METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR A DASHBOARD TESTING FRAMEWORK IN AN ONLINE DEMAND SERVICE ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110314341A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Varadharajan, Arunkumaran
• Granted Patent: US 9,495,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/38.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/368 for test version control, e.g. updating test cases to a new software version

Abstract

Testing a dashboard framework includes creating a model that captures the states of a GUI application and validates the states of the application by comparing it with benchmarks. The testing can include user interaction between the captured states of the GUI application. The ability to provide testing based upon recorded states of a web application can enable the test system to adapt to changes to the GUI software during product development or modification. Testing a dashboard framework is more efficient and flexible testing methods for GUI software.

Claims

1. A method for testing a dashboard framework in an online demand service environment, the method comprising:

identifying a GUI application having a plurality of elements on the online demand service environment;

capturing a first set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a first state;

normalizing at least some of the first set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements;

comparing the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements with a first set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the first state; and

validating the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements when the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements matches the first set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the first state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of predetermined benchmark values includes values for at least one of:

a text box, a pull down menu and a graphical feature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of normalized values are in a canonical format.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of normalized values includes at least one of:

a date and a system generated ID.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing a second set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a second state;

normalizing at least some of the second set of values of the plurality of elements to form a second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements;

comparing the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements with a second set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the second state; and

validating the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements when the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements matches the second set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the second state.

6. A machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for testing a dashboard framework in an online demand service environment, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

identifying a GUI application having a plurality of elements on the online demand service environment;

capturing a first set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a first state;

normalizing at least some of the first set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements;

comparing the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements with a first set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the first state; and

validating the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements when the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements matches the first set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the first state.

7. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein the instructions for capturing a first set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a first state includes capturing values for at least one of:

a text box, a pull down menu and a graphical feature.

8. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein the instructions for normalizing at least some of the second set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements includes formatting the first set of normalized values in a canonical format.

9. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein the instructions for normalizing at least some of the first set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements includes instructions for normalizing at least one of:

a date and a system generated ID.

10. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 6, further comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of:

capturing a second set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a second state;

normalizing at least some of the second set of values of the plurality of elements to form a second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements;

comparing the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements with a second set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the second state; and

validating the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements when the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements matches the second set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the second state.

11. An apparatus for testing a dashboard framework in an online demand service environment, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

identifying a GUI application having a plurality of elements on the online demand service environment;

capturing a first set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a first state;

normalizing at least some of the first set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements;

comparing the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements with a first set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the first state; and

validating the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements when the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements matches the first set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the first state.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the step of capturing a first set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a first state includes instructions for capturing values for at least one of:

a text box, a pull down menu and a graphical feature.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the step of normalizing at least some of the second set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements includes instructions for formatting the first set of normalized values in a canonical format.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the step of normalizing at least some of the first set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements includes instructions for normalizing at least one of:

a date and a system generated ID.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to carry out the steps of:

capturing a second set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a second state;

normalizing at least some of the second set of values of the plurality of elements to form a second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements;

comparing the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements with a second set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the second state; and

validating the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements when the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements matches the second set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the second state.

16. A method for transmitting code for testing a dashboard framework in an online demand service environment on a transmission medium, the method comprising:

transmitting code to identify a GUI application having a plurality of elements on the online demand service environment;

transmitting code to capture a first set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a first state;

transmitting code to normalize at least some of the first set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements;

transmitting code to compare the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements with a first set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the first state; and

transmitting code to validate the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements when the first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements matches the first set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the first state.

17. The method for transmitting code for testing a dashboard framework in an online demand service environment on a transmission medium, as recited in claim 16, wherein the instructions for capturing a first set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a first state includes instructions for capturing values for at least one of:

a text box, a pull down menu and a graphical feature.

18. The method for transmitting code for testing a dashboard framework in an online demand service environment on a transmission medium, as recited in claim 16, wherein the instructions for normalizing at least some of the second set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements includes instructions for formatting the first set of normalized values in a canonical format.

19. The method for transmitting code for testing a dashboard framework in an online demand service environment on a transmission medium, as recited in claim 16, wherein the instructions for normalizing at least some of the first set of values of the plurality of elements to form a first set of normalized values for the plurality of elements includes instructions for normalizing at least one of:

a date and a system generated ID.

20. The method for transmitting code for testing a dashboard framework in an online demand service environment on a transmission medium, as recited in claim 16, further comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of:

capturing a second set of values for the plurality of elements for the GUI application in a second state;

normalizing at least some of the second set of values of the plurality of elements to form a second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements;

comparing the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements with a second set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the second state; and

validating the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements when the second set of normalized values for the plurality of elements matches the second set of benchmark values for the GUI application in the second state.