QTP New Version?

QTP did not release any updates for almost two years. Any guess, whether HP is going to come with any different release altogether or coming up with new tool...

See the release history below...

11.0 - Released in 2010
10.0 - Released in 2009
9.5 - Released in 2008
9.2 - Released in 2007
9.1 - Released in 2007
9.0 - Released in 2006
8.2 - Released in 2005
8.0 - Released in 2004
source: Wikipedia - QuickTest Professional

VBScript - Numbers as CmdLine Arguments

While I was preparing code for Excel Automation , I decided to pass the few integer values. Always the script got failed, if I pass the integer values through arguments. But the script went through fine, if I directly pass the parameters in that function call. While debugging the code, I was not able to find the reason for failure. I did Google search and unable to get the right solution.

Later I analyzed the code and put the simple conversion, while getting the arguments. The code worked as expected.

1. To Convert String to Integer --> iStartRow = CInt (WScript.Arguments.Item(1))


2. To Convert String to Double --> dExpVal = CDbl (WScript.Arguments.Item(2))


3. To Convert String to Number --> nRowRange = Val (WScript.Arguments.Item (3))

To know more about the Command Line Arguments to VBScript, go through this post - Passing Command Line Arguments .

If you are unable to run any VBScript, See my old post - Unable to run VBScript / WScript / CScript in Windows XP .

Excel Automation Using VBScript

Using VBScript, we can automate most of the Excel verification activities. In one project we can export reports to Excel. I have to verify the cell value, font color and Background color. It is difficult task to verify each cell property by any GUI testing tool. All tools are used to identify Excel Grid (Workbook) as Custom Object. I am using VBScript to read the excel contents. Another advantage, you can use the VBScript against different versions of Excel such as 2002, 2003 and 2007. But you need to change the code for Excel 2003 and 2007, if you have done by using GUI objects.

Below I put one Visual Basic script code. It reads the given excel file and put the details of each cell into a log file. Copy all contents from below textbox and save it as MyExcel.vbs and try to run this VBS file. You can run this script by using any GUI Testing tool. Command line call should be cscript MyExcel.vbs sExcelFile iStartRow iStartCol iEndRow iEndCol iSheetIndex

To Know more about this VBA Help, download help from this link Microsoft Office 2003 Editions: Excel VBA Language Reference

If you are unable to run any VBScript, See my earlier post Unable to run VBS or CScript in Windows XP .

VB Script to Read Excel Contents

 
' USAGE: MyExcel.vbs "D:\VB\Complex.xls" iStartRow iStartCol iEndRow iEndCol iSheetIndex
'cscript MyExcel.vbs "D:\VB\Complex.xls" 1 1 30 12 2

'******** Variables Declaration
' Files section
    'XLS File name
gsFile="D:\VB\Complex.xls"  'File with macros
gsLogFile="D:\VB\Results_vbs.log" 

Dim gsExcelFile, giStartRow, giStartCol, giEndRow, giEndCol, giSheetIndex
Dim gsResultsFile                      'Text file name
gsDirSeparator = "\"                         'Directory separator character


If WScript.Arguments.Count = 6 Then
 gsExcelFile = WScript.Arguments.Item(0)
 giStartRow = CInt (WScript.Arguments.Item(1))
 giStartCol = CInt (WScript.Arguments.Item(2))
 giEndRow = CInt (WScript.Arguments.Item (3))
 giEndCol = CInt (WScript.Arguments.Item (4))
 giSheetIndex = CInt (WScript.Arguments.Item (5))
  'To Read the Excel file
  'ReadExcel gsFile, 1, 1, 30, 12, 2
  'WScript.Echo "ReadExcel " , gsExcelFile, giStartRow, giStartCol, giEndRow, giEndCol, giSheetIndex
 ReadExcel gsExcelFile, giStartRow, giStartCol, giEndRow, giEndCol, giSheetIndex

Else
 'WScript.Echo "Usage: MyExcel.vbs sExcelFile iStartRow iStartCol iEndRow iEndCol iSheetIndex"
 'WScript.Quit
 ReadExcel gsFile, 1, 1, 30, 12, 2
End If

'ReadExcel gsFile, 1, 1, 30, 12, 2

'---------------------------------
' Method    :   ReadExcel
' Author    :   T. Palani Selvam
' Purpose   :   Reading Excel contents.
' Parameters:   - Nil
' Returns   :   - Nil
' Caller    :   - Nil
' Calls     :   - Nil

' Revision History:
'
' [No]  da-mon-year Name:    Action:
' [ 1]  07-Nov-2007 Palani   Created first version
'---------------------------------
Sub ReadExcel(sExcelFile, iStartRow, iStartCol, iEndRow, iEndCol, iSheetIndex)

'WScript.Echo "ReadExcel " , sExcelFile, iStartRow, iStartCol, iEndRow, iEndCol, iSheetIndex
 'ReadExcel(sExcelFile As Variant, iStartRow As Integer, iStartCol As Integer, iEndRow As Integer, iEndCol As Integer,iSheetIndex As Integer)

' Purpose: For Excel verification
' To Read the Excel and write into a file
' Each cell content
' Each cell - Foreground color, font name, font style, font size and Background color.


Dim sExcelPath 'As Variant  'Excel file

'********** Excel object declaration **********'
 ' Excel Application object
Dim objExcel 'As Excel.Application
Dim objXLWorkbooks 'As Excel.Workbooks
Dim objXLWorkbook 'As Excel.Workbook

Dim WorkSheetCount 'As Variant  'Work sheets count in a excel
Dim CurrentWorkSheet 'As Excel.Worksheet    ' Current worksheet
Dim objCells 'As Excel.Range
Dim objCurrentCell 'As Variant
Dim objFont 'As Variant

' Result contents
Dim sCellValue 'As Variant
Dim sShowCellValue 'As Variant
Dim sFontName 'As Variant
Dim sFontStyle 'As Variant
Dim iFontSize 'As Variant
Dim iBackColorIndex 'As Variant
Dim iForeColorIndex 'As Variant
Dim iBackColorIndex2 'As Variant
Dim iForeColorIndex2 'As Variant
Dim sResult 'As Variant


' Row and Col integer variables
Dim iUsedRowsCount 'As Integer
Dim iUsedColsCount 'As Integer
Dim iTop, iLeft 'As Integer
Dim iRow 'As Integer     'Row item
Dim iCol 'As Integer     'Col item
Dim iCurRow 'As Integer
Dim iCurCol 'As Integer


If (sExcelFile = "") Then    
    sExcelPath = "D:\VB\Contacts.xls"
Else
    sExcelPath = sExcelFile
End If

if (iSheetIndex = "") Then
  iSheetIndex =1
End If 


FileDeleteAndCreate (gsLogFile)

'XL file check
If (FileExists (sExcelPath) <> 0) Then
  LogWrite ("The Excel file " & Chr(34) & sExcelPath & Chr(34) & " does not exit!")
  'WScript.Echo "The Excel file, " & Chr(34) & sExcelPath & Chr(34) & " does not exit!"
  'WScript.Quit
Else
  LogWrite ("The XL file " & sExcelPath & " exists.")
End If

Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
objExcel.Workbooks.Open sExcelPath, False, True
'WScript.Echo "Reading data from " & sExcelPath
' objExcel.ExecuteExcel4Macro

'On Error GoTo ErrorHandler1
On Error Resume Next


WorkSheetCount = objExcel.Worksheets.Count
'WScript.Echo "We have " & WorkSheetCount & " worksheets."
'Set objXLWorkbook = objExcel.Workbooks(1)
Set objXLWorkbook = objExcel.ActiveWorkbook
'objXLWorkbook.RunAutoMacros

Set CurrentWorkSheet = objExcel.ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets(iSheetIndex) 'iSheetIndex worksheet
'Set CurrentWorkSheet = objExcel.ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets(1) 'First worksheet
' CurrentWorkSheet = objExcel.Worksheets(1) 'First worksheet


iUsedRowsCount = iEndRow 'CurrentWorkSheet.UsedRange.Rows.Count
iUsedColsCount = iEndCol 'CurrentWorkSheet.UsedRange.Columns.Count
iTop = iStartRow 'CurrentWorkSheet.UsedRange.Row
iLeft = iStartCol 'CurrentWorkSheet.UsedRange.Column

' Cells object
CurrentWorkSheet.Cells.Activate

For iRow = iTop To iUsedRowsCount   '(iUsedRowsCount - 1)
    'Read All rows
    For iCol = iLeft To iUsedColsCount  '(iUsedColsCount - 1)
        'Read all Columns
        
        sResult = ""

        Set objCurrentCell = CurrentWorkSheet.Cells(iRow, iCol)
        sCellValue = objCurrentCell.Value
        
        'If ((sCellValue = empty) Or (sCellValue = "empty")) Then
        If ((sCellValue = empty)) Then
            sCellValue = "empty"
         Else
            Set objFont = objCurrentCell.Font
            sFontName = objFont.Name
            
            sFontStyle = objFont.FontStyle
            iFontSize = objFont.Size
            iForeColorIndex = objFont.Color
            iForeColorIndex2 = objFont.ColorIndex
            
            If (sFontName = Empty) Then
                sFontName = "empty"
            End If
            If (sFontStyle = Empty) Then
                sFontStyle = "empty"
            End If
            If (iFontSize = Empty) Then
                iFontSize = "-99999999"
            End If
            If (iForeColorIndex = Empty) Then
                iForeColorIndex = "99999999"
            End If
            If (iForeColorIndex2 = Empty) Then
                iForeColorIndex2 = "99999999"
            End If
            sResult = "Reading Cell {" & CStr(iRow) & "," & CStr(iCol) & "}," & sCellValue & "," & sFontName & "," & CStr(sFontStyle) & "," & CStr(iFontSize) & "," & CStr(iForeColorIndex) & "," & CStr(iForeColorIndex2)
            
            LogWrite (sResult)

        End If
         Set objCurrentCell = Nothing        
         
    Next
    
Next

' This will prevent Excel from prompting us to save the workbook.
objExcel.ActiveWorkbook.Saved = True
Set CurrentWorkSheet = Nothing

'objExcel.Worksbooks.Close
objExcel.Quit

''Set CurrentWorkSheet = Nothing
Set objExcel = Nothing

            
MsgBox "Read COmpleted.", vbOKOnly, "Exec Over"
Exit Sub

ErrorHandler1:
MsgBox "Error # " & CStr(Err.Number) & " " & Err.Description
Err.Clear   ' Clear the error.

End Sub

'---------------------------------
' Method    :   Logwrite
' Author    :   T. Palani Selvam
' Purpose   :   Append the given message into Log file.
' Parameters:   sMsg - String, Contains logging message.
' Returns   :   - Nil
' Caller    :   - Nil
' Calls     :   - Nil

' Revision History:
'
' [No]  da-mon-year Name:    Action:
' [ 1]  07-Nov-2007 Palani   Created first version
'---------------------------------
Sub LogWrite(sMsg)
 Const ForAppending = 8
 'FileName = "D:\VBs\Mysamples\1create.txt"

 Set objFSO = CreateObject("scripting.FileSystemObject")
 Set objTextFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile (gsLogFile, ForAppending, True)

  objTextFile.WriteLine date & " " & time & ": " & sMsg
 objTextFile.Close

 Set objTextFile = Nothing 
 Set objFSO = Nothing 
End Sub

'---------------------------------
' Method    :   FileExists
' Author    :   T. Palani Selvam
' Purpose   :   Checks the given file is avialable or not.
' Parameters:   - Nil
' Returns   :   - Returns As Boolean
' Caller    :   - Nil
' Calls     :   - Nil
'---------------------------------
Function FileExists(strPathName)
'return 0 if a file exists else -1
 Dim ObjFSO
 
 Set ObjFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 
 if ObjFSO.FileExists(strPathName) = False then
   FileExists = -1
 else
   FileExists = 0
 end If
 
 Set ObjFSO = Nothing
End Function

'---------------------------------
' Method    :   FileDeleteAndCreate
' Author    :   T. Palani Selvam
' Purpose   :   To delete the file if exists..
' Parameters:   - Nil
' Returns   :   - Returns As Boolean
' Caller    :   - Nil
' Calls     :   - Nil
'---------------------------------
Function FileDeleteAndCreate(strFileName)
 ' delete
 Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 
 On Error Resume Next
 Set objTextFile = objFSO.GetFile(strFileName)
 objTextFile.Delete
 
 Set objTextFile = objFSO.CreateTextFile(strFileName)
 
 objTextFile.Close
 Set objTextFile = Nothing 
 Set objFSO = Nothing 

End Function

'---------------------------------
' Method    :   Initialize
' Author    :   T. Palani Selvam
' Purpose   :   Initial actions & arrangements will be completed.
' Parameters:   - Nil
' Returns   :   - Nil
' Caller    :   - Nil
' Calls     :   - Nil
'---------------------------------
Sub Initialize()
 'CHECKING INPUT FILES ARE AVAILABLE OR NOT
    gsLogFile = App.Path & "\Results.log"
End Sub

QTP - Smart Identification

Sometimes back, I was in a QTP interview panel. Most of the candidates do not know about smart identification. That's why, I thought to write to this post.

Need of Smart Identification
Smart identification is a technique in QuickTest Professional. It is used to identify the objects, even though few mandatory properties are changed at run time.

Smart Identification Overview
The Smart Identification dialog box enables you to create and modify the Smart Identification definition that QuickTest Professional uses for a selected test object class. When the recorded definition for an object does not enable QTP to identify an option, QuickTest Professional uses the smart identification definition (if defined and enabled) to identify the object.

Smart Identification uses two types of properties:

1. Base filter properties: The most fundamental properties of a particular test object class; those whose values cannot be changed without changing the essence of the original object. For example, if a Web link's tag was changed from <A> to any other value, you could no longer call it the same object.


2. Optional filter properties: Other properties that can help identify objects of a particular class as they are unlikely to change on a regular basis, but which can be ignored if they are no longer applicable.

To know more about Smart Identification, You can see the QuickTest Professional Help for following topics:

1. About Configuring Smart Identification


2. Understanding the Smart Identification Process


3. Reviewing Smart Identification Information in the Test Results


4. Walking Through a Smart Identification Example


5. Step-by-Step Instructions for Configuring a Smart Identification Definition

Comparison between SilkTest and QuickTest Professional

Two months back, I thought to write a post about SilkTest and QTP comparison. Both the tools are market-leading testing tools. The latest versions of both tools have Vista and Flex support. I did not give any detailed description for each feature or item.

Product page
Here I have listed the product pages for both.
Silktest Product Page
Quick Test Professional Product page

Wiki pages
Silktest on Wiki
QuickTestProfessional (QTP) on Wiki

Code samples for both tools
Sample 4test code snippets for SilkTest
Sample QTP and VB Script code snippets

References:

1. SILKTEST AND WINRUNNER FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS - By Horwath/Green/Lawler


2. WinRunner vs. QuickTest Pro Quick Comparison - By Shawn LoPorto, Senior Test Automation Architect


3. AUTOMATION TEST TOOLS - By Ray Robinson, 2001


4. Comparision of Web testing tools

Comparison Table: SilkTest Vs QuickTest Professional

Features	SilkTest	QuickTest Professional
Recording Script	Recorder available with different set of features.	Recorder available with different set of features.
OS	Windows upto Vista, Unix (SilkBean)	Windows upto Vista, Unix (Xrunner)
Browsers support	Internet Explorer, Netscape, FireFox, AOL	Internet Explorer, Netscape, FireFox, AOL
Database tests	With the help of DSN (ODBC32 Interface)	With the help of DSN (ODBC32 Interface) plus VB Scripting
Data functions	Good	Good. Having extensive support for SpreadSheet (Excel).
Tests	Termed as Testcase. Each Testcase has block of coding statements.	Termed as Actions. Each Action has block of coding statements.
Test Script	Script is a single file.	Actually Script is a folder and have set of supporting files.
Code View	Classic 4Test, Visual 4Test	Keyword View, Expert View
Objects Repository	Official term is Window declarations. They can be edited directly from the Editor.	Maintained as separate file. With the help of utility, objects are modified. Two types as per QTP setting. They are 'Per Action Repository' and 'Shared Repository'. File extensions will be varied for each type.
Dynamic objects	Object properties can be passed dynamically. Variety of methods available to handle them.	Object properties can be passed dynamically. Another term is known as Descriptive Programming.
Class Mapping	Class Mapping is available.	Class Mapping is available.
Custom Classes	RecorderClass and Extension Kit are available.	Virutal Object Wizards available.
Image testing	Bitmap Capture and Verification functions.	Bitmap Capture and Verification functions.
Test/Error Recovery	Powerful Recovery system available.	Recovery Manager
Verification	Provided Verify and Verify Properties functions.	Provided check points for different purposes.
Results Reporting	Results are stored into *.res binary files. It can be converted into differnt formats. Multiple versions can be stored into single file.	QTP results are stroed as XML files and can be converted to HTML files. Result folder contain many files. One result folder can store results for only one run.
Test Management Tool Integration	Integrated with SilkCentral Test Manager.	Integrated with Quality Center.
Distributed Testing	Remote Agent.	Having Remote COM Agent.
DLL support	Only Standard DLLs. It does not support the COM/ActiveX DLLs, which are created by VB/.NET.	Both COM and Standard DLLs are supported.
Java Support	Yes	Yes
Flex Support	Available to certain extent.	Available to certain extent.
DotNet Support	Yes	Yes
Internatioalization (i18N) Support	Yes	Yes
Timer functions	Having rich set of functions to calculate time taken for block of statements or testcases. Help: Timers	Having limited functions to calculate time taken for block of statements or actions. Help: Measuring Transactions
Environment support	Can access OS level variables.	Can access OS level variables.
Batch Run	Suite (*.s) and Test plan (*.pln) are available.	Test Batch Runner utility.
Coding	4Test Language.	Similar to Visual Basic
Ability to run multiple scripts consistantly and continuously.	Yes	Should run from Quality Center.
Coding Style	4Test Language. Similar to C++	Visual Basic Script
Integration with External libraries	NO	VB Script libraries.
Code Samples	Few samples from vendor.	Few samples from vendor. But many VB Script samples available on Internet.
OOPs Support	Yes. Oops concepts are supported for certain extent. User can extend standard classes.	NO
Data types	Set of data types are available. User can create their own data types also.	Set of data types are available. User cannot create their own data types
Interactive Debugging	Debugging features available.	Debugging steps available.
Ease of use	Just record and playback, won't help. Medium.	Record and playback used to help. Very Simple. Easy to learn.
Documentation	HLP file available. PDF docs are only for beginners.	Both CHM and PDF files are available. Enough info.
Tool Updates	Continuing process.	Continuing process.
Cost	~$9K	More than $10K
Script Templates	Manual. No Ways to create automatic templates.	Manual. No Ways to create automatic templates.
Editor	Good. Simple one. Having Project explorer similar to MS Visual Studio.	Better one with nice look. But using tabs to show more than one script.
Tool Support	Tool support is available for only latest versions (from silktest 8.0 )	Tool support is available for only latest versions.
Latest Version	Silktest 2008	QuickTest Professional 9.5
Strengths	Good Development language, good online community, recovery system, Good cross browser support, Code Maintenance	The most popular test tool by great user base, plenty of jobs, good online community, Good cross browser support.
Weaknesses	Helpdesk, Slightly expensive, Skilled resources	Helpdesk (Getting bad now), Expensive tool.
Vendor	Borland. Initially developed by Segue. Borland acquired Segue on 2006.	HP (Hewlett-Packard). Initially developed by Mercury Interactive. HP acquired Mercury on 2006.
Product Name Changes	Initially QA Partner. Later changed to SilkTest.	Initially Astra QuickTest. Later changed to QuickTest Professional.

Note:In case, if you want to add or modify any feature, please drop a mail to palani.selvam@gmail.com

QTP - Descriptive Programming

QuickTestProfessional help refers Descriptive Programming as Programmatic description. Below given few info about Descriptive Programming.

Using Object Repository
When you record an operation on an object, QuickTest adds the appropriate test object to the Object Repository. Once the object exists in the Object Repository, you can add statements in the Expert View to perform additional methods on that object. To add these statements, you usually enter the logical name of each of the objects in the object's hierarchy as the object description, and then add the appropriate method.

Descriptive Programming (Programmatic Description) Usage
Programmatic description can be very useful if you want to perform an operation on an object that is not stored in the Object Repository. You can also use programmatic descriptions in order to perform the same operation on several objects with certain identical properties, or in order to perform an operation on an object whose properties match a description that you determine dynamically during the test run.

There are two types of programmatic descriptions:

1. Static . You list the set of properties and values that describe the object directly in a VBScript statement.
2. Dynamic . You add a collection of properties and values to a Description object, and then enter the Description object name in the statement.

Using the Static type to enter programmatic descriptions directly into your statements may be easier for basic object description needs. However, in most cases, using the Dynamic type provides more power, efficiency, and flexibility.

Useful Links :
Descriptive Programming by QTP Expert Tarun Lalwani

Sample QTP code for Descriptive Programming - Dynamic

Sample QTP code for Descriptive Programming - Static

QTP - Handling Dynamic objects

Most of the QTP (Quick Test Professional) users are using playback methods to develop the scripts. Here I have given a code snippet to handle dynamic objects. You can put the object physical description directly. You can develop the script with Object Repository.

Code: Login for Mercury Flight

Dialog("nativeclass:=#32770","text:=Login").Activate
Dialog("nativeclass:=#32770","text:=Login").WinEdit("nativeclass:=Edit","attached text:=Agent Name:").Set "tester1"
Dialog("nativeclass:=#32770","text:=Login").WinEdit("nativeclass:=Edit","attached text:=Password:").Set "mercury"
Call wait(2)
Dialog("nativeclass:=#32770","text:=Login").WinButton("nativeclass:=Button","text:=OK").Click

Code: Browser certification dialog

If Browser("name:=Certificate Error: Navigation Blocked").Page("title:=Certificate Error: Navigation Blocked").Exist(0) Then
' To DO
End If

QTP - Tooltip verification in Browser

In Silktest, I have done tooltip verification by using Javascript. Post Silktest - Tooltip verification in Browser

How will you verify tooltip in Quick Test Professional (QTP)? Dmitry Motevich clearly explained it in his blog. He is using FireEvent("onmouseover") to simulate mouse placing over the link and picking the value from Windows Class. I hope that we can use outerhtml to get the tooltip value from ALT attribute.

Dmitry Motevich's Post : How to capture ToolTip by QTP

VBScript - Passing CmdLine Arguments

I was searching on net, how to pass the command line arguments. It is possible. We can pass the command line arguments in VBScript. If you have worked with command-line tools, you are already familiar with the concept of arguments. Arguments can be divided as Named Arguments and UnNamed Arguments.

Named arguments
Named arguments are arguments that consist of two parts: a name and a value. The name must be prefaced with a forward slash, and a colon must separate the name from the value. The slash prefix and the colon separator are fixed and cannot be changed. See below Example.

RemoteServer.vbs /Host:AppSrv1 /App:Symantec /TimeLimit:2000
Item : Value
Host:AppSrv1
App:Symantec
TimeLimit:2000

UnNamed arguments
The WshUnnamed filtered collection contains the one unnamed argument. The WshUnnamed Count method and Length property return the number of filtered arguments in the WshUnnamed collection. Example is given below.

FormatMask.vbs "D:\VB\FormatMask\Complex.xls" 30 12
Item : Value
0 : D:\VB\FormatMask\Complex.xls
1 : 30
2 : 12

Source: Working with Command-Line Arguments

Code: Example of UnNamed arguments

 
If WScript.Arguments.Count = 3 Then
 ServerName = WScript.Arguments.Item(0)
 EventLog = WScript.Arguments.Item(1)
 EventID = WScript.Arguments.Item(2)
Else
 Wscript.Echo "Usage: GetEvents.vbs ServerName EventLog EventID"
 Wscript.Quit
End If

Code: Named arguments

 
Set colNamedArguments = WScript.Arguments.Named

strServer = colNamedArguments.Item("Server")
strPacketSize = colNamedArguments.Item("PacketSize")
strTimeout = colNamedArguments.Item("Timeout")
Wscript.Echo "Server Name: " & strServer
Wscript.Echo "Packet Size: " & strPacketSize
Wscript.Echo "Timeout (ms): " & strTimeout

QTP - TextBox Length

I was going through EMOS Framework. I think that this framework has been developed in QuickTest Professional 6.5 There I have seen a function to find the text box length. Below I have given that code snippet, which is very simple.

Code:

Public Sub BrowserWebEdit (strWebEdit,strInValue)
If strInValue <> "" Then
'Get Length of strInValue
InLenCount = Len(strInValue) 
'Get Max Length for input
LenCount = Browser(strBrowser).Page(strPage).WebEdit(strWebEdit).GetROProperty ("max length")
If InLenCount > LenCount Then
If LenCount <> -1 Then
'Trim Length of input
Reporter.ReportEvent micWarning, strInValue , InLenCount & ": Length exceeds field input value trimed to: " & LenCount
strInValue = Left(strInValue, LenCount) 
End If  
End If  
Browser(strBrowser).page(strPage).Sync
Browser(strBrowser).Page(strPage).WebEdit(strWebEdit).Set strInValue
End If
End Sub

VBScript - File Read and Write

I have developed few projects using Visual Basic. But I do not have much scripting in Visual Basic Script (VBS). In VB, the file handling functions are different than VBScript. We need to use FileSystemObject for file handling. Below I have given two code snippets to read and write into text files. This code can be used into Quick Test Professional also.

Reading a Text file

 
Const ForReading = 1, ForWriting = 2

FileName = "D:\VBs\Mysamples\1create.txt"
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

If  objFSO.FileExists(FileName) Then

  Set objTextFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(FileName, ForReading) 

  Do while Not objTextFile.AtEndOfStream
        sLine = objTextFile.ReadLine        
        Wscript.Echo sLine
  loop
 
End If

objTextFile.Close

Set objFile = Nothing 
Set objFSO = Nothing 

Writing to a Text file

 
Const ForAppending = 8
FileName = "D:\VB\Mysamples\1create.txt"

Set objFSO = CreateObject("scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objTextFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile (FileName, ForAppending, True)

For iIndex=1 to 10
 objTextFile.WriteLine(iIndex)
Next

objTextFile.Close

Set objTextFile = Nothing 
Set objFSO = Nothing 

Class Mapping in QuickTestPro

Class Mapping concept is explained in Custom Objects . QuickTest Professional (QTP) also provides class mapping. The Object Mapping enables you to map an object of an unidentified or custom class to a Standard Windows class.

You can do by Object Identification dialog box from tools menu. For more information, you can refer help for Mapping User-Defined Test Object Classes.

QTP - Getting INPUT objects

I wrote a qtp (Quicktest Professional) code for listing INPUT element's objects. Descriptive Programming is a feature in QTP. It is used to handle dynamic objects. I will write later about Descriptive Programming. Here below function returns particular type of objects in a web page.

Function:

 
'Calling function to list editboxes
Set ObjEditAll = ListAllWebObjects (Browser("My APP").Page("First Form"),"text")

Function ListAllWebObjects (ObjContainer,sControlType)
'  Getting all type of INPUT objects
Dim MyDescription,objEditBoxes,NoOfChildObjs,Counter,strReport
Dim sTemp, objEdit

 'Initialization
'ListAllWebObjects = Nothing
Set MyDescription = Description.Create() 
MyDescription("html tag").Value = "INPUT" 
MyDescription("type").Value = sControlType 

Set  objEditBoxes = ObjContainer.ChildObjects(MyDescription) 
NoOfChildObjs = objEditBoxes.Count 

strReport = ObjContainer.ToString() & " contains the following child object(s):" 
For Counter=0 to NoOfChildObjs-1 
  strReport = strReport & vbNewLine & objEditBoxes.Item(i).ToString() 
  set objEdit = objEditBoxes(Counter)

  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("name")
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - name property", sTemp
  
  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("class")
  'sTemp = objEdit.object.ClassName
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - class property", sTemp
  
  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("index")
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - index property", sTemp
  
  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("location")
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - location property", sTemp
  
  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("html id")
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - html id property", sTemp
  
  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("innerhtml")
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - innerhtml property", sTemp
  
  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("outerhtml")
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - outerhtml property", sTemp
  
  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("innertext")
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - innertext property", sTemp
  
  sTemp = objEdit.GetROProperty ("outertext")
  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, objEdit.ToString() & " - outertext property", sTemp
          
Next 

set ListAllWebObjects = objEditBoxes

  Reporter.ReportEvent micDone, ObjContainer.ToString() & " child objects", strReport 
End Function

MS XML Parser by Visual Basic

I love to use XML Parser. It is very easy to do by Visual basic. You can get the equivalent visual test code here - Visual Test - MS XML Parser. I'm thinking to use it in Quick Test Professional (QTP). Below code snippets are simple and easy to use.

Case1: To load any XML content

 
'-----------------------------------------
' Method    :   XMLParserLoadXML
' Author    :   T.Palani Selvam
' Purpose   :   Creates XML Parsing object according to the given XML String.
' Parameters:   sXML - String, contains data in XML Format.
' Returns   :   Returns a Object, which contains XML Parsing object.
' Caller    :   - Nil
' Calls     :   - Nil -
'------------------------------------------
Function XMLParserLoadXML(sXML As String) As Variant
Dim objXML As Variant

    XMLParserLoadXML = Null

    Set objXML = CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM")     'Declare a Object
    objXML.async = False
    objXML.loadXML (sXML)  'Load xmlformat String

    'OleSetProperty(objXML,"preserveWhiteSpace") = False

    If (objXML.parseError <> 0) Then
        LogWrite ("Parsing Error in the File :" + sXMLFile)
        Exit Function
    End If
    
                    'Top Node of given file
    Set XMLParserLoadXML = objXML.documentElement
End Function

Case2: It parsed the given tag in given content and returns the node.

 
'-----------------------------------------
' Method    :   XMLParser
' Author    :   T.Palani Selvam
' Purpose   :   Creates XML Parsing object according to the given XML Format File and Element.
' Parameters:   sXMLFile - String, contains a file name, which is in XML Format.
'               sTag - String, contains element name from which Tag or element based object to be returned.
' Returns   :   Returns a Object, which contains XML Parsing object.
' Caller    :   - Nil
' Calls     :   - Nil -
'-----------------------------------------
Function XMLParser(sXMLFile As String, sTag As String) As Variant
Dim objXML As Variant, objNode As Variant, objTemp As Variant, objRoot As Variant
'Dim varTest As Variant
Dim iIndex As Integer, iTemp As Integer
'Dim objRoot As node

    XMLParser = Null
    sTag = Trim(sTag)
    Set objXML = CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM")     'Declare a Object
    objXML.async = False
    objXML.Load (sXMLFile)  'Load xmlformat file

    If (objXML.parseError <> 0) Then
        LogWrite ("Parsing Error in the File :" + sXMLFile)
        MsgBox ("Parsing Error in the File :" + sXMLFile)
        Exit Function
    End If
    
                    'Top Node of given file
    Set objRoot = objXML.documentElement
    'Print "XML File is : " & sXMLFile
    'Print objRoot.nodeName & " Name of the node.."

    If ((sTag = "") Or (sTag = objRoot.nodeName)) Then
        'XMLParser = CVar(objRoot)
        Set XMLParser = objRoot
        'Set varTest = objRoot
        'XMLParser = objRoot
        Exit Function
    End If

    If objRoot.hasChildNodes <> 0 Then
        objTemp = objRoot.childNodes
        iTemp = objTemp.length

        For iIndex = 0 To iTemp - 1
            objNode = objTemp.Item(iIndex)
            If (UCase(Trim(objNode.nodeName)) = UCase(sTag)) Then
                XMLParser = objNode
                Exit Function
            Else
                Set objNode = Nothing
            End If
        Next iIndex
    End If

    objTemp = objXML.getElementsByTagName(sTag) 'Search whole file with sTag
    iTemp = objTemp.length
    If (iTemp > 0) Then
        objNode = objTemp.Item(0)
        XMLParser = objNode
    End If

End Function

Automation Tool support

In my first job, I used to automate by using VisualTest. There is no updates, after IBM acquired Rational. In this year, the yahoogroups also removed. VisualTest is a simple and powerful tool. Similarly Segue was acquired by Borland. Initially Borland took much time to set the updates on Silktest and Silkperformer. Later it announced that older versions of Silktest and silkperformer will not have support. Now its time for HP-Mercury.

Yesterday I got a mail from my friend. It said that HP is going to stop support for Winrunner. PDF is available here. There is a solution to migrate winrunner scripts to QuickTestProfessional. It is available at win-quick I donot know how much painful task it is for each company.


The frequent acquisitions are making many questions among to automation engineers.

1. Whether this product will be promoted?
2. Whether the updates will be added frequently as per changing technology?
3. What will happen to future if the product is ended?
4. How will be job market for this particular tool?