To get started in functional testing, familiarize yourself
with some basic concepts and use cases. To effectively automate test
cases, you can consider several approaches before you start creating
the functional test scripts.
The diagram shows the task flow for functional testing using
IBM® Rational® Functional Tester.
Basic tester: A basic tester can record functional
test scripts that are generated as simplified test scripts. The tester
does not require programming knowledge to edit the functional test
scripts. The tester can switch to Java scripting, and use the Insert
Java Code Snippet or Insert Java Method features that are available
in the simplified script editor. The tester then starts to work with
the Java test script directly. You can use the application visuals
to insert verification points, data-driven commands, and additional
controls for testing.
Advanced testers with scripting knowledge: A
tester with Java or Visual Basic programming knowledge can either
record functional test scripts or create the test scripts manually.
You can use the test object maps to update the objects and insert
additional objects for testing.
Developers: A developer
who knows theRational Functional Tester framework
and programming based on the proxy framework can write proxies for
adding support to test the controls that are not supported by default
for functional testing.
Planning functional tests
You must consider
your requirements and identify the right approach to follow to automate
functional testing. By automating functional testing, you can effectively
utilize the features available in
Rational Functional Tester.
- Modular functional test scripts: You can create multiple
functional test scripts for a test case and reuse the scripts that
apply to different test cases. By creating modular functional test
scripts, you can reuse the test scripts for different test cases.
By using modular test scripts, you can also associate the test scripts
with multiple test cases that are created in a test management tool
such as IBM Rational Quality Manager.
In Rational Functional Tester,
you can use the Call Script option to call another functional test
script.
- Recording test scripts versus manual test scripts: In Rational Functional Tester,
you can either record a functional test script against the test application
or manually create a test script. If the application under test changes
frequently and impacts the test-object hierarchy, you must update
the test object maps to avoid errors or failures. The test object
maps are created when you record the functional test scripts against
the test application. In this scenario, you can create manual test
scripts and use the find() methods to search for the test objects
in the application and specify the action to use on them. For manual
test script creation, you must be familiar with the programming language.
- Simplified test scripts versus Java test scripts: Simplified
scripts are functional test scripts in the form of simple English
statements that are easy to understand and edit. With the simplified
script feature enabled, you can also view the corresponding Java test
script in the Java script editor. When you edit the simplified script,
the Java script reflects the changes in the Java script editor. You
can switch to the Java script editor using the Insert Java Code Snippet
or Insert Java Method features available in the simplified script
editor and start working with the Java test script.