Quicktest Professional

QuickTest Professional Introduction Purpose The tutorial is for all users of Mercury QuickTest Professional. The information presented here will enable you to begin utilizing interface commands, accessing menu functions, and preparing for testing.

Time 20 minutes

Objectives After completing this tutorial you will be able to:   

Explain the benefits of automated testing. Optimize your browser settings for QuickTest Professional. Identify the seven main phases of the QuickTest process.

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Navigate effectively using the QuickTest windows, menus, and icons.

Benefits of Automated Testing If you have ever tested applications or Web sites manually, you are aware of the drawbacks. Manual testing is time-consuming and tedious, requiring a heavy investment in human resources. Time constraints often make it impossible to manually test every feature thoroughly before the application is released. Serious bugs may have gone undetected. Automated testing with QuickTest Professional addresses these problems by:   

Dramatically speeding up the testing process. Facilitating the creation of tests that check all aspects of an application or web site. Providing reusability for running these tests every time the site or application changes.

As QuickTest runs tests, it simulates a human user by moving the mouse cursor in a Web page or application window, clicking Graphical User Interface (GUI) objects, and entering keyboard input; however, QuickTest does this faster than any human user.

Optimizing Browser Settings If you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, you should clear the option to use auto complete for user names and passwords. This will ensure that all of your operations are accurately recorded while creating your tests.

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To clear the auto complete option:    

In your Internet Explorer menu bar, choose TOOLS > INTERNET OPTIONS > CONTENT tab. Click AUTOCOMPLETE in the PERSONAL information area. The AUTOCOMPLETE SETTINGS dialog box opens. In the Use AUTOCOMPLETE FOR area, clear the USER NAMES AND PASSWORDS ON FORMS option. Click OK to save your changes and close the AUTOCOMPLETE SETTINGS dialog box, then click OK again to close the Internet Options dialog box.

QuickTest Windows Before you begin creating tests, take a moment to become familiar with the main QuickTest window. The image below shows QuickTest window as it would appear after you record a test, with all toolbars and panes (except the Debug Viewer pane) displayed. Place your mouse over the titles to display a description of these key elements.

The Testing Process The QuickTest testing process consists of seven main phases: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Preparing to record Recording a session on your application Enhancing your test Debugging your test Running your test Analyzing the test results Reporting defects

This tutorial provides you with an introduction to each of these phases.

Preparing to Record Before you record a test, confirm that your application and QuickTest are set to match the needs of your test. 1. Make sure your application displays elements you want to record, such as a toolbar or a special window pane. 2. Check to see, that your application options are set for the purposes of your test. 3. View the settings in the Test Settings dialog box (Test > Settings) to ensure that data will be recorded and stored correctly. 4. Review the Options dialog box (Tools > Options) to ensure that QuickTest will record and store information appropriately. For example, you should confirm that the test is set to use the appropriate object repository mode. 5. Make sure that all browsers are closed before you begin recording.

Recording a Session As you navigate through your application or Web site, QuickTest graphically displays each step you perform as a row in the KEYWORD VIEW. A step is any user action that causes or makes a change in your application, such as clicking a link or image, or entering data in a form. For example, if you wanted to test your course registration website, you would: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Create a new, blank, test file. Click the RECORD button and enter the details about the type of application being tested. Log on to your corporate website and perform the steps to register for a class. Click the STOP button to end the test.

QuickTest recorded your web browser operations from the time you clicked RECORD until you clicked STOP.

Review a Recording As you recorded your test, QuickTest generated steps in the KEYWORD VIEW representing each operation you performed in the web browser. The columns in the KEYWORD VIEW show different information for each step, as described in this table:

Column Item

Description Displays the item for the step (test object, utility object, function call, or statement) in a hierarchical icon-based tree. Operation The operation to be performed on the item, for example, Click or Select. Value The argument values for the selected operation, for example, the mouse button to use when clicking the image. Assignment The assignment of a value to or from a variable so you can use the value later in the test. Comment Any textual information you want to add regarding the step, for example, Return to page used in first step of the test. Documentation Auto-documentation of what the step does, in an easy-to-understand sentence, for example, Click the "See Details" icon.

Enhancing Your Test

Using QuickTest, you can include checkpoints that broaden the scope of your test. A checkpoint verifies that expected information is displayed in your application while the test is running. For example, in the course registration test described earlier, the user could have added a checkpoint that evaluated the property values of the COURSE NAME edit box. Most checkpoints can be added to a test either while recording or after recording. Using QuickTest, you can:  

Replace fixed values with parameters. Add logic.

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Create conditional or loop statements.

Checkpoint List | View

Debugging Your Test After you create a test, you should check that it runs smoothly, without errors in syntax and logic. You control the test run in the following ways: 

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Using the step commands: STEP INTO, STEP OUT, and STEP OVER, to run a Debug Tools | View Larger single step of a test. Using the PAUSE command to temporarily suspend a test run. Setting breakpoints to stop a test run at a pre-determined place.

If QuickTest displays a run-error message during a test run, you can simply click the DEBUG button to suspend the test and debug it.

Running Your Test

When you run a test, QuickTest opens the web site or application and performs the steps you recorded. QuickTest always runs a test from the first step, unless you specify otherwise. For example, you could choose these options:    

Start your test run from a selected step Enter parameters to run the test for each row in the data table Run only certain data sets Run your test until a specific point within the test

A yellow arrow in the left margin of the KEYWORD VIEW indicates the step that QuickTest is running.

Test Playback | View Larger

Analyzing Test Results As your test runs, QuickTest captures the results of each step. When QuickTest finishes running the test, the TEST RESULTS window opens. You examine the test results to pinpoint defects in your application.

Test Results | Let Me Try

Reporting Defects You can print test results or, if you have Mercury Quality Center installed, you can report the defects you discover to a database. Mercury Quality Center is a software test management tool. A connection button from the Test Results window lets you add defects to a specific Quality Center project.

Quality Center Defects Grid | View larger

Benefits of Business Process Testing

Mercury Business Process Testing sits on top of a Web-enabled enterprise-class technology platform that is fully integrated into Mercury Quality Center. Business Process Testing is the first complete role-based test automation system to bridge the quality chasm between subject matter experts and quality engineers. The Business Process Testing system allows non-technical subject matter experts, such as Business Analysts, to define test cases without the need for programming or scripting. For more information on business components and Business Process Testing, refer to the QuickTest Professional User's Guide and the Business Process Testing User's Guide.

Summary This concludes the Getting Started with QuickTest Professional tutorial. Here are some key points to remember:  

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QuickTest Professional dramatically speeds up the testing process by facilitating the creation of tests that check all aspects of an application or web site. A primary feature of QuickTest Professional is providing reusability for running these tests every time a site or application changes is Using QuickTest Professional, you can include checkpoints that broaden the scope of your test. If you use Quality Center, Mercury's software test management tool, you can report the defects you discover to a central database.