Automation framework

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QTP
Frame Work

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Table of Contents
1. Automation Architecture.......................................................3
1.1 Design........................................................................................................................3
1.2 Approach for Test Automation..................................................................................4
2. Introduction to QTP........................................................11
2.1 QTP Environment Compatibility.............................................................................12
2.2 Versions of QTP......................................................................................................13
3. Add-Ins...............................................................................21
3.1 Types of Add-Ins.....................................................................................................21
3.2 Conditions for Add-ins............................................................................................22
4. Conventions.........................................................................23
4.1 Test Case Naming Conventions:..............................................................................23
4.2 Script and Action Naming Conventions:................................................................23
4.3 Variables and Constants:..........................................................................................25
4.4 DataSheet Naming and Parameter Naming Conventions:.......................................26
4.5 Function Naming Conventions................................................................................27
5. Settings...............................................................................28
5.1 QTP Test Settings....................................................................................................28
5.2 Record and Run Settings..........................................................................................29
5.3 Active Screen Capture Level...................................................................................29
5.4 Object Repository....................................................................................................30
5.5 Expert View.............................................................................................................32
5.6 Setting related to the Application Used:..................................................................35
6. Objects...............................................................................38
6.1 Objects....................................................................................................................38
7. Data Table..........................................................................40
7.1 Datatable Object and related Functions:.................................................................40
7.2 Organizing Data Sheets for Global & Local variables............................................41
7.3 Parameterizing using Data driven Wizard.............................................................42
7.4 Importing and Exporting Datasheets:...................................................................46
8. Actions................................................................................49
8.1 Actions Settings.......................................................................................................49
8.2 Iterations using rows................................................................................................50
8.3 Action Template.......................................................................................................51
8.4 Script Startup...........................................................................................................51
8.5 Splitting Actions, Re-usable Actions, Internal/External Actions............................52
9. Object Repository................................................................54
9.1 Per Action/Shared Object Repository:.....................................................................54
9.2 Merging of two object repositories:.........................................................................56
9.3 Limitations:..............................................................................................................57
10. Variables...........................................................................59
10.1 Action Parameters................................................................................................59

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10.2 Test Parameters......................................................................................................61
10.3 Environment Variables..........................................................................................63
10.4 Variable passing from one Action to another.......................................................64
10.5 Scope of Variables.................................................................................................66
11. Check Points......................................................................68
11.1 Types of Checkpoints............................................................................................68
11.2 Output Values for Verification..............................................................................70
12. Reusable Library................................................................72
12.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................73
12.2 How to establish a Reusable Library.....................................................................73
12.3 How to use this Reusable Library.........................................................................75
13. Regular Expressions..........................................................75
13.1 Description.............................................................................................................75
14. Recovery Scenario............................................................80
14.1 Exceptional Handling using Recovery Scenarios..................................................81
14.2 Sample for Recovery Scenario:...........................................................................87
15. Optional Steps...................................................................93
15.1 Description:........................................................................................................93
16. Reporting...........................................................................95
16.1 Different Options for Reporting.............................................................................96
16.2 Functions used for Reporting..............................................................................97
16.3 Reporting Formats.................................................................................................99

1. Automation Architecture

1.1 Design

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1.2 Approach for Test Automation

Description

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Approach for Test Automation is used for building a strategy for automation starting
from the Requirement phase till the deployment phase. Approach for automation begins
with finding out the conditions and business rules given by the client and grouping
similar conditions, business rules together as Test cases or Test Scenarios.

Steps involved in Approach for Test Automation are as follows:

• Requirement gathering from the client
• Understanding and Analyzing the Requirement
• Grouping the requirement into Test cases
• Preparing the Design for Automation
• Building Scripts depending on the Design
• Review of Scripts at Offshore
• Delivery to the Client

For example in the Unilever project:

Since it is Project for Automation of SAP, Team was divided into two,
SAP Consultants.
Testing Team.

Requirement gathering from the client included knowledge transfer at onsite, where all
the transactions including the customized transactions where explained to the SAP
Consultants of satyam, Under standing of requirements was done at the client side,
Depending on the flow of transactions, all the transactions where grouped together as
different scenarios. While SAP Consultants where onsite for gathering Requirements,
Work done at the offshore was to analyze on the appropriate version of the QTP Tool to
be used and to get licenses for QTP, user accounts for SAP access, Installation of QTP
and SAP.

All the Identified Scenarios which consists of different transactions where explained to
Testing Team. Then common functionalities where identified, and grouped together as
different Test cases.

After defining different Test cases, design for automation of scripts was done, where
Reusability was one of the main aspects, where all the transactions, which are common in
the scenarios, are identified as Reusable transactions.

Automation Framework:

For Quality deliverables, important things that should be followed are:

• Following common coding structure for all the scripts

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• Consistent coding conventions
• Use of Reusability for making code efficient and minimal
• Efficient use of Object Repository
• Use of Error and Exception handling Functions
• Use of Data table object, Environment variables for using data

For example in the Unilever project:

Coding Structure used is that there will a main Action for all the scripts which is named
as corresponding Test case name, This Action intern will call all the other actions (Each
Transaction used in the script would be an action) in the script. Importing and
Exporting of sheets is also done in this main action. Importing of sheets is done at the
beginning before calling other actions and exporting of sheets is done at the last. Sheets
corresponding to all the actions in the scripts are imported, so that the data in the fields of
the Imported sheets are used as input data to the script, output data from the script is also
collected and exported to the corresponding sheet.

There are many transactions which are reused in the scripts, similar transactions
(Actions) are made as reusable so that its not required to record those transactions again
and again, which ever transaction was common among scripts, were recorded in one
script and is reused in all the scripts where the transaction is required.

Error handling in the unilever automation is done by using Recovery Scenario where
each Recovery scenario calls a function which handles the recovery by exiting all the
other transactions (actions) when recovery fires. Major types of Recovery used in this
project where Popup Window, Object state and on Error Recoveries. In Error
handling using Recovery, all the common types of exceptions or errors are given
common Recovery scenarios using regular expressions, which minimized the number of
Recovery scenarios and Functions used.

Design for Structure of Scripts used in Unilever Project:

Main Action, which calls all the other Called Actions

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Actions (transactions) in the script
<Action Name>

Main Action Calls
in the Script <Action Name>

Ex: S014_001 (Action Name) Ex: ME21N (Action Name
Which is same as the
Transaction name in
SAP)

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Design of the Approach for Test Automation is given below

Identification of Test Cases for Automation

Identification of Common Functionality

Coding Standards, Naming Conventions & Templates

Building the Re-Usable Library

Tool & Application General library
Application Login, Settings, Restoring, containing String Error handling, Log
Logout, Common Object Repository, handling, Date handling, Reporting,
Functionality
Recovery, House File Handling, Data messaging etc
Related code etc
Keeping etc Table handling

Script Development using Record & Play back

Deliver the script after Verification & Validation

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Design for Automation of Test cases for Unilever Foods:

It’s a description of Automating a test case belongs to SAP by explaining a scenario
S014-081

Scenario Objective: Moving a Material from Raw Material Storage Location to a
Production Storage Location, Creating a Transfer Requirement and a Transfer Order.

Actions for the Transactions Login, LB01,
MM03, LT04, LT012 and Logoff.

Common Functions are LT12, MM03

Coding Standards & Naming Conventions like ‘The file name as per
convention - Scenario name’, ‘The Action named as per transaction ID’

Building the Re-Usable Library like ‘The
common functionality being reused’

Application Recoveries are Error handling like On
Login, Logout gAlready_exist.qrs Error Resume Next,
and common S014_164_Materia Reporting like
functions like l_Not_Maintained. reporter.ReportEvent
LT12, MM03 qrs etc

Business Transactions Scripts are LB01 and LT04

Note: The phase in blue color indicates where more efforts are required in analyzing and
recording to generate a script.

QTP Framework in SAP Automation

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Test Results
Test Data SAP Script for
Reporting
Handling and Application Business
and
Data Sheet Session Transaction/
Application
Importing Login Test Case
Closing.

Re-Usable Library:
Generic Library calls for handling data, date, string etc
Error handling Library
Recovery Scenario
Actions

Guidelines followed for identification of Test Cases for Automation

• Tests that need to run once and those that need frequent human
intervention are usually not worth the investment to automate and have not
been considered for automation.

• As Automated testing can be used to verify the performance of application
paths that are used with a high degree of frequency when the software is
running in full production e.g. creating customer records, Invoicing and
other high volume activities where software failure would occur frequently
have been considered.

• Mission critical processes like core activities like sales order processing
are prime candidates for automated testing and have been considered for
automation.

• Repetitive Testing

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• Applications with Long Life span – Longer the application in production
greater the benefits from automation.

• Avoiding dynamic screens. Though possible to automate this increases the
complexity of the script.

• Avoiding screens where objects are created dynamically

• Avoiding business scenarios where complex hardware is involved

• Selecting a row in a table results in an additional challenge from. Some
automation tools provide the facility to read each row in a table and for
focusing on a specific row. If the numbers of rows were very high the
execution time of the script would be high. This leads to performance
issues of the recorded script. Hence, it is better to prove the business
scenario wherein tables with row selections figure by identifying a fixed
row number. This scenario is faced very frequently in enterprise
applications as in pricing tables and leads to the complexity of the script
and subsequently the effort.

• Avoiding scenarios that require high degree of coding while automating so
that script’s complexity is reduced and high maintainability of the script is
ensured.

2. Introduction to QTP

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2.1 QTP Environment Compatibility

QTP (version) supports a wide range of working environments and thereby can be used
for practically any application.

Core Environments Supported by QTP:

- Windows applications (MFC)
- Visual Basic
- Java
- ActiveX

Enterprise Applications:

- SAP
- Siebel
- PeopleSoft
- Oracle

Web Technologies:

- HTML
- DHTML
- JavaScript

Browsers:

- Internet Explorer
- Netscape
- AOL

Emerging Technologies:

- .NET winforms, webforms, web services
- J2EE Web services
- XML, WSDL, UDDI

Terminal Emulators:

- 3270
- 5250
- VT100

Server Technologies:

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- Oracle
- Microsoft
- IBM
- BEA
- ODBC
- COM / COM+

Multimedia:

- Flash
- RealAudio / RealVideo
- Windows Media Player

Operating Environment

Operating Systems Windows XP/2000/NT
Supported: Windows 95/98/ME

Databases Supported: (Not Applicable)
Networks Supported: TCP/IP
Programming JavaScript
Languages Supported: Java
HTML
Visual Basic (VB)
XML
Middleware Supported: Microsoft .NET

2.2 Versions of QTP

QTP 6.5:

To successfully install and run QTP6.5, following minimum system
requirements are required :

IBM-PC or compatible with a Pentium® II 266 MHz
Computer/Processor:
microprocessor (366 MHz recommended).
Windows® 98 Second Edition, Windows® 2000—
Service Pack 3,
Operating System:
Windows NT® 4.0—Service Pack 6a,
Windows® Me, or Windows® XP—Service Pack 1.

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Memory: 128 MB of RAM (256 MB recommended)
Free Hard Disk 150 MB of free disk space for a compact installation or
Space: 200 MB for a typical or complete installation
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0–6.0.
Browser:

Supported Environments
QuickTest Professional supports creating, recording, and running tests in the
environments described below.

 Standard Windows Applications

1. Win32 API

2. MFC

 Visual Basic Applications

Visual Basic 6.0

 Browsers

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01–6.0 (required)

• Netscape Navigator 4.06–4.7x (optional)

• Netscape 6.1, Netscape 6.22, and Netscape 6.23 (optional)

• AOL 5.0 and 6.0 (optional)

ActiveX Grid Controls

In addition to basic support of ActiveX properties and methods,
QuickTest Professional supports context-sensitive recording and
verification on the following ActiveX Grid controls:

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Name ProgId
FarPoint Spreadsheet 2.5 FPSpread.Spread.1
FarPoint Spreadsheet 3.0 (OLEDB) FPSpreadADO.fpSpread.2
FarPoint Spreadsheet 6 (OLEDB) FPSpreadADO.fpSpread.4
Microsoft Grid 1.0 MSGrid.Grid
Microsoft DataBound Grid 5.0 MSDBGrid.DBGrid
Microsoft Flex Grid 6.0 MSFlexGridLib.MSFlexGrid.1
Sheridan Data Grid 2.0 SSDataWidgets.SSDBGridCtrlApt.1
Apex True DataBound Grid 5.0 TrueDBGrid50.TDBGrid
Apex True OLE DB Grid 6.0 TrueOleDBGrid60.TDBGrid

ActiveX Calendar Controls

verification on the following ActiveX Calendar controls:

Name ProgId
Microsoft Date and Time Picker Control 6.0 (SP4) MSComCtl2.DTPicker.2
Microsoft MonthView Control 6.0 (SP4) MSComCtl2.MonthView.2

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Multimedia Applications

QTP6.5 supports testing on the following multimedia applications:

• Microsoft Windows MediaPlayer controls, version 6.0 and higher

• RealPlayer controls supported for Internet Explorer browsers (the
controls within applications containing browser controls are not
supported)

• Macromedia Flash 4 or 5 objects that are ActiveX controls in Internet
Explorer. You can also test Macromedia Flash 6 clips containing only
Flash 4 or 5 commands.

Additional Environments

QuickTest Professional add-ins support other environments such as
Java, .NET Windows and Web Forms, SAP solutions, Oracle, Siebel,
PeopleSoft, Web Services, and terminal emulator applications. For more
information about QuickTest Professional add-ins, contact your sales
representative or Mercury Interactive Customer Support.

Note for QuickTest Professional 6.0 and earlier:
Java support and Oracle support are now available as separate add-ins to
QuickTest Professional 6.5 and are no longer part of the core product.

QTP 8.0:
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System Requirements

To successfully install and run QTP8.0, you need the following
minimum system requirements:

IBM-PC or compatible with a Pentium II 266 MHz
Computer/Processor:
microprocessor (366 MHz recommended).
Windows 2000-Service Pack 3 or Service Pack 4,
Operating System:
Windows XP-Service Pack 1, or Windows 2003 Server.
Memory: 128 MB of RAM (256 MB recommended).
250 MB of free disk space for application files and
folders, and an additional 120 MB of free disk space on
the system disk (the disk on which the operating system
Free Hard Disk is installed).
Space: After Quick Test Professional is installed, it is
recommended to have at least 150 MB free disk space
on the system disk for the operating system and Quick
Test Professional to run correctly.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2-6.0.
Browser:

Supported Add-ins

The following external QuickTest 6.5.x add-ins are supported for use
with QuickTest Professional 8.0:

• Java Add-in 6.5
• Oracle Add-in 6.5
• PeopleSoft Add-in 6.5
• Terminal Emulator Add-in 6.5
• .NET Add-in 6.5.1
• SAP solutions Add-in 6.5.1

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Note: Siebel Add-in 6.5, the .NET Add-in 6.5, the Add-in for SAP
solutions 6.5, or any 6.0 add-ins,cannot be used with QuickTest
Professional 8.0.1

Supported Environments and Programs

QuickTest Professional 8.0 supports creating, recording, and running
tests or components using the environments and programs described
below.

 Standard Windows Applications

1.Win32 API

2.MFC

 Visual Basic Applications

Visual Basic 6.0

Note: Visual Basic .NET applications are supported by the QuickTest
Professional .NET Add-in.

 Browsers
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2-6.0
(required)
• Netscape 6.1, Netscape 6.22, Netscape 6.23, Netscape 7.02,
and Netscape 7.1 (optional)
• AOL 8.0 and 9.0 (optional)

ActiveX Grid Controls

verification on the following ActiveX Grid controls:

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Name ProgId
FarPoint Spreadsheet 6 (OLEDB) FPSpreadADO.fpSpread.4
Microsoft Grid 1.0 MSGrid.Grid
Microsoft DataBound Grid 5.0 MSDBGrid.DBGrid
Microsoft Flex Grid 6.0 MSFlexGridLib.MSFlexGrid.1
Apex True OLE DB Grid 6.0 TrueOleDBGrid60.TDBGrid

ActiveX Calendar Controls

In addition to built-in support for ActiveX properties and methods,
verification on the following ActiveX Calendar controls:

Name ProgId
Microsoft Date and Time Picker Control 6.0 (SP4) MSComCtl2.DTPicker.2
Microsoft MonthView Control 6.0 (SP4) MSComCtl2.MonthView.2

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Microsoft Excel

When using Microsoft Excel files with QuickTest Professional 8.0(for
example, to import or export data to or from the Data Table), you can
work with Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, 2003, and XP.

Microsoft Query

When using Microsoft Query with QuickTest Professional 8.0 (for
example, for Database checkpoints), you can work with Microsoft
Query 2000, 2002, 2003, and XP.

Additional Environments

QuickTest Professional add-ins support other environments such as
Java, .NET Windows and Web Forms, SAP Solutions, Oracle, Siebel,
PeopleSoft, Web Services, and terminal emulator applications. For more
information on QuickTest Professional add-ins, contact your sales
representative or Mercury Interactive Customer Support.

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3. Add-Ins

3.1 Types of Add-Ins

QTP version Add-ins
Java add-in 6.5
8.2 Oracle add-in 6.5

Siebel add-in 8.0
Terminal Emulator add-in 8.0
. Net add-in 8.2

Default Add-Ins: Active X Controls,
Web &Visual Basic

. Net add-in 6.5.1
8.0 Sap add-in 6.5.1
Java add-in 6.5
PeopleSoft add-in 6.5
Oracle add-in 6.5
Terminal Emulator add-in 6.5

Default Add-Ins: Active X Controls,
Web &Visual Basic

6.5 . Net
Web
Java
XML
Default Add-Ins: Active X controls,
Multimedia, Visual Basic, Web

Note: Quick Test Professional Siebel add-in 6.5 and Web services add-in 6.0 cannot be
used with Quick Test 8.0.

• The add-ins for Quick Test Professional 6.0 cannot be used with Quick Test
Professional 6.5. If you are using Quick Test Professional 6.5, you will need to
get the 6.5 version of your add-in.

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3.2 Conditions for Add-ins

3.2.1 Java Add-In

When testing Java applets in a Web browser, you must load the Web add-in as well as the
Java Add-in, and use the Web tab of the Record and Run Settings
Dialog box to specify your record and run preferences. To test Java applets or
applications running on Netscape 4.x’s built-in JVM (not Java Plug-ins), confirm that the
Netscape 4.x browser is already installed before installing the Quick Test Professional
Java Add-in. When testing Java applets in a Web browser web Add-in as well as java
add-in must be loaded .To create a checkpoint, parameterize a step, or to add a method
from individual java applets, the Java Add-in must be loaded.

3.2.2 .Net Add-In

The .Net add-in is required to support objects developed in .Net .In some cases, even
though the application has been developed using .Net, when the page is sent to the
browser, it is a plain HTML page. Quick Test Professional can recognize HTML controls
like edit fields, buttons etc. without the .Net add-in. However, if a Web application
contains complex controls like ActiveX or other controls developed in .Net like ASP.Net
server controls, it is required to use the .Net add-in to achieve object recognition.

3.2.3 Sap Add-In

The Sap add-in is required for all SAP applications. In SAP application Grid Tables,
Status Bar messages, Labels can be identified only if SAP Add-in is installed.

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4. Conventions
The Conventions for Naming for test cases, Scripts and Actions vary from Project to
Project depending upon the Client.

4.1 Test Case Naming Conventions:

Test cases should be named in a manner that enables easy identification of the
corresponding Use case (or the Scenario) for which the Test Case is written. The
Onlooker should be able to trace the test case back to the use cane name or Scenario
name by the name of the Test Case. Consistency should be maintained in following the
hierarchy of naming.

Use Case
Or Test Case
Scenario

For example:

Example 1: Considering that Each Use case is associated with one Test case. If the name
of the Use Case were UC_001 then the Test case name would be TC_001.

Example 2: In the Unilever Automation Project, SAP transactions are divided into
different modules, in those modules different transactions are grouped together as a
scenario, so for writing the test case for a particular scenario naming convention used is
module name followed by scenario name.

For Module IMWM, if S014_01 is the scenario name, so name of the test case
for the S014_01 scenario was given as IMWM_S014_01.

4.2 Script and Action Naming Conventions:

Similar to the Test case naming, Script naming should be done consistently with clarity
and traceability. Typically each Test Script is prepared corresponding to each Test Case.
Every Test Case contains one or more Conditions. Each Condition can be represented by
an action in the script.

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Use Case

Test Case

Condition1 Condition2 Condition3 ………

Test Case Test script

Condition 1 Action1

Condition2 Action2

Therefore for a Test Script corresponding to a Test Case named TC_001 would be
QTS_001.The hierarchy should be maintained in case the use cases or test cases are
nested.

E.g.: TC_01_014 would have a QTP Test Script as QTS_01_014.

Action Naming:
Each Test Script can contain one or more Actions, with one or more actions representing
a test Condition.
Actions can be named in 2 ways:
1. Functionality of the Action
2. Hierarchy of the Action in the Test Script.

1. Functionality of the Action:
Typically Actions are segregated by their functionality in the Test Script.
Therefore it would be easier to understand the Action if the name of the action
represents the Functionality.

For E.g.: An Action written or recorded for logging the user should be named as
Login or Authentication for easy understandability.
An Action for booking tickets should be named as Book_Tickets
An Action for exiting the application named as Exit.

This also adds a huge advantage when the Actions are made
reusable. Reusable Actions can be used between various scripts. When an Action
is to be made reusable the action should be named as REUSE_(Action name).
Example: REUSE_Login.

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2. Hierarchy of the Action in the Script:

Since Actions are a part of the Test Script, for purpose of Clarity and tracking,
Actions can be named as per Hierarchy.

For e.g.: Test Case Name  TC_01
QTP Test Script Name  QTS_01
Name of 1st action in the Script  QTS_01_01
Similarly Name of 9th Action in the ScriptQTS_01_09

4.3 Variables and Constants:

QTP Scripts are in VB Script. Therefore, the naming conventions for variables can be
followed alike VB Script Naming Conventions.

General Conventions followed in VBScript are:

Data Type Prefixes:

By using data type prefixes, your variables always indicate what they are designed for.
I'm using just six prefixes:

Prefix Data Types Example
b Boolean (true or false) bChecked = True
d Date/time dStartTime = Now
All numeric data types
i iTax = iPrice * 0.076
(Byte, Integer, Currency, Long, Single, Double)
o Objects Set oFile = Nothing
s Strings sTitle = "Welcome!"
u User interface elements uPara.style.display = "block"

Constants Prefix:

Usually there are only a handful of constants in any scripts. Indicating the data type
therefore is less important for constants. Prefix letter c for all constants can be used.
e.g. Const cTitle = "Welcome!"
UDocument.title = cTitle

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4.4 DataSheet Naming and Parameter Naming Conventions:

Every QTP Test Script contains 2 types of sheets.
1. Global data sheet
2. Local data sheets

The Global data sheet, which is a common sheet for all the actions of the script, is
named by default as dt_globalsheet. This can be renamed as Global for all the Scripts for
consistency.

Typically, Each Action in the Script contains one data sheet, which is local to the
Action. This is by default, named after the Action to which it belongs. Therefore the
name of the datasheet follows directly the name of the Action, which when named
following its naming conventions, can be used efficiently for the data sheet too.

Parameter Naming:

Various Types of Parameters used in QTP are:

1) Test Parameters

a) Test Input Parameters: These should be named as IN_(relevant variable name).
‘In’ denoting that it’s an input parameter for the Test in whole. The name following IN
should be a relevant name for the variable, denoting the purpose of its use. This should
also comply with the standard variable naming conventions.
Example: IN_bFlag, IN_iIncrement etc.,

b) Test Output Parameters: On the similar lines of Input Parameters, these should be
named as OUT_(relevant variable name). OUT representing that it’s an output
parameter.
Example: OUT_sStatus.

2) Action Parameters

a) Action Input Parameters: These are local to Action of a Test. These can be named as
ACTIN_(variable name). ACTIN denoting that it’s an Action Input Parameter.
Example: ACTIN_iResult

b) Action Output Parameters: These could be named as ACTOUT_(var name).

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Example: ACTOUT_bFlag

3) Environment Variables:

Environment variables are either built-in or User defined. Built-in variables cannot be
declared named by the user, so their naming convention is not discussed.

User Defined Environment Variables are either Internal or External.
Internal Variables: ENV_INT_(variable name)
External Variables: ENV_EXT_(Variable name)

4.5 Function Naming Conventions

Functions should be named as Func_(name). This can provide clarity and difference
between a Reusable Action and a Function that can be used within Actions.
Example: Func_Save , Func_Add

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5. Settings
5.1 QTP Test Settings

Before Running or Recording any test on QTP, the QTP Test settings need to be set as
per the requirements of the Test. Setting these Test Settings before starting a Test plays a
crucial part in the behavior of the test.

These can be found at the path Test>Settings. A dialog box pops up, in which various
tabs are present which allow one to set
• Properties of the test like Add-Ins used
• Run time Preferences
• Resources like files, data tables, and repository to be used.
• Parameters required in the Test.
• Environment variables used
• Web navigation
• Recovery Scenarios

Note: For further details about the use of each tab, refer to QTP Test Settings

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5.2 Record and Run Settings

After Setting the Test Settings at Test>Settings, the next important settings for actually
recording the application and running it for Testing are to be set at the Test>Record and
Run Settings. This dialog box opens automatically, when recording a test for the first
time. The details of which application to record are set in this dialog box.

For further details about these settings refer to Record and Run Settings.

5.3 Active Screen Capture Level

One of the most useful fetaures of QTP is the various views it provides, out of which
Active view is the most unique.The selection of the appropriate Active Screen Capture
level influences the storage space, properties stored and the view of the Active screen.
The selection can be made by going to Tools>Options>Active Screen.
The Active screen settings can also set at the Test>Record and Run Settings.
The active screen capture level can be set to any of the 4 levels i.e. Complete, Partial,
Minimum and None.

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For details about each capture level, refer to ActiveScreen Capture Level.

5.4 Object Repository

When a test is recorded, QTP adds each object on which an operation is performed, to
the Tools>object repository. Objects can be added to the repository while editing the
tests too.While recording, Objects are added to the repository in either of the two ways:

a. Object Repository per Action

b. Shared Object Repository.

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The settings can be changed by going to

Test>Settings>Resources>Object Repository Type

In the Per-Action mode, objects are identified and separated on the basis of each
action and the corresponding object repository for the test is created in the test
folder.In the Shared mode, the user may choose a location to save the shared
object repository files for all the tests.

All the Objects recorded during a test,and their properties can be seen and
manipulated in the Tools>Object Repository.There are provisions in this Object
Repository Dialog box to add new objects,spy objects, find and replace property
values etc.

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The First Section of Object Repository Dialog Box contains provisions to
a. Add Objects : A Button to add new objects to the repository.
b. Highlight: To highlight the object selected in the repository, when the application
is open.
c. Object Spy: To Spy any Object, to see its Properties.
d. Export: To Export any objects to an outside location.

The second section of the dialog box contains provision to Find, Replace, Add, and
Remove the properties of an object in the Repository also set any default values for the
properties.

5.5 Expert View

While recording Tests in QTP, there are 3 important views that enable us to understand
clearly, the various representations of the Script. They are
a. Expert View
b. Keyword View: Hierarchical Representation of Actions

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c. Active Screen View: Pictorial view of the currently active Screen.

In the Expert View, QTP displays each operation performed on the application in the
form of a script. The script is comprised of VBScript statements and the view is a script
editor with many script editing capabilities. For each object and method in an Expert
View statement, a corresponding row exists in the Keyword View and a corresponding
Active Screen in the Active Screen view, which enables easy traceability.

Fig: Active Screen Component corresponding to Expert View Statement

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Fig: Keyword view and Active Screen view corresponding to one expert view statement

5.5.1 Step Generator:

If the user is familiar with VBScript, the user can add and update statements and enhance
the tests and components with programming. After the test or an Action is recorded, its
power and flexibility can be increased by adding recordable and non-recordable VBScript
statements as required for tasks like Check Points,Datatables etc.,.These additional steps
can be added either manually or using Insert>Step >Step Generator .whenever a step is
added to a script, then any Syntax errors of the step can be Identified in its Keyword
view.

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The Step Generator enables you to add steps quickly and easily, by selecting from a range
of context-sensitive options and entering the required values.The generated step gets
added at the position of cursor in the expert view.
The Step Generator enables you to add steps quickly and easily, by selecting from a range
of context-sensitive options and entering the required values. In the Step Generator dialog
box you can define steps that use:
• test object methods and properties
• utility object methods and properties
• calls to library functions, VBScript functions, and internal script functions

5.6 Setting related to the Application Used:

The different kind of Applications that can be tested using QTP are windows
applications,web based(java and .Net),SAP,Oracle etc.Apart from the windows

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applications using MFC and simple web applications(which can be run with default add-
ins), rest all applications require a special Add-in to be purchased to do the testing.Each

Add-in which is bought and installed, results in a new tab in all the setting dialog boxes ,
using which various setting options can be chosen.It purely depends on the type of
application , how to choose a particular setting option.

Example of a SAP Add-in :

Fig: The Add-in manager dialog with SAP add-in

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Fig: Record and Run Settings with a SAP Add-in.
For detailed information of the settings of the tabs other than the special tabs refer Record
and run settings.

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6. Objects

6.1 Objects

Objects are the things which contains different properties and methods.

For Example: Window is said to be an object which consists of properties such as
Exist, GetROProperty and methods such as ChildObjects, Activate, maximize,
minimize etc.

Property:

Property describes about the object defined, each object has different properties,
which is necessary to describe the object, which differentiates the given object
with other objects.

For example: If we take a window object, we first have to define to which class it
belongs to which is one of the property, it belongs to a window class. Exist is a
property which is common to many objects which returns true if that object exists.

Methods:

Methods are functions, which are used for changing the properties of the object
that is in order to manipulate with the object properties we use.

For example: If we take a window object, Activate is a method used to activate
the window object, thus by using Activate method Activate property of the
present window object is set to true, thus the window object will be activated if
not in activated mode.

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Sample for Object hierarchy:

Method for
“WinEdit”
Object

“Dialog” Object

Child Object
for “Dialog”
Object

In the above sample of code, there are two main Objects, one is Dialog and
the other is Window object. This objects contain child objects, For Dialog
object which is named as “Login” has WinEdit object with name as “Agent
Name:” as childobject, here Set is the method used to set a text into the
WinEdit object.

Dialog
Parent Object
named as “Login”

Child Object
WinEdit named as “Agent
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“Set” is the method associated with “WinEdit” object

7. Data Table
In QTP scripting there are many objects that are used, One of the Objects used in
QTP scripting is DataTable Object.

7.1 Datatable Object and related Functions:

Description

Basic use of Datatable object is to create an object for adding, deleting, updating data
of an excel sheet used.

Main functions of the datatable object:

• Importsheet : This function is used to Import sheet into the script, so that all
the data in the imported sheet can be used in the script.

Syntax:

Datatable.Importsheet(“nameofExcelfilewithpath”,
“nameofthesourcesheet”, “nameofthedestinationsheet”)

• Exportsheet : This function is used to Export sheet from the script, all the
data including output values are stored in the default sheet for the action, this
sheet is exported and stored in a specified location using this function.

Syntax:

Datatable.Exportsheet(“nameofExcelfilewithpath”,
“Nameofthesheet”)

• Addsheet : Used for adding a sheet into the script file.

• GetRowCount: This function is used to get the no of rows in a particular
sheet.

Syntax:

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Datatable.AddSheet(“Sheetname”).GetRowCount

• GetCurrentRow: This function is used to get the current row of a particular
sheet.

When an action is run by using run setting as “run on all rows”, that action
will run as many times as the number of rows in the excel sheet of the action,
in order to find the row for which action is running currently we use
GetCurrentRow function.

Syntax:

Datatable.GetSheet(“Sheetname”).GetCurrentRow

7.2 Organizing Data Sheets for Global & Local variables

Description

There are two types of sheets in any QTP Script, they are

Globalsheet
Localsheet

Globalsheet: Globalsheet in any script is unique, Globalsheet is used in order to store
values in the sheet and the values stored in Globalsheet can be used in all the actions.

For storing a value in the global sheet we use the following function:

Datatable.Value(“Fieldname”,”Global”) = Value

For using the values from the global sheet we use the following function:

Value = Datatable.Value(“Fieldname”,”Global”)

Localsheet: Each and every action in the script will have its own Localsheet, name of the
Localsheet of a particular action is same as the action name.

For using the data from the Local sheet we use following function:

Datatable.Value(“Fieldname”,dtlocalsheet)

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Or
Datatable.Value(“Fieldname”,”Sheetname”)

Organization of Global and Local sheets with the actions used in the script are shown
below:

Action name:
“Login”

Local Sheet for
“Login”
Action

Global
Sheet

7.3 Parameterizing using Data driven Wizard

Description

The Data Driver enables you to quickly parameterize several (or all) property
values for test objects, checkpoints, and/or method arguments containing the same
constant value within a given action.

You can choose to replace all occurrences of a selected constant value with a
parameter, in the same way that you can use a Find and Replace All operation
instead of a step-by-step Find and Replace process. QuickTest can also show
you each occurrence of the constant so that you can decide whether or not to
parameterize the value.

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If any property of an object is taken, that property can be parameterized using Data
driven Wizard,

Different steps for parameterization using Data driven Wizard is as follows:

• Go to tool bar option Tools and select Data Driver option
• We will get a list of all the properties of all the objects which can be
parameterized (i.e. for all the objects where a value for a property is given in
the script)

For example consider script for entering Login name which is as follows
Dialog("Login").WinEdit("Agent Name:").Set "name"
The Set property of WinEdit Object appears in the list of Datadriver with “name” as
Value representing the Set property of “Agent Name” Editbox, which is as given below:

• Select a value which should be parameterized and click on “Parameterize”
button.
• There will be two options to be selected as given below:

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Step-by-step Parameterization: Enables you to view the current values of each step
containing the selected value. For each step, you can choose whether or not to
parameterize the value, and if so, which parameterization options you want to use, the
Next button is enabled when you select this option, this will enable us to select an other
instance of the constant selected and parameterize that instant, it will continue the same
process till all the instances of the given value are done.

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Parameterize all: Enables you to parameterize all occurrences of the selected value
throughout the action.
When you select this option the Parameter details area is enabled. The Finish button is
enabled when you select this option.

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Here Parameter tab can be selected using the button given at the “Parameter” radio
button, and in the next screen select the datatable Field from where the property for
which the value belongs is parametererized, click on “Finish” button thus all the instances
of the value selected for parameterization will be parameterized.

7.4 Importing and Exporting Datasheets:

Description

Importing and Exporting of Datasheets are used for reading, writing and manipulating the
data in an excel sheet.

Importing Datasheet:

Description

Imports a sheet of a specified file to a specified sheet in the run-time Data Table. The
data in the imported sheet replaces the data in the destination sheet (see SheetDest
argument).

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Note: All the fields in the imported sheets should match with the data used in the script.
There are two functions for Importing, Importing the whole excel file and Importing the
sheets in the file.

Function for Importing the whole Excel file:

Imports the file into the script with all the sheets which are there in the excel file.

Note: Sheets in the excel file should match with the Actions in the script to use the data
efficiently, since action name and corresponding sheet name should be same.

Syntax:

Import “filenamewithpath”

Function for Importing the sheets from the excel file:

Imports the specified sheet into the script.

Syntax:

Importsheet “filenamewithpath”,”sourcesheetname”,
”destinationsheetname”

Exporting Datasheet:

Description

Exports a specified sheet of the run-time Data Table to the specified file.

• If the specified file does not exist, a new file is created and the specified sheet is
saved.
• If the current file exists, but the file does not contain a sheet with the specified
sheet name, the sheet is inserted as the last sheet of the file.
• If the current file exists and the file contains the specified sheet, the exported
sheet overwrites the existing sheet.

Same as Importing, There are two functions for Exporting, Exporting the whole excel file
and Exporting the sheets in the file.

Function for Exporting the whole Excel file:

Exports the file into the script with all the sheets which are there in the excel file.

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Syntax:

Export “filenamewithpath”

Function for Exporting the sheets from the excel file:

Exports the specified sheet into the script.

Syntax:

Exportsheet “filenamewithpath”,”sourcesheetname”,
”destinationsheetname”

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8. Actions

8.1 Actions Settings

You can use the Run tab of the Action Call Properties dialog box to instruct QuickTest to
run only one iteration on the called action, to run iterations on all rows in the Data Table,
or to run iterations only for certain rows in the Data Table.

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8.2 Iterations using rows

The Run tab includes the following options:

Option Description
Runs the called action only once, using the row in the action's data
sheet that corresponds to the current global iteration number. If the
action's data sheet contains fewer rows than the global sheet, the last
row of the action's data sheet is used for each subsequent test
iteration.

For example, suppose an action's data sheet has two rows and the
global sheet has four rows. If you choose to run one iteration only
for the action and you choose to run iterations on all rows of the
Run one
global data sheet, then during each iteration of the test, this action
iteration
will run only one iteration. The data that the action parameters use
only
during each repetition of the test are based on the iteration number
for the test.
During the first iteration of the test, Data Table parameters in the
action take data from the first row of the action's data sheet. In the
second iteration of the test, Data Table parameters in the action take
data from the second row of the action's data sheet. In the third and
subsequent iterations of the test, the Data Table parameters in the
action continue to take data from the second i.e. the last row of the
action's data sheet.
Run on all Runs the called action with the number of iterations according to the
rows number of rows in the action's Data Table.
Run from
Runs the called action with the number of iterations according to the
row __ to
specified row range.
row __

The Run tab of the Action Call Properties dialog box applies to individual action calls
and refers to the rows in the action's data sheet.

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8.3 Action Template

Creating an Action Template

If you want to include one or more statements in every new action in your test, you can
create an action template. For example, if you always enter your name as the author of an
action, you can add this comment line to your action template. An action template applies
only to actions created on your computer.
To create an action template:

1. Create a text file containing the comments, function calls, and other statements
that you want to include in your action template. The text file must be in the
structure and format used in the Expert View.

2. Save the text file as ActionTemplate.mst in your <QuickTest Installation
Folder>dat folder. All new actions you create contain the script lines from the
action template.

Only the file name ActionTemplate.mst is recognized as an action template.

ActionTemplate.mst
To view the Action template refer to

8.4 Script Startup

• Check for the required add-ins for an application.
• Include action template for every test containing script id, Action name, Action
Description, Recovery scenario used etc.
• Every action, scenario must be specified with an appropriate name.
• Check for mandatory input fields for all iterations in the datasheets that are being
imported.

Example:
The Resources tab of the Test Settings dialog box can be used to associate specific files
with the test, such as Data Table files.

The option area Other location instructs Quick Test to use data stored in the specified
Data Table location. The Data Table can be any Microsoft Excel (.xls) file.

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For a sample external file refer to Sample External File

• Check for the “Data table iterations” under the test settings for which the test has
to be run.

For further details refer to QTP test settings doc.

8.5 Splitting Actions, Re-usable Actions, Internal/External Actions

Actions help divide your test into logical units, specific activities that you perform
in your application.

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A test is made up of calls to actions. When you create a new test, it contains a call to a
single action or create tests that call multiple actions by inserting calls to them, to make
the design more modular and efficient tests.

There are three kinds of actions:

• reusable action—an action that can be called multiple times by
the test with which is stored in the local test as well as by other
tests.
• external action—a reusable action stored with another test.
External actions are read-only in the calling test. They can be
modified only in the test with which they are stored.
• Non-resuable-actions —an action that can be called only in the
test with which it is stored, and can be called only once.

For further details on creation & splitting of actions refer to Actions.

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9. Object Repository

9.1 Per Action/Shared Object Repository:

Setting the Shared /per action Object Repository option

To set only one test to use the Shared Object Repository option:

1. Click the "New" button or go to File -> New to open a new test.
2. Go to Test -> Settings.
3. Select the Resources tab.
4. In the Object repository type box, select one of the options:

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• Select "Per-action" to set the Object Repository mode for your test to the Object
Repository per action mode.

Below are some of the factors based on which Per Action option is selected

• Whenever there are no common objects across transactions
• Ease of building object repository.
• Loading of per Action object repository takes less time as the size is less

• Select "Shared" to set the Object Repository mode for your test to the Shared
Object Repository mode.

Below are some of the factors based on which Shared Action option is selected

• Whenever there are common objects across transactions
• Maintenance of object repository is very easy
• Whenever size of object repository is 1MB

5. If you selected Shared in step 4, specify the Shared Object Repository file you want to
use as the test's Object Repository file. To specify a file, enter the Object Repository file
name or click the "Browse" button and select a resource file (*.tsr) from the Open dialog
box. To create a new Shared Object Repository file, enter a new file name in the Shared
box.

Note: These steps need to be done in a new script. Once you have modified the script,
you will not be able to change the option.

To set all new scripts to use a Shared Object Repository:

For Quick Test Professional 6.5 and above
1. Click the New button or go to File -> New to open a new test.
2. Go to Test -> Settings.
3. Select the Resources tab.
4. Select the Shared option for the "Object-repository type".
5. Specify the Shared Object Repository file you want to use as the test's Object
Repository file. To specify a file, enter the Object Repository file name or click the
ellipse button <...> and select a resource file (*.tsr) from the Open dialog box. To create a
new Shared Object Repository file, enter a new file name and path in the Shared box.
6. Click the "Set as Default" button.
7. Click <Apply> and <OK>.

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9.2 Merging of two object repositories:

General:

The Object Repository File Merge Utility allows users to merge object repository files
into a single file. This utility is intended for an advanced user that builds powerful tests.

The Merge Utility allows you to merge the content of one Object Repository to another
one thus giving you the flexibility and the power in controlling the content of the Object
Repository and the ability to dynamically change this content.

Conflicts:
The implementation of the merge algorithm is quite simple when the object repository
files have different objects in them, or if all objects had only exact replicas in other files.
Due to the nature of the operation it is often not the case. For example, if we try to merge
two object repositories from tests that were recorded at different time points, between
which some test objects properties have changed (e.g. whether a button is enabled) then
the same object exists in the two repositories with different properties. We call this a
description conflict as the two objects have the same name, but different descriptive
properties. It can also be that the user has decided to modify the automatically assigned
logical name of an object (for example, in order to create a shorter name) in one
repository but not in the other. In this case, two objects will exist with different logical
names, but with the same descriptive properties. We call this a name conflict.

Resolving Conflicts:

It is not trivial to identify and handle conflicting objects. The user might want to merge
two objects that were not initially the same, or decide to keep two objects that for the
inexperienced eye would seem identical. For example, recording on web browsers would
likely generate identical logical names for browsers that have nothing in common. It is
also likely that if the text on a button has changed, new tests would record a new logical
name for it, even though the object behavior has not changed. It is therefore possible to
either keep the two objects (and their subtrees) separated, to assume that the two objects
are actually the same object, or to ignore one of the conflicting object. We will discuss
these choices later in detail.

Note: The Merge Utility works only on machines where QTP8.0 is installed.

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Merge Object Repositories Utility

Main Window:
This utility is designed to supply simple access to the functionality implemented by the
ObjectRepositoryMgr COM component. As the operation is not trivial, the UI has many
options to select, so we will discuss the different options in detail.

For different options of Merging refer to Merging of Object Repositories.

9.3 Limitations:

1. Mercury Interactive recommends that you keep the Object Repository under 1 MB and
perform regular backups. If the size crosses more than 1MB loading of object repository
takes lot of time .

2. The limitation on the number of Actions is 255. The reason is that each Action has a
data table sheet. The Formula 1 control has a limitation of 255 sheets so the limitation is

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255 Actions per test. You may be able to add additional Actions after reaching the 255
"limit", however those Actions will not be able to access a local data sheet.

Note: If you are calling reusable Actions, you may be able to have more than 255
Actions within the script. This can be accomplished if you are calling the same Action
more than one time within the script. The data sheet for the Action will only be loaded
once. This applies to "call to" Actions only.

Example:
In a new script, insert a "call to" a reusable Action. When the Action is added to the
script, you will see the data sheet added to the data table. Insert another "call to" to the
same Action. The data sheet will not be added again.

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10. Variables
In QTP scripting there are mainly 3 types of variable that we use. They are:
• Action Parameters.
• Environment Variables.
• VB Variables, which we declare in the script.

10.1 Action Parameters

Action parameters enable you to transfer values between actions and their nested
actions in your test, from your test to a top-level action, or from a step in a top-
level action back to the script or action that ran (called) your test. For example,
you can output a value from a step in a nested action and store it in an output
action parameter, and then use that value as input in a later step in the calling
parent action.

You define the parameters that an action can receive and the output values that it can
return in the Parameters tab of the Action Properties dialog box. You specify the actual
values that are provided to these parameters and the locations in which the output values
are stored in the Parameter Values tab in the Action Call Properties dialog box.

You can specify input parameters for an action so it can receive input values from
elsewhere in the test. Input values for an action can be retrieved from the test (for a top-
level action) or from the parameters of the action that calls it (for a nested action). You
can also specify output parameters for an action, so that it can output values for use later
in the test, or pass values back to the application that ran (called) the test.

Setting Action Parameters

You can specify input parameters for an action so that steps in the action can use values
supplied from elsewhere in the test. Input values for an action parameter can be retrieved
from the test (for a top-level action) or from the parameters of the action that calls it (for
a nested action). You can specify output parameters for an action, so that it can return
values for use later in the test. For each input or output action parameter, you define a
name and a type. You can also specify a default value for each action input parameter, or
you can use the default value that QuickTest provides for the parameter value type that
you choose. The default value is saved with the action and is used by the action if a value
is not defined for a parameter in the action call. You can define, modify, and delete input
and output parameters in the Parameters tab of the Action Properties dialog box.

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To add a new input or output action parameter:

1. Click the Add button next to the Input parameters or Output
parameters lists to add a new parameter to the appropriate list. A row for
the new parameter is added to the relevant list.
2. Click in the Name box and enter a name for the parameter.
3. Select the value type for the parameter in the Type box. You can select
one of the following types:
o String—A character string enclosed within a pair of quotation
marks, for example, "New York". If you enter a value and do not
include the quotation marks, QuickTest adds them automatically
when the value is inserted in the script during the test run. The
default value is an empty string.
o Boolean—A true or false value. If you select a Boolean value
type, you can click in the Default Value column and click the
arrow to select a True or False value. The default value is True.
o Date—A date string, for example, 3/2/2005. If you select a Date
value type, you can click in the Default Value column and click
the arrow to open a calendar from which you can select a date. The
default value is today's date.
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o Number—Any positive or negative number. The default value is
0.
o Password—An encrypted password value. If you select a
Password value type, the password characters are masked when
you enter the password in the Default Value field. The default
value is an empty string.
o Any—A variant value type, which accepts any of the above value
types. Note that if you select the Any value type, you must specify
the value in the format that is required in the location where you
intend to use the value. For example, if you intend to use the value
later as a string, you must enclose it in quotation marks. When you
specify a value of Any type, QuickTest checks whether it is a
number. If the value is not a number, QuickTest automatically
encloses it in quotation marks. If you are editing an existing value,
QuickTest automatically encloses it in quotation marks if the
previous value had quotation marks. The default value is an empty
string.
4. If you are defining an input action parameter, click in the Default Value
box and enter a default value for the parameter or you can leave the
default value provided by QuickTest for the parameter value type. The
default value is required so that you can run the action without receiving
parameter values from elsewhere in the test.
5. If you wish, click in the Description box, then enter a description of the
parameter, for example, the purpose of the parameter in the action.

To modify an existing action parameter:

1. Select the parameter you want to modify from the Input parameters or
Output parameters list.
2. Modify the values as necessary in the edit boxes of the parameter row.

To delete an existing action parameter:

1. Select the parameter you want to delete from the Input parameters or
Output parameters list.
2. Click the Delete button . The parameter is removed from the list.

10.2 Test Parameters

In the Parameters tab of Test Settings, you can define input parameters that pass values
into your test or component and output parameters that pass values from your test or

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component to external sources. You can also use the Parameters tab to modify or delete
existing test or component parameters

The Parameters tab contains two parameter lists:

• Input parameters—Specifies the parameters that receive values
from sources that are external to the test or component.
• Output parameters—Specifies the parameters that pass values to
sources that are external to the test or component.

You can edit an existing parameter by selecting it in the appropriate list and
modifying its details.

You can add and delete input and output parameters for your test or component
using the parameter control buttons:

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Option Description
Adds a parameter to the appropriate parameter list. Enter a name for the
new parameter and select the parameter type. You can enter a description
for the parameter, for example, the purpose of the parameter in the
component. If you are defining an input parameter, enter a default value
for the parameter in the Default Value column.
You define test or component parameters in the same way you define
action parameters.

Removes the selected parameter from the test or component.

Defining Values for Input Parameters

When the test or component runs, QuickTest uses the default value for each
defined input parameter if a specific value has not been defined for the parameter
in either QuickTest or Quality Center.
When you run a test or business component from QuickTest, input parameter
values for tests and components are taken from in the Input Parameters tab of the
Run dialog box.

Using Test or Component Parameters

Once you have defined test or component parameters, you insert them in your test
or component by specifying the test or component parameter name with the
Parameter reserved object, in the format: Parameter("ParameterName").

10.3 Environment Variables

QuickTest can insert a value from the Environment variable list, which is a list of
variables and corresponding values that can be accessed from your test. Throughout the
test run, the value of an environment variable remains the same, regardless of the number
of iterations, unless you change the value of the variable programmatically in your script.

There are three types of environment variables:

• User-Defined Internal—variables that you define within the test. These
variables are saved with the test and are accessible only within the test in
which they were defined.

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You can create or modify internal, user-defined environment variables for
your test in the Environment tab of the Test Settings dialog box or in the
Parameter Options dialog box.
Tip: You can also create environment output values, which retrieve values
during the test run and output them to internal environment variable
parameters for use in your test.

• User-Defined External—variables that you predefine in the active
external environment variables file. You can create as many files as you
want and select an appropriate file for each test, or change files for each
test run. Note that external environment variable values are designated as
read-only within the test.

• Built-in—variables that represent information about the test and the
computer on which the test is run, such as Test path and Operating system.
These variables are accessible from all tests, and are designated as read-
only.

Note: QuickTest also has a set of predefined environment variables that
you can use to set the values of the Record and Run Settings dialog
options. You should not use the names of these variables for any other
purpose.

10.4 Variable passing from one Action to another

QuickTest enables you to retrieve values in your test or component and to store them as
output values. You can subsequently retrieve these values and use them as input at a
different stage in the run session. You can pass variables from one action to another by
setting Action Call Parameter Values. You use the Parameter Values tab of the Action
Call Properties dialog box to specify the values of input action parameters used by the
called action and to specify the locations in which you want to store output action
parameter values. You can also parameterize the value used for a particular input action
parameter using any available parameter type.

The actual input and output action parameters that an action can receive or return, and
their types, are defined in the Action Properties dialog box. If you do not set a value for
an input action parameter in the Action Call Properties dialog box, the default value that
is specified in the Action Properties dialog box is used.

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You can specify a location in which to store the output action parameter values, which
can be used in the called action.

To specify a location in which to store an output action parameter value:

1. In the Output parameters area, click in the Store In box for the
parameter and enter a variable name.

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If we choose variable to store the value, then the value is stored in a run-
time variable for the duration of the run session. You can accept the
default name assigned to the variable or enter a different variable name.

Alternatively, you can click the output storage button in the Store In
box to open the Storage Location Options dialog box in which you can
specify a location for storing the output value. You can select to store the
value in a test or action parameter, a Data Table parameter, or an
environment parameter.

2. Repeat this procedure for each output action parameter value in the list.

10.5 Scope of Variables

Mainly there are two types of variables: action parameters and environment variables.
An action's parameters are stored with the action and are the same for all calls to that
action. If you change the action parameters defined for an action, and then view the
action properties for a call to that same action in a different part of the test, you can see
the action parameters have changed. However, the actual values specified for input action
parameters and the locations specified for action output parameters can be different for
each call to the action. When you insert a call to a copy of an action, the copy of the
action is inserted with the action parameters and action call parameter values that were

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defined for the action you copied. When you split an action, the action parameters are
copied to both actions. The action call values for the second action are taken from the
default values of that action's parameters.

Environment variables can be accessed from your test. Throughout the test run,
the value of an environment variable remains the same, regardless of the number
of iterations, unless you change the value of the variable programmatically in
your script.

There are three types of environment variables:

 User-Defined Internal—variables that you define within the test. These
variables are saved with the test and are accessible only within the test in
which they were defined.

You can create or modify internal, user-defined environment variables for
your test in the Environment tab of the Test Settings dialog box or in the
Parameter Options dialog box.

 User-Defined External—variables that you predefine in the active
external environment variables file. You can create as many files as you
want and select an appropriate file for each test, or change files for each
test run. Note that external environment variable values are designated as
read-only within the test.

 Built-in—variables that represent information about the test and the
computer on which the test is run, such as Test path and Operating system.
These variables are accessible from all tests, and are designated as read-
only.

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11. Check Points
A checkpoint is a verification point that compares a current value for a specified property
with the expected value for that property.

11.1 Types of Checkpoints

In QTP the following types of checkpoints can be inserted to check various objects in a
Web site or application.

• Standard Checkpoint checks the property value of an object in your
application or Web page. The standard checkpoint checks a variety of objects
such as buttons, radio buttons, combo boxes, lists, etc. For example, you can
check that a radio button is activated after it is selected or you can check the value
of an edit field.

Note: Standard checkpoints are supported for all add-in environments

• Image Checkpoint checks the value of an image in the application or Web page.
For example, we can check that a selected image's source file is correct.

Note: Image checkpoint can be created by inserting a standard checkpoint on an
image object.

Image checkpoints are supported only for the Web environment

• Bitmap Checkpoint checks an area of a Web page or an application as a
bitmap. For example, consider a Web site that can display a map of a city the user
specifies. The map has control keys for zooming. We can record the new map that
is displayed after one click on the control key that zooms in the map. Using the
bitmap checkpoint, we can check that the map zooms in correctly.

Note: Bitmap checkpoints are supported for all add-in environments

• Table Checkpoint checks information within a table. For example, suppose
an application or Web site contains a table listing all available flights from New
York to San Francisco. You can add a table checkpoint to check that the time of
the first flight in the table is correct.

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Note: You create a table checkpoint by inserting a standard checkpoint on a table
object.

Table checkpoints are supported for Web and ActiveX environments & for many
other external add-in environments.

• Text Checkpoint checks that a text string is displayed in the appropriate
place in the application or a Web page. For example, consider an application or
Web page that displays the sentence Flight departing from New York to San
Francisco. We can create a text checkpoint that checks that the words "New
York" are displayed between "Flight departing from" and "to San Francisco".

Text checkpoints are supported for all add-in environments

• Text Area Checkpoint checks that a text string is displayed within a defined
area in a Windows application, according to specified criteria. For example,
suppose your Visual Basic application has a button that says View Doc <Num>,
where <Num> is replaced by the four digit code entered in a form elsewhere in
the application. You can create a text area checkpoint to confirm that the number
displayed on the button is the same as the number entered in the form.

Text area checkpoints are supported for Standard Windows, Visual Basic, and
ActiveX add-in environments Text area checkpoints are also supported for some
external add-in environments.

• Accessibility Checkpoint identifies areas of your Web site that may not
conform to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines. For example, guideline 1.1 of the W3C Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines requires you to provide a text equivalent for every non-text element.
You can add an Alt property check to check whether objects that require the Alt
property under this guideline, do in fact have this tag.

Accessibility checkpoints are supported for the Web environment

• Page Checkpoint checks the characteristics of a Web page. For example, you can
check how long a Web page takes to load or whether a Web page contains broken
links.

Note: You create a page checkpoint by inserting a standard checkpoint on a page
object.

Page checkpoints are supported for the Web environment

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• Database Checkpoint checks the contents of a database accessed by your
Web site. For example, you can use a database checkpoint to check the contents
of a database containing flight information for your Web site.

Database checkpoints are supported by all environments.

• XML Checkpoint checks the data content of XML documents in XML files
or XML documents in Web pages and frames. XML checkpoints (Web
page/frame) are supported for the Web environment; XML checkpoints (file) are
supported by all environments

For more specific information refer to Checkpoints

Adding checkpoints in a test in QTP

There are several ways to add checkpoints.

• To add checkpoints while recording
• To add a checkpoint while editing the test

For more information refer to Checkpoints

11.2 Output Values for Verification

The following are the categories of output values that can be created:

• Standard Output Values
• Text Output Values
• Text Area Output Values
• Database Output Values
• XML Output Values


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Adding output values in a test in QTP

• To add checkpoints while recording
• To add a checkpoint while editing the test


Output Values Properties Dialog Box

The Output Value Properties dialog box enables you to choose which property values to
output and to define the settings for each value that you select.
Note: If you insert an output value on a Web page, the Page Output Value
Properties dialog box opens. This dialog except that it contains two additional
option areas, HTML verification and All objects in page. These options are
relevant only for checkpoints and are disabled when defining output values.

The output values can be output to either of these locations:

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• GlobalLocal Sheet
• Environment variables
• ActionTest Parameter.

This option is given in the output options dialog box

12. Reusable Library
Description

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When forming a new product the traditional engineer can take advantage of ready-made
subassemblies. To the test engineer, reusable software components offer the same
possibilities; the same components can be incorporated into many whole new systems,
thus saving the considerable time and effort it can take to generate new software.

Starting with an introduction to software reuse and a discussion of its feasibility, the
authors go on to consider how the components that may be found could be used. The
reusable library was designed with reuse very much in mind, making it essentially a
small, but invaluable, library.

12.1 Introduction

In QTP we can create VBScript library files containing VBScript functions, subroutines,
classes, modules, etc., and then associate the files with our test. We can call any VBScript
function, subroutine, etc., contained within any library file that is associated with our test.
Any text file written in standard VBScript syntax can act as a library file.

a) Functions
i. Built-In

ii. User defined

We can specify the default library files for all new tests in the Test
Settings dialog box (Test > Settings > Resources tab). We can also edit
the list of associated library files for an existing test in the Test Settings
dialog box. Note that once a test is created, the list of files specified in the
Test Settings dialog box is independent of the files set as default in the
Test Settings dialog box. Changes to the default library files list in the
Test.

12.2 How to establish a Reusable Library

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a. Defining Resource Settings for Your Test
We can use the Resources tab of the Test Settings dialog box to associate specific files
with your test, such as VBScript library files and Data Table files, and to specify the
object repository mode and file to use for our test. We can also set the currently
associated library files and object repository settings as the default settings for all new
tests.

b. Executing Externally-Defined Functions from Your Test
We can create a VBScript file and call its functions, subroutines, classes, etc., from an
action in your test or from an associated library file by inserting an ExecuteFile
statement in our action or library file.

When we run our test, the ExecuteFile statement executes all global code in the specified
file in order to make all definitions in the file available from the global scope of the
action's (or library file's) script.

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To execute an externally-defined function:

1. Create a VBScript file using standard VBScript
syntax.
2. Store the file in any folder that you can access from
the machine running your test.
3. Add an ExecuteFile statement to an action in your
test or in an associated library file using the
following syntax:

ExecuteFile FileName
where FileName is the absolute or relative path of our VBScript file.

1. Use the functions, subroutines, classes, etc., from the specified
VBScript file as necessary in your action or within other functions
in an associated library file.

12.3 How to use this Reusable Library.

13. Regular Expressions

13.1 Description
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While creating checkpoints we have an option only to search or check for a specific text
string or a specific value of a property. To increase the flexibility and adaptability
of the tests we use regular expressions.
Regular Expressions enable Quick Test to identify objects and text strings with varying
values.

A regular expression is a string that specifies a complex search phrase. By using special
characters we define the conditions of the search.

The most common expressions that can be used to create regular expressions are:

1. Using the Backslash Character

A backslash () instructs Quick Test to treat the next character as a literal
character, if it is otherwise a special character. The backslash () can also instruct
Quick Test to recognize certain ordinary characters as special characters.

For example, consider a Web site called:

mercurytours.mercuryinteractive.com

The period would be mistaken as an indication of a regular expression. To
indicate that the period is not part of a regular expression, you would write it as
follows:

mercurytours.mercuryinteractive.com

2. Matching Any Single Character

A period (.) instructs Quick Test to search for any single character (except for n).
For example:
welcome.
matches welcomes, welcomed, or welcome followed by a space or any other
single character. A series of periods indicates the same number of unspecified
characters.
To match any single character including n, enter: (.|n)

3. Matching Any Single Character in a List

Square brackets instruct QuickTest to search for any single character within a list of
characters. For example, to search for the date 1967, 1968, or 1969, write: 196[789]

4. Matching Any Single Character Not in a List

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