Topic: Silk Test - Regression and Functionality

Silk Test is a tool specifically designed for doing REGRESSION AND FUNCTIONALITY testing. It is developed by Segue Software Inc.

Silk Test is the industry’s leading functional testing product for e-business applications.

whether Window based, Web, Java, or traditional client/server-based. Silk Test also offers test planning, management, direct database access and validation, the flexible and robust 4Test scripting language, a built in recovery system for unattended testing, and the ability to test across multiple platforms, browsers and technologies. 

You have two ways to create automated tests using silktest:

 

1. Use the Record Testcase command to record actions and verification steps as you navigate through the application.

2. Write the testcase manually using the Visual 4Test scripting language.

1. Record Testcase

The Record / Testcase command is used to record actions and verification steps as you navigate through the application. Tests are recorded in an object-oriented language called Visual 4Test. The recorded testreads like a logical trace of all of the steps that were completed by the user. The Silk Test point and click verification System allows you to record the verification step by selecting from a list of properties that are appropriate for the type of object being tested. For example, you can verify the text is stored in a text field.

2. Write the Testcase manually

We can write tests that are capable of accomplishing many variations on a test. The key here is re-use. A test case can be designed to take parameters including input data and expected results. This "data-driven" testcase is really an instance of a class of test cases that performs certain steps to drive and verify the application-under-test. Each instance varies by the data that it carries. Since far fewer tests are written with this approach, changes in the GUI will result in reduced effort in updating tests. A data-driven test design also allows for the externalization of testcase data and makes it possible to divide the responsibilities for developing testing requirements and for developing test automation. For example, it may be that a group of domain experts create the Testplan Detail while another group of test engineers develop tests to satisfy those requirements.

In a script file, an automated testcase ideally addresses one test requirement. Specifically, a 4Test function that begins with the test case keyword and contains a sequence of 4Test statements. It drives an application to the state to be tested, verifies that the application works as expected, and returns the application to its base state.

Procedure To use the wizard :

1. Involve the wizard by selecting File /New and clicking the QuickStart Wizard icon. Now you will name a new testplan, which will organize and manage your tests.

2. Click Next.

3. Name the file edit.pln and Next. The next step is to record the test frame, which defines all the windows, dialogs, menus, and so on that you want to test.

4. To create a new test frame, leave New Test Frame selected and click Next. At this point, the wizard lists all the open (running and not minimized) applications. If Text Editor is not open, you can open it now (it is the directory where you installed Silk Test). After you open the Text Editor, click on the QuickStart Wizard title bar to see Text Editor added to the list of applications.

5. Select Text Editor and click next.

6. The capture Windows panel displays, describing the procedure.

7. Click Next.

8. Now you simply open a document  window an open all the dialogs hat you want to test in the Text Editor. When you place the mouse pointer on a window or dialog, the wizard records all the declarations that SilkTest needs in a file called frame.inc in the same directory as your testplan.

9. When you have finished capturing the windows and dialogs in Text Editor, click Return to Wizard in the Capturing New Windows dialog. Now that you have created you test frame, you are ready to create a testcase.

10. Click Next twice.

11. Name the test Find Box and enter the description “Verify controls in Find dialog.” Click Next. You test is now being recorded, as indicated by the Record Status window on your screen.

12. Now go to Text Editor, select Search / Find to open the Find dialog, place your mouse pointer over the dialog’s title bar, and press Ctrl + Alt to verify its state. The verify windows dialog displays. Click OK to verify all properties for the dialog. Close the Find dialog (to return to your base state), then click Done in the Record Status window. You return to the Wizard and are asked to confirm that the test is what you want. 13. Click Next.

14. Run the test by clicking the Run Test Button.

15. The wizard reports the results. You an move the wizard to the side and look at the results file that is created whenever you run a test.

16. In the wizard, click Next to save your testcase. The testcase is saved in a script (.t) file with the same name as testplan (in this case, edit.t)

17. Click Close to close the wizard. You see a window containing the results file from the test you just ran. In another window is the testplan. Configuring the settings

• In Silk Test, select Option -> Extentions menu from the menu bar.
• It will load the Extentions dialog box.
• In that dialog box, check the kind of application you re testing.
• Say, if you are testing the web based application in the Netscape browser, Enable the Netscape option by checking against it and un-check all the other options.
• Click on the OK button.
• Now click on the Options - > Runtime option.
• Set the ‘use path’ option to point to the silktest installed folder. Say if the silktest has been installed in you c:\ drive then set the sue files = “C:\Program Files\Segue\SilkTest\ETEND”. This is to use the common include files as per the application.
• Since we have selected the Extensions, the use file will have the declaration ‘extend’\netscape.inc’ of the include file. Now the script is ready to open the Netscape browser by default and run the scripts.
• From the status bar Go to the Start - > Programs -> Silk Test -> Extention Enabller option, to declare the same set of extensions (as in step 4) in the ‘Extention Enabler’ dialog box.
   

To Start the Silk Test tool

 

• Select the ‘Start’ button in Windows status bar.
• Go to Program -> Silk Test -> Silk Test’ option (with green color icon)
• It will open the silktest tool.
• If you get the Quickstart wizard, close the wizard if you don’t need it or else, refer to the ‘Installation tips’ to go with the wizard.
   

To compile & run scripts

• Open the testsscript file (with the extension .t).
• Select the Run - > Compile option from the menu bar. Also we can select the icon with the ‘tick’ mark to compile the scripts.
• The files that are associated with the script files will also get compiled. Hence if there is any problem with the include file, you will get error by compiling the testscript file itself.
• To compile a selected file, keep the mouse cursor on that particular file and give the Run-Compile option.
• The ‘Run option will get enabled only for the testscript files. We cannot run a include file or a test frame.
• We can run a testcase selectively, compile the testscript file and click the “=>t” icon in the tool bar
  
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• To run the entire set of testcases in a testscript file, click the “==>” icon or select the Run - > Run option.
• If there is any syntax error in the script file, it will show that if you move to the next line of the code. But the other errors are known only at the time of compilation or during the run.
   

 

 

Edited by Mithi25 - 23Jun2009 at 5:37am