By Parul Wahi

Borland silk test is a leading tool for functional and regression, cross platform and localization testing. It can test application based on vast set of technologies like Java, .Net , web , active x, adobe Flex ,client server  etc. Silk Test’s powerful testing framework enables high reusability of test scripts across test projects, building and maintaining regression testing suites and thus helps in expanding test coverage and optimize application quality.

Silk Test Features

A single, automated functional testing tool tests a broad range of enterprise technologies and environments—without costly connectors, adaptors or add-ins
•    A wizard-driven toolbar workflow enables novice users to develop useful tests quickly
•    Robust, resilient tests are supported by a flexible, object-oriented, fourth-generation scripting language called 4Test is designed expressly for automated testing
•    Silk Test also offers functionality of test case management, test planning, data base function, date time functions etc. to make your automation more effective.
•    Silk Test offers many features such as basic workflow for recording tests, workflow for linking a single test case to test data values stored in external tables and code completion in the SilkTest IDE .
•    Unicode support allows localization testing of global applications on multiple platforms with a single script
•    A built-in, customizable error-recovery system returns systems to pre-failure state and resumes testing, unlike other tools that leave systems unstable with unexecuted tests
•    TrueLog based visual reports simplify problem diagnosis when you find defects
•    Integration with Borland’s software test management tool delivers enhanced management capabilities that support a mature and complete functional and regression testing process
•    Built-in support for testing Adobe Flex applications using Internet Explorer, Firefox, the Standalone Flex Player, and Adobe AIR
•    Animated Run Mode to provide ‘slow motion’ playback of test scripts

Architecture

Silk Test consists of two distinct components that execute in separate
processes:
• The Silk Test Host software
• The Silk Test Agent software

The SilkTest Host

The host software is the SilkTest component you use to develop, edit, compile, run and debug your test scripts and testplans. The machine that runs this component is often referred to as the host machine.

The SilkTest Agent

The SilkTest Agent is the component of SilkTest that interacts with the GUI of your application. The Agent translates the commands in your 4Test scripts into GUI specific commands, driving and monitoring the application you are testing. The Agent can run locally on the same machine on which the Host is running or, in a networked environment, any number of Agents can run on remote   machines. In a networked environment, the machine that runs the Agent is often referred to as the remote machine.

How SilkTest  Works and records user actions

Applications are composed of graphical user interface (GUI) objects such as windows, menus and buttons that a user manipulates using a keyboard and a mouse to initiate application operations. Silk Test interprets these objects and recognizes them based on the class, properties and methods that uniquely identify them. During testing, Silk Test interacts with the objects to submit operations to the application automatically, simulating the actions of a user, and then verifies the results of each operation. The simulated user, Silk Test, is said to be driving the application.

Before you begin creating and running test scripts, you create a repository of information about your application to be used by Silk Test. This repository includes descriptions of the GUI objects that comprise your application.Based on the properties and methods Silk Test associates with these objects, Silk Test can recognize the actions performed on them and intelligently record those actions into your test script using the 4Test language.

Test automation is normally developed in SilkTest host using either record/playback or by manual scripting using 4Test. Normally, test cases for SilkTest are developed in IDE (Integrated Development Environment) provided by SilkTest host software. Executing automated test suite is the responsibility of SilkTest agents. SilkTest even supports parallel execution of test cases with the help of these agents. SilkTest host can communicate with these agents residing on multiple machines and execute automated test cases on multiple machines simultaneously. Example , if you need to test your application on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 2000 SP 2, you can have SilkTest agent installed on these machines and run automated test suite in parallel on all these machines at once. Feature like this, saves precious execution time for the testers.

In the next series we will discuss the testing process of silk test and will learn to create simple 4test scripts.

(to be continued…)

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.