Method for simultaneously testing multiple graphic user interface programs

• US 5,596,714 A
• Filed: 02/28/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pure Atria Corp. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pure Atria Corp. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Connell, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Palys, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US08/396,116
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 395/183.14, 395/183.13, 395/184.01, 395/183.22
• US Class Current: 714/38.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3692 for test results analysis

Abstract

A method for testing programs running under a Graphic User Interface (GUI) is provided. The method is especially adapted to work with GUI'"'"'s operating in a network based display architecture, such as the X11 server release of X Window. The invention provides a mechanism to test several GUI based programs simultaneously while also allowing normal interactive workstation activities to continue. The invention does not require the use of a special X11 server, or the relinking of tested code. The invention may operate using either of two approaches, depending on the capabilities of the window system being used. The first approach uses a mechanism that duplicates the contents of a window into off screen storage. Since this memory copy of a window is guaranteed to be identical to the on screen window, it can be read in place of the screen contents to test for proper drawing. In the case of systems which do not support a memory resident copy of screen windows, the tester automatically places the correct window on top of all others. Since there may still be conflicts if there are multiply copies of the tester running, as can happen when more than one tester may be trying to place the windows on top of the others at the same time, a locking mechanism is provided for the screen. This mechanism prevents a window from one test from obscuring a window being captured for another test.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneously testing multiple graphic user interface programs comprising the steps of:

establishing criteria indicative of a successful test for each program under test;

inducing operation of each program under test to generate a resulting display window;

synchronizing the induced operation of each of said programs under test so that each resulting display window generated by each of said programs under test is in a determinable state;

comparing each of said display windows to said associated established criteria indicative of a successful test of each program under test;

generating a signal for each program under test indicative of a successful test when said display window generated in accordance with the operation of said program under test matches the established criteria indicative of a successful test; and

further comprising the steps of;

intentionally damaging a portion of the display window for the program under test so that if a non-displayed representation of the display window for the program under test is available it will be used for comparison purposes and if no non-displayed representation of the display window for the program under test is available the program will redraw the display window prior to performing the steps of comparing the display window to the established test criteria.

2. A method for simultaneously testing multiple graphic user interface programs comprising the steps of:

establishing criteria indicative of a successful test for each program under test;

inducing operation of each program under test to generate a resulting display window drawn on a display screen;

synchronizing the induced operation of each of said programs under test so that each resulting display window generated by each of said programs under test is in a determinable state;

comparing each of said display windows to said associated established criteria indicative of a successful test of each program under test;

generating a signal for each program under test indicative of a successful test when said display window generated in accordance with the operation of said program under test matches the established criteria indicative of a successful test; and

further comprising the step, performed prior to performing the step of comparing each of said display windows to said associated established criteria, of making each display window associated with the set of established criteria to be compared in the comparison window the active window;

wherein the step of making the window associated with the program under test the active window further comprises the steps of locking the display screen from control by either the user or the program under test, said locking step further comprising the steps of;

locking the display screen state;

raising the window to be captured for comparison purposes to the top;

capturing the display window to be tested; and

releasing the locking step so that either the user or the program under test may again control the display screen.

3. An improved graphic user interface tester, comprising:

storage means for storing a program to be tested;

computer system means, communicating with said storage means, for executing the instructions comprising a program to be tested which is stored on said storage means;

said computer means further comprising input means for permitting a user to input information into said computer system means;

said computer means further comprising output means for visually displaying the results of the execution of instructions comprising the program to be tested by said computer system means;

comparison means for comparing the visible display resulting from the executing of instructions comprising the program to be tested with a predetermined display indicative of a successful test; and

signal means for signaling, the result obtained by said comparison means;

wherein said output means further comprises a non-visible display means which may store the results of the execution of instructions comprising the program to be tested by said computer system means; and

wherein said comparison means compares the non-visible display resulting from the executing of instructions comprising the program to be tested with a predetermined display indicative of a successful test;

wherein said computer system may execute and display the results of at least two graphic user programs being tested simultaneously, and further comprising;

display priority means coupled to said comparison means for controlling which of the displayed at least two results should be tested by said comparison means;

wherein said display priority means further comprises;

display locking means for locking said output means from control by either a user or said computer means; and

wherein said comparison means further comprises;

display capture means for raising the display of the program under test to be the active display and then storing the last raised display image;

whereby the display is prevented from being changed while the comparison means is operative.

4. A method for testing one or more graphic user interface programs while simultaneously running a program not under test comprising the steps of:

inducing operation of at least one program not under test;

establishing criteria indicative of a successful test for each program under test;

inducing operation of each program under test to generate a resulting display window;

synchronizing the induced operation of each said program under test so that each resulting display window generated by each said program under test is in a determinable state;

comparing each of said display windows to said associated established criteria indicative of a successful test of each program under test; and

generating a signal for each program under test indicative of a successful test when said display window generated in accordance with the operation of said program under test matches the established criteria indicative of a successful test;

further comprising the step of;

intentionally damaging a portion of the display window for the program under test so that if a non-displayed representation of the display window for the program under test is available it will be used for comparison purposes and if no non-displayed representation of the display window for the program under test is available the program will redraw the display window prior to performing the steps of comparing the display window to the established test criteria.

5. A method for testing one or more graphic user interface programs while simultaneously running a program not under test, comprising the steps of:

inducing operation of at least one program not under test;

establishing criteria indicative of a successful test for each program under test;

inducing operation of each program under test to generate a resulting display window drawn on a display screen;

synchronizing the induced operation of each said program under test so that each resulting display window generated by each said program under test is in a determinable state;

comparing each of said display windows to said associated established criteria indicative of a successful test of each program under test; and

generating a signal for each program under test indicative of a successful test when said display window generated in accordance with the operation of said program under test matches the established criteria indicative of a successful test;

further comprising the step, performed prior to performing the step of comparing each of said display windows to said associated established criteria, of making each display window associated with the set of established criteria to be compared in the comparison window the active window;

wherein the step of making the window associated with the program under test the active window further comprises the steps of locking the display screen from control by either the user or the program under test, said locking step further comprising the steps of;

locking the display screen state;

raising the window to be captured for comparison purposes to the top;

capturing the display window to be tested; and

releasing the locking step so that either the user or the program under test may again control the display screen.