Tablet App Testing - iPad: Obtaining Crash Logs: 103

Author: David Honeyball
Date: June 25, 2011

For certain projects you may be required to attach crash logs to illustrate what is described in your bug reports. This guide shows you how to retrieve crash logs on your iPad when you're testing tablet apps on iOS.


Equipment needed before starting:

  • A computer with the latest version of iTunes installed
  • An Apple iPad
  • A USB connector cable for the iPad

Step 1: Open iTunes on your personal Computer:

If you have iTunes installed on your computer then click the icon in your desktop or programs to open this application:

iTunes 10 icon
The new icon for iTunes 10

Step 2: Download Latest Version if required:

If required you may need to update to the latest version of iTunes and if so when the application opens you will be prompted to press the Download iTunes button

newversion.jpg

Step 3: Install iTunes if you do not have it:

If you do not have iTunes installed or need to re-install a version then you can download from the link below:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

 

Step 4: Connect your iPad Device to your computer:

Using your USB Connector that came with your iPad connect one end to your iPad and the other end to the USB port on your personal computer.

 

Step 5: Sync iPad with iTunes:

Once you are connected you will see a new section named ‘Devices’ appear under ‘Library’ and ‘Store’ and the name of you iPad. A message should appear at the top of iTunes to say that the iPad is first syncing with your computer and then backing up. On your iPad screen you should see a message that reads ‘Sync in Progress’

syncipad12341466g.png

Step 6: Disconnect your iPad connector from your computer:

Once the sync is complete and your iPad has been updated then you can disconnect the connector from your computer.

Step 7: Obtaining Crash Logs for your iPad:

Each time you synchronize your iPad with your computer by plugging the device in as above with iTunes open, all your crash logs up to this point for any application present on your iPad should be transferred over to your computer. Below is how you can find these crash logs for different operating systems:

Mac OS X:

On the Mac, crash logs are located at:

~/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/

 

~ is your Home folder in this case.

 

 

Windows Vista and Windows 7:

On Windows Vista/Windows 7 Machines the crash logs are located at

 

C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Applecomputer\Logs\CrashReporter/MobileDevice/

Note: The AppData folder is hidden by default, so here’s how to access it.

Get into your personal folder:

accessappfolder.png

Now click on the folder (address) bar which will change the display into Windows folder path and add \AppData to it, then click Enter.

 

appdatafolder.png

When clicked, the address bar changes into regular Windows folder path

This will then show the folder contents.

From here, you can follow the path above until you get to the crash logs.

For Windows 7, follow the same procedure.

 

Windows XP:

On Windows XP Machines the crash logs are located at:

C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Apple Computer\Logs\CrashReporter/

is your login username.

The Application Data folder is usually hidden by default, so you need to reveal it in the same way as in Vista — by typing in and pressing Enter.

Once you have found the location where the crash logs are stored, just look for ALL log files that start with the name of the application in question and you can start including them with your bug reports. You should also be able to look at file timestamps to determine which log is for which crash, but be sure to make notes of the time of each bug crash so you can line up your bugs with crash logs easier.