This section describes the test execution phase of functional testing.
Restoring the test environment before playback
The state of both the
environment and the application-under-test can affect script playback. If
the recorded environment and the playback environment are different, playback
problems can occur.
Running a script from Functional Tester When
you run a script from Functional Tester, it plays back all of your recorded
actions, such as starting an application, the actions you perform in the application,
verification points, and stopping the application.
Running a script from TestManager
When you run a script,
TestManager creates a temporary suite, runs the suite, and removes the suite
after the run is completed. You can run a script either from the TestManager
Test Scripts window or from the TestManager File menu.
Debugging scripts
You can use the same
process to debug a Functional Tester script as you would to debug other Visual
Basic or Java™ applications. If you prefer, in Functional Test, Java Scripting,
you can debug your script in the Functional Tester Debug Perspective which
makes it easier to start the debugger that comes with the Java Development
Toolkit.
Running scripts When
you play back a script, Functional Tester replays your recorded actions, which
automates the software testing cycle.
Test development phase
In the Test Development Phase, you play back scripts to verify
that they work as intended, using the same version of the application-under-test
that you used to record. This phase validates the expected behavior of the
application.
Regression testing phase
When you have a baseline of expected behavior for your application-under-test,
you can automate regression testing for subsequent builds.
Playback Monitor
During playback you can view the script name, the number of the
line that is executing, status icons, and a description of the action in progress
from the Playback Monitor.
Local and agent computers When
you associate a Functional Tester project with a Rational® project, you can use TestManager
to run your Functional Tester scripts on computers that you designate as Agent
computers from a single Windows® computer, called the Local computer.
TestManager and script execution You
need to do some preliminary set up before you run a Functional Tester script
from TestManager.
Using ScriptAssure
Using ScriptAssure™, you can play back
scripts successfully even when the application-under-test has been updated.
Ambiguous object recognition in functional testing
Ambiguous recognition occurs when Functional Tester can not uniquely
identify an object in the system-under-test. This commonly happens when Functional
Tester cannot differentiate between an instance of the application-under-test
started by a script playback and an instance of the same application inadvertently
left open previous to script playback. This also applies to identical windows
from one application and identical HTML documents. Ambiguous recognition will
cause script playback failure unless the duplicate application is closed.
Screen snapshot on playback failure of functional tests
If playback of a script causes a RFT exception to be thrown, Functional
Tester takes a screen snapshot at the time of the failure. The screen snapshot
is accessible through the log.