Converting Bitmap to GIF/JPG image

Earlier I have written a post about Automation Basics - Capturing Failures . Almost all the GUI testing tools are providing built-in functions to take the snapshot of screen. Snapshot can be taken for given screen co-ordinates or entire object.

Mostly these snapshots are stored as bitmap (*.bmp) files. Bitmap files are occupying more hard-disk space. It is difficult to maintain all the snapshots for each build in release-wise. IrfanView is a windows graphic viewer and it is a freeware utility. It has many command-line options for image related actions. You can just copy the executable file to another machine and can open or use immediately.

Syntax to Convert one image to another image format:
/convert=filename - convert input file to 'filename' and close IrfanView

Below I have given the way to implement in Silktest. This can be done for any testing tool.

[ ] //convert the image
[ ] SYS_Execute ("D:\autostuff\i_view32.exe {sBmpImage} /silent /convert={sGifImage}")

Restart Silktest Agent at Runtime

Last few months, I faced one issue and solved it by restarting silktest Agent.
Problem
We have a silktest suite for our Excel AddIn. It is developed by DotNet Framework. Silktest DotNet extension goes off after running 75-200 tests. Also facing this issue differently for both Excel 2003 and Excel 2007. Already I raised one post 'Application not responding" for this.

 
 [ ] *** Error: Application is not responding
 [ ] Occurred in Exists
 [ ] Called from MSExcelAddIns at ExcelRecoverySystem.inc(573)
 [ ] Called from ASCS_EAIBaseState at ExcelRecoverySystem.inc(684)
 [ ] Called from SymmetricReport at ExcelRecoverySystem.inc(714)
 [ ] Called from TestcaseEnter at ExcelRecoverySystem.inc(255)
 [ ] Called from PreservingFunctions_ReplaceWithUpper at PreservingFunctions.t(238)
 [ ] Error E_APP_NOT_RESPONDING) raised. Closing all applications
 [ ] *** Error: Application is not responding
 [ ] Occurred in Exists
 [ ] Called from KillExcelApp at ExcelRecoverySystem.inc(395)
 [ ] Called from CloseAllApps at ExcelRecoverySystem.inc(386)

Solution:
Later selected cases are executed fine, If I close silktest agent and re-run few cases. I am able to figure out, where/when it is not able to identify. Then I tried to restart the agent in that machine, while scripts are executing continuously.

4Test code: To restart Silktest Agent

 
[-] void RestartSilkAgent ()
 [ ] // To Restart Silktest Agent
 [ ] 
 [ ] STRING sAgent
 [ ] 
 [ ] 
 [ ] sAgent = GetMachineName ()
 [ ] Print ("Agent name: {sAgent}")
 [ ] Print (Desktop.GetActive ())
 [ ] Disconnect (sAgent)
 [ ] 
 [ ] Print ("**** Restarting Silktest Agent ...")
 [ ] SYS_Execute ("D:\SampleDotNet\RestartAgent.bat")
 [ ] Print ("**** Restarted Silktest Agent @@@@@@")
 [ ] 
 [ ] Connect (sAgent)
 [ ] Print (Desktop.GetActive ())
 [ ] 
[ ] 

VBA - Extract Pictures from Excel

Last month, I have written Excel Automation Using VBScript. Today this post is to extract Pictures from Excel. Generally We can not use Export method for pictures. But we can use for Excel charts. I tried to extract our SVG chart image by macro and I succeed on it. I got help from Export pictures from Excel Below I've given the VBA Macro code.

VBA Macro - To extract Picture from Excel

Sub GetFirstPicture()

Dim sCurrPath As String
Dim aWorkSheet As Excel.Worksheet
Dim aShape As Excel.Shape
Dim aShapeChart As Excel.Shape
Dim aPicture As Variant
Dim aChart As Excel.Chart
Dim sCurrentSheet As String

Dim aImage As Variant
Dim iIndex As Integer
Dim iShapeCount As Integer

Dim MyChart As String, MyPicture As String
Dim PicWidth As Long, PicHeight As Long
Dim sChartJpg As String
Dim sChartGif As String
Dim sChartBmp As String

'On Error GoTo ErrHandler
On Error Resume Next

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

sCurrPath = "D:\VB\MyTrials\ChartExpFromXL"
sChartJpg = "D:\VB\MyTrials\ChartExpFromXL.jpg"
sChartGif = "D:\VB\MyTrials\ChartExpFromXL.gif"
sChartBmp = "D:\VB\MyTrials\ChartExpFromXL.bmp"

Set aWorkSheet = ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet
sCurrentSheet = aWorkSheet.Name

'MsgBox CStr(msoTrue) + " value for MsoTrue"
' MsoTrue equals to -1
MsgBox "Shapes count " + CStr(aWorkSheet.Shapes.Count)
For iIndex = 1 To aWorkSheet.Shapes.Count

Set aShape = aWorkSheet.Shapes(iIndex)
MyPicture = aShape.Name
MsgBox aShape.Name + " Name, " + Str(aShape.Type)
'Picture 1 Name,  13
If Left(aShape.Name, 7) = "Picture" Then
With aShape
PicHeight = .Height
PicWidth = .Width
End With
'Set aChart = aWorkSheet.ChartObjects(1)
Set aChart = ActiveWorkbook.Charts.Add
ActiveWorkbook.ActiveChart.Location Where:=xlLocationAsObject, Name:=sCurrentSheet
iShapeCount = aWorkSheet.Shapes.Count
Set aShapeChart = aWorkSheet.Shapes(iShapeCount)
MyChart = aShapeChart.Name      '"Chart " & Str(aWorkSheet.Shapes.Count)

aShapeChart.Width = PicWidth
aShapeChart.Height = PicHeight


With aWorkSheet
aShape.Copy

With ActiveChart 'aChart
.ChartArea.Select
.Paste
End With

.ChartObjects(1).Chart.Export Filename:=sChartJpg, FilterName:="jpg", Interactive:=True
.ChartObjects(1).Chart.Export Filename:=sChartGif
.ChartObjects(1).Chart.Export Filename:=sCurrPath & ".png"
'Not working .ChartObjects(1).Chart.Export Filename:=sChartBmp, FilterName:="bmp"
aShapeChart.Cut
End With

Application.ScreenUpdating = True

MsgBox "Completed."
Exit Sub

End If

Next

MsgBox "Completed."
Exit Sub

ErrHandler:
MsgBox "Error # " & CStr(Err.Number) & " " & Err.Description & " " & Err.Source
Err.Clear   ' Clear the error.
End Sub

Comparison between 4Test and C language Keywords

Few months back, I was going through 4Test Language Reference (Silktest 5.01) PDF document. There I have seen the comparison of C Language and 4Test. Then I searched the same table in Silktest8.5 Help documentation. It is available under 4Test Reference -> About the 4Test Language -> Comparison of 4Test and C.

Comparison Table: 4Test and C language Keywords

Data type / Feature	C Language	4Test Script
Any type: Stores data of any type	No datatype available.	ANYTYPE aName
Array	int ai[10];	array [10] of integer ai integer ai[10] Arrays in 4Test can be dynamically resized.
Boolean: Stores either TRUE or FALSE	int b;	boolean b
Character	char c;	string c. 4Test has no seperate data type for single character.
Enumerated	enum COLOR{red, white, blue};	type COLOR is enum red white blue
Floating-point	float f; double d;	real f real d
Integer	int i; long, short, unsigned	integer i
List	Similar datatype is not available.	list of integer li. 4Test has dynamic lists.
Numeric	Similar datatype is not available.	number n.4Test NUMBER type stores either integers or floating point numbers.
Pointer	char *p;	4Test does not have pointers; however, data can be indirectly referenced using the @ operator.
Pointer to function	int (*func) ();	@(sFunc) ()
String	char s[5];	STRING s. 4Test strings are dynamically allocated; you do not need to declare their lengths.
Structure	struct Person { char name[8]; int age; }	type Person is record { string name integer age}
User-defined type	typedef struct Person PERSON_INFO;	type PERSON_INFO is Person
Type cast operator	(typename) expression	[typename] expression
Equality (==) operator differences	if ((i=5) == TRUE) --> This code compiles in C	if ((i=5) == TRUE) --> Ths code does not compile in 4Test:This difference is intentional. Because this construct can lead to unreadable code, 4Test does not allow it.

SilkTest - Convert String to List of String

Last month, my friend asked a silktest function similar to Split in QTP. Silktest does not have any built-in function. I thought to develop a function for this need. See the 4test code below:

4Test Code - Convert STRING contents as List of STRING

[+] List of STRING SplitToList (String sInput, String sDelimiter)
[ ] List of STRING lsReturn = {}
[ ] Integer iIndex =1
[ ] 
[+] while (GetField (sInput,sDelimiter,iIndex) != "")
[ ] ListAppend (lsReturn, GetField (sInput,sDelimiter,iIndex))
[ ] iIndex++
[ ] 
[ ] return lsReturn

Re-using VBS code

Last week, I wanted to call VBS file into another VBS file. I wanted similar way in other languages like below.
In C++ -> Header file -> include <*.h>
In VB -> Modules (*.bas)
In Java -> Packages -> import com.myLayer.*

Basically I wanted to make it as a library. I am writing the functions to get the data from Excel and PPT. I have to create separate VBS file for each requirement. Few functions are common for all the VBS files. I got a help from visualbasicscript site. Post: Include VBS file in other files

VBScript code - To Import VBS Library

 
'--------------------------------------
' Method    :   ImportVBSLibrary
' Author    :   T. Palani Selvam
' Purpose   :   To import all vbs code from library file.
' Parameters:   sFileName - String, contains the VBS functions
' Returns   :   VBS code
' Caller    :   - Nil
' Calls     :   - Nil
'--------------------------------------
Function ImportVBSLibrary(sFileName)
 Dim ObjFSO,ObjFile
 Set ObjFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 Set ObjFile=ObjFSO.OpenTextFile(sFilename,1)
 ImportVBSLibrary=ObjFile.ReadAll
 Set ObjFile = Nothing
 Set ObjFSO = Nothing
End Function

ExecuteGlobal ImportVBSLibrary("D:\myscripts\tools\pal_lib.vbs")

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 .

Silktest - Date Puzzle

I am always interested to participate in code competition. Recently I solved one puzzle like that.

Puzzle
Develop an algorithm to display the day of the week (Sunday to Saturday) for a given date. For example, if the date given is 07/07/2008 (8th July 2008, dd/mm/yyyy format), the algorithm would return Monday. Date 29/02/2008 will return Friday.

Solution - 4test code

[+] testcase Puzzle_4Test (STRING sGivenDate) appstate none
[ ] // Puzzle:
[ ] //  Develop an alogrithm to display the day of the week (Sunday to Saturday) for a given date.
[ ] //  For example, if the date given is 07/07/2008 (8th July 2008, dd/mm/yyyy format), the algorithm would return Monday.
[ ] //  Date 29/02/2008 will return Friday.
[ ] INTEGER iGivenYear, iGivenMonth, iGivenDay
[ ] DATETIME dtFormat
[ ] STRING sResult
[ ] 
[ ] STRING sSeperator = "/"
[ ] STRING sFormatRequired = "dddd" // To get the day in word
[ ] 
[+] do
[ ] 
[ ]  iGivenDay =  Val (GetField (sGivenDate,sSeperator,1))
[ ]  iGivenMonth = Val (GetField (sGivenDate,sSeperator,2))
[ ] iGivenYear =  Val (GetField (sGivenDate,sSeperator,3))
[ ] 
[ ] dtFormat = MakeDateTime (iGivenYear,iGivenMonth, iGivenDay)
[ ] sResult = FormatDateTime (dtFormat,sFormatRequired)
[ ] Print ("Puzzle1: Input - {sGivenDate}: Result - {sResult}")
[+] except
[ ] LogError ("Puzzle1: Input - {sGivenDate} is not in expected Format dd/mm/yyyy")

VisualTest - Browser related functions

VisualTest has different set of functions for browser related operations. Below I have given few code snippets.

VistualTest code - To Invoke Internet Explorer

'---------------------------
' Method : WebStart 
' Author : T.Palani Selvam
' Purpose :   To Start a IE.
' Parameters: sURL As String.
'    
' Returns :   - Nil -
' Caller : - Nil
' Calls  : - Nil -
'-----------------------------
Sub WebStart(sURL As String)
gsContext = WebExplore(sURL)
WSetActWnd(val(gsContext))
If Not wIsMaximized(val(gsContext)) Then wMaxWnd(val(gsContext))
Sleep giPageLoad
Logwrite("IE is started. URL : " + sURL , 1)
End Sub

Vistual Test code - Navigate to given URL

'------------------------
' Method : WebNavigation 
' Author : T.Palani Selvam
' Purpose :   To Start a IE.
' Parameters: sURL As String.
'    
' Returns :   - Nil -
' Caller : - Nil
' Calls  : - Nil -
'---------------------------
Sub WebNavigation(sURL As String)
If ( Not WebBrowserExists(gsContext)) Then
WebStart(sURL)
Else
WebNavigate(gsContext, sURL)
Sleep giPageLoad
WSetActWnd(val(gsContext))
If Not wIsMaximized(val(gsContext)) Then wMaxWnd(val(gsContext))
Logwrite("Navigated URL : " + sURL , 1)
End If
End Sub

Vistual Test code - To click Back Button in Browser

'--------------------------
' Method : WebBackHistory
' Author : T.Palani Selvam
' Purpose :   Back history from IE.
' Parameters: sValue As String.
'    
' Returns :   - Nil -
' Caller : - Nil
' Calls  : - Nil -
'-----------------------------
Sub WebBackHistory(sValue As String)
Dim iTimes As Integer

iTimes = Val(sValue)
If ( Not WebBrowserExists(gsContext)) Then
LogWrite("Main Browser doesn't exist.Couldn't be gone to back", 1)
Else
If (iTimes = 0) Then iTimes = 1
WebBack(gsContext, iTimes)
Sleep giPageLoad
WSetActWnd(val(gsContext))
If Not wIsMaximized(val(gsContext)) Then wMaxWnd(val(gsContext))  
Logwrite("Going back number of items in History is " + str(iTimes) , 1)
End If
End Sub

Vistual Test code - To click Forward Button in Browser

'---------------------------
' Method : WebForwardHistory
' Author : T.Palani Selvam
' Purpose :   Forward history from IE.
' Parameters: sValue As String.
'    
' Returns :   - Nil -
' Caller : - Nil
' Calls  : - Nil -
'---------------------------------
Sub WebForwardHistory(sValue As String)
Dim iTimes As Integer
iTimes = Val(sValue)
If ( Not WebBrowserExists(gsContext)) Then
LogWrite("Main Browser doesn't exist.Couldn't be gone to Forward", 1)
Else
If (iTimes = 0) Then iTimes = 1
WebForward(gsContext, iTimes)
Sleep giPageLoad
WSetActWnd(val(gsContext))
If Not wIsMaximized(val(gsContext)) Then wMaxWnd(val(gsContext))
Logwrite("Going Forward number of items in History is " + str(iTimes) , 1)
End If
End Sub

Silktest - TestPlan solutions

TestPlan is one of the good features in Silktest. You can query to execute certain testcases from Testplan. Also you can mark only failures from the silktest results. Below I have given the two test plan issues and solutions for them.

1. How to pass Dollar ($) sign in TestPlan?
TestPlan is using $ symbol to represent the variables. Silktest will through the error, if any testdata contains dollar ($) character explicitly.
Solution:
Replace symbol $ by {Chr(36)}

2. Running Main() from TestPlan
Few weeks back, I wanted to run the Main() function from Testplan. It is very old suite ( 10 years old). I thought, Silktest does not have any provision to call Main () function. I put the query into Borland forum and I got the answer.
Solution:
We have to represent the Main() as testcase. We should not change the hierarchy/indentation for script and testcase statements. See the sample plan below.

 
[-] SilkTest Issues
 [ ] Developer: Palani Selvam
 [ ] script: silkIssues.t
 [ ] testcase: main()
 [ ] 

By this way, we can run the functions too..

 
[-] SilkTest Issues
 [ ] Developer: Palani Selvam
 [ ] script: silkIssues.t
 [ ] // testcase: main()
 [ ] testcase: MyTestCalls5 ()