INTRODUCTION TO QTP

Quick Test Professional is a functional and regression test automation software tool developed by Mercury Interactive. Currently owned by HP and commonly known as HP Quick test professional.
  QTP is a Record and playback tool(recording not preferred always) as well as Programmatic tool which uses VbScripting for scripting. QTP Supports technologies depending upon the Version of the tool, Web, Java, .Net, SAP, Oracle, Siebel, PeopleSoft, Delphi, Power Builder, Flex, Sliver light.
QTP is a licensed tool it comes with a trail version.
Latest QTP version is 11.0 - Released in 2010.

Advantages of QTP

1. Ease of use.

2. Use of VBScript, which makes QTP significantly easier for a non-programmer person to understand and create Test case / scripts.

3. Object identification mechanism is better.

4. Technology support is good. The supported technologies, depending on the QTP version, are available for Web, Java(Core and Advanced), .Net, WPF, SAP, Oracle, Siebel, PeopleSoft, Delphi, Power Builder, Stingray 1, Terminal Emulator, Flex, Web Services, Windows Mobile, VisualAge Smalltalk, Silverlight and mainframe terminal emulators.

5. Various Parameterization types in QTP, which ease the test cases for the same operations with multiple sets of data.

6. QTP Supports Framework like modular, Keyword, data driven and Hybrid.

7. Handling Dynamic objects are possible with use of Descriptive programming.

8. QTP Reports are clear and easily understand.
 

Disadvantages or drawbacks of QTP

1. QTP works only on Windows OS thereby becoming Platform dependent tool.

2. Poor support for cross browser testing. Supports only IE and little version of Firefox.

3. License and maintenance cost is high.

4. QTP consumes more memory.

5. In QTP you cannot work on multiple scripts at a time like in winrunner.

6. CPU utilization is more in QTP.

Major Topics in QTP:

-Testing Process

-Object and Object Repositories

-QTP Recording

-Actions

-Parameterization

-Check Points

-VB Scripting

-Descriptive Programming

-Synchronization

-File system Objects

-Frameworks

Will be explaining each topics in my upcoming posts.

Test Automation Tools

Automation Tools are available in two types, Open Source(Free) and Licensed. Below, I have listed few Test Automation tools which are used widely across the Testing Industry.

	From	HP
	Version	Licensed
	Website	http://www8.hp.com/us/en/software/enterprise-software.html
HP QuickTest Professional	OS	Windows 2000,Windows XP,Windows 2003 Server,Windows 7
	Browsers	IE8 and FF3.6. IE9
	Supported Application	Web,windows and below given technologies
	Technology	Web, Java(Core and Advanced), .Net, WPF, SAP, Oracle, Siebel, PeopleSoft, Delphi, Power Builder, Stingray 1, Terminal Emulator, Flex, Web Services, Windows Mobile, VisualAge Smalltalk, Silverlight and mainframe terminal emulators

	From	ThoughtWorks Studios
	Version	Open Source
	Website	http://seleniumhq.org/
Selenium	OS	Windows,Linux,Solaris
	Browsers	firefox(Record & Playback);IE8,7(RC & Core);Safari2,3(RC & Core);Opera9,8(RC & Core)
	Supported Application	Web
	Technology	C#,Java,Perl,PHP,Python,Ruby

	From	IBM
	Version	Licensed
	Website	http://www-01.ibm.com/software/awdtools/tester/functional/
IBM Rational Functional Tester	OS	Windows,Linux
	Browsers
	Supported Application	Seibel and SAP applications,Adobe Flex technology
	Technology	Seibel,SAP,Adobe Flex technology

	From	IBM
	Version	Licensed
	Website	http://www-01.ibm.com/software/awdtools/tester/robot/
Rational robot	OS	Windows XP,ME, 2003, 2000, 98 or Windows NT.
	Browsers
	Supported Application	e-commerce, client/server and ERP applications
	Technology	HTML and DHTML, Java™, VS.NET, Microsoft Visual Basic and Visual C++, Oracle Developer/2000, PeopleSoft, Sybase PowerBuilder and Borland Delphi. For advanced testing of Java. VS.NET and Web-based applications, as well as of 3270 (zSeries™) and 5250 (iSeries™) terminal-based applications

	From	Borland
	Version	Licensed
	Website	http://www.borland.com/us/products/silk/silktest/
SilkTest	OS	Windows XP,Vista,7
	Browsers	Firefox 3.5,3.6;IE 6,7,8
	Supported Application
	Technology	Adobe Flex,Java 1.6,.NET,SAP,SQL,Oracle

	From	SmartBear Software
	Version	Licensed
	Website	http://smartbear.com/products/qa-tools/automated-testing/
TestComplete	OS	Windows 7, Vista, XP, Windows Server 2003 and 2008
	Browsers	Firefox 3.5—4.0,IE6—9
	Supported Application	Windows and Web testing
	Technology	.NET, WPF, ASP.NET, Silverlight and XBAP

	From	Microsoft
	Version	Licensed
	Website	http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/test-professional/overview
Visual Studio Test Professional	OS	Windows
	Browsers	IE7/IE8,FireFox 3.5 and 3.6
	Supported Application
	Technology	HTML,AJAX,SharePoint

	From	Tyto Software
	Version	Open Source, Licensed
	Website	http://sahi.co.in
SAHI	OS
	Browsers	Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari
	Supported Application	Web
	Technology

	From
	Version	Open Source
	Website	http://watir.com/
WATIR	OS	Windows,Linux
	Browsers	Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari
	Supported Application	Web
	Technology

Reference: Internet

Introduction To Automation Testing

What is Automation Testing

Test automation is the use of software to control the execution of tests, the comparison of actual outcomes to predicted outcomes, the setting up of test preconditions, and other test control and test reporting functions. Commonly, test automation involves automating a manual process already in place that uses a formalized testing process.

Test automation involves automating a manual process already in place that uses a formalized testing process.

Benefits of Automation

Reliable: Tests perform precisely the same operations each time they are run, thereby eliminating human error.

Repeatable: You can test how the software reacts under repeated execution of the same operations.

Programmable: You can program sophisticated tests that bring out hidden information from the application.

Comprehensive: You can build a suite of tests that covers every feature in your application.

Reusable: You can reuse tests on different versions of an application, even if the user interfaces changes.

Better Quality Software: Because you can run more tests in less time with fewer resources

Fast: Automated Tools run tests significantly faster than human users.

Cost Reduction: As the number of resources for regression test are reduced.

Other: Test without any human interaction

Load and Stress testing

Why Automation is required? 

Ø       Reducing test time and resources

Ø       Consistent Test Procedures

Ø       Ensures process repeatability and resource independence

Ø       Eliminates errors of manual testing

Ø       Improves efficiency of testing

Ø       Reducing Testing costs

Ø       Gives consistent and accurate results

When to automate? 

Ø       Regression testing

Ø       Data-driven testing

Ø       The Application under manual test is stable

Ø       Application which has long runs

Regression Testing: Regression test suite is the best candidate for automation. If testing only needs for short period projects, it should be done manually.  If the test suite needs to be run for a long time, regularly for every iteration, build and after bug fixing, then it should be automated.  Always automate Smoke testcases then Sanity testcases and then regression.
Data-driven testing: Single test to verify multiple data like want to test application with various users.
The Application under manual test is stable: We cannot automate application which is unstable i.e when the functionality of application keeps on changing.
Long Run Projects: Long run projects are good to go with automation. Automating short duration project does not make sense. I personally go for automation for those projects whose duration is more than 6 months.  

When to NOT Automate?

Ø      Functionality of the application changes frequently

Ø      Project doesn’t have enough time

Ø      Test with unknown results cannot be automated.