What are key technologies supported by Maveryx? - Part 2

In this part of the article we shall discuss about the remaining 3 key technologies of the Maveryx automated testing tool:

5. Extensibility: 

- The plug–in system of the Maveryx is quite extensible.

- It can be made richer by customizing. 

- Maveryx allows the users to customize the default functionality and other specific desired capabilities using individual plug – ins.

- A number of plug–ins for a number of reasons are supported by the Maveryx tool. 

- Few of those reasons have been listed below:

a) For adding support dedicated to the complex as well as custom GUI controls.

b)  For adding test actions such as APIs that are proprietary.

c)  For adding new algorithms for matching.

d) For integrating the maveryx with a number of other tools like bug tracking tools, SCM tools and so on.

- Maveryx has got it all: the reliable and easy to use testing environment and intuitive testing functionality to help you create the best test project. 

- Maveryx holds a collection of powerful but easy to use java APIs that help in creating better regression and functional test cases. 

- Since Maveryx is an open source tool so you have the power of modifying it or extending it any way to fit your requirements. 

- Plug–ins are the things that help you in this regard. 

- They can be installed and removed at any times. 

- Maveryx has been designed so as to allow the mechanisms and hooks that help in enhancing the frame work without calling for any major changes in the infrastructure of the system. 

- Extensions can be made in either of the two ways:

Ø  By adding a new functionality or

Ø  By modifying an existing one

- Programming interface is another thing that helps with the extension of the maveryx tool. 

- By installing core plug–ins, you enhance the capabilities of the Maveryx making it to adapt your specific requirements or your organization’s specific requirements. 

- Customizing Maveryx increases its functionality and increases the speed of the testing process.

6. Eclipse plug–in

- Maveryx comes with a separate plug – in for the eclipse tool. 

- It consists of the software tools that can be deployed to make use of the java eclipse IDE, thus granting the developers and software testers with an ability of designing, building and executing the automated test scripts using the Maveryx testing tool.

- This plug–in provides assistance to the software testers who are using Maveryx in the creation of the new test classes for test projects and generation of the java code via Maveryx’s frame work.

7. Test Reporting: 

- When you execute a test case, you do not have to worry about generating the metrics. 

- Maveryx does it all for you through its test reporting key technology. 

- It automatically generates the metrics. 

- Plus, it also puts all the detailed reports at your fingertips.

- The results of the tests execution are also displayed automatically. 

- Actually, all this is done in coordination with the eclipse plug–in.

- The plug–in in turn makes use of a number of Maveryx’s reporting features for the creation of the reports and live charts during the execution process of the tests.

- The plug–in only creates the finalized test reports that give an explanation regarding the results of the tests through visual aids such as charts, tables, statistics and so on.

The maveryx software testing tool has got a number of other features such as:

- Test logging capabilities

- Automated verification points

- Multi – application testing

- Distributed application testing

- Error handling feature that is customizable

- Multilingual testing

- Keywords

What are key technologies supported by Maveryx? - Part 1

Maveryx’s unique key technologies are what that makes it so useful. There are 7 of them and we shall discuss about only 4 here.

1. No GUI Maps: 

- Maveryx is an automated testing tool that it does not makes use of GUI maps for locating the GUI objects.

- It carries out the analyzation and the identification of the GUI objects to know their properties at the time of the scripts execution without taking help from a GUI map. 

- When a test is run, a scan is carried out by the Maveryx software and it takes some of the snap shots of the interface of the application under testing or AUT. 

- Maveryx then processes each of the snap shots using an advanced GUI objects finder. 

- This object finder then recognizes the object and locates it so that you can straightaway start writing the test cases and you don’t have to wait. 

- Automated scripts can be developed early by the testers during the software development life cycle. 

- This is done in parallel with the development of the application. 

- However, the test scripts are developed only when the application is ready to be tested. 

2. GUI objects finder: 

- This advanced finder identifies as well as locates the objects very well that have been embedded in the scripts during the run time itself using many of its pattern – matching capabilities. 

- A number of searching algorithms are used by Maveryx for the recognition and the location of the objects during the execution session of the tests. 

- These algorithms remain applicable even for the objects to which changes have been made since the creation of the tests and partial descriptions have been encoded in to the test scripts. 

- It also carries out a search for the run – time objects that seem to match the test object fully or partially.

Below mentioned are the matching algorithms that are supported:

- Exact: This algorithm lets you search for a test object that is exactly same as the one mentioned in the test scripts.

-  Case insensitive: This algorithm is somewhat same as that of the first one but ignores the case.

- Partial: This algorithm lets you find a match based up on the partial data.

- Wild card: Using this algorithm you can match objects using the common regular expressions.

- Levenshtein distance: This algorithm lets you perform approximate matching through some fuzzy logic and edit distance.

- Thesaurus searching: This algorithm lets you find related terms be it in broader terms or in narrow terms or conceptual in a vocabulary called ‘wordnet’.

- Google translation: This algorithm is best suited for internationalization testing or multilingual testing and it lets you find translations.

   With so many algorithms the objects finder has proved to be quite effective in cutting down the time and effort made by the testers in maintaining the scripts. It also provides all the facilities to the testers to write the automated tests from the partial, lacking and unstable specifications. Further the testers are also enabled to automate the test cases that have developed resilience against frequent changes that are made to the interface of the application thus avoiding the need for the continuous rework on the scripts. 

    

     3. Data driven testing: 

    This maveryx implements through Microsoft office excel spreadsheets as well as XML files.  A number of data bases are also supported by the maveryx tool.

   4. Keyword driven testing: Using excel spreadsheets Mavryx creates data tables which it uses for developing test cases. Test actions or the keywords are stored in the spreadsheets and XML files. 

Explain Maveryx? For what purposes it is designed?

About Maveryx Testing Tool

- Maveryx has been developed as a GUI, Regression testing and automated functional testing tool for applications written in java. 

- But Maveryx is different from the other automated GUI testing tools in the way that it does not make use of GUI maps for the creation and execution of the automated tests. 

- The recognition of the GUI objects to be tested takes place at the time of the execution. 

- This is done using an advanced GUI objects finder. 

- Fuzzy and exact matching algorithms are supported by this search engine. 

- Such algorithms are also used in the identification of the test objects present in the application user interface. 

- With GUI maps, the automation process cannot be started early and so this search engine avoids GUI maps thus enabling the automation process start before the application is actually made available for testing. 

- On the other hand, possibility for deriving the tests from requirements that are either partial or lacking is achieved through approximate matching. 

- Approximate testing also allows for the scripts that have resilience against the frequently changing nature of the application. 

- Many of the software quality assurance teams deploy Maveryx primarily for carrying out automated testing in agile and traditional environments as well. 

- Data driven testing is also supported by the Maveryx for java applications. - It also supports a number of platforms such as:

1. Windows
2. Linux
3. Mac

- Maveryx does not use GUI maps for objects recognition rather it locates the objects at the run time directly when the scripts execution is in progress. 

- While the Maveryx runs a test, simultaneously it also carry out a scanning of the interface of the application under test or AUT and also searches for controls as well as the objects that require manipulation. 

- The GUI objects finder carries out an unique identification process for every test object. 

But what powers this advanced search engine?

- It is powered by a set of algorithms inclusive of the approximate as well as exact matching. 

- This technology makes it possible to get a closest match between the objects in AUT and GUI object encoded in the test scripts. 

- GUI object finder can perform this operation even if the full operation regarding the GUI object is not available. 

- The scripting language used by the Maveryx is of course the java. 

- It is because of this that Maveryx can be integrated with any of the java IDE such as netbeans, eclipse and so on. 

- Further, it can also be integrated with testing framework such as the IBM rational functional tester, JUnit and so on.

- In addition to the above mentioned testing methodologies, it also allows for using the keywords and verification points so that the test coverage can be increased, script reuse can be promoted and number of automated tests can be increased. 

- Various key technologies employed by the Maveryx are:

1. No GUI maps
2. GUI objects finder
3. Data driven testing
4. Keyword driven testing
5. Extensibility
6. Eclipse plug in
7. Test reporting

- Few characteristics features of maveryx are:

1. Test logging capabilities
2. Automated verification points
3. Multi – application testing
4. Distributed application testing
5. Error handling feature that is customizable
6. Multilingual testing
7. Keywords

- Metrics regarding the test cases are generated automatically by the Maveryx software.

- It also produces detailed reports with results.

- A number of reporting features are available with the eclipse plug – in of the Maveryx using which live reports and performance charts can be created during the run time of the test. 

- It also helps in the production of the final reports accompanied by statistics and table charts. 

What are different Web Functional/Regression Test Tools?

As functional and regression testing is important for many software systems, the same way it is important for the web applications to undergo the functional and regression testing. At present we have a number of tools available for web functional/ regression testing.  

In this article we shall discuss many such tools available:

1. ManageEngine QEngine: This tool is for functional testing and load testing of the web applications. This tool enables you to carry out GUI testing in minutes and below are some of its features:

Ø Portability: With this feature you can record scripts in windows and play them in linux without any need of recreation.

Ø  Scripting capabilities: These are simplified script creation, keyword driven testing, data – driven testing, object repository, Unicode support.

Ø  Playback options: It includes playback synchronization, chain scripts, multiple playback options etc.

Ø  Validation and verification: The tool comes with a rich library of built – in functions for constructing function calls for requirements such as dynamic property handling, database handling, and screen handling and so on.

Ø   AJAX testing

Ø  Reporting capabilities: The tool provides you with clear and powerful reports indicating the status of the execution of the test.

2. SeleniumHQ: This tool has a number of smaller projects that combined to create a testing environment to suit your needs:

Ø  Selenium IDE: This one’s an add – on for firefox and can be used for replaying the tests in the same.

Ø  Selenium remote control: Web browsers can be controlled with this client/ server system located on either a local host or a remote one.

Ø  Selenium grid: This is the same as the previous one but can handle multiple servers at a time.

Ø  Selenium core: Testing system based on JavaScript.

Ø Further specific selenium projects have been developed for ruby, eclipse and rails.

3. Rapise: It was developed by Inflectra inc. This tool has an extensible architecture and cross browser testing capabilities. It supports various versions of Mozilla Firefox, chrome, MS internet explorer and so on. The tool comes with built – in support for AJAX, YUI, GWT, AIR, Silverlight, flash/ flex etc. one can use this tool for carrying out keyword as well as data driven testing through excel spreadsheets. The tool identifies the objects based up on CSS and Xpath. For bitmaps, the tool comes with a built – in OCR (optical character recognition). It uses JavaScript for scripting purposes and therefore also has a JavaScript editor.
4. funcUnit: This is an open source web application testing framework. The API is based up on JQuery. Almost all the modern browsers are supported on Linux and MAC. Selenium can also be used for executing the tests. It can simulate various user input events clicking, typing, and dragging the mouse and so one. 

5. qUnit: Any JavaScript code that is generic can be tested by this tool. It is somewhat similar to the JUnit but operates up on JavaScript features. 

6. EnvJS: This is a simulated browser environment and an open source tool whose code has been written in javascript. 

7. QF – test: It has been developed by quality first software  as tool for cross  - platform testing and cross browser automation of the web applications. It can be used to test web applications based up on html, ajax, GWT, exTJS, richfaces, Qooxdoo, java and so on. The tool has got some small scale capabilities for test management, intuitive user interface, extensive documentation, capture/ playback mechanism, component recognition and so on. It can be used for handling both custom and complex GUI objects. It has got customizable reporting and integrated test debugger system. 

8. Cloud testing service: This enables the cloud capabilities to be utilized while web testing. It has been developed by the cloud testing limited. Here, web functionality can be recorded via selenium IDE and a web browser. The scripts can be uploaded to the cloud testing website.

What are two methods provided by TestPartner for functional test development?

TestPartner is quite a successful GUI software testing tool. Micro focus developed this product with the intention of providing means for functional testing and GUI testing to the software developers and testers who have hard deadlines to work up on. This testing tool helps these software developers and testers to achieve more of testing in less time. 

Two primary methods  are provided by the TestPartner for functional test development:

1. Code oriented development

2. Visual storyboard – based development environment

About Code Oriented Development

- Code oriented development uses the Microsft VBA (visual basic for applications). 

- The major benefit of including this in the development environment is that using it, users can access the rich IDE (integrated development environment). 

- Access to IDE is important since it contains all the core visual basic application libraries plus the capabilities that are inheritable in VBA such as error handling, ability to reference public libraries, debugging and so on.

- A library of VBA – based functionality is provided by the Compuware TestPartner and has been specifically built to be used in the functional test automation.

About Visual Storyboard

- Visual storyboard – based development environment interface is also known as the “visual navigator”.

- It is used extensively for developing the functional test automation. 

- The following things are provided to the user through this capability:

Ø  A screen preview i.e., the screen shot of window of application under test.

Ø A list of test automation steps. These are the steps are the steps that were performed while testing against the screen.

Ø  A story board providing a series of test steps that have been performed against a number of screen previews.

- There is another advantage of this approach which is that the users can access the test automation functionality.

- In addition to this they get the ability to add variabalization, different test logics and so on. 

Advantages and Benefits of TestPartner

- Version 6.3.0 is the latest in the series of Testpartner. 

- Testpartner lets you accelerate the testing process at the same time delivering high quality software products on time. 

- The functional test automation through Testpartner is quite easy and cost effective. 

- Testpartner proves to be a powerful tool for functional test automation. 

- The tool is quite easy to understand and use. 

- Users get intuitive insights through the test analysis and visual test creation. 

- Further, there is no requirement of code which it makes usable even for the non – technical business users. 

- Accelerated testing means that the testers and developers can keep pace with the development and quality is no longer seen as a bottleneck. 

- With the visual and storyboard oriented approach of the Testpartner, such business processes can be captured that can empower the experts for creating the sophisticated test cases without being able to write the script code. 

- The analyzation of the test results is simplified by the Testpartner through its visual storyboard. 

- With this story board, it becomes easy to check where the test actually failed and where the modification is required. 

- Testpartner is well equipped with modular structures and powerful extensions. 

- With these, the technical users can access all the debugging and scripting capabilities of VBA for creating advanced test cases that are repeatable.

- Integration of the test cases that have been written in VBA or visually is possible in Testpartner.

- Tests created by the Testpartner are quick in adapting to the changes made to the application. 

- The test results can be used in incorporating the maintenance changes, thus accelerating the maintenance process. 

- The built – in verification capability of the Testpartner lets you add steps for testing the results.

Explain TestPartner - a GUI Software Testing Tool?

- TestPartner was developed by Micro Focus as a software testing tool especially for testing the graphical user interface (GUI) of the software systems and applications. 

- This testing tool was developed with the intention of empowering the software developers to functionally automate the GUIs of the AUTs. 

- The primary goal was to make the team capable of performing more application testing in a given time period as compared to the manual testing that could be performed in same amount of time. 

- TestPartner offers two basic methods for functional testing:

1. Code oriented development and
2. Visual story board based development

- Recently, the TestPartner version 6.3.0 has been released. 

- It is great product for accelerating the testing process and delivering high quality applications well before the deadline.

- IT managers who have the responsibility of ensuring the quality of the application need to deal with several business challenges that are critical such as:

Ø  Verification of the functionality of the functions i.e., whether or not they are working as expected and meet the business requirements.

Ø  Testing of the multiple heterogeneous technologies simultaneously.

Ø  Keeping up with the fast paced release schedules that are ever changing.

Ø  Striking a balance between the application quality and the associated risks.

- TestPartner provides such functional testing capabilities that very well accelerate the testing process and enables the timely successful delivery of the software.

- This it is known to do at a low cost but with no compromise in the quality. 

- TestPartner achieves this through its unique tiered testing approach. 

- The main feature of this approach is that following it can make it possible for the testers and developers to achieve more in the given time through effective collaboration.

- This software product is even beneficial for the non – technical users. 

- The visual and the contextual approach of the TestPartner lets the non – technical users to be a part of the testing process. 

- For the expert software developers and testers it provides the access to microsoft’s visual basic for the AUTs. 

- This gives them power to cope with the most complex testing problems. 

- TestPartner maintains a special flexibility and focus on the usability of the application allowing the developers to produce more positive results with minimal requirement of training.

- It helps leverage the experienced as well as the non – technical testers to test the applications more efficiently. 

- It encourages the collaboration throughout the development cycle thus achieving greater project effectiveness. 

- Using TestPartner one can even automate the regression testing process, thus quickening the acceptance of the regular updates such as services packs and patches. 

- The documentation produced by the TestPartner is quite clear and free of any ambiguity. - This further accelerates the resolution and identification of various issues related to the application under testing. 

- It makes easy for you to understand the test results so that you feel confident in releasing the software. 

- These test results can be can be used for maintaining the tests, providing better ROI. 

- One can improve the quality of the application leading to lower overall development cost. 

Quality efforts can be accelerated for a number of platforms such as:

1. Web
2. .net
3. Java
4. SAP
5. Oracle
6. Other windows – based distributed applications.

Explain Ranorex? What are its features? What are its supporting technologies?

Ranorex is a framework developed exclusively for the windows GUI test automation. Ranorex has proved to be quite an effective framework for testing a number of applications such as the following:

1. Web 2.0 applications
2. Win32
3. MFC
4. WPF
5. Flash
6. Flex
7. .NET
8. Java (SWT) and so on.

One fact about this test automation frame work is that it does not have its own scripting language. Programming languages such as vb.net and C# have certain functionality that are used by the software testers as the base. Then they use the Ranorex’s GUI automation functionality for enlarging the base.

Ranorex supports number of technologies few of which we have mentioned below:

1. Web applications including:

Ø  HTML

Ø  HTML5

Ø  Javascript

Ø  Silverlight

Ø  AJAX

Ø  It also supports cross browser testing on IE, chrome, Firefox and safari

2. Windows desktop client applications:

Ø  .net

Ø  Winforms

Ø  WPF

Ø  Win32

Ø  Java

3. SAP
4. Mobile apps including:

Ø  Android and

Ø  iOS

5. Flash and flex including:

Ø  adobe air

Ø  adobe flash

Ø  adobe flex

Features of Ranorex

1. Capture and playback editor: This feature of Ranorex is more commonly called the Ranorex recorder.This feature lets easy maintenance of the recordings through an actions table editor. It is because of this feature that the Ranorex is able to integrate with the object repositories for the automation.
2. GUI object recognition: This feature uses the RanorexXpath for filtering and identifying any type of GUI element.
3. Test automation library:It includes exclusively .net applications.
4. GUI mapping: This is more commonly known as the Ranorex repository and helps in the management of all kinds of GUI elements present in the application.
5. Test development environment: More commonly called as Ranorex studio and is used for code completion and debugging.

- This framework has won a number of awards for being the best functional automated test tool. 

- With Ranorex, one can test a large number and types of technologies such as that of the desktop, mobile and web. 

- Ranorex makes it extremely easy to create robust and powerful test automation frameworks. 

- Ranorex removes all the barriers in the path of learning process and also accelerates the process to realize a good return of investment or ROI. 

- A number of benefits come along with ranorex:

1. Object based capture and playback editor
2. ranorexXpath
3. Best object recognition
4. Professional library for .net and C#.

- Ranorex has been carried over to a more advanced level of the GUI test automation. 

- Ranorex Xpath is a very powerful technology that has made the test automation even much easier. 

- Ranorex is a testing tool which recognizes almost every UI technology. 

- Not only this, it proves suitable for all the development environments that already exist. 

- Ranorex does a great attempt in bringing together the software testers and developers. 

- The Ranorex automation framework has been developed with an open architecture. 

- At the core functionality of the Ranorex automation frame work lies an API that revolves around a .net framework. 

- The Ranorex is based on standards and helps in generation of better .net and C# user code. 

- Usually the Ranorex studio project works with a lot of files. 

- Before one starts with developing test cases, one should have all the knowledge regarding the layout and views of the tool.  

- The Ranorex studio may consist of the following types of items:

1. Test suite
2. Model group
3. Repository
4. Code files
5. Recording

What are the features of Eggplant testing tool? How is Eggplant run?

Eggplant is the GUI test automation tool that uses the black box approach in its testing process. The product stands out in the category of the GUI test automation tool and has even received US patent for its extra ordinary features. 

Features of Eggplant

The features of eggplant are:

1. Guided record mode: This record mode is quite sophisticated in comparison to the regular mode. It generates code by means of capturing the images thus avoiding the extra and unnecessary recording of the keyboard and mouse events.
2. Debugging
3. Code completion
4. Eggplant can be integrated very well with the other quality management software. It can be further used for augmenting the systems like the HP quality center.
5. Eggplant features an execution only mode i.e., the software testers and developers have the freedom of running the tests unattended via the command line interface of the eggplant.

 It can be used for a number of testing methodologies such as:

1. Mobile testing
2. Cross browser testing
3. Cross platform testing
4. Rich internet application testing
5. Performance testing

A free trial of eggplant software can be downloaded from the website of the company. Some additions that were made to the version 11 of the eggplant are:

1. Integration of the OCR engine
2. Sense talk scripting
3. Mac OS X lion support

The mobile version of the eggplant lets the software testers to carry out automated testing on mobile devices. Eggplant mobile provided a universal solution for testing the mobile applications across a number of mobile operating systems such as the following:

1. Android
2. iOS
3. blackberry
4. Symbian
5. Windows

- The OCR engine that was integrated in version 11 of the eggplant is a global one and also supports the latest version of the windows – windows 8. 

- The scripts developed by the eggplant are reusable. 

- The eggplant software can be made ready within an hour and you can start writing test scripts and executing them without wasting much time.

- To set up the eggplant software follow the below mentioned steps:

Ø First install the eggplant application.

Ø Now set up the system under test and install a VNC server on it.

Ø Set up a VNC connection.

ØFor a better understanding of how to use the application it is recommended that you take a tour of it.

Testing Process with Eggplant

Now we present a brief overview of the testing process with eggplant:

1. Set up your SUT and a VNC connection as mentioned previously in the article.
2. The SUT is controlled through eggplant so that you can capture images indicating the SUT interface elements. These are the elements with which you want the eggplant to have an interaction with.
3. Third stage involves generation of the scripts that guide the eggplant regarding what is to be done at the image locations that you have selected.
4. You can execute the scripts as many times as you require carrying out a particular task such as validating a process.
5. The result is generated in the suite editor and consists of detail run info and statistics that you can use for analyzing your results.

Best thing about eggplant is that even if it can be installed only on one computer (since it comes only with one computer per license), it can test any number of other computers. The scripts are created on the controller machine from where they can be executed on any other computer. This it does through the VNC (virtual network computing) server which sends the commands to the SUT.