Visual Interface for Automated Software Testing

• US 20080127095A1
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro Focus Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Micro Focus Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Harfouch, Khalil N., Faubert, Russ D., Salih, Ergin A., Brennan, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software

Abstract

A system and a method of providing a visual interface for creating, maintaining, and reviewing the results of, automated functional tests of software applications that includes screen views for each window automated within the application under test. The system and method provide a visual interface for creating and modifying functional tests of software applications geared for novice users. The visual interface includes a screen preview, test steps, properties and a storyboard. A test logic builder interface enables novice users to add logic, including verification and synchronization, to their visual test transactions without having to understand programming concepts.

Claims

1. A system for testing a software application, the system comprising:

a structure of actions to be executed by the software application;

a visual interface of the software application comprising a plurality of components; and

a first link between one of the actions and a corresponding one of the components in the visual interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the software application includes a subset of application windows to be automated, and the tests include a plurality of steps, the system further comprising:

a storyboard sequence of the subset of application windows, the subset of application windows providing correspondence with at least one of the plurality of steps.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the structure of actions to be executed against the software application is a list.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a second link among one of the subset of application windows, at least one of the actions, and at least one of the components of the visual interface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first link is a visual link.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the second link is a visual link.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a visual interface of results of the actions executed against the software application.

8. A system for testing a software application, the system comprising:

a first interface portion providing a list of test steps, the first interface portion including indication of a selected one of the test steps;

a second interface portion providing an image of a first screen produced by the software application, the first screen corresponding to the selected one of the test steps;

a third interface portion providing properties corresponding to the selected one of the test steps; and

a fourth interface portion providing contextual information for the first screen, the contextual information including presentation of reduced images of a set of screens relating to the test steps, the set of screens including the first screen.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the contextual information is provided as a storyboard.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a fifth interface portion providing logic relating to the selected one of the test steps.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a logic wizard configured to provide a user with visual prompting to create the test steps.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a logic conditions designer to provide a user with textual and non-textual representation of conditions relating to the test steps.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein a plurality of visual links provide correspondence among the first interface portion, the second interface portion, the third interface portion and the fourth interface portion.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the first interface portion is configured to be visually editable by a user.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the first interface portion is configured to provide modification of existing test transactions.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the first interface portion is configured to provide addition of test data.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising a start screen providing visual prompts to a user, the visual prompts including a first prompt to record new visual tests, a second prompt to open existing visual tests, and a third prompt to perform one of a set of common tasks.

18. A method for testing a software application, the method comprising:

presenting a first interface portion providing a list of test steps, the first interface portion including indication of a selected one of the test steps;

presenting a second interface portion providing an image of a first screen produced by the software application, the first screen corresponding to the selected one of the test steps;

presenting a third interface portion providing properties corresponding to the selected one of the test steps; and

presenting a fourth interface portion providing contextual information for the first screen, the contextual information including presentation of reduced images of a set of screens relating to the test steps, the set of screens including the first screen.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the contextual information is provided as a storyboard.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing logic relating to the selected one of the test steps.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing visual prompting for creation of the test steps.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a logic conditions designer to provide a user with textual and non-textual representation of conditions relating to the test steps.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a plurality of visual links to indicate correspondence among the first interface portion, the second interface portion, the third interface portion and the fourth interface portion.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising visually editing information within the first interface portion.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising modifying existing test transactions using the first interface portion.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising adding test data using the first interface portion.

27. The method of claim 18, further providing visual prompts to a user, the visual prompts including a first prompt to record new visual tests, a second prompt to open existing visual tests, and a third prompt to perform one of a set of common tasks.

28. A computer-readable media bearing a sequence of computer-executable instructions for testing a software application, the sequence of instructions enabling a computer to perform the steps of:

presenting a first interface portion providing a list of test steps, the first interface portion including indication of a selected one of the test steps;

presenting a second interface portion providing an image of a first screen produced by the software application, the first screen corresponding to the selected one of the test steps;

presenting a third interface portion providing properties corresponding to the selected one of the test steps; and

presenting a fourth interface portion providing contextual information for the first screen, the contextual information including presentation of reduced images of a set of screens relating to the test steps, the set of screens including the first screen.

29. The computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the contextual information is provided as a storyboard.

30. The computer-readable media of claim 28, further comprising providing logic relating to the selected one of the test steps.

31. The computer-readable media of claim 28, further comprising providing visual prompting for creation of the test steps.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 28, further comprising providing a logic conditions designer to provide a user with textual and non-textual representation of conditions relating to the test steps.

33. The computer-readable media of claim 28, further comprising providing a plurality of visual links to indicate correspondence among the first interface portion, the second interface portion, the third interface portion and the fourth interface portion.

34. The computer-readable media of claim 28, further comprising visually editing information within the first interface portion.

35. The computer-readable media of claim 28, further comprising modifying existing test transactions using the first interface portion.

36. The computer-readable media of claim 28, further comprising adding test data using the first interface portion.

37. The computer-readable media of claim 28, further providing visual prompts to a user, the visual prompts including a first prompt to record new visual tests, a second prompt to open existing visual tests, and a third prompt to perform one of a set of common tasks.

38. A system for testing a software application, the system comprising:

a structure of actions to be executed by the software application;

a visual interface of the software application comprising a storyboard; and

a first link between one of the actions and a corresponding portion of the storyboard.

39. A method of testing a software application, the method comprising:

presenting a structure of actions to be executed by the software application;

presenting a visual interface of the software application comprising a storyboard; and

presenting a first link between one of the actions and a corresponding portion of the storyboard.

40. A computer-readable media bearing a sequence of computer-executable instructions for testing a software application, the sequence of instructions enabling a computer to perform the steps of:

presenting a first interface portion providing a list of test steps, the first interface portion including indication of a selected one of the test steps; and

presenting a second interface portion providing contextual information, the contextual information comprising a storyboard relating to the test steps.