Learning The Basics of Rational Robot – IBM Test Automation Tool

This guest post is contributed by J.B.Rajkumar, a professional with vast experience in Automation Tools currently employed at a leading global firm.

In this instructional guide, we will delve into the basic principles of Rational Robot, an IBM Test Automation Tool.

Let’s dive in!!

Exploring the Fundamental Concepts of Rational Robot (7.0)

#1) Characteristics of Rational Robot: Rational Robot is an Automated Functional and Regression Testing tool purposely built for the automation of Windows, Java, IE, and ERP applications on the Windows platform.

Rational Robot offers test cases for widely used objects such as menus, lists, bitmaps, and specialized test cases for objects unique to the development environment.

The Rational Robot seamlessly integrates with tools such as the Rational Test Manager, Rational ClearQuest, and Requisite Pro in the Rational Unified Processor for Defect Tracking, Change Management, and Requirement Traceability. It also supports UI technologies like Java, Web, all VS.NET controls, Oracle Forms, Borland Delphi, and Sybase Power Builder applications.

#2) Rational Administrator: This tool is employed for managing relationships among various Rational artifacts such as Test Datastores, Requisite Pro projects, and Rose models.

• It is used to develop Rational Projects.
• Can manage Users and Groups.
• Can upgrade project assets.

#3) Recording Alternatives: Rational Robot, utilizing object-oriented technology, identifies objects based on their name property rather than their location coordinates.

Two distinct recording alternatives exist:

• GUI – Functional Testing
• VU – Performance Testing

#4) SQABasic Language: SQABasic is akin to Microsoft Visual Basic. All scripts are retained in the scriptname.rec format. When you execute the script playback, Robot automatically compiles and runs it, repeating your actions and executing the verification points.

#5) Shell Scripts: Master scripts that call other automated scripts and play them sequentially.

“call script test1” is a command to summon a script named test1. When amalgamated into a single shell script, scripts can function in unattended mode and provide extensive test coverage. It consolidates test results into a single test log.

#6) Low-Level Recording: To automatically record mouse and keyboard actions in an external file, activate “Low-Level Recording” in Robot during recording.

#7) Verification Points: Verification points are employed to confirm the occurrence of a specific action or to verify an object’s status.

Rational Robot offers 11 Verification Points as listed below:

• Alpha-Numeric: Validates alphanumeric data used for editing boxes, pushbuttons, labels, and text fields, etc.
• Object Properties: Evaluates object attributes such as color, font, and position.
• Menu: Validates a menu’s values and (optionally) their state (enabled or disabled) within a window.
• Clip Board: Validates the content of the windows clipboard.
• Window Existence: Checks whether a specific window is present or not on the screen.
• Region Image: Graphically compares a specified screen area.
• Window Image: Graphically compares an entire window, such as a dialogue box.
• Object Data: Tests the data content of objects (e.g., Dropdown).
• File Comparison: Compares the size and contents of two files.
• File Existence: Verifies if a particular file is present.
• Module Existence: Tests to verify if a specified module is loaded within a specified context or loaded anywhere in memory.

When fabricating verification points, you can opt for Wait State and Expected Results.

Wait states are valuable when the AUT needs an unpredictable amount of time to accomplish a task. Implementing a wait state prevents the verification point from failing if the task is not completed immediately or if the data is not instantly accessible.

Expected Results: In the Verification Point Name dialog box, choose either Pass or Fail.

#8) Variable Window: During debugging, you can examine variable and constant values using the variable window. Go to View -> Variables.

#9) Object Mapping: If a custom object or an object that Robot does not identify exists in the AUT, create a custom object mapping before recording. This can be achieved by adding the object’s class to the list of recognized classes in Robot and associating the class with a standard object type.

This custom class/object type mapping is saved by the Robot in the project and is used during playback to identify the custom object.

#10) Debugging Tools

• Animate(F11): Animation mode allows you to view each script line as it executes.
• Step Over(F10): This option executes a single script line command.
• Step Into(F8): Used for single-step execution.
• Step Out(F7): This option allows you to step out of the called script and reroute to the calling script.
• Go Until Cursor(F6): Use this to playback the active GUI script and halt at the text cursor location.

#11) Library Files and Header Files: Header files bearing .sbh extensions contain procedure declarations and global variables referred to in your script files. There are two kinds of library files.

Files with .sbl extensions are incapable of having verification points, whereas those with .rec extensions are stored in the project and can contain verification points. Both the Header and library files are housed in SQABAS32 in the project directory.

#12) Image Masks for Dynamic Objects: Image masks are employed to obscure specific screen areas. For a script playback that includes an Image VP and a mask, Robot disregards the masked area when comparing actual results to the recorded baseline.

#13) Data Pool: A Data Pool is a test dataset that supplies data variables to a test script during playback. Using Data Pools lets you run several iterations of a script using different data every time. This can be created and managed using a Test Manager for Data-Driven tests.

#14) Useful Website for Downloading Rational Robot Trial Version and Rational Robot Tutorial:

We hope this tutorial serves as a comprehensive guide for those keen to learn Rational Robot.

For any queries, kindly leave them in the comments section below.