How to run a test automatically in Test Director?

The whole testing process revolves around the execution of the tests. As the changes are introduced in to the software system or application, running tests either manually or automatically becomes mandatory so that the defects can be located and quality can be assessed. 

How are tests run?

- One starts the testing process with the creation of the tests and adding these tests to a test set. 

- Tests are grouped into test sets by the test director so that some specific goals can be achieved. 

- Execution process of the tests can be controlled via the various controls provided by the test director. 

- Along with these controls, there are certain conditions and settings which need to be configured for the execution of the tests as desired by the tester. 

- The date and time can also be scheduled when the tests will be executed. 

- Once the tests have been defined the tester can begin with the execution of the tests. 

- Whenever the tests are executed manually, it is basically the test steps that were defined earlier during the test planning which are executed one by one. 

- The steps are passed or failed by the tester depending up on whether there is a match between the expected results and the actual results. 

- For the automatic run of a test, the selected tool is directly opened by the test director and the test is run. 

- The result hence obtained is exported to the test director. 

- Setting conditions and specifying date and time for the execution of a test both can be done with the help of the execution flow tab.

- In the execution, one thing should be noticed which is that the condition is always dependent on the result of some other specified test in the same flow. 

- Also, the sequence in which the tests are to be executed can be specified. 

In this article we shall see how the test execution can be automated. The tool selected for the execution of the tests is opened directly by the test director and the tests are run on either local or remote machine. It is either choice if you want to run all the tests or some specified ones. 

For running the tests automatically one of the following tools must be installed on the system:

a)   Astra quick test

b)   Quick test professional

c)   Winrunnner

Follow the below mentioned steps:

1. Clicking on the test lab tab will display the test lab module. This is a must for the automation of the tests.
2. The test set you want to execute automatically should be displayed in the execution grid. For doing this click on the execution grid tab and select the required test from the test sets tree.
3. Select a test. For running the winrunner test select the required test or if you want to run an astra quick test or QTP test select the required one. Next clicking on the run button will open up the execution dialog box and the test will be displayed.
4. Configure the test run settings and select the ‘run all tests locally’ option for running the tests on the local machine.
5. For running the tests click on run tests and the tool will be opened automatically by the test director and the tests will be run. The execution progress can be viewed in the status column.
6. Once the execution of the test is complete close the execution dialog box by clicking on the exit option.
7. Also the summary of the test results can be viewed in the execution grid.

What issues should be considered when deciding whether to automate a test? How to generate an automated test script?est Scripts, Scripts

Execution of the test sets lies at the center of any testing process. As the software system or application encounters changes, the defects are located by running both manual as well as automated tests in the project. Also, the quality of the tests is assessed by running the tests itself. 

Issues considered when deciding to go for automation?

- Deciding which all tests have to be automated is a part of the test planning process. 

- Two options namely manual and automated are available for the execution of the tests. 

- If you go with the manual execution of the tests, you can begin with the execution just after you finish defining the test steps. 

- If you go for automating the tests, the test scripts need to be generated and completed. 

- Below we state the issues that should be considered when deciding to go for automation:

1. Do Automate: Only the tests which are data driven or which make use of multiple data values for the same operation, which run with every new version of the application as a measure to check its functionality i.e., regression testing, which are for stress testing i.e., run many times and tests that facilitate the checking of a server system or multi-user client system (load testing) must always be automated.
2. Do not automate: The tests which are meant for a single execution, need to be executed immediately, check for the usability of the tests and whose result cannot be predicted should not be automated.

Steps for generating Automated Test Scripts

Below mentioned steps can be followed for the generation of the automated test scripts:

1. First, click on the test plan tab in order to enable the display of the test plan module.
2. Locate the manual test that you want to automate by selecting the subject folder available at the root of the test plan tree. There click on the find button and the find folder/ test dialog box will open up.
3. Type the name of the test to be searched for in the ‘value to find’ field of the box. Check the ‘include tests’ check box so that the test director can be instructed to look for folders and tests. Finally click on find option. ‘Search results’ dialog box will pop up thus displaying all the possible matches. Click on go to button and the test will be highlighted in the test plan tree. Close this dialog box.
4. Click on the design steps tab in order to display the design steps tab.
5. For generating a test script click on the generate script button. You can choose either of the following options:

a) QUICKTEST_ TEST: For generating an astra quicktest test or quick test professional test.

b)   WR – AUTOMATED: For generating a winrunner test.

The above two options will be available if the corresponding add ins have been installed. Once the test has been automated, the manual test symbol ‘M’ will be replaced by automated test icon.

6. For viewing the test script click on the test script lab. Click on the launch button for displaying and modifying the test script in the testing tool where it was created.

Whenever an automated test is run, the testing tool selected by the tester is opened by the test director automatically and the test is run on either the remote hosts or local machines. The tests can be run either from the execution flow tab or the execution grid tab.