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objects of a particular class as they are unlikely to change on a regular basis, but which can be ignored if they are no longer applicable.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 - 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 - 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

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