This section describes techniques you can use to data-drive
functional tests with external data.
Before you begin
What to do next
Data-driving tests overview When
you data-drive a test, the script uses variables for key application input
fields and programs instead of literal values so that you can use external
data to drive the application you are testing.
Data-driving functional tests
To data-drive a test script,
you need to select objects in the application-under-test using either
the Object Finder Tool method or the Test Object Browser method.
Datapools A
datapool is a test dataset, a collection of related data records which supplies
data values to the variables in a test script during test script playback.
Creating a datapool A
datapool is a test dataset, a collection of related data records which supplies
realistic data values to the variables in a test script during test script
playback. You can create data from scratch or import existing
data into a new datapool from another Functional Tester datapool, an IBM® Rational® TestManager
datapool, or a .csv file.
Editing datapools
After you data-drive a test to create
a datapool or create an empty datapool, you can edit the records and variables
in the datapool.
Replacing literals with datapool references If
you have an existing test script, you can replace literal values in the script
with datapool references to add realistic data to the script. You can find
and replace all literals, or just the number, string, or boolean literals
with a datapool reference.
Exporting datapools
You can export a private or public
Functional Tester datapool to a .csv file.
Field separators for datapools
When you export a datapool to a .csv file, you need to specify
a field separator to use in the .csv file. A field separator can consist of
one to three single-byte ASCII characters or one multi-byte character.
Changing the datapool record selection order
The test datapool record
selection order determines how a test script accesses records in the test
script's associated datapool when you play back the test script.
Associating a datapool with a test script
You can associate a
test script with a datapool to use external data to drive the application
instead of using a literal value.
Associating a test script with a datapool
You can associate a
test script with a datapool to use external data to drive the application
instead of using a literal value.