Object Repository & Descriptive Programming

What is an Object Repository?
As the name Suggest Object Repository (OR in Short) is place where QTP Test Objects properties and its values are stored.

Conceptually if we want to perform a task on any Objects like WebButton, WebEdit, WinEdit etc. what we look for? Naturally the Object's available methods/functions/sub on which we need to perform the task!

Now, how do you know or how do you identify whether you are clicking the right button or entering string in right TextBox (WinEdit/WebEdit)? So, what do you look for the right Button or TextBox?

Your answer maybe like
-The look and feel of Object should be like button
-It should contain text on button
-And if their are two button with same name then in which context the button is present, I shall click that one. Example button name is "Submit" context may be

1. Click Submit to update record 
2. Click Submit to Add the record

So ultimately what were you doing? Identifying Objects by their properties, right? This is how QTP does the same to identify Objects.

For in depth understanding with illustrations on how QTP Identify Objects, click here.

Also have a look at Object Repository GUI in QTP and Descriptive Programming in QTP

Now, lets look at below screenshot of OR & DP Code, try to catch the difference

Look at the highlighted part. You will understand the commonality or what is the basic thing QTP works with, i.e. Properties.

I was just wondering how could OR based Code is associated with Object Repository, I just opened the Script.mts file in notepad and then. . .

See the highlighted part, now you can imagine how QTP IDE has been designed and how could QTP OR and DP based code works. ;-)
Hope you are able to understand OR and DP!

I don't know what these highlighted part are, otherwise I could have been in Mercury inc. ;-)

-Pankaj Dhapola

Think on it!!!

An Example of DotNetFactory in QTP

An Example of DotNetFactory in QTP

Function DotnetUIDPWDForm(strDetails)
 'Creating instances of DotNetfactory objects
Set frmProd = DotNetFactory.CreateInstance("System.Windows.Forms.Form", "System.Windows.Forms")
Set lblDBDetails  = DotNetFactory.CreateInstance("System.Windows.Forms.Label", "System.Windows.Forms")
Set lblUID = DotNetFactory.CreateInstance("System.Windows.Forms.Label", "System.Windows.Forms")
Set txtUID = DotNetFactory.CreateInstance("System.Windows.Forms.TextBox", "System.Windows.Forms")
Set lblPWD = DotNetFactory.CreateInstance("System.Windows.Forms.Label", "System.Windows.Forms")
Set txtPWD = DotNetFactory.CreateInstance("System.Windows.Forms.TextBox", "System.Windows.Forms")
Set btnSubmit = DotNetFactory.CreateInstance("System.Windows.Forms.Button", "System.Windows.Forms")

Set oPoint = DotNetFactory.CreateInstance("System.Drawing.Point", "System.Drawing", x, y)

oPoint.x = 10
oPoint.y = 10
lblDBDetails.Location = oPoint
lblDBDetails.Width = 350
lblDBDetails.Height = 70
lblDBDetails.Text = strDetails

oPoint.x = 10
oPoint.y = 80
lblUID.Location = oPoint
lblUID.Text = "PROD User ID"

oPoint.x = 10
oPoint.y = 110
lblPWD.Location = oPoint
lblPWD.Text = "PROD Password."

oPoint.x = 150
oPoint.y = 80
txtUID.Location = oPoint
txtUID.Width = 100

oPoint.x = 150
oPoint.y = 110
txtPWD.Location = oPoint
txtPWD.Width = 100
txtPWD.UseSystemPasswordChar=true

oPoint.x = 150
oPoint.y = 150
btnSubmit.Location = oPoint
btnSubmit.Width = 100
btnSubmit.Text = "Submit"
     
'Add Controls
frmProd.Controls.Add lblDBDetails
frmProd.Controls.Add lblUID
frmProd.Controls.Add txtUID
frmProd.Controls.Add lblPWD
frmProd.Controls.Add txtPWD
frmProd.Controls.Add btnSubmit
frmProd.CancelButton=btnSubmit
frmProd.Text = "This is a PROD RUN"

frmProd.Height = 250
frmProd.Width = 350
frmProd.ShowDialog
DotnetUIDPWDForm = txtUID.Text & ":" & txtPWD.Text

Set frmProd=Nothing
Set lblDBDetails=Nothing
Set lblUID=Nothing
Set txtUID=Nothing
Set lblPWD=Nothing
Set txtPWD=Nothing
Set btnSubmit=Nothing
Set oPoint=Nothing
End Function

-Pankaj Dhapola 

Let's Think on it

Bring your Test Data in QTP environment

This is continuation . . .

Okay,
Hear it goes

Well my Aim is to Bring an excel stored data into QTP Environment.

I hope you remember this figure . . .

Well this is the Screenshot of "GlobalData.xls", I have explained why did I named this excel as GlobalData.xls

Let's give this excel file an importance because whenever you script is going to start with execution, this file will play major role in term of Initializing your per-requisite of your Test.

Notice the column names "Key" and "Value", what I gonna tell you now, I think I gotcha!!!

I shall extract this data from excel using ADODB, then store that data into Dictionary Object and then make that Dictionary object as Environment Variable.


Set objConnection = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
Set objRecordSet = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
objConnection.Open "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source= & getGlobalDataxlsPath() & ";Extended Properties=""Excel 8.0;HDR=Yes;"";"
objRecordset.Open "Select * FROM [SheetName$]", objConnection


Now Since you've got the RecordSet, now it's time for Dictionary Object to come into picture

Set objDict = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Do Until objRecordset.EOF
   objDict.Add objRecordset.Fields.Item("Key"),  objRecordset.Fields.Item("Value")
   objRecordset.MoveNext
Loop

Now let's make this Dictionary Object an Environment Variable.

Environment.Value("GlobalData") = objDict


From now on where ever you want you can use the Dictionary object stored in Environment, your reference code will be

strBasePath = Environment("GlobalData")("BasePath")

For more insight on referencing on Environment Variables click here

So folks,
I have shown you the code just for understanding the concept behind it, for codes google it out!!!


*getGlobalDataxlsPath()shall return the complete path of "GlobalData.xls" file, Since we need to achieve portability, the path shouldn't be the static one, I shall post later on the logic behind it.

Till Then Take Care . . .

-Pankaj Dhapola
Let's Think on it

Descriptive Programming in QTP

What do you mean by Descriptive Programming (DP in Short)?

In QTP, An Automation script developer can write script codes using Object Repository or Descriptive Programming. Descriptive Programming is nothing but working with Object's property name and property value. As we all know QTP identify objects on the basis of object properties which is ultimately known as Descriptions.

Now in QTP, How do we write scripts in DP to perform an action like entering string in text field, clicking button etc. . .?

Ummm . . .

To Identify object uniquely we need to find descriptions or properties of an Object. How do we find properties? It's Object Spy. Descriptive code can be written in two ways

• Mention your Descriptions using QTP inbuilt programmed Description Object. (Note here Description object is different than the GUI objects like WebButton, WinButton etc, Description Object is programming concept.)
• Another way is to mention your description in string format.

Let's take an example . . .

I have adjacent html WebPage that I developed during my college days when I first learned HTML ;)

I have to write a script to enter firstname, lastname and then click on Submit button.

Now, to write script using Description Object you would require to create a description object and use its add method to add "propertyname -propertyvalue" pair, for that write below code

Set objDesc = Description.Create
objDesc.add "propertyname1", "propertyvalue1"
objDesc.add "propertyname2", "propertyvalue2"


Use this code to write script for object
QTPObject(objDesc )



Wait this is not the end, I want to uniquely identify the TextBox besides "First Name" Label. so for this I need the properties of the "First Name" TextBox and for that naturally I will use QTP object spy.

Let's see what Object spy has to say. . .
Look at the 3 property and value pair for First Name WebEdit (or Text Box)
class = fntxtclass
html tag = INPUT
name = fntxt 

According to hierarchy of "First Name TextBox" Object, with little knowledge of DOM I realized that to reach this textbox I need to identify Browser(MyFirsthtmlcode) first and then Page(MyFirsthtmlcode) and then WebEdit(fntxt)

okay let me go with First Name Textbox or WebEdit(fntxt)


Can you relate things in browser, HTML source page and object spy? Try to understand how are WebObjects being interpreted in QTP environment.

Now I decide to use these 3 properties for identifying the "First Name" TextBox (or WebEdit) in our description object.
Let's see how do i do that . . .

Set objFirstNameTextBoxDescription = Description.Create
objFirstNameTextBoxDescription.add "class","fntxtclass"
objFirstNameTextBoxDescription.add "html tag","INPUT"
objFirstNameTextBoxDescription.add "name","fntxt"

now this object is mentioned in WebEdit object as

WebEdit(objFirstNameTextBoxDescription)

Lets use the same process to identify Browser and page, I figured out below code for both Browser and Page Object

Set objMyBrowserDescription = Description.Create
objMyBrowserDescription.add "name","MyFirsthtmlcode"

As

Browser(objMyBrowserDescription) 

Set objMyPageDescription = Description.Create
objMyPageDescription .add "class","fntxtclass"

As 

Page(objMyPageDescription)

Now lets see whether we have uniquely identify or not, for that I used highlight method for each objects.
Notice hierarchy in the code as well.

Browser(objMyBrowserDescription).highlight
Browser(objMyBrowserDescription).Page(objMyPageDescription).highlight
Browser(objMyBrowserDescription).
Page(objMyPageDescription).
 WebEdit(objFirstNameTextBoxDescription).highlight

guess what!!! "First Name" TextBox was highlighted

And then I used the most common method of WebEdit object i.e. set() method to enter value in our text box.

Browser(objMyBrowserDescription).Page(objMyPageDescription).
 WebEdit(objFirstNameTextBoxDescription).Set "Pankaj Dhapola"

Now Another way without using Description Object is to enter Description properties in String format like this
QTPObject("PropertyName1:=PropertyValue1","PropertyName2:=PropertyValue2", . . . .)

Above equivalent code in String format is



Browser("name:=MyFirsthtmlcode").Page("name:=MyFirsthtmlcode").
WebEdit("class:=fntxtclass","html tag:=INPUT","name:=fntxt").Set "Pankaj Dhapola"



Try it yourself friends.
But notice the case sensitivity inside the String and Description object where you provide the Descriptions or "PropertyName:=Value" pair.

-Pankaj Dhapola

Object Repository in QTP

Wooah!!! Let get into deep understanding of Object Repository (OR in Short)

As the name suggest "A place where Object is stored", but don't get confused. Object in QTP world is basically "PropertyName-PropertyValue" pair. QTP Object Repository is a Graphical representation Various Test Objects and their properties along with hierarchical relationship with other objects as well.

Their are some more functionality available in Object Repository window like . . .

 Add Objects to Repository

 Object Spy

 Associate Other Repository from file

 Highlight Selected Test Object in Application

These are very few enlisted above with Icon Image.

Now lets see how does an Object Repository GUI window looks like.

Left Pane shows the total Test Objects what is going be used by QTP during Test Run. Now these object can be added manually or by QTP itself while recording a script rather I should say a workflow.

Two thing keep in mind to get familiarize with OR.

1) Notice the hierarchical relationships among objects. People who can understand HTML DOM (Document Object Model) can easily figure out why these objects are placed in such order.

2) Notice the Icon and Name of each Object.

Right Pane shows an Object properties and its values.

Lets take an example of our Test Object having Name "Google Search"

Notice the Icon, its a WebButton and the name "Google Search" 

Look at the Right Pane now 3 Description properties are displayed like type, name and html tag.

QTP have itself added these 3 properties to uniquely identify a particular object in application.

Now you will ask me what do you mean "QTP has itself added these properties"? (Note that I am talking about object properties and not Object because I have manually added all those objects in OR, but QTP have itself added all the required properties of each object.)

When I click on Icon         QTP vanishes and Object Spy Hand  appears and placed on the object (Google Search Button) then QTP fetch all the available object properties from the application and using Object Identification Mechanism it filters out that it require above 3 properties to uniquely identify Google Search Button in Google landing page. 

QTP self assign a name ("Google Search") to Google Search button object so that automation tester can use this name as reference in his code.

Now let's around with this object, 

1. Click on highlight button  and then Google Search Button gets highlight

2. Delete  some property and see that whether you can identify (or highlight) object, I deleted property "html tag" and guess what I was able to highlight Google Search Button. And I again deleted property "type" and I was able to highlight Google Search Button. And I again deleted property "name" and guess what QTP showed me 

What did I concluded here.

QTP sometimes take extra precaution to uniquely identify object hence add some more properties without which it can still identify object uniquely.

I have learned that the more number of properties you add, QTP will take more time to analyze object. Hence I started deleting properties.

Okay pals try yourself . . .

Happy Learning . . . :)

-Pankaj Dhapola