Advanced Features of the Quick Test Professional Tool

Introduction

Quick Test Professional (QTP), now known as Micro Focus Unified Functional Testing (UFT), is a leading tool in the realm of automated functional and regression testing. It offers a user-friendly interface and a powerful set of features that streamline the testing process. This article delves into the advanced features of the Quick Test Professional tool, highlighting how these capabilities can enhance your testing efficiency and effectiveness.

Understanding Quick Test Professional (QTP)

Before exploring the advanced features, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of what QTP/UFT is and its primary functionalities.

• Record and Playback: The core feature that allows users to record their actions and play them back to create automated test scripts.
• Object Repository: A centralized place to store and manage objects used in test scripts.
• Scripting: QTP uses VBScript as its scripting language, providing flexibility and control over test execution.

Advanced Features of the Quick Test Professional Tool

Descriptive Programming

Descriptive programming allows testers to bypass the object repository and directly define the properties of objects in the test script.

Benefits:

• Flexibility: Handle dynamic objects that change frequently.
• Control: Reduces dependency on the object repository, allowing for more robust scripts.

Data-Driven Testing

Data-driven testing is a methodology where test scripts run with multiple sets of data to validate various input scenarios.

Advantages:

• Comprehensive Coverage: Tests a wide range of inputs and scenarios.
• Efficiency: Reuses the same test script for different data sets.

Implementation:

• Utilize external data sources such as Excel, CSV files, or databases.
• Parametrize test scripts to read data from these sources.

Example Workflow:

• Prepare a data source with different input values.
• Modify the test script to iterate over these values and execute tests.

Keyword-Driven Framework

A keyword-driven framework allows users to create test scripts using predefined keywords representing actions.

Benefits:

• Readability: Simplifies test script readability and maintenance.
• Reusability: Promotes the reuse of code and test steps.

Example Usage:

• Define keywords for common actions like login, click, and input.
• Create a data table where each row represents a test step with keywords and parameters.

Steps to Implement:

• Identify and define keywords.
• Develop functions for each keyword.
• Create a test script that reads keywords and executes corresponding functions.

Integration with ALM/QC

QTP integrates seamlessly with Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) or Quality Center (QC) for comprehensive test management.

Advantages:

• Centralized Management: Manage all test assets in a single place.
• Traceability: Link requirements, test cases, and defects for complete traceability.

Features:

• Execute QTP tests from ALM/QC.
• Automatically log test results and defects in ALM/QC.
• Schedule and manage test executions.

Business Process Testing (BPT)

Business Process Testing (BPT) is a framework that allows non-technical users to create and execute automated tests using business process components.

Benefits:

• Accessibility: Enables business analysts and non-technical stakeholders to participate in test automation.
• Modularity: Breaks down tests into reusable business components.

Implementation:

• Define business components representing individual business processes.
• Assemble these components into test cases to form a business process test.

Example Workflow:

• Create business components for individual tasks (e.g., login, order entry).
• Combine these components to form end-to-end business process tests.

Object Identification and Smart Identification

QTP’s robust object identification mechanism ensures that objects are accurately recognized during test execution.

Features:

• Smart Identification: A fallback mechanism when the primary properties fail to identify an object.
• Object Spy: A tool to inspect and capture the properties of objects.

Benefits:

• Reliability: Enhances the reliability of test scripts in identifying dynamic objects.
• Ease of Use: Simplifies the process of managing object properties.

Usage:

• Define mandatory and assist

ive properties for objects in the object repository.

• Enable Smart Identification to use additional properties when primary identification fails.

Checkpoints and Output Values

Checkpoints and output values in QTP allow testers to validate application behavior and capture data during test execution.

Checkpoints:

• Standard Checkpoints: Verify properties of objects in the application under test.
• Image Checkpoints: Validate images in the application.
• Database Checkpoints: Check the contents of databases.
• Benefits: Ensure that the application behaves as expected at specific points during execution.

Output Values:

• Functionality: Capture values from the application and store them for later use.
• Use Cases: Use captured values for validations or as input for subsequent steps.

Conclusion

The advanced features of the Learn Quick Test Professional tool make it a powerful and versatile solution for automated functional and regression testing. By leveraging descriptive programming, data-driven testing, keyword-driven frameworks, and robust error handling, testers can create efficient, maintainable, and reliable test scripts. Integration with ALM/QC, business process testing, and the ability to handle dynamic objects further enhance the capabilities of QTP, making it an essential tool for any testing professional.