QTP 8.

2 FAQ, Tips & Tricks

This document gives answer to some FAQ and also provides tips on certain aspects of QTP.
Data Table
Two Types of data tables

 Global data sheet: Can be used to configure Test Iterations

 Local data sheet: Can be used to configure Action Iterations

Data of Local sheets and global sheets is accessible in all actions.

Usage:

 DataTable ("Column Name", dtGlobalSheet) for Global data sheet

 DataTable ("Column Name", dtLocalSheet) for Local data sheet

If we change any thing in the Data Table at Run-Time the data is changed only in the run-time data table.
The run-time data table is accessible only through then test result. The run-time data table can also be
exported using Datatable. Export or Datatable, ExportSheet.

How can i save the changes to my DataTable in the test itself?

 Well QTP does not allow anything for saving the run time changes to the actual data sheet. The
only work around is to share the spreadsheet and then accesses it using the Excel COM API’s.

How can I check if a parameter exists in DataTable or not?

 The best way would be to use the below code:

on error resume next

val=DataTable ("ParamName",dtGlobalSheet)
if err.number<> 0 then
'Parameter does not exist
else
'Parameter exists
end if

How can i make some rows colored in the data table?

 Well you can't do it normally but you can use Excel COM API's do the same. Below code will
explain some expects of Excel COM APIs

Code:

Set xlApp=Createobject("Excel.Application")
set xlWorkBook=xlApp.workbooks.add
set xlWorkSheet=xlWorkbook.worksheets.add
xlWorkSheet.Range("A1:B10").interior.colorindex = 34 'Change the color of the cells
xlWorkSheet.Range("A1:A10").value="text" 'Will set values of all 10 rows to "text"
xlWorkSheet.Cells(1,1).value="Text" 'Will set the value of first row and first col

rowsCount=xlWorkSheet.Evaluate("COUNTA(A:A)") 'Will count the # of rows which have non

blank value in the column A
colsCount=xlWorkSheet.Evaluate("COUNTA(1:1)") 'Will count the # of non blank columns in 1st
row

xlWorkbook.SaveAs "C:\Test.xls"
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 QTP 8.2 FAQ, Tips & Tricks
xlWorkBook.Close
Set xlWorkSheet=Nothing
Set xlWorkBook=Nothing
set xlApp=Nothing

SMART Identification

Smart Identification is nothing but an algorithm used by QTP when it is not able to recognize one of the
object. A very generic example as per the QTP manual would be, a photograph of an 8 year old girl and
boy and QTP records identification properties of that girl when she was 8, now when both are 10 years old
then QTP would not be able to recognize the girl. But there is something that is still the same that is there
is only one girl in the photograph. So it kind of PI (Programmed intelligence) not AI.

When should i use SMART Identification?

 Something that people doesn’t think about too much. But the thing is that you should disable SI
while creating your test cases. So that you are able to recognize the objects that are dynamic or
inconsistent in their properties. When the script has been created, the SI should be enabled, so
that the script does not fail in case of small changes. But the developer of the script should always
check for the test results to verify if the SI feature was used to identify a object or not. Sometimes
SI needs to be disabled for particular objects in the OR, this is advisable when you use Set TO
Property to change any of the TO properties of an object and especially ordinal identifiers like
index, location and creationtime.

Descriptive Programming

 Descriptive programming is nothing but a technique using which operations can be performed on
the AUT object, which is not present in the OR. For more details refer to my BOK on DP

C:\Tarun C backup\
Desktop\BOK\On Kshop\Descriptive Programming in QTP\Descriptive Programming in QTP.doc

Recovery Scenarios
what is a Recovery Scenario?

 Recovery scenario gives you an option to take some action for recovering from a fatal error in the
test. The error could range in from occasional to typical errors. Occasional error would be like "Out
of paper" popup error while printing something and typical errors would be like "object is disabled"
or "object not found". A test case have more then one scenario associated with it and also have
the priority or order in which it should be checked.

What does a Recovery Scenario consists of?

 Trigger: Trigger is nothing but the cause for initiating the recovery scenario. It could be any
popup window, any test error, particular state of an object or any application error.
 Action: Action defines what needs to be done if scenario has been triggered. It can consist of a
mouse/keyboard event, close application, call a recovery function defined in library file or restart
windows. You can have a series of all the specified actions.
 Post-recovery operation: Basically defined what need to be done after the recovery action has
been taken. It could be to repeat the step, move to next step etc....

When to use a Recovery Scenario and when to us on error resume next?

 Recovery scenarios are used when you cannot predict at what step the error can occur or when
you know that error won't occur in your QTP script but could occur in the world outside QTP, again
the example would be "out of paper", as this error is caused by printer device driver. "On error
resume next" should be used when you know if an error is expected and dont want to raise it, you
may want to have different actions depending upon the error that occurred. Use err.number &
err.description to get more details about the error.

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 QTP 8.2 FAQ, Tips & Tricks
Library Files or VBScript Files
How do we associate a library file with a test?

 Library files are files containing normal VBScript code. The file can contain function, sub
procedure, classes etc.... You can also use executefile function to include a file at run-time also. To
associate a library file with your script go to Test->Settings... and add your library file to resources
tab.

When to associate a library file with a test and when to use execute file?

 When we associate a library file with the test, then all the functions within that library are
available to all the actions present in the test. But when we use Executefile function to load a
library file, then the functions are available in the action that called executefile. By associated a
library to a test we share variables across action (global variables basically), using association also
makes it possible to execute code as soon as the script runs because while loading the script on
startup QTP executes all the code on the global scope. We can use executefile in a library file
associated with the test to load dynamic files and they will be available to all the actions in the
test.

Test and Run-time Object

What is the difference between Test Objects and Run Time Objects ?

 Test objects are basic and generic objects that QTP recognize. Run time object means the actual
object to which a test objects maps.

Can i change properties of a test object?

 Yes. You can use SetTOProperty to change the test object properties. It is recommended that you
switch off the Smart Identification for the object on which you use SetTOProperty function.

Can i change properties of a run time object?

 No (but Yes also). You can use GetROProperty ("outerText") to get the outer Text of a object but
there is no function like SetROProperty to change this property. But you can use WebElement ().
Object.outerText="Something" to change the property.

Action & Functions

What is the difference between an Action and a function?

 Action is a thing specific to QTP while functions are a generic thing, which is a feature of VB
Scripting. Action can have a object repository associated with it while a function can't. A function
is just lines of code with some/none parameters and a single return value while an action can have
more than one output parameters.

Where to use function or action?

 Well answer depends on the scenario. If you want to use the OR feature then you have to go for
Action only. If the functionality is not about any automation script i.e. a function like getting a
string between to specific characters, now this is something not specific to QTP and can be done
on pure VB Script, so this should be done in a function and not an action. Code specific to QTP can
also be put into a function using DP. Decision of using function/action depends on what any one
would be comfortable using in a given situation.

Checkpoint & Output value

What is checkpoint?

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 QTP 8.2 FAQ, Tips & Tricks
 Checkpoint is basically a point in the test, which validates for truthfulness of a specific thing in the
AUT. There are different types of checkpoints depending on the type of data that needs to be
tested in the AUT. It can be text, image/bitmap, attributes, XML etc....

What's the difference between a checkpoint and output value?

 Checkpoint only checks for the specific attribute of an object in AUT while Output value can output
those attributes value to a column in data table.

How can i check if a checkpoint passes or not?

Code:

chk_PassFail = Browser(...).Page(...).WebEdit(...).Check (Checkpoint("Check1"))

if chk_PassFail then
MsgBox "Check Point passed"
else
MsgBox "Check Point failed"
end if

My test fails due to checkpoint failing, Can i validate a checkpoint without my test failing due to
checpoint failure?
Code:

Reporter.Filter = rfDisableAll 'Disables all the reporting stuff

chk_PassFail = Browser(...).Page(...).WebEdit(...).Check (Checkpoint("Check1"))
Reporter.Filter = rfEnableAll 'Enable all the reporting stuff
if chk_PassFail then
MsgBox "Check Point passed"
else
MsgBox "Check Point failed"
end if

Environment
How can i import environment from a file on disk

Environment.LoadFromFile "C:\Env.xml"

How can i check if an environment variable exists or not?

 When we use Environment ("Param1"). value then QTP expects the environment variable to be
already defined. But when we use Environment.value ("Param1") then QTP will create a new
internal environment variable if it does not exists already. So to be sure that variable exists in the
environment try using Environment ("Param1"). Value.

How to connect to a database?

Const adOpenStatic = 3
Const adLockOptimistic = 3
Const adUseClient = 3
Set objConnection = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
Set objRecordset = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
objConnection.Open "DRIVER={Microsoft ODBC for Oracle};UID=<UID>;PWD=<PWD>"
objRecordset.CursorLocation = adUseClient
objRecordset.CursorType = adopenstatic
objRecordset.LockType = adlockoptimistic
ObjRecordset.Source="select field1,field2 from testTable"
ObjRecordset.ActiveConnection=ObjConnection
ObjRecordset.Open 'This will execute your Query
If ObjRecordset.recordcount>0 then
Field1 = ObjRecordset("Field1").Value
Field2 = ObjRecordset("Field2").Value
End if

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