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In the legacy Selenium IDE, click Run to execute the open test case or Run All to execute the loaded suite. This is a historical workflow: Selenium IDE 2.x was a Firefox record-and-playback extension, while Selenium 2.0 was the WebDriver-based Selenium release. They are related parts of Selenium’s history, not the same product. The old IDE guide is preserved as legacy documentation, so these steps should not be taken as a promise that the extension works with current Firefox.
Run a test case in the legacy IDE
- Open the legacy Selenium IDE and create a test or load a saved test case. Legacy test cases use Selenese HTML: each table row represents a command, with columns for the command, target, and value.
- Set the IDE’s Base URL to the site you want to test. If you want the same test to work with different domains, use a relative URL in its
opencommand instead of hard-coding the full domain. - Click Run to play the displayed test case. Watch the commands execute in the IDE and inspect the result there.
Run a test suite
A legacy suite is an HTML file whose table rows link to individual test-case files. Load the suite and click Run All to execute its cases in sequence.
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- Check that each case path in the suite points to the correct file.
- Check that the case files have the expected
.htmlextension if a case does not load.
Pause, step through, or isolate a command
- Pause and resume: Start the test, pause execution when you reach the area to inspect, then resume as needed.
- Step through: Start the test, pause it, and repeatedly click Step to advance command by command.
- Set a breakpoint: Right-click a command and choose Toggle Breakpoint.
- Choose a start point: Use a command’s context menu to set the test’s start point.
- Run one command: Double-click that command.
What “Selenium IDE 2.x” and “Selenium 2.0” mean
Selenium IDE 2.x refers to the old Firefox extension and its record-and-playback workflow. Selenium 2.0 refers to the Selenium release built around WebDriver. The matching number does not make them interchangeable: IDE playback is not the same thing as writing or running a WebDriver client program.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The legacy IDE can export a test case to a selected programming language. The documented purpose is to help develop Selenium-RC client programs. The legacy guide describes the IDE itself as running against Firefox; it describes using the historical Selenium-RC command-line route for tests developed there to work with other browsers. That historical route is not evidence of compatibility with current browsers.
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How the legacy workflow differs from modern Selenium IDE
| Aspect | Legacy IDE | Modern IDE workflow |
|---|---|---|
| Test artifact | Selenese HTML test cases; HTML suites link to case files. | A .side project. |
| Execution interface | Playback from the old browser extension, using Run or Run All. | The documented command-line route uses selenium-side-runner with a project path. |
| Browser assumptions | The legacy guide describes the IDE running against Firefox and does not establish compatibility with current Firefox. | The modern runner has its own setup and browser workflow; do not assume legacy extension instructions apply to it. |
| Best fit | Understanding or maintaining an existing legacy test setup. | Following the separate modern IDE project and runner workflow rather than starting from the old extension instructions. |
The modern runner documentation lists Node.js and npm prerequisites, but that page’s version numbers are historical and should not be treated as reliable current installation requirements. TestRunner mode is described in the legacy guide as uncommon and likely to be deprecated; it is not the normal way to run these tests.
Troubleshooting legacy test runs
A suite case fails to load
Inspect the suite’s HTML links: confirm the paths resolve to the intended case files and that those files use the expected .html extension.
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The test opens the wrong domain
Review the Base URL and the test’s open command. Use a relative URL in that command when the test should run against whichever domain is configured as the Base URL.
A command fails and the cause is unclear
Pause execution near the failing command, set a breakpoint, or set a start point and step through the preceding commands. To isolate a single command, double-click it.
The extension will not run in your browser
The legacy documentation does not establish support for current Firefox. Do not assume an old extension installation will work in a modern browser; use the legacy steps only in an environment where the extension is already available and compatible, or move to the separate modern IDE workflow.
Or skip the browser setup
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Selenium IDE 2.x test directly as a modern .side project?
The legacy and modern workflows use different test formats: Selenese HTML versus a .side project. The cited documentation does not establish an automatic conversion path.
Does clicking Run in the old IDE launch Selenium WebDriver 2.0?
No. It plays the current case in the legacy IDE; WebDriver-based Selenium 2.0 is a distinct part of the Selenium ecosystem.
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