Data structures for use with environment based data driven automated test engine for GUI applications

• US 6,948,152 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Dubovsky, David
• Primary Examiner(s): DAS, CHAMELI
• Application Number:
  US09/952,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 717/124, 717/100, 717/120, 717/115, 714/38, 712/28, 345/594, 345/650, 345/676
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software

Abstract

This invention provides a data driven automated test engine for GUI applications which is environment based. Data structures are used in connection with a scriptable GUI test tool. The tool generates a GUI map, at least one environment definition (parameter) file, at least one test data (driver) file, and an automated test engine. A separate parameter file is provided for each feature of the GUI. The automated test engine is composed of a plurality of library modules written in the scripting language of the scriptable GUI test tool. The ATE is driven by the test data file and calls upon the GUI map and parameter file. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the scriptable GUI test tool is WinRunner®. The environment definition files and the test data files are preferably generated with a spreadsheet program such a Microsoft Excel®.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising a data structure for use with a graphical user interface (GUI) test tool to test a software application having a GUI with a plurality of different application objects, said data structure comprising:

a plurality of rows, each row containing a plurality of columns, each row defining a single test of a given one of the application objects and each column representing a parameter of the given application object; and

wherein the data structure is used in driving an automatic test engine of the GUI test tool, the automatic test engine including at least one environment-independent component having application object dependent variables related to said parameters and defined by an external data structure such that each said at least one environment-independent component is capable of being operative in testing said plurality of different application objects.

2. The data structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

multiple rows of data to facilitate or verify the results of an individual test.

3. The data structure according to claim 2, wherein:

each of said multiple rows of data begins with a first line of data containing a definition of default values that are expected for each parameter.

4. The data structure according to claim 3, wherein:

said first line of data is followed by one or more of said plurality of rows of individual data driven tests.

5. The data structure according to claim 4, wherein:

each of said one or more rows includes standard fields and data specific for each field of an object being tested.

6. The data structure according to claim 5, wherein:

said standard fields include a Test ID, Preamble and Postamble action, Expected Result indication and a Comment.

7. The data structure according to claim 6, wherein:

said expected result field indicates whether a test will pass completely or fail during data entry, during the execution of the postamble or during verification after the postamble action has been executed.

8. The data structure according to claim 6, wherein:

data that appears in individual fields of a data driven test are specific for a parameter, operation or use of said field.

9. The data structure according to claim 8, wherein:

at least one of said fields includes an indication selected from the group consisting of ignored, changed, left alone and ignored for Query operations.

10. The data structure according to claim 9, wherein:

data represents multiple columns of a table structure.

11. The data structure according to claim 5, wherein:

Preamble and Postamble actions are application specific and represent user actions required to establish a starting point for a test and an action to perform to execute a desired test.

12. The data structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the data structure is generated with a spreadsheet program and saved as comma delimited text files.