Internet Explorer fails to run correctly when using RemoteWebDriver

[lukeis]

Originally reported on Google Code with ID 4308

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. Using IWebDriver driver = new RemoteWebDriver(new Uri("http://localhost:4444/wd/hub"),
iecapa); 

iecapa is only supposed to ignoreProtectedModeSettings = true.

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
Expected to be able to see the source. Instead I see, when debugging, errors saying
every variable threw an error. 

When it tries to find the elements, it throws and error. (In my code will return null
and is ignored).

I've tried to use JQuery and JavaScript, and it throws and error saying it is no element
found.

Selenium version: 2.25.0
OS: Windows Vista
Browser: Internet Explorer
Browser version: 9.0

Symptoms:

1) Problem is when using internet explorer 9 with RemoteWebDriver, it throws me errors
like crazy. When I use Firefox, I have no errors, with no scripting changes.
2) It happens everytime.
3) I am the only one developing this, so I am experiencing it.
4) Please see the attached photo

What you've tried so far:

1) No. It only fails on internet Explorer.
2) No. I do have not been making scripting changes.

Steps to Reproduce:

1) Windows Vista, Internet Explorer 9.0
2) It does it to any site, so just trying to load the driver and running it in google
for example, will do it.
3) Please see the attached .CS file.
4) Please see the attached .CS file

Anything else we should know:

When using the RemoteWebDriver there are some issues. I can use it with FireFox ( IWebDriver
driver = new RemoteWebDriver(new Uri("http://localhost:4444/wd/hub"), DesiredCapabilities.Firefox());
) and it works perfectly with no scripting changes, and throws no errors. I also am
not using the IEDriverServer, since it can not be done remotely, so I am using selenium-standalone-server-2.25.0.jar.


When using it with internet explorer, however, I am always getting these errors. I've
been searching on the web for days now trying to find something out. I have nothing
and am stumped. 

If anymore information is needed I will provide it. 

Reported by twister1002 on 2012-07-25 15:57:30

---

- _Attachment: [seleniumError.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/google-code-attachments/selenium/issue-4308/comment-0/seleniumError.jpg)_ - _Attachment: [GoogleIE.cs](https://storage.googleapis.com/google-code-attachments/selenium/issue-4308/comment-0/GoogleIE.cs)_

[lukeis]

I forgot to mention, It also fails like Internet Explorer when using DesiredCapabilities
capa = DesiredCapabilities.HtmlUnitWithJavaScript();

Reported by twister1002 on 2012-07-25 16:04:06

[lukeis]

First, what happens when you use the IEDriverServer.exe? You can place the IEDriverServer.exe
in the path on the machine where the Java remote server is running, which will also
be your local machine if you're really running the remote server on localhost.

Second, what happens if you properly set the Protected Mode settings to be the same
for all zones, rather than using the "ignoreProtectedModeSettings" capability hack?
There's a reason the capability is called "IntroduceInstabilityByIgnoringProtectedModeSettings"
in the InternetExplorerOptions class; it introduces an extreme amount of instability
in the driver.

Third, it looks like you're using localhost as your remote server. What happens when
you use InternetExplorerDriver directly instead of RemoteWebDriver?

Finally, if you're still having issues, increase the amount of logging used by the
IEDriverServer.exe, and have that log file handy for attaching here.

Reported by james.h.evans.jr on 2012-07-25 16:26:16

• Status changed: NeedsClarification
• Labels removed: Status-Untriaged

[lukeis]

If I just use the IEDriverServer.exe the web pages using Internet explorer run just
fine. They are both in the same file path (Same location). However, when they are both
running, it does nothing differently.

If I do not use the hack, then I get an error saying all the protected zones are not
the same. I can't just put all the zones the same on my machine, since this will run
on multiple machines. However, using the hack or the option in InternetExplorerOptions
will make it proceed like normal, meaning if I use the hack or the option, it makes
no difference.

If I use InternetExplorerDriver, it works just fine without any issues. However, I
can not have the command prompt show up while it is running, which is what IEDriverServer.exe
does. Also the server needs to be on a server running, which is why RemoteWebDriver
is the better option for me. 

I apologize if this may be confusing. The ultimate goal is I can no have the command
prompt showing in the background and the main driver needs to be accessed by a server
located here. 

Reported by twister1002 on 2012-07-25 18:04:11

[lukeis]

First, I'm not suggesting the changes I propose are permanent solutions to the issue
you're describing. Performing these changes, at least in your local environment, are
an important testing step to help diagnose the root cause of the issue. Rather than
coming up with objections to why the diagnostic steps won't work for your situation,
can you please provide the information I've asked for? To wit:

What happens when you use the IEDriverServer.exe? Does your script as attached in the
original issue report work then?

What happens if you properly set the Protected Mode settings to be the same for all
zones? Does your script as attached in the original issue report work then?

You mentioned that using InternetExplorerDriver directly works properly without issue.
Is that correct? The problem only happens when using RemoteWebDriver?

Reported by james.h.evans.jr on 2012-07-25 18:16:44

[lukeis]

Also, how are you avoiding getting around having a command prompt open for the Java
remote server? If you're trying to use the remote server as a Windows Service, I can
pretty much guarantee that won't work for IE.

Reported by james.h.evans.jr on 2012-07-25 18:18:58

[lukeis]

When using IEDriverServer.exe, the code will call for that exe file and will run internet
explorer like normal. The test code will then work as intended. 

If it is set true, Internet Explorer will work and run. When set to false, there is
an error thrown saying that I have to set all zones to the same level and the script
will fail.

Correct. When using InternetExplorerDriver will work without issue. When using RemoteWebDriver,
it will throw errors saying an element does not exist, when it is found. (Tested with
firefox with no script changes). 

I am running selenium-server-standalone-2.25.0.jar on a server and using an new Uri
to set the address. The server is open in a command prompt on the server, just not
the client computer.

Reported by twister1002 on 2012-07-25 19:04:05

[lukeis]

I think we may be talking past each other here. If you're using the IEDriverServer.exe,
with the remote Java server, and you're using RemoteWebDriver from your .NET code,
you should not be seeing a separate IEDriverServer.exe command prompt opening up. To
run with this configuration, you should deploy IEDriverServer.exe to the remote machine
where the Java remote server is running. You'll see the command prompt for the Java
remote server on the remote machine, but no additional command prompt windows open.
Would that be acceptable?

You still haven't answered what happens when you try to set the Protected Mode zone
settings to the same value and not use the capability. That's the "proper" configuration
for the IE driver; any other configuration is prone to instability.

Reported by james.h.evans.jr on 2012-07-25 19:47:11

[lukeis]

The only time IEDriverServer.exe opens is when I am using InternetExplorerDriver. 

When using RemoteWebDriver the selenium-server-standalon-2.25.0.jar file must be running
in the command prompt. Which is what I'm doing. There is no other window being opened.
(Except the browser of course). 

Ooh, no I was not using both servers together. But that is a good idea, I don't know
why I didn't think of that. I will give that a shot. But yes. As long as it doesn't
show a command prompt on the client computer. But I am kind of confused by what you're
trying to say with the exe and jar.

Meaning run the Exe and jar both in seperate command prompts on the server?

If I physically go into Internet Explorer and manually change the settings, then yes
it works fine and do not need the hack to run it. 

Reported by twister1002 on 2012-07-25 20:33:42

[lukeis]

Using the IEDriverServer.exe along with the Selenium remote Java server .jar, the .exe
runs as a separate process, but the Java implementation of the IE driver is running
with the console output captured and piped to the same console as the Java remote server.
Note that when you use RemoteWebDriver (even in .NET), you're running the Java implementation
of the IE driver on the remote machine.

When running standalone with the .NET bindings implementation of the IE driver, a separate
command prompt window is used. This is by design, so as to alert the user that there's
a separate process running, as it helps to diagnose when the user forgets to properly
shut down the driver instance by calling driver.Quit().

Reported by james.h.evans.jr on 2012-07-25 21:21:50

[lukeis]

Oooh, I thought the RemoteWebDriver had to only be running to work with the IE. Ok,
so I just ran both of the Java Standalone, and the IEDriverServer together and it worked...
who would have thought? Haha, not me!. 

But anyways, I did solve my problem hopefully. I just needed to run the java stand
alone (For RemoteWebDriver) then I needed IEDriverServer running as well for it to
work.

I appreciate your time in helping me with this issue, James.

Reported by twister1002 on 2012-07-26 12:47:04