How to inspect windows application using Appium - appium

Question

Is it possible to inspect a Windows application using Appium?
If yes can someone show me what "Desired Capability" shall be set to launch for example notepad?
What I have done is:
Installed/Started Appium
Launched server on 0.0.0.0:4723
Clicked on start inspector
Provided following capabilities:
{
"platformName": "Windows",
"deviceName": "WindowsPC",
"app": "C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe"
}
What i got back is the following log:
[HTTP] --> POST /wd/hub/session
[HTTP] {"desiredCapabilities":{"app":"C:\\Windows\\System32\\notepad.exe","deviceName":"WindowsPC","platformName":"Windows","newCommandTimeout":0,"connectHardwareKeyboard":true}}
[MJSONWP] Calling AppiumDriver.createSession() with args: [{"app":"C:\\Windows\\System32\\notepad.exe","deviceName":"WindowsPC","platformName":"Windows","newCommandTimeout":0,"connectHardwareKeyboard":true},null,null]
[BaseDriver] Event 'newSessionRequested' logged at 1562752317506 (11:51:57 GMT+0200 (W. Europe Daylight Time))
[Appium] Appium v1.14.0 creating new WindowsDriver (v1.5.1) session
[Appium] Capabilities:
[Appium] app: C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe
[Appium] deviceName: WindowsPC
[Appium] platformName: Windows
[Appium] newCommandTimeout: 0
[Appium] connectHardwareKeyboard: true
[BaseDriver] Creating session with MJSONWP desired capabilities: {"app":"C:\\Windows\\System...
[BaseDriver] The following capabilities were provided, but are not recognized by Appium:
[BaseDriver] app
[BaseDriver] connectHardwareKeyboard
[BaseDriver] Session created with session id: b4f9003f-6a56-47b8-b9f3-bf70ac3dc91d
[WinAppDriver] You must use WinAppDriver version 1.1
[WinAppDriver] Verifying WinAppDriver version 1.1 is installed via comparing the checksum.
[WinAppDriver] Deleting WinAppDriver session
[BaseDriver] Event 'newSessionStarted' logged at 1562752317614 (11:51:57 GMT+0200 (W. Europe Daylight Time))
[MJSONWP] Encountered internal error running command: Error: Could not verify WinAppDriver install; re-run install
[MJSONWP] at C:\Users\myUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Appium\resources\app\node_modules\appium\node_modules\appium-windows-driver\lib\winappdriver.js:35:13
[MJSONWP] at Generator.next ()
[MJSONWP] at asyncGeneratorStep (C:\Users\myUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Appium\resources\app\node_modules\appium\node_modules\#babel\runtime\helpers\asyncToGenerator.js:3:24)
[MJSONWP] at _next (C:\Users\myUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Appium\resources\app\node_modules\appium\node_modules\#babel\runtime\helpers\asyncToGenerator.js:25:9)
[MJSONWP] at run (C:\Users\myUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Appium\resources\app\node_modules\appium\node_modules\core-js\modules\es6.promise.js:75:22)
[MJSONWP] at C:\Users\myUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Appium\resources\app\node_modules\appium\node_modules\core-js\modules\es6.promise.js:92:30
[MJSONWP] at flush (C:\Users\myUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Appium\resources\app\node_modules\appium\node_modules\core-js\modules\_microtask.js:18:9)
[MJSONWP] at process._tickCallback (internal/process/next_tick.js:61:11)
[HTTP] <-- POST /wd/hub/session 500 113 ms - 190
[HTTP]
[HTTP] --> DELETE /wd/hub/session
[HTTP] {}
[HTTP] No route found. Setting content type to 'text/plain'
[HTTP] <-- DELETE /wd/hub/session 404 1 ms - 57
Uninstalling and reinstalling did not help.
Am i doing anything wrong? Shall windows driver be started manually?

Answer 1

you can run the selenium server from the windows command prompt like
C:\Users\Administrator> “C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Application Driver\WinAppDriver.exe” 4723/wd/hub
after the server is running. Use breakpoints in your visual studio and then start debugging. When you start debugging, you will see sessionID in your command window. copy that session ID
open appium > File > new session window > custom server > attach to session > paste the session Id > click "attach to session" >
you will get your result. (appium takes some time to grab the current session).