In a method of creating a custom action, a user interface is presented for entry of lines of a custom action. In response to receipt of a sub-portion of a line of the custom action via said user interface, the sub-portion is automatically checked for errors in syntax. The custom action is stored as a selectable custom action in a dynamic layer of a testing infrastructure. The dynamic layer of the testing infrastructure is associated with a particular instance of a software item.

Software test automation

An improved automated software testing system provides the ability to generate and reuse test cases over multiple platforms. Keywords and natural language are used in test case creation, simplifying the process for non-technical business users. Business users can write test cases without scripts. Test cases can be generated even before the application to be tested is available. Data substitution provides ability for test cases to adapt to changing data. Abstraction allows use of all third-party and custom software test tools to be incorporated. Persistent data handling allows capture of data generated during test execution for later use. Testing can be performed entirely automatically or can incorporate some manual interaction. Test results, screen captures of the system tested, along with environment and machine variables are saved in results logs for later review.

Program test system

Systems and techniques to design and deploy portal pages include selectively interpreting a portal page template based on a mode of operation. The interpretation of the portal page template results in presentation of a design-time application operable to edit the portal page template if the mode of operation is design-time, and the interpretation of the portal page template results in presentation of a run-time application operable to interact with portal dynamic content if the mode of operation is run-time. Interpreting the portal page template at design-time can result in code that enables editing of the portal page template being added, and the added code can be client-side scripting that enables addition of a content component to a content container in the portal page template using a drag-and-drop action in a WYSIWYG portal layout editor.

Selectively interpreted portal page layout template

A general technique using semantic analysis is provided that can be used for converting a specific automation test script (and its underlying test case), generated from generally available or proprietary test automation tools, into an abstract test case representation. The abstract test case representation is based on a test case representation model that includes application states (state information), external interaction sequences (control flow information) and input data. The abstract representation in essence provides a platform independent representation of test cases. An application object model provides the representational capabilities required for capturing structural and behavioral properties of the application under test. The abstract test case representation can be validated against and further enriched by specific object information from an application metadata repository. Finally, object information and input data can be separated from control flow information to provide automatic parameterization of the test script.

Method and system for conversion of automation test scripts into abstract test case representation with persistence

A computer implemented method and system including techniques for developing and executing automated test cases are described herein. In one embodiment, a test case automation tool provides functionality for defining an automated test set and associated test cases within a testing user interface without the use of scripting languages or compiled programming. The definition of each test case may occur within a testing user interface, including displaying and receiving user selection of available methods for testing; displaying user parameter fields and receiving user parameter values in response for testing; abstracting parameter types in the user parameter values; and generating XML-format definitions of the test case. The test case automation tool may then execute the selected methods of the software application using parameters provided in the XML-format definitions, and return testing results of the test case execution.

Automating functionality test cases

A method and computer system for web-interface mediated software testing is disclosed. The computer system includes an application server that provides a web interface for organizing and managing test cases by organizing test cases by the Requirements and Sub-Requirements of a Project. Users can schedule test cases to run on one or more host machines that have loaded thereon a copy of the software being tested, or some part thereof, and an automation tool. The host machine derives test scripts by parsing automation tool recognized syntax from the steps and procedures encoded in the test case files and downloads the appropriate automation tool GUI environment file and running the test script using the automation tool against the software application, or some part thereof, being tested. The progress of each test case and/or test step can be monitored remotely via the web interface without the need for direct interaction with a host machine. A test case can be generated by an Integrated Test Case Authoring Tool that provides a GUI that translates user keystrokes and mouse actions into strings recognized by standard automation tools.

Yevsey Melamed

Papers

Web-interactive software testing management method and computer system including an integrated test case authoring tool