Method and Apparatus for Completing Functional Testing

• US 20080276224A1
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gyure, Wesley J., Hoover, Adam M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,739,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/126
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/368 for test version control, e.g. updating test cases to a new software version
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management

Abstract

The Functional Tester Plug-in (FTP) extracts information from a data base to enhance automated testing tools to accommodate changes to the computer environment and so that a simulation can be fully executed even if an exception occurs. The FTP accesses the test script and static data store created by a developer using the automated testing tool, wherein the test script and static data store indicate a first resource to be tested at a verification point and a first expected result. The FTP identifies the first resource used by the test script at a first verification point and accesses the data base. The FTP identifies the status and configuration of the first resource in the data base. The FTP calculates and optimal expected result based any changes in the status and configuration of the first resource. The FTP executes the test script using the optimal expected result based any changes in the status and configuration of the first resource.

Claims

1. A computer implemented process for enhancing an automated testing tool, the computer implemented process comprising:

accessing a test script and a static data store created by a developer using the automated testing tool, wherein the test script and the static data store indicate a first resource to be tested at a verification point and the static data store contains a first expected result;

identifying the first resource used by the test script at the verification point;

accessing a data base comprising configuration information related to the first resource;

identifying a configuration change related to the first resource from a record in the data base;

calculating an updated first expected result based on the configuration change of the first resource; and

executing the test script at the verification point using the updated first expected result based on the configuration change of the first resource.

2. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a second resource related to the first resource from a record in the data base;

calculating a second expected result based on executing the test script with the second resource; and

responsive to an exception generated by the automated testing tool at the first verification point, repeating the test at the verification point with the second resource.

3. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying an optimum set of resources in the data base related to the first resource;

calculating an optimum set of expected result based on the configuration of the optimum set of resources; and

executing the test script at the verification point using the optimum set of resources and optimum set of expected results.

4. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the automated testing tool is the Rational Functional Tester.

5. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the data base is a Configuration Management Data Base (CMDB).

6. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein meta-data definitions are used to query the data base with respect to the first resource.

7. An apparatus for enhancing an automated testing tool, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to the processor;

a functional tester application running in the memory;

a test script and static data store created by a developer using the automated testing tool stored in the memory, wherein the test script and static data store indicate that the first resource is tested at a verification point and wherein the static data store contains a first expected result;

a first resource and a second resource connected to the processor;

a Configuration Management Data Base (CMDB) running in the memory containing configuration items related to the first resource and the second resource, and indicating that the second resource is related to the first resource;

a functional tester plug-in program in the memory operable to;

access the test script and the static data store;

identify the first resource used by the test script at a first verification point;

access the CMDB to identify a configuration change related to the first resource;

calculate an updated first expected result based on the configuration change of the first resource; and

execute the test script at the verification point using the updated first expected result based on the configuration change of the first resource.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the functional tester plug-in program in the memory is further operable to:

identify a second resource related to the first resource from a record in the CMDB;

calculate a second expected result based on executing the test script with the second resource; and

responsive to an exception generated by the automated testing too at the first verification point, repeat the test at the verification point with the second resource.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the functional tester plug-in program in the memory is further operable to:

identify an optimum set of resources in the CMBD related to the first resource;

calculate an optimum set of expected result based on the configuration of the optimum set of resources; and

execute the test script at the verification point using the optimum set of resources and optimum set of expected results.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the automated testing tool is the Rational Functional Tester.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the functional tester plug-in program in the memory is further operable to use meta-data definitions to query the data base with respect to the first resource.

12. A computer readable memory containing a plurality of instructions to cause a computer to enhance an automated testing tool, the plurality of instructions comprising:

a first instruction to access a test script and a static data store created by a developer using the automated testing tool, wherein the test script and the static data store indicates a first resource to be tested at a verification point and the static data store contains a first expected result;

a second instruction to identify the first resource used by the test script at a first verification point;

a third instruction to access a data base comprising configuration information related to the first resource;

a fourth instruction to identify a configuration change related to the first resource from a record in the data base;

a fifth instruction to calculate an updated first expected result based on the configuration change of the first resource; and

a sixth instruction to execute the test script at the verification point using the updated first expected result based on the configuration change of the first resource.

13. The computer readable memory of claim 12 further comprising:

a seventh instruction to identify a second resource related to the first resource from a record in the data base;

an eighth instruction to calculate a second expected result based on executing the test script with the second resource; and

responsive to an exception generated by the automated testing tool at the first verification point, a ninth instruction to repeate the test at the verification point with the second resource.

14. The computer readable memory of claim 12 further comprising:

a tenth instruction to identify an optimum set of resources in the data base related to the first resource;

an eleventh instruction to calculate an optimum set of expected result based on the configuration of the optimum set of resources; and

a twelfth instruction to execute the test script at the verification point using the optimum set of resources and optimum set of expected results.

15. The computer readable memory of claim 12 wherein the automated testing tool is the Rational Functional Tester.

16. The readable memory of claim 12 wherein the data base is a Configuration Management Data Base (CMDB).

17. The readable memory of claim 12 wherein meta-data definitions are used by the third instruction to query the data base with respect to the first resource.