Citrix Webinar 1st Session Q&A
Question
During the Citrix replay, I have plenty of
failures in ctrx_sync_on_windo() as the
comparison with the screenshot taken
during the recording despite showing the
same window on the Citrix replay. As of
now, I am using the Window name as
workaround, but this is limited to window
on focus, while in certain scenarios, I need
to check those other window as well. How
should I assure that the check can pass?
What is the difference between execute on
window and set exception?
What is E_OK?
What if the "Copying..." window actually
hanging, and never disappears?
In our environment, we need to login to a
portal website then download the ICA file
from there, which would be slightly
different from the current demo. Hence,
using http protocol + citrix protocol; is there
any limitation using both protocols vs single
citrix protocol?
Answer
If you need to synchronize on creating (instead of
focusing) of window, maybe
ctrx_sync_on_window() with CREATE flag or
ctrx_execute_on_window() could help you?
ctrx_execute_on_window() is identical to
ctrx_set_exception() in all respects. We keep 2
functions with the same functionality and different
names due to historical reasons only
E_OK is one of the Result Codes returned by Citrix
functions. For a complete list of Citrix result codes,
see this documentation part
http://lrhelp.saas.hpe.com/en/latest/help/function
_reference/Content/citrix_ica/etc/lrFuncRef_cit_Re
turn_Values.htm.
In this case ctrx_unset_function() will fail due to
timeout (default value is 60 seconds). If you expect
that copying operation may take pretty much time,
you can set individual timeout for this step:
//save default timeout value
ctrx_get_waiting_time(&waitTime);
//assume copying takes up to 5 minutes
ctrx_set_waiting_time(5*60);
if(ctrx_unset_window("Copying...",
CONTINUE_ON_ERROR, CTRX_LAST) != E_OK) {
//something goes terribly wrong, handle it here...
}
//restore timeout value
ctrx_set_waiting_time(defaultWaitTime);
There are no limitations from a protocol side - all
you can do in a single-protocol Citrix script, you can
do using Citrix+WebHTTP as well.
Note: if you have a license for 50 Virtual Users, you
will be able to run only 25 VUsers for your
Citrix+WebHTTP script, since each protocol VUser
consumes 1 license.
I am often facing Citrix HDX Engine crashing It is quite a difficult to solve crash issues without
while replaying the script from Vugen. Is
there a solution for this?
What versions of Citrix client are supported LR 12.53 supports Citrix Client versions 12.* and
by the most recent versions of LoadRunner? newer. For earlier LR releases, minimal supported
In X-Runner you performed each action
using the mouse, Arrow keys, and mouse
movements. Citrix had lots of difficulty
processing many of the keyboard buttons
for navigation. Has this been fixed?
Is this type of direct connection still
supported? - I thought with XenDesktop all
connections must go via a desktop broker.
How do we resolve the issue that
sometimes during logoff windows will
"hang" waiting for a window to close.
We are NOT using Citrix Agent.
Are ctrx_logoff and ctrx_disconnect_server
the same thing?
Recommendations around resolution and
colour depth when working in remote
crash dumps and information about environment.
If faulting application is wfica32.exe with fault in
module VD3DN.DLL, then most probably it is a
known bug that was fixed in Citrix Receiver 14.4.100
and an upgrade to a newer version might help you.
Otherwise, please open a support ticket and provide
info about your environment (version of
LoadRunner, version of Citrix Client, version of
server-side Citrix software) alongside with the script
with extended replay log and dump file of the
crashing application (support engineer will help you
to collect crash dumps).
version of Citrix Client was 9.*.
There was only one support case in my experience
when I had to solve the issue with keyboard input -
it was about distinguishing between Numpad keys
and correspondent keys on alphanumeric part of
keyboard. As a result, support for new key modifier
(MODIF_NUMPAD) was introduced in LR 12.01 to
emulate key presses of Numpad digits and arrows.
If you experience issues with keyboard input, please
open support ticket.
Citrix states they do not support ICA files anymore
(as of XenDesktop 7.*, if Im not mistaken). But it
might be interesting for you to know that even
when you are connecting to XenDesktop via
StoreFront, there is an ICA-file being downloaded to
establish connection.
We would recommend to use Citrix Agent and
ctrx_logoff(CTRX_FORCED_LOGOFF...), but if Citrix
Agent is not an option, then you might want to try
to workaround this issue by configuring Windows
Registry settings like WaitToKillAppTimeout and
WaitToKillServiceTimeout.
ctrx_logoff() and ctrx_disconnect_server() are
different functions. Ctrx_logoff() logs off the user
session on the server.
ctrx_disconnect_server() disconnects the Client, but
session might remain on the server in disconnected
state until Windows closes it due to timeout. If
server is configured to terminate sessions
immediately after disconnect, then effect of
ctrx_disconnect_server() is exactly the same as for
ctrx_logoff().
First and well-known recommendation: keep your
Vugen machine and LG machines consistent same
sessions? I know different remote access
methods can produce different settings.
Is the Citrix agent installed for this demo?
Is all recording related to the screen? Not
to app window? Concern is if app to open
moves location.
Might mention that Snapshots are only
created for mouse clicks and
sync_on_windows, so if a screen is
manipulated that doesn't use a mouse click,
then no snapshot will be generated.
Can you issue ctrx_execute_on_window
before the connection to the citrix server
has been made?
Are timing issues possible with
ctrx_execute_on_window?
What is the best way to bring a window
into focus when there are several in front of
it on the desktop?
Bitmap sync is not 100% reliable based on
our experience :( especially on win2008+
where you cannot control the session 0
when we are running BPM as service (what
is a must in enterprise services). We see
different hashes for same bitmaps. (We did
compare them bitwise). Any hints what to
do when running BPM as service?
Does image sync work even if bitmap
compression is used in the session?
resolution, same colour depth, same
ClearType/FontSmoothing settings.
Second colour depth of your local machine must
be greater or equal than colour depth of your
remote session on the server.
Citrix Agent was installed on the server, but we
didnt demonstrate Agent-specific functionality.
Coordinates of mouse clicks are recorded relative to
window when it is possible. You can check 5th
parameter (window_name) of ctrx_mouse_click()
call if it looks like "Notepad=snapshot33", then
coordinates of click are relative to window named
Notepad, if it is "NULL=snapshot33", then
parameters x and y are screen coordinates.
By the way, ctrx_sync_on_window() not just waits
for window to appear become focused, but also
moves and resizes it to specified coordinates (of
course, if window itself allows moving/resizing).
Ctrx_key() and ctrx_type() are also able to save
replay snapshots if need (though they do not save
recording snapshots). And ctrx_save_bitmap() will
help you to save snapshot at any place of your
script.
Yes. This functions simply registers a trigger for a
specified window, it does not depend on session
state or any connection-specific data, so it is safe to
call it before the connection.
Not sure what kind of issues this question is about.
Ctrx_execute_on_window does not wait in sleep like
synchronization functions, so it cannot fail due to
timeout. All handler functions are executed
sequentially one by one, so no race condition occurs
when one handler have to process several windows.
Try ctrx_sync_on_window() with ACTIVE flag. In this
case ctrx_sync_on_window() will try to bring
window to top and set focus to it when it is not
focused.
Answer is short: Do not run Citrix scripts in Service
Mode.
Citrix ICA protocol is GUI protocol, and Citrix Client is
GUI software that was never intended to work in
non-interactive session. It might work fine, but it is
not guaranteed to work.
Im not sure what exactly Bitmap compression
does mean here. Citrix Client has 2 configuration
parameters: Session compression and Bitmap
caching none of them affects bitmap
synchronization.

Where is the hash generated? Does the
citrix server give the hash? Or does the
client generate the hash?
what is the function to use for wait time
Is that logoff recommendation in the usage
guide or KB?
If the question is about Citrix HDX codecs, I suppose
certain configurations can make image
synchronization unusable.
Hash is calculated by Citrix Client.
There is lr_think_time(NN) function that pauses
script execution for NN seconds.
If the question is about setting timeout value for
Citrix synchronization functions, then
ctrx_set_waiting_time () is what you are looking for.
Section Unexpected disconnect in LR User Guide -
http://lrhelp.saas.hp.com/en/latest/help/WebHelp/
Content/VuGen/130350_tl_citrix.htm#hp-minitoc-
item-4