What is meant by Step and Step into in WinRunner?

Winrunner provides certain run commands commonly known as the winrunner run commands which help in the execution of your test cases. Whenever a test is in the process of running, it is marked by an execution arrow in the left margin of the test scripts indicating that particular TSL statement has been interpreted. 

The winrunner provides 6 typical run commands which have been mentioned below:

1. Run from top: There is also a button corresponding to this command called the “from top” button and clicking on this will cause the active test to start running from the first line of its test script. If another test is called by a test then the test script of the called test is also displayed by the winrunner. The execution takes place till the last line in the test script has been entered.

2. Run from arrow: There is also a button corresponding to this command called the “from arrow” button and clicking on this will cause the active test to start running from that line of the test script which has been marked by an execution arrow. In rest of aspects, this command shares a lot common with the previous mentioned command.

3. Run minimized commands: These commands help in making sure that the entire screen is available to the software system or application that is being tested. Actually, when you use the minimize commands the winrunner window is shrunk to an icon while the test keeps on executing. When the test comes to an end or is paused or stopped the winrunner grows back to its usual size. The following are the available run minimized commands:

        a)   Run minimized > from arrow command and

        b)   Run minimized > from top command

    4. Stop command

   5. Pause command: This command is used whenever there is a need for the temporary suspension of the test run.

   6. Step commands: These commands help in the execution of a single TSL statement in a test script. Buttons called step buttons are also available for these step commands. Step commands available are:

           a)   Step command

           b)   Step into command

           c)   Step out command

           d)   Step to cursor command 

   

   We shall now discuss these step commands in detail. 

    - After a test has been created, it should be checked that whether or not it runs smoothly without giving any errors in logic as well as in syntax. 

   - The step commands come very handy for the detection and isolation of the defects present in the test script. 

    

    With the help of step command, a single line of the test script can be executed. You can either choose the step command or go for step button for the execution of the current line of the script which has been marked by the execution arrow.

- With the help of step into command, another user defined function as well as test can be called and displayed as well. 

- If a function is called by the current line of the active test script then the function settings and startup applications are not implemented. 

- Later, the step out or step commands can be used for a continuous run of the test.

   - The step out command is often applied in conjunction with the step into command i.e., it is used only after you have entered the user defined function or test and thus completes the execution of the user defined function or the called test. 

   Now what if you want to run a particular portion of the test script? Here in such cases you can use the step in to cursor command. 

   - This command helps in executing a portion of the test script that has been selected by the user.