework (XF) Definitions

Certify eXtensibility Framework (XF) definitions are a set of object recognition properties and object relationship definitions that specify how the Certify Cross Browser web engine recognizes, locates, and interacts with complex web UI objects in web applications.

Use XF definitions for objects not automatically recognized as defined Certify Web objects. These definitions simplify complex objects so that Certify recognizes them, and processes can be created with a minimum number of steps.

Listed below are examples of complex objects:

Objects with dynamic attributes
Objects that do not match any existing Certify Web object class
A combination of individual objects that should be recognized and treated as a single object
Object that contains a combination of objects
Unrecognized objects
Tables

Deciding To Use Advanced Object Recognition

The Worksoft Support and the Worksoft Professional Services teams help determine if you need to use XF definitions for advanced object recognition. The typical attribute and object updates are enough for many applications to make objects work correctly. In the following cases, XF definitions become a viable option:

Certify LiveTouch™ returns an object that only works during the first HTML session, but not for future sessions.
Multiple steps are required to use the object for basic functionality.
Adding a step to press a drop-down button.
Certify LiveTouch did not return a usable object. For example, the object is identified as a table, but Certify is not able to perform any table actions, such as Select Row on the object.
Certify LiveTouch returns an attribute that is dynamic in nature.
Adding a step to select a list item.
Adding a step to perform attribute replacement in order for the required list item can be found.
The object is set to a class that would not work efficiently for the automation of that object. For example, you can set the object class as a Text Box, but the object has additional capabilities.
Your application uses objects that were never correctly identified during initial mapping.

Certify Web Interface Options Tool

Use the Certify Web Interface Options tool to import XF definitions and configurations files that are provided by Worksoft Support and the Worksoft Professional Services team. For more information, see Using the Certify Web Interface Options Tool.