Record and Playback in QTP

Recordand Playback

Initial development of automated tests with QTP is usually done by record-and-playback. A user’s actions are captured via Microsoft’s Component Object Model (COM). These are recorded into Actions, a kind of subroutine, as VBScript commands. All manipulated objects that QTP recognizes are also added to the object repository. Once recorded, the scripts are editable in either Keyword View or Expert View.

After clicking on the playback button all these actions will be played back. During playback, QTP attempts to identify and perform operations on the same objects, again using COM.

Recording Modes: There are three recording modes in QTP

Normal

Analog

Low Level

NormalRecording Mode: It records the actions performed by the user on the application objects like Edit boxes, List boxes and Links. QTP records each action as one step in the QTP script. Step is nothing but one line in the code.

Stepsfor Normal Recording Mode:

·         Launch QTP

·         Create a new test by selecting  File>New>Test

·         Click Record button or select Automation>Record or press the Record command shortcut key F3.

·         The Record  and Run settings dialog opens as shown below, Enter Application URL in the box as shown in our case .When  you are done with recording click the Stop button or select Automation>Stop or press F4.

·         Save Your Test.

·         Run the test by clicking Run.

AnalogRecording Mode: This mode enables you to record the exact mouse and keyboard operations you perform in relation to either the screen or the application window. This mode is useful when you want to record mouse movements, for example recording a signature or drawing performed by dragging the mouse. To record in analog mode , first start normal recording then select Automation>Analog Recording. The Analog recording dialog box opens up as shown below.

Record relative to the screen: QTP records any mouse movement or keyboard input relative to the top

  left coordinates of your screen(i.e. desktop).

  Record relative to the following window: QTP records any mouse movement or keyboard input

   relative to the coordinates of the specified window.

Low Level Recording:

 Low level recording mode is used only when exact coordinate of the operation is essential. To record a test using low level recording mode, start the normal recording session then select Automation>Low Level Recording to start recording in low level

(code created in low level recording)

Window("Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager").Window("Create New Virtual Machine").WinObject("Cancel").Click 40,17

This code states that Cancel button was clicked at  coordinate 40,17. This coordinate is measured by taking top left corner of the object( Here it is the Cancel button) as reference (0,0).

Guidelinesfor choosing the recording mode:

Use Analog recording mode only when normal recording mode does not accurately record your operations.

Use analog recording for the applications in which the actual movement of the mouse is what you want to record, like drawings, signatures etc.

Use low level recording when you need to record the exact location of the operation on your application screen.

Running Tests:

QTP always run from the first step, unless you specify otherwise.To run a test , open it and select Automation>Run or press F5.The Run dialog box opens, in the dialog box specify the result location. Temporary run result folder saves run results in a temporary folder.This option overwrites any results previously saved in this folder. Click OK to start the Run session.

Test Result Window: When a run session ends, you can view run session results in the Test Results window. The run result tree is located in the left pane in the Test Result window

Recordand Run Settings Dialog: This Dialog box is used to instruct QTP , which application to open when you begin to record or run your test.

WindowsApplication Tab: As shown in figure below.There are two radio buttons, if we select first one QTP records and run test on any application and if we select a second one, we can specify the applications on which QTP should record or run test.

  Web Tab: Web Tab as shown below also have two radio buttons, if select the first one,QTP records and run test on application opened on any browser and if we select the second one, QTP records and runs tests by opening application in a new browser of the specified type.