Why can not I see spy menu under Window for capture existing app process?

Desktop Testing
1

Hi there,

I use Katalon Studio Enterprise(trail),Version 11.0.1, Is there a menu called Spy under windows?

I need track an app that it will change the process after launched, so I can not capture it elements after clicking Start on ‘Spy Windows Object’

Thank you for your advice.

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2

hi @bin.meng

it seems you are still not yet configure it correctly, please follow this docs Set desired capabilities in Windows desktop app testing | Katalon Docs

3

another related docs for the testing windows app on katalon studio Windows Record Utility in Katalon Studio | Katalon Docs

4

the doc you give me is not what I want, My question is how to attach an existing process/app window to Katalon to capture its elements.

5

There is no need adding params in Project > Settings > Desired Capabilities > Windows while using katalon 11.0.1

6

Attach Existing Process

  1. Launch app manually.
  2. Toolbar > Spy Windows Objects (or Record Windows).
  3. Configurations > App Top Level Window Handle: Use Inspect.exe (from WinApp SDK) for ProcessId → appTopLevelWindowHandle.
  • Example: "msedge:17948" (PID-based).​
  1. Start → Spy tree loads running app.​

FlaUI auto-attaches running processes; refresh screen if dynamic. Skip Desired Capabilities for 11.x

7

I have to input Application File before clicking ‘Start‘, what I should input?

case 1: process changes, which means C:\AppPath\appName.exe is a wrapper exe

case 2: process name is not same as C:\AppPath\appName.exe

8

For dynamic process change post-launch: Launch app manually, then attach via App Top Level Window Handle in Spy/Record configs—no menu needed in 11.0.1 FlaUI.

Exact Steps

  1. Run app (note new process/PID via Task Manager).
  2. Toolbar > Spy Windows Objects.
  3. Configurations > App Top Level Window Handle: "ProcessId:<PID>" or window title (e.g., "ProcessId:12345", get PID from Inspect.exe).
  4. Start → Tree refreshes with current process elements.​

FlaUI handles process switches; Refresh screen if tree empty.

9

just realize that in Katalon Studio 11.x there is no longer a Spy menu under Window
the functionality is now available through Spy Windows Objects or Record Windows from the toolbar

If you want to capture elements from an already running Windows application, you can attach Katalon to the existing process instead of launching the application from the spy tool.

Steps

  1. Launch the application manually.
  2. In Katalon Studio, click Spy Windows Objects (or Record Windows) from the toolbar.
  3. Open Configurations in the spy window.
  4. Set App Top Level Window Handle so Katalon attaches to the running process.

How to get the value

Use Inspect.exe (from Windows SDK / WinAppDriver tools):

  1. Open Inspect.exe
  2. Find the ProcessId (PID) of the running application
  3. Provide it in this format:

<processName>:<PID>

Example:


msedge:17948

After setting that value, click Start and the spy tree should load the elements of the running application.

Also note that in Katalon Studio 11.x, the desktop engine (FlaUI) can attach to running processes directly, so usually no Desired Capabilities configuration is required

10

Thank you for detailed explanation, I still have two questions

  1. Is my configuration correct?

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2 I can not click ‘start’ while I leave the Application File empty, but the exe path is not same as the app’s process, What should I input here? Is there a way I can SPY existing app elements without inputting Application File?

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11

hi @bin.meng

yes, your configuration looks correct
the key part is App Top Level Window Handle, if you set it like ProcessId:<PID> and the PID matches the running process, Katalon should be able to attach to it

about Application File: unfortunately it cannot be left empty because the Start button is disabled when it’s blank. But when you are attaching using ProcessId, Katalon actually does not use this value to launch the app

so you can just input the main exe or the wrapper exe (for example C:\AppPath\appName.exe). It’s mainly required by the UI

even if the real process name changes after launch, attaching by PID should still work