Tricentis CLI & API Commander
Automate Tosca Commander through shell/stdio (TCShell CLI, TCAPI, Remote Control) — no MCP.
Session checklist
Copy and track progress:
CLI/API session:
- [ ] Path detection — path-selection.md; read CommanderVersion + SkillReferencePath
- [ ] Checkout rules — workspace-checkout.md if editing
- [ ] Intent — journeys-index.md → one workflow template
- [ ] Plan — full .tcs script or TCAPI chain before first mutation
- [ ] Execute — scenarios-index.md → one fixture section in output-patterns.md (do not load whole file)
- [ ] Persist — save (and checkinall if multi-user)
Token budget (load on demand)
| Tier | File | ~Lines | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| L2 | SKILL.md |
~100 | Every activation |
| L3 companion | path-selection.md, workspace-checkout.md, journeys-index.md |
50–200 | Session start / intent |
| L3 workflow | reference/workflows/*.md |
40–80 | One per task |
| L3 generated | output-patterns.md, commands.md, examples-index.md |
400–1400 | One section only — use agent navigation notices |
Rules: One doc per turn for workflows. Never load full output-patterns.md. Follow journeys-index.md — do not chain catalog → index → patterns in one turn.
Conditional routing
| User goal | Read first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Pick automation path | path-selection.md | Run detector; prompt if ambiguous |
| Map intent to docs | journeys-index.md | One workflow below |
| Workspace lock / checkout | workspace-checkout.md | Headless vs Remote Control |
| TCAPI (.NET) | tcapi.md | Check AvailableHosts from detection |
| GUI-attended (last resort) | remote-control.md | User starts RC; PowerShell required |
| Parse stdout/stderr | output-parsing.md | Plain text only — no JSON |
Execution paths
| Path Id | Host needed | PowerShell? | When |
|---|---|---|---|
HeadlessTCShell |
cmd/batch | No | Workspace unlocked — default |
TCAPI |
PowerShell or dotnet script | Optional | Typed .NET; needs AvailableHosts |
RemoteControl |
PowerShell | Yes (today) | Workspace locked + RC started + user consent |
Do not default to Remote Control. Module blueprints: XScan/API Scan in Commander UI only.
Out of scope (this skill)
| Capability | Status |
|---|---|
| Data Integrity (comparisons, DI connections, validation runs) | Not available via TCShell, TCAPI, or Remote Control |
| In-process Commander automation | Not available — shell/stdio only |
| Commander GUI wizard tasks (DI create wizards) | Not automatable headless |
Workflow templates (pick one)
| Workflow | File |
|---|---|
| Inspect workspace | reference/workflows/inspect-workspace.md |
| Create test case | reference/workflows/create-test-case.md |
| Add manual step | reference/workflows/add-manual-step.md |
| Execute task | reference/workflows/execute-task.md |
| Persist changes | reference/workflows/save-and-checkin.md |
| Run execution list | reference/workflows/run-execution-list.md |
| Create workspace | reference/workflows/create-workspace.md |
Full index: reference/workflows-index.md
Path detection (always first)
Run detectors and read JSON — full commands in path-selection.md.
Read CommanderVersion, VersionProfile, SkillReferencePath, Runtimes, Paths. If Selection.UserPromptRequired → present choices; do not proceed until user picks.
Headless TCShell (minimum path)
TCShell.exe -workspace "<.tws>" [-auth | -login] script.tcs via cmd — see path-selection.md. Batch mode: always save before exit.
When Commander is open
Headless TCShell and TCAPI cannot open a locked workspace. Options within this skill:
- Ask user to close Commander, then run headless TCShell / TCAPI
- Remote Control only with explicit user consent (GUI sync side effects)
- Data Integrity — not supported; inform user
Commander version (24.1–master)
Use SkillReferencePath from detection. Index: reference/versions/index.md. Root reference/ defaults to 26.1.
Complex workflows (on demand)
Load one reference file per turn — routing table in journeys-index.md.
Architecture
reference/architecture.md — hub doc; do not follow nested links in the same turn.