Average Review: 5 Stars

The best automated tool for PowerBuilder Applications

10/09/2024

Test Leader

An excellent tool for speeding up the development of PowerBuilder tests

26/08/2024

Automation Test Lead

Great partner and software

03/10/2024

IT Manager

A great product with excellent support.

30/09/2024

Software Developer

Best automated testing tool for increasing the usability and maintenability of your applications!

23/08/2024

Product Manager

Superb PowerBuilder Testing Tool

04/09/2024

IT Manager

Average Review: 4.8 Stars

Extremely Capable Automation Test Tool For PowerBuilder Applications

27/07/2020

R&D

Best Automated Testing Tool For Maintainability And Reusability.

30/07/2020

Software Development

Very suitable program for automated testing of PowerBuilder applications

22/07/2020

R&D

Excellent product for Automation Testing

20/08/2020

R&D

A Highly recommend tool with a wonderful and highly skilled Zeenyx Support team!

31/03/2021

Top testing software for PowerBuilder

03/02/2024

Software Development

Automated Testing

Test frameworks are costly to build and maintain. Unlike keyword-driven testing, AscentialTest does not require the development of a test framework. AscentialTest is a productivity tool for software testing. It has been designed to lower the learning curve, reduce test creation time and minimize the level of effort to maintain tests. Instead of investing time in building frameworks, software testers can spend more time testing. AscentialTest provides a highly visual environment where test components are created using drag and drop in an easy 4 step process

Users point and click to capture Snapshots, which contain all of the data required to expose and organize application objects and attributes. Users define objects by dragging and dropping to the object repository.

Uniquely identify objects using a rich array of descriptors
Visually confirm object definitions
Reduce ‘noise’ by filtering out unwanted levels in the application hierarchy
Text and images are recognized as application objects
Powerful object recognition for complex objects like tables and grids
Table wizard guides definition of web table objects
‘Selectors’ provide easy interaction with objects in tables and lists
Capture list of values from dropdowns, listboxes and other list-based controls
Capture and compare image-based application components
Refactor project automatically when renaming objects
Locate object references throughout the project
Build Snapshot series to storyboard test transactions
Create object classes to define objects that display on multiple pages
Special object recognition for PowerBuilder, dotNet (Windforms and WPF) and PDF
Special object recognition for Java and Terminals (5250 and 3270)

AscentialTest marries the usability of a recorder with the strength of script-based testing. Reusable steps are created by point and click. Actions are automatically generated by interacting with Snapshots.

Visually build steps in drag and drop interface
Generate input and verification actions
Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Test data objects automatically generated
Data types are automatically handled by AscentialTest
Access interfaces to DLLs, database, xml and the operating system
Powerful scripting language available for users with scripting experience
Run individual steps out of context to aid in debugging
Build steps from Snapshots even when offline to the target application
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameters

Reusable tests are built by dragging and dropping steps. AscentialTest automatically generates data tables and binds to the data fields of the test. As the library of steps grows, the pace of building new tests accelerates. The most important benefit of the Step-Based approach is not realized until the target application changes over time. When the target application changes, only the impacted steps need to be modified. All the tests that use those steps are automatically updated. This not only saves time and resources, it assures that tests are ready when you need them.

Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Build cross-browser tests without need for modifications
Access built-in startup and error recovery
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Tests can be ported to multiple languages at a fraction of the time required with other tools
Combine manual and automated steps

Data tables are automatically generated by AscentialTest based on test input fields. Data tables offer significant advantages over spreadsheets for maintaining test data. Instead of storing only strings, AscentialTest data tables store data in the type that is required by test actions including complex lists and records. Users can automatically generate data tables from tests or build them visually using a specialized editor. All the user has to do is provide the test data.

Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Define Application Objects

Uniquely identify objects using a rich array of descriptors
Visually confirm object definitions
Reduce ‘noise’ by filtering out unwanted levels in the application hierarchy
Text and images are recognized as application objects
Powerful object recognition for complex objects like tables and grids
Table wizard guides definition of web table objects
‘Selectors’ provide easy interaction with objects in tables and lists
Capture list of values from dropdowns, listboxes and other list-based controls
Capture and compare image-based application components
Refactor project automatically when renaming objects
Locate object references throughout the project
Build Snapshot series to storyboard test transactions
Create object classes to define objects that display on multiple pages
Special object recognition for PowerBuilder, dotNet (Windforms and WPF) and PDF
Special object recognition for Java and Terminals (5250 and 3270)

Create Steps

Visually build steps in drag and drop interface
Generate input and verification actions
Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Test data objects automatically generated
Data types are automatically handled by AscentialTest
Access interfaces to DLLs, database, xml and the operating system
Powerful scripting language available for users with scripting experience
Run individual steps out of context to aid in debugging
Build steps from Snapshots even when offline to the target application
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameters

Build Tests

Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Build cross-browser tests without need for modifications
Access built-in startup and error recovery
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Tests can be ported to multiple languages at a fraction of the time required with other tools
Combine manual and automated steps

Input Test Data

Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Manual Testing

AscentialTest provides a unique way to create and execute manual tests. Manual tests are developed by combining and organizing re-usable steps by drag and drop. At test execution time, the tester is prompted with instructions for each step and provided a way to capture outputs, notes, images and attachments. Results are stored along with automated test results, making it easy to generate comprehensive reports. AscentialTest provides a highly visual environment where test components are created using drag and drop in an easy 4 step process

Build reusable steps to reduce test maintenance when the target application changes in the future.

Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameter

Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Outputs captured in one step can be linked to input instructions of subsequent steps so that the tester is provided with session specific data
Data lookups can be embedded within instructions so that the tester is provided with current and relevant test data. Significant time is saved searching for records and eliminating input errors due to out-of-date data
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Combine manual and automated steps

Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

The manual test prompter invokes on the tester’s computer and provides instructions along with the ability to capture outputs, notes and attachments.

Application images can be captured during execution for display in test results or defect reports
Test results including date/time, tester and executed actions are recorded for audit or regulatory review
AscentialTest Manual Test Edition can be purchased separately as a standalone solution for manual-only testing

Create Steps

Build reusable steps to reduce test maintenance when the target application changes in the future.

Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameter

Build Tests

Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Outputs captured in one step can be linked to input instructions of subsequent steps so that the tester is provided with session specific data
Data lookups can be embedded within instructions so that the tester is provided with current and relevant test data. Significant time is saved searching for records and eliminating input errors due to out-of-date data
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Combine manual and automated steps

Input Test Data

Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Execute Tests

The manual test prompter invokes on the tester’s computer and provides instructions along with the ability to capture outputs, notes and attachments.

Application images can be captured during execution for display in test results or defect reports
Test results including date/time, tester and executed actions are recorded for audit or regulatory review
AscentialTest Manual Test Edition can be purchased separately as a standalone solution for manual-only testing

Application Lifecycle Management

AscentialTest is designed to make it easy to manage test plans, test data, manual and automated tests, test results and metrics. It supports collaborations and integrates easily with version control, defect tracking and continuous delivery solutions.

The Test Plan Editor is a planning tool used to describe test requirements in outline, list or scenario form. It provides links to manual and automated tests and to test data stored in built-in data tables.

Link tests to plans via drag and drop
Link test requirements with test data by point and click
Test plan attributes provide the ability to locate tests using a powerful query tool
Automatically generate test plans from test data tables
Specify number of iterations to repeat tests n times
Group test plans into suites for execution

AscentialTest is integrated with Jira for defect tracking to provide a way to manage the relationship between test results and defects. (Figure 1)

Failures can be associated with defects so that testers will be notified when defects have been fixed and ready for re-testing. (Figure 2)

Create a defect
Assign a test to a defect
Get prompted to create defects for failed tests
Check the current status of a defect
Get prompted to re-run tests as defects are fixed
Get prompted to close defects for ‘passed’ tests
Access a defect to modify status and details

AscentialTest offers several collaboration features by integrating seamlessly with other software development tools. By integrating with version control systems like Subversion (SVN), large teams can contribute to the test development effort. Integration with GIT and TFS will also be offered in the near future.

Check out/check in components to SVN repository
Merge files with integrated merge utility
Review project history
Restore to previous revision

Test Sets provide test execution management and reporting. A Test Set may be created for a build, a sprint, a test cycle or a project, depending upon how your organization tests and delivers software. Test Sets help manage test results.

Combine automated and manual tests within a Test Set
Manage test results in a centralized database
Indicate and specify reasons for blocked and failed tests
Annotate Test Set to explain test results
Generate and export reports to PDF, HTML, EXCEL, RTF, TXT or TIF formats
Email results automatically
View real-time results in web portal
Attach documents of any type to results
Execute tests locally, remotely or on multiple machines
Schedule tests using test scheduler

Test Planning

Link tests to plans via drag and drop
Link test requirements with test data by point and click
Test plan attributes provide the ability to locate tests using a powerful query tool
Automatically generate test plans from test data tables
Specify number of iterations to repeat tests n times
Group test plans into suites for execution

Defect Tracking

AscentialTest is integrated with Jira for defect tracking to provide a way to manage the relationship between test results and defects. (Figure 1)

Failures can be associated with defects so that testers will be notified when defects have been fixed and ready for re-testing. (Figure 2)

Create a defect
Assign a test to a defect
Get prompted to create defects for failed tests
Check the current status of a defect
Get prompted to re-run tests as defects are fixed
Get prompted to close defects for ‘passed’ tests
Access a defect to modify status and details

Version Control

Check out/check in components to SVN repository
Merge files with integrated merge utility
Review project history
Restore to previous revision

Test Execution Management

Combine automated and manual tests within a Test Set
Manage test results in a centralized database
Indicate and specify reasons for blocked and failed tests
Annotate Test Set to explain test results
Generate and export reports to PDF, HTML, EXCEL, RTF, TXT or TIF formats
Email results automatically
View real-time results in web portal
Attach documents of any type to results
Execute tests locally, remotely or on multiple machines
Schedule tests using test scheduler

Test Data Management

AscentialTest makes it easy to mange test data and integrate it with manual and automated tests.

Build data structures and tables visually
Import test data from .csv
Project and plan level data available to provide for global data parameters
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Automated Testing

Uniquely identify objects using a rich array of descriptors
Visually confirm object definitions
Reduce ‘noise’ by filtering out unwanted levels in the application hierarchy
Text and images are recognized as application objects
Powerful object recognition for complex objects like tables and grids
Table wizard guides definition of web table objects
‘Selectors’ provide easy interaction with objects in tables and lists
Capture list of values from dropdowns, listboxes and other list-based controls
Capture and compare image-based application components
Refactor project automatically when renaming objects
Locate object references throughout the project
Build Snapshot series to storyboard test transactions
Create object classes to define objects that display on multiple pages
Special object recognition for PowerBuilder, dotNet (Windforms and WPF) and PDF
Special object recognition for Java and Terminals (5250 and 3270)

Visually build steps in drag and drop interface
Generate input and verification actions
Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Test data objects automatically generated
Data types are automatically handled by AscentialTest
Access interfaces to DLLs, database, xml and the operating system
Powerful scripting language available for users with scripting experience
Run individual steps out of context to aid in debugging
Build steps from Snapshots even when offline to the target application
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameters

Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Build cross-browser tests without need for modifications
Access built-in startup and error recovery
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Tests can be ported to multiple languages at a fraction of the time required with other tools
Combine manual and automated steps

Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Define Application Objects

Uniquely identify objects using a rich array of descriptors
Visually confirm object definitions
Reduce ‘noise’ by filtering out unwanted levels in the application hierarchy
Text and images are recognized as application objects
Powerful object recognition for complex objects like tables and grids
Table wizard guides definition of web table objects
‘Selectors’ provide easy interaction with objects in tables and lists
Capture list of values from dropdowns, listboxes and other list-based controls
Capture and compare image-based application components
Refactor project automatically when renaming objects
Locate object references throughout the project
Build Snapshot series to storyboard test transactions
Create object classes to define objects that display on multiple pages
Special object recognition for PowerBuilder, dotNet (Windforms and WPF) and PDF
Special object recognition for Java and Terminals (5250 and 3270)

Create Steps

Visually build steps in drag and drop interface
Generate input and verification actions
Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Test data objects automatically generated
Data types are automatically handled by AscentialTest
Access interfaces to DLLs, database, xml and the operating system
Powerful scripting language available for users with scripting experience
Run individual steps out of context to aid in debugging
Build steps from Snapshots even when offline to the target application
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameters

Build Tests

Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Build cross-browser tests without need for modifications
Access built-in startup and error recovery
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Tests can be ported to multiple languages at a fraction of the time required with other tools
Combine manual and automated steps

Input Test Data

Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Manual Testing

Build reusable steps to reduce test maintenance when the target application changes in the future.

Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameter

Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Outputs captured in one step can be linked to input instructions of subsequent steps so that the tester is provided with session specific data
Data lookups can be embedded within instructions so that the tester is provided with current and relevant test data. Significant time is saved searching for records and eliminating input errors due to out-of-date data
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Combine manual and automated steps

Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

The manual test prompter invokes on the tester’s computer and provides instructions along with the ability to capture outputs, notes and attachments.

Application images can be captured during execution for display in test results or defect reports
Test results including date/time, tester and executed actions are recorded for audit or regulatory review
AscentialTest Manual Test Edition can be purchased separately as a standalone solution for manual-only testing

Create Steps

Build reusable steps to reduce test maintenance when the target application changes in the future.

Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameter

Build Tests

Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Outputs captured in one step can be linked to input instructions of subsequent steps so that the tester is provided with session specific data
Data lookups can be embedded within instructions so that the tester is provided with current and relevant test data. Significant time is saved searching for records and eliminating input errors due to out-of-date data
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Combine manual and automated steps

Input Test Data

Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Execute Tests

The manual test prompter invokes on the tester’s computer and provides instructions along with the ability to capture outputs, notes and attachments.

Application images can be captured during execution for display in test results or defect reports
Test results including date/time, tester and executed actions are recorded for audit or regulatory review
AscentialTest Manual Test Edition can be purchased separately as a standalone solution for manual-only testing

Application Lifecycle Management

Link tests to plans via drag and drop
Link test requirements with test data by point and click
Test plan attributes provide the ability to locate tests using a powerful query tool
Automatically generate test plans from test data tables
Specify number of iterations to repeat tests n times
Group test plans into suites for execution

AscentialTest is integrated with Jira for defect tracking to provide a way to manage the relationship between test results and defects. (Figure 1)

Failures can be associated with defects so that testers will be notified when defects have been fixed and ready for re-testing. (Figure 2)

Create a defect
Assign a test to a defect
Get prompted to create defects for failed tests
Check the current status of a defect
Get prompted to re-run tests as defects are fixed
Get prompted to close defects for ‘passed’ tests
Access a defect to modify status and details

Check out/check in components to SVN repository
Merge files with integrated merge utility
Review project history
Restore to previous revision

Combine automated and manual tests within a Test Set
Manage test results in a centralized database
Indicate and specify reasons for blocked and failed tests
Annotate Test Set to explain test results
Generate and export reports to PDF, HTML, EXCEL, RTF, TXT or TIF formats
Email results automatically
View real-time results in web portal
Attach documents of any type to results
Execute tests locally, remotely or on multiple machines
Schedule tests using test scheduler

Test Planning

Link tests to plans via drag and drop
Link test requirements with test data by point and click
Test plan attributes provide the ability to locate tests using a powerful query tool
Automatically generate test plans from test data tables
Specify number of iterations to repeat tests n times
Group test plans into suites for execution

Defect Tracking

AscentialTest is integrated with Jira for defect tracking to provide a way to manage the relationship between test results and defects. (Figure 1)

Failures can be associated with defects so that testers will be notified when defects have been fixed and ready for re-testing. (Figure 2)

Create a defect
Assign a test to a defect
Get prompted to create defects for failed tests
Check the current status of a defect
Get prompted to re-run tests as defects are fixed
Get prompted to close defects for ‘passed’ tests
Access a defect to modify status and details

Version Control

Check out/check in components to SVN repository
Merge files with integrated merge utility
Review project history
Restore to previous revision

Test Execution Management

Combine automated and manual tests within a Test Set
Manage test results in a centralized database
Indicate and specify reasons for blocked and failed tests
Annotate Test Set to explain test results
Generate and export reports to PDF, HTML, EXCEL, RTF, TXT or TIF formats
Email results automatically
View real-time results in web portal
Attach documents of any type to results
Execute tests locally, remotely or on multiple machines
Schedule tests using test scheduler

Test Data Management

AscentialTest makes it easy to mange test data and integrate it with manual and automated tests.

Build data structures and tables visually
Import test data from .csv
Project and plan level data available to provide for global data parameters
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Object Recognition

AscentialTest recognizes application elements regardless of complexity without coding hacks or reliance on fragile OCR

How We Address It

The patented AscentialTest Snapshot displays a document-object-model that enables stable recognition of all application elements regardless of their relative position in the object hierarchy.

How Others Handle It

Other tools recognize each object by its full path in the object hierarchy. Future changes in the target application GUI will break object definitions requiring changes to path/locator to resolve recognition problems.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Changes in object hierarchy in the future have no impact on object recognition whatsoever.

Watch Quick Demo

Drag & Drop

Creating tests with our drag & drop editors is faster and more efficient than recording or scripting

How We Address It

The patented AscentialTest snapshot provides a way to generate object definitions and object-actions by dragging and dropping. The AscentialTest UI is designed so that project components are within easy reach to enable drag & drop to build tests from reusable steps, to bind test data to tests and to bind tests to test plans.

How Others Handle It

Tools that rely on recorders to generate object-actions look great in a demo but when you actually try to use one, you find out that the recording requires a lot of time-consuming editing, requiring a long chain of user actions to select values from dialogs loaded with text fields and dropdowns. Other test solutions that rely on scripting require special skill sets and long learning curves.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Building test automation through Drag & Drop reduces the learning curve, does not require a specialized skill set and provides the fastest, most efficient way to build robust automated tests. The video will show D&D quickly through the entire process of defining objects, creating a step and parameterizing it, building test, binding a data table, binding to a plan and building a test set.

Watch Quick Demo

Reusable Elements

Promotes faster building and maintenance of tests

How We Address It

We recognize that tests need to be built on a stable foundation. Our object and step libraries provide a single point of change to maintain tests when there is a change to the business or application logic of the target application. In AscentialTest objects, steps, tests and test data are all reusable.

How Others Handle It

While there is a smattering of reuse employed by many of the competing solutions, we have not seen any other solution that allows a single point of change for objects, steps, tests and test data.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Because objects, steps, tests and test data are reusable, there are fewer components to build and maintain. Changes to the target application will result in the fewest possible changes to the testing project so that test are quickly and easily modified and ready to run when you need them.

Watch Quick Demo

No More Frameworks

Time should be focused on building tests that validate the target application, not on test frameworks which can take weeks or months to build.

How We Address It

Based upon information captured from the target application along with our class library, AscentialTest automatically builds pre-test and post-test actions as part of the Test Class from which every test inherits. Users can add actions to customize for the target application.

How Others Handle It

Other solutions require a framework to be developed and then implemented for each test.

Why Our Approach Is Better

The AscentialTest Test Class ensures that every test is independent, starting and stopping from known ‘base states’, so that a failure in a test will not produce a domino effect where all subsequent tests fail. The video will show how appstate is automatically generate and how OnFinish is configured with Close Windows function.

Watch Quick Demo

Test Management

Testing projects can get messy without good management tools

How We Address It

AscentialTest includes all the test management features that you need to inventory, track and integrate steps, tests, test plans and test data tables.

How Others Handle It

Most other testing solutions require the purchase of additional tools that are either part of suite or from third parties where integration is cumbersome.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Built-in test management increases productivity by speeding up the process of building and executing tests which reduces the duration of test cycles and increases the probability of meeting project target dates.

Watch Quick Demo

Complex Objects

Let AscentialTest do the heavy-lifting when it comes to tables, grids and trees

How We Address It

The AscentialTest class library contains in-built intelligence regarding the structure and behavior of the table family of elements. Whether the target application is DotNet, PowerBuilder, Terminal or Web, AscentialTest recognizes all of the element components. A unique action called a ‘selector’ locates a row by searching the table and finding a specified value.

How Others Handle It

Other solutions require some combination of OCR, image recognition or a lot of coding in order to make sense of a complex object and interface with it at the row and column level.0.

Why Our Approach Is Better

The AscentialTest table interface allows users to select, input or edit rows in complex objects using drag & drop as seamlessly as interfacing with a simple edit field without any coding. The video will include drag and drop definition of PB and DotNet tables and the webtable wizard. It will also demonstrate how selectors are used to locate rows.

Watch Quick Demo

Integrations

Testing tools don’t exist in a vacuum. The ability to interface smoothly with version control, defect tracking and continuous integration impacts tester productivity.

How We Address It

AscentialTest integration for version control and defect tracking is built right into the User Interface. Users can acquire locks and commit changes from the Project Explorer. Changes in defect status automatically mark tests to be run when bugs are fixed. Plug-ins are available for popular CI tools.

How Others Handle It

These features are lacking in most testing tools. Other solutions provide lose integration with collaboration tools often using the Windows File Manager.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Productivity is increased when users can access integration with collaboration features from within AscentialTest. The video will demonstrate lock and commit with Subversion integration and Mark tests by change in status from Jira integration.

Watch Quick Demo

Object Recognition

AscentialTest recognizes application elements regardless of complexity without coding hacks or reliance on fragile OCR

How We Address It

The patented AscentialTest Snapshot displays a document-object-model that enables stable recognition of all application elements regardless of their relative position in the object hierarchy.

How Others Handle It

Why Our Approach Is Better

Changes in object hierarchy in the future have no impact on object recognition whatsoever.

Watch Quick Demo

Drag & Drop

Creating tests with our drag & drop editors is faster and more efficient than recording or scripting

How We Address It

How Others Handle It

Why Our Approach Is Better

Watch Quick Demo

Reusable Elements

Promotes faster building and maintenance of tests

How We Address It

How Others Handle It

While there is a smattering of reuse employed by many of the competing solutions, we have not seen any other solution that allows a single point of change for objects, steps, tests and test data.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Watch Quick Demo

No More Frameworks

Time should be focused on building tests that validate the target application, not on test frameworks which can take weeks or months to build.

How We Address It

How Others Handle It

Other solutions require a framework to be developed and then implemented for each test.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Watch Quick Demo

Test Management

Testing projects can get messy without good management tools

How We Address It

AscentialTest includes all the test management features that you need to inventory, track and integrate steps, tests, test plans and test data tables.

How Others Handle It

Most other testing solutions require the purchase of additional tools that are either part of suite or from third parties where integration is cumbersome.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Watch Quick Demo

Complex Objects

Let AscentialTest do the heavy-lifting when it comes to tables, grids and trees

How We Address It

How Others Handle It

Other solutions require some combination of OCR, image recognition or a lot of coding in order to make sense of a complex object and interface with it at the row and column level.0.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Watch Quick Demo

Integrations

Testing tools don’t exist in a vacuum. The ability to interface smoothly with version control, defect tracking and continuous integration impacts tester productivity.

How We Address It

How Others Handle It

These features are lacking in most testing tools. Other solutions provide lose integration with collaboration tools often using the Windows File Manager.

Why Our Approach Is Better

Watch Quick Demo

AscentialTest

Integrated Test Planning:

Yes

Object Recognition:

Advanced

Object Repository:

Yes, AscentialTest collapses object hierarchy. Objects inherit path from parents which makes maintaining object locators much more robust

Test Frameworks (Productivity):

No framework needed. AscentialTest builds automatically as tests created

Foreign Language UI:

Yes

Supported Platforms:

Webapps: Yes

Windows MFC: Yes

.Net Winforms: Yes

.Net WPF: Yes

PowerBuilder: Yes

PowerServer: Yes

PowerClient: Yes

OMNIS: Yes

Delphi: Yes

Java Swing: Yes

Terminal: Yes

CEF/Electron: Yes

MS Webview 2: Yes

PDF: Yes

Drag Generation of Actions:

Yes

Reusable Steps:

Yes

Scripting:

Visual and manual scripting

Parallel Execution:

Yes

Integrated Defect Tracking:

Yes

Test Localization:

Yes

Test Portability:

Yes

Manual Testing:

Yes

Test Management:

Yes

Test Execution Mgmt:

Yes

Integrated Version Control:

Yes

Integrated Test Data Management:

Yes, built-in with full data typing

TestComplete

Integrated Test Planning:

Yes

Object Recognition:

Test Complete comes closest to AscentialTest in object recognition. Without the snapshot, it takes more time to test and maintain object definitions

Object Repository:

Similar to Selenium. No object hierarchy. Each object is identified from top to bottom. Alias permits shorter names but it doesn’t resolve issue of object hierarchy changing in future.

Test Frameworks (Productivity):

Does not appear to have appstates, some framework creation appears to be needed

Foreign Language UI:

Unmentioned

Supported Platforms:

Webapps: Yes

Windows MFC: Yes

.Net Winforms: Yes

.Net WPF: Yes

PowerBuilder: Yes (no test API)

PowerServer: Yes (no test API)

PowerClient: Yes (no test API)

OMNIS: No

Delphi: Yes

Java Swing: Yes

Terminal: No

CEF/Electron: Yes

MS Webview 2: No

PDF: Unmentioned

Drag Generation of Actions:

via Recording

Reusable Steps:

Yes

Scripting:

Assisted scripting with autocomplete

Parallel Execution:

Yes

Integrated Defect Tracking:

Yes

Test Localization:

Yes

Test Portability:

Unmentioned

Manual Testing:

Test Management:

Yes

Test Execution Mgmt:

Yes

Integrated Version Control:

Yes

Integrated Test Data Management:

Some, Parameters and Variables are stored at project level, Data is accessed from spreadsheets, external files and databases. They do not have built-in datatables, the mapping to data sources for data driven tests is really tedious and time consuming

Integrated Test Planning:

Yes

Object Recognition:

Advanced

Object Repository:

Yes, AscentialTest collapses object hierarchy. Objects inherit path from parents which makes maintaining object locators much more robust

Test Frameworks (Productivity):

No framework needed. AscentialTest builds automatically as tests created

Foreign Language UI:

Yes

Supported Platforms:

Webapps: Yes

Windows MFC: Yes

.Net Winforms: Yes

.Net WPF: Yes

PowerBuilder: Yes

PowerServer: Yes

PowerClient: Yes

OMNIS: Yes

Delphi: Yes

Java Swing: Yes

Terminal: Yes

CEF/Electron: Yes

MS Webview 2: Yes

PDF: Yes

Drag Generation of Actions:

Yes

Reusable Steps:

Yes

Scripting:

Visual and manual scripting

Parallel Execution:

Yes

Integrated Defect Tracking:

Yes

Test Localization:

Yes

Test Portability:

Yes

Manual Testing:

Yes

Test Management:

Yes

Test Execution Mgmt:

Yes

Integrated Version Control:

Yes

Integrated Test Data Management:

Yes, built-in with full data typing

Integrated Test Planning:

Object Recognition:

Each element has full path, fragile over time and time consuming to generate, poor recognition of complex objects like treeview, table or grid

Object Repository:

Their solution is most similar to Selenium. There is no object hierarchy. Each object is identified from top to bottom.

Test Frameworks (Productivity):

Lots of dialogs and user steps to get work done. Not efficient

Foreign Language UI:

Unmentioned

Supported Platforms:

Webapps: Yes

Windows MFC: Yes

.Net Winforms: Unmentioned

.Net WPF: Unmentioned

PowerBuilder: Yes (out of date)

PowerServer: No

PowerClient: No

OMNIS: No

Delphi: Unmentioned

Java Swing: Unmentioned

Terminal: Claimed

CEF/Electron: Unmentioned

MS Webview 2: No

PDF: No

Drag Generation of Actions:

via Dropdowns

Reusable Steps:

Yes

Scripting:

Not described

Parallel Execution:

Yes

Integrated Defect Tracking:

Yes

Test Localization:

Yes

Test Portability:

Manual Testing:

Test Management:

Additional product required

Test Execution Mgmt:

Integrated Version Control:

Integrated Test Data Management:

Yes

AscentialTest

Integrated Test Planning:

Yes

Object Recognition:

Advanced

Object Repository:

Yes, AscentialTest collapses object hierarchy. Objects inherit path from parents which makes maintaining object locators much more robust

Test Frameworks (Productivity):

No framework needed. AscentialTest builds automatically as tests created

Foreign Language UI:

Yes

Supported Platforms:

Webapps: Yes

Windows MFC: Yes

.Net Winforms: Yes

.Net WPF: Yes

PowerBuilder: Yes

PowerServer: Yes

PowerClient: Yes

OMNIS: Yes

Delphi: Yes

Java Swing: Yes

Terminal: Yes

CEF/Electron: Yes

MS Webview 2: Yes

PDF: Yes

Drag Generation of Actions:

Yes

Reusable Steps:

Yes

Scripting:

Visual and manual scripting

Parallel Execution:

Yes

Integrated Defect Tracking:

Yes

Test Localization:

Yes

Test Portability:

Yes

Manual Testing:

Yes

Test Management:

Yes

Test Execution Mgmt:

Yes

Integrated Version Control:

Yes

Integrated Test Data Management:

Yes, built-in with full data typing

Ranorex Studio

Integrated Test Planning:

Object Recognition:

Each element has full path, fragile over time and time consuming to generate, poor recognition of complex objects like treeview, table or grid

Object Repository:

Yes, but there is not object hierarchy so if the depth of the hierarchy changes, many object paths might need to be updated

Test Frameworks (Productivity):

Framework takes a long time to build

Foreign Language UI:

Unmentioned

Supported Platforms:

Webapps: Yes

Windows MFC: Yes

.Net Winforms: Yes

.Net WPF: Yes

PowerBuilder: Unmentioned

PowerServer: No

PowerClient: No

OMNIS: No

Delphi: Yes

Java Swing: Yes

Terminal: No

CEF/Electron: Yes

MS Webview 2: No

PDF: No

Drag Generation of Actions:

Yes

Reusable Steps:

Yes

Scripting:

Manual scripting and limited visual scripting

Parallel Execution:

Integrated Defect Tracking:

Partial

Test Localization:

Partial

Test Portability:

Manual Testing:

Test Management:

Test Execution Mgmt:

Integrated Version Control:

Partial

Integrated Test Data Management:

Partial, uses underlying Excel of AceOleDB

AscentialTest

Integrated Test Planning:

Yes

Object Recognition:

Advanced

Object Repository:

Yes, AscentialTest collapses object hierarchy. Objects inherit path from parents which makes maintaining object locators much more robust

Test Frameworks (Productivity):

No framework needed. AscentialTest builds automatically as tests created

Foreign Language UI:

Yes

Supported Platforms:

Webapps: Yes

Windows MFC: Yes

.Net Winforms: Yes

.Net WPF: Yes

PowerBuilder: Yes

PowerServer: Yes

PowerClient: Yes

OMNIS: Yes

Delphi: Yes

Java Swing: Yes

Terminal: Yes

CEF/Electron: Yes

MS Webview 2: Yes

PDF: Yes

Drag Generation of Actions:

Yes

Reusable Steps:

Yes

Scripting:

Visual and manual scripting

Parallel Execution:

Yes

Integrated Defect Tracking:

Yes

Test Localization:

Yes

Test Portability:

Yes

Manual Testing:

Yes

Test Management:

Yes

Test Execution Mgmt:

Yes

Integrated Version Control:

Yes

Integrated Test Data Management:

Yes, built-in with full data typing

Eggplant

Integrated Test Planning:

Object Recognition:

Object recognition is based on images and OCR

Object Repository:

There is no concept of an object repository

Test Frameworks (Productivity):

For simple tests, it appears to be a quick and easy process

Foreign Language UI:

Unmentioned

Supported Platforms:

Webapps: Yes

Windows MFC: Yes

.Net Winforms: Yes

.Net WPF: Yes

PowerBuilder: No

PowerServer: No

PowerClient: No

OMNIS: Yes

Delphi: Yes

Java Swing: Yes

Terminal: Yes

CEF/Electron: Yes

MS Webview 2: Yes

PDF: No

Drag Generation of Actions:

via Recording

Reusable Steps:

Yes

Scripting:

Yes, assisted scripting with autocomplete

Parallel Execution:

Integrated Defect Tracking:

Possibly

Test Localization:

Possibly

Test Portability:

Manual Testing:

Test Management:

Additional product required

Test Execution Mgmt:

Additional product required

Integrated Version Control:

Integrated Test Data Management:

None

AscentailTest

TestComplete

Tosca

Eggplant

Ranorex Studio

Free Trial

6 Months

14-Day

30-Day

Yes – Unknown

Features Included in Base Product

Manual Testing
Automated Testing
Test Planning
Test Management
Test Execution Mgmt
Test Data Mgmt
Test Localization
Test Portability
Distributed Testing
Version Control

Primary Features Missing

Manual Testing
Test Planning
Test Management
Test Execution Mgmt
Test Localization
Test Portability
Version Control

Manual Testing
Test Planning
Test Management
Test Execution Mgmt
Test Data Mgmt
Test Localization
Test Portability
Distributed Testing
Version Control

Manual Testing
Test Planning
Test Management
Test Execution Mgmt
Test Localization
Test Portability
Distributed Testing

Support/Service Model

License Structure

Perpetual and Subscription

Subscription Only

Not Published

Perpetual Only

Single Seat Pricing

Starts at $200/mo

Includes desktop + extension

All Floating

Approx $450/mo

Includes desktop + web, distributed testing, floating seat, enhanced object recognition

Approx $900

None

Base Bundle is 3 licenses (one developer and 2 execution licenses)

Approx $5k/yr

Not Floating

Enterprise Pricing

Starts at $380/mo

Perpetual at $8.4k

Team functionality only available via separate products like Zephyr, etc.

Not Published

Approx $7.5k Perpetual (+ $1.8k annual maint)

Per Seat/Floating

Unlimited Pricing

Starts at $6k/mo

Perpetual at $180k

Unlimited Seats

N/A

AscentailTest

TestComplete

Tosca

Eggplant

Ranorex Studio

WebApps

Windows MFC

.Net Winforms

.Net WPF

PowerBuilder

PowerServer

PowerClient

Omnis

Delphi

Java Swing

Terminal

CEF/Electron

MS Webview 2

PDF

AscentailTest

TestComplete

Tosca

Eggplant

Ranorex Studio

Manual Testing

API Testing

Feature Upsell

Test Planning

Test Frameworks

No framework needed. AscentialTest builds automatically as tests created

Does not appear to have appstates, some framework creation appears to be needed

Lots of dialogs and user steps to get work done. Not efficient

For simple tests, it appears to be a quick and easy process

Object Recognition

Advanced. Regardless of the target platform, AscentialTest recognizes application elements using attributes that will persist day after day and from one machine to another.

Test Complete comes closest to AscentialTest in object recognition. Without the snapshot, it takes more time to test and maintain object definitions

Each element has full path, fragile over time and time consuming to generate, poor recognition of complex objects like treeview, table or grid

Object recognition is based on images and OCR

Each element has full path, fragile over time and time consuming to generate, poor recognition of complex objects like treeview, table or grid

Object Repository

Yes, AscentialTest collapses object hierarchy. Objects inherit path from parents which makes maintaining object locators much more robust

Similar to Selenium. No object hierarchy. Each object is identified from top to bottom. Alias permits shorter names but it doesn’t resolve issue of object hierarchy changing in future.

Their solution is most similar to Selenium. There is no object hierarchy. Each object is identified from top to bottom.

There is no concept of an object repository

Yes, but there is not object hierarchy so if the depth of the hierarchy changes, many object paths might need to be updated

Drag Actions

Scripting

Visual and manual scripting

Assisted scripting with autocomplete

Not described

Assisted scripting with autocomplete

Manual scripting and limited visual scripting

Foreign Language UI

Spanish, French, Japanese

German

Arabic, Hebrew

AscentailTest

TestComplete

Tosca

Eggplant

Ranorex Studio

Test Management

Feature Upsell

Test Data Management

Partial Solution

Execution Management

Feature Upsell

Defect Tracking

Partial Solution

Test Localization

Test Portability

Parallel Execution

Version Control

Partial Solution

PowerBuilder Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest provides PowerBuilder automated testing support for applications from PB v6.x right up to the most current version of Appeon PowerBuilder, Power Server and Power Client including embedded Chrome and MSWebView2. The Datawindow is recognized regardless of its presentation style: Form, Grid, Group, Tabular.

PB Table Support: The image below displays a Datawindow in the form of what we call a PbTable. It has rows and columns that can contain any number of control types (checkbox, popuplist, textfield, etc.). AscentialTest provides a special feature called a ‘selector’, which makes it easy to locate a row in a table based on a target value. In the example below, the selector has located the third row in the table because it contains the test value ‘Table Management”:

Target Row Found Datawindow Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Selector Test Value

PB Form Support: AscentialTest also recognizes the Datawindow in the form of what we call ‘PbForm’. Notice that the PbForm displayed below contains many different types of application objects including PbText, PbTextField, PbRadioGroup and PbCheckBox. These are only some of the control types that can be included on a form.

Datawindow Form Definition Datawindow Form Element

PB Toolbar Support: Most PowerBuilder applications include tool bars with icons that represent application tasks. AscentialTest provides special recognition for those tool bar icons to make it easy to select them:

PB Toolbar Definition PB Toolbar Element

PB Ribbon Support: Appeon recently introduced the ribbon bar as an alternative to the toolbar. As compared to the standard tool bar, the ribbon bar can contain PowerBuilder elements like Checkbox, TextField, PopupList and ComboBox:

PB Ribbon Definition PB Ribbon Element

PB Table Support

The image below displays a Datawindow in the form of what we call a PbTable. It has rows and columns that can contain any number of control types (checkbox, popuplist, textfield, etc.). AscentialTest provides a special feature called a ‘selector’, which makes it easy to locate a row in a table based on a target value. In the example below, the selector has located the third row in the table because it contains the test value ‘Table Management”:

Target Row Found Datawindow Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Selector Test Value

PB Form Support

AscentialTest also recognizes the Datawindow in the form of what we call ‘PbForm’. Notice that the PbForm displayed below contains many different types of application objects including PbText, PbTextField, PbRadioGroup and PbCheckBox. These are only some of the control types that can be included on a form.

Datawindow Form Definition Datawindow Form Element

PB Tool Bar Support

PB Toolbar Support

Most PowerBuilder applications include tool bars with icons that represent application tasks. AscentialTest provides special recognition for those tool bar icons to make it easy to select them:

PB Toolbar Definition PB Toolbar Element

PB Ribbon Support

Appeon recently introduced the ribbon bar as an alternative to the toolbar. As compared to the standard tool bar, the ribbon bar can contain PowerBuilder elements like Checkbox, TextField, PopupList and ComboBox:

PB Ribbon Definition PB Ribbon Element

WebApps Automated Testing Support

Automated Web Testing: Unlike other testing solutions, AscentialTest does not rely on xPath to locate objects. We’ve developed a much more powerful object recognition engine that ignores the html hierarchy. As a result, objects are consistently recognized as the target application is modified over time regardless of changes to the object hierarchy or dynamically generated IDs.

AscentialTest provides built-in synchronization so that you don’t have to worry about whether the browser is in a loading or ready state, but if you want to wait for an object to appear or disappear, we’ve got that covered too with easy to use drag and drop synchronization actions.

AscentialTest also includes built-in support for unexpected popups and drag and drop validations for an array of attributes.

All tests are cross-browser. No adjustments are needed to successfully execute tests across all supported browsers. Just pick any browser, build your tests and then run them against the other browsers.

Web Table Recognition Wizard:

AscentialTest provides a table recognition wizard to help users define web tables by drag and drop.

The table, row class and all of the columns that contain the table objects are automatically defined.

Start Wizard Wizard Dialogue Web Table Element Web Table Definition

Web Table Support:

AscentialTest provides a special feature called a ‘selector’, which makes it easy to locate a row in a table based on a target value. In the example to the right, the selector ‘SelectByFrom’ has located the fifth row in the table because it contains the test value ‘Seshi Reddy’

Selectors make it easy to get and set values to table objects. The ‘Test Value’ field provides a way for the user to test the selector and ensure that it has been correctly defined. Selectors are used in automated tests to set and get values from application objects. The example below shows two test actions. The first checks the ‘Msgid’ checkbox in the row that has been identified with the selector value ‘Reddy’.

Web Table Element AscentialTest Selector Table Row Found Selector Test Value

The second action gets the value of the ‘Subject’ field in the row that has been identified with the selector value ‘Reddy’. Selectors make it easy to interact with objects contained in a complex object like a table or grid.

Selenium Comparison:

There is no denying that Selenium is widely used automated web testing, at least in part because it is open source. While the set of tools that comprise Selenium are free of charge, it is debated just as widely whether or not ‘free’ is really ‘free’. Consider that in any test automation project, the fee for the tool is only a small part of the overall budget when compared with the cost of building the tests. So if you pay $10,000.00 for a testing tool and $100,000.00 in labor costs, have you saved money for your organization by selecting an open source tool, when it costs many times more to build and maintain the tests?

Because Selenium is open source, supporters tend to focus on the highlights and overlook the limitations. No where will you read that Selenium is an awesome testing tool. You won’t read that it is easy to use or that the tests are easy to maintain. If there were a charge for Selenium, it is unlikely that it would be selected at all when compared to tools like AscentialTest that have been designed to promote productivity and provide a substantial return on investment in the first year of usage.

Here are some of the factors that we would like for you to consider when choosing between an open-source tool like Selenium and a for-fee tool like AscentialTest:

Feature 1

.Net Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest provides DotNet automated testing for applications developed with either WinForms or WPF. All standard DotNet controls are supported including: checkbox, combobox, datagrid, expander, group, label, listbox, listview, menu, menubar, menuitem, popuplist, pushbutton, radiobutton, richtextfield, statusbar, statuspart, tab, tabgroup, text, textfield, togglebutton, toolbar, toolbutton and treeview.

Third-party controls from Component One and DevExpress are also supported. Extensions for other third-party suppliers are in the works.

In addition, an extension kit is available to add automated testing support for custom controls that have been developed by your organization.

DotNet Table Support:

AscentialTest provides unparalleled automated testing support for tables or grids developed with either WinForms or WPF including third-party controls from Component One and DevExpress.

The AscentialTest table interface allows the user to easily get, verify, select and set table elements in the target application:

Get or verify the contents of a table
Get or verify the contents of a row
Get or verify the contents of a column
Get the number of rows
Get the number of columns
Select a row and or column
Set the value of an element embedded in a column (TextField, PopupList, RadioList, etc.)

The image below depicts a DotNet WPF DataGrid:

Target Row Found .Net Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Selector Value

Selectors support DotNet automated testing by making it easy to get and set values to table objects. The ‘Test Value’ field provides a way for the user to test the selector and ensure that it has been correctly defined. Selectors are used in automated tests to set and get values from application objects. The example below displays a test action that uses a selector. It verifies the first name of the person that is identified with the selector value ‘Meyer’.

Omnis Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest is the only testing solution that provides Omins automated testing support, available for applications built with Omnis 10 right up to the most current version.

Omnis Table Support:

The image below displays an Omins table in the form of what we call a CustomTable. It has rows and columns that can contain any number of control types (checkbox, popuplist, textfield, etc.).

AscentialTest provides a special feature called a ‘selector’, which makes it easy to locate a row in a table based on a target value. In the example below, the selector has located the third row in the table because it contains the test value ‘Arsenal’:

Omnis Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Table Row Found Selector Test Value

Omnis Elements Support:

AscentialTest Omins automated testing support is comprehensive. All Omins elements are supported including Breadcrumb, CheckBox, ComboBox, ContextMenu DropdownList, ListBox, MenuItem, PopupList, PushButton, RadioButton, TabGroup, Table/Grid, TextField, Toolbar and Treeview.

Omnis Object Definitions Omnis Elements Omnis Element

Terminal Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest provides automated testing for terminal-based applications like iSeries and AS/400. Whether you’re emulating 3270 or 5250, we’ve got you covered. AscentialTest provides support for all terminal controls and command keys along with specialized object recognition for tables.

Terminal Object Recognition: All terminal control types are recognized by AscentialTest, making it easy to drive and verify terminal-based target applications.

Terminal Types

Terminal Table Support: AscentialTest provides a table interface that allows the user to easily get, verify, select and set table elements in the target application:

Get or verify the contents of a table
Get or verify the contents of a row
Get or verify the contents of a column
Get the number of rows
Get the number of columns
Select a row and or column
Set the value of an element embedded in a column (TextField, PopupList, RadioList, etc.)

AscentialTest recognizes terminal tables and provides a special feature called a ‘selector’, which makes it easy to locate a row in a table based on a target value. In the example below, the selector has located the forth row in the table because it contains the test value ‘AAA0000001’:

Target Row Found AscentialTest Selector Selector Test Value

PDF Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest provides automated Pdf testing and verification for target application-generated documents.

The ability to verify the contents of a Pdf document may be an important part of an automated test transaction. Manual verification is time-consuming and error prone because of the amount of detail contained in the generated document. With AscentialTest, you can verify textual components within a Pdf document even if they are arranged in complex structures like tables or grids. Pdf verification is added to tests using the same drag and drop features that are used for developing automated tests against the GUI of the target application.

PDF Table Support: AscentialTest provides a special feature called a ‘selector’, which makes it easy to locate a row in a Pdf table based on a target value. In the example below, the selector has located the second row in the table because the ‘Part No’ column contains the test value ‘336003’:

Target Row Found PDF Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Selector Test Value

Selectors make it easy to get and set values to table objects. The ‘Test Value’ field provides a way for the user to test the selector and ensure that it has been correctly defined. Selectors are used in automated pdf tests to set and get values from application objects. The example below displays a test action that uses a selector on a pdf table. It verifies the description of the part that is identified with the selector value ‘336003’.

To learn about how to insert PDF verification into your automated tests, check out this article from our blog: PDF Comparison. The article describes how AscentialTest can be used to compare an application-generated Pdf document to a baseline, masking out lines that contain variable data like date and time stamps.

API Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest is the only testing solution that provides Omins automated testing support, available for applications built with Omnis 10 right up to the most current version.

API Testing

In addition to the capabilities for testing and validation of the target application GUI, AscentialTest provides facilities for back-end, API testing:

ODBC – execute SQL to capture test data or validate transactions against back-end database
REST/SOAP – call web services to trigger system events or verify transactions
File interfaces – for CSV, INI, JSON, PDF, Text, XML
System and Windows commands – to interact with the file system, make system calls and access the registry and environment variables
DLL – call methods published in system and application DLLs

ODBC

AscentialTest provides a Database class that allows the user to make SQL calls through drag and drop. The images below outline the available commands and provide examples of the primary actions:

Rest and Soap

The Rest class provides a way to make Rest and Soap calls to a web server. The images below outline the available commands and provide examples of the primary actions:

File interfaces

AscentialTest provides file interfaces for CSV, INI, JSON, PDF, Text, XML files. All actions are drag & drop:

System and Windows commands

AscentialTest provides the ability to interact with the file system, make system calls and access the registry and environment variables. The images below outline the available commands and provide examples of the selected actions:

DLL

AscentialTest provides the ability to call methods published in system and application DLLs

PowerBuilder Automated Testing Support

Target Row Found Datawindow Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Selector Test Value

Datawindow Form Definition Datawindow Form Element

PB Toolbar Definition PB Toolbar Element

PB Ribbon Definition PB Ribbon Element

PB Table Support

Target Row Found Datawindow Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Selector Test Value

PB Form Support

Datawindow Form Definition Datawindow Form Element

PB Tool Bar Support

PB Toolbar Support

Most PowerBuilder applications include tool bars with icons that represent application tasks. AscentialTest provides special recognition for those tool bar icons to make it easy to select them:

PB Toolbar Definition PB Toolbar Element

PB Ribbon Support

PB Ribbon Definition PB Ribbon Element

WebApps Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest also includes built-in support for unexpected popups and drag and drop validations for an array of attributes.

Web Table Recognition Wizard:

AscentialTest provides a table recognition wizard to help users define web tables by drag and drop.

The table, row class and all of the columns that contain the table objects are automatically defined.

Start Wizard Wizard Dialogue Web Table Element Web Table Definition

Web Table Support:

Web Table Element AscentialTest Selector Table Row Found Selector Test Value

Selenium Comparison:

Here are some of the factors that we would like for you to consider when choosing between an open-source tool like Selenium and a for-fee tool like AscentialTest:

Feature 1

.Net Automated Testing Support

Third-party controls from Component One and DevExpress are also supported. Extensions for other third-party suppliers are in the works.

In addition, an extension kit is available to add automated testing support for custom controls that have been developed by your organization.

DotNet Table Support:

AscentialTest provides unparalleled automated testing support for tables or grids developed with either WinForms or WPF including third-party controls from Component One and DevExpress.

The AscentialTest table interface allows the user to easily get, verify, select and set table elements in the target application:

Get or verify the contents of a table
Get or verify the contents of a row
Get or verify the contents of a column
Get the number of rows
Get the number of columns
Select a row and or column
Set the value of an element embedded in a column (TextField, PopupList, RadioList, etc.)

The image below depicts a DotNet WPF DataGrid:

Target Row Found .Net Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Selector Value

Omnis Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest is the only testing solution that provides Omins automated testing support, available for applications built with Omnis 10 right up to the most current version.

Omnis Table Support:

The image below displays an Omins table in the form of what we call a CustomTable. It has rows and columns that can contain any number of control types (checkbox, popuplist, textfield, etc.).

Omnis Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Table Row Found Selector Test Value

Omnis Elements Support:

Omnis Object Definitions Omnis Elements Omnis Element

Terminal Automated Testing Support

Terminal Object Recognition: All terminal control types are recognized by AscentialTest, making it easy to drive and verify terminal-based target applications.

Terminal Types

Terminal Table Support: AscentialTest provides a table interface that allows the user to easily get, verify, select and set table elements in the target application:

Get or verify the contents of a table
Get or verify the contents of a row
Get or verify the contents of a column
Get the number of rows
Get the number of columns
Select a row and or column
Set the value of an element embedded in a column (TextField, PopupList, RadioList, etc.)

Target Row Found AscentialTest Selector Selector Test Value

PDF Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest provides automated Pdf testing and verification for target application-generated documents.

Target Row Found PDF Table Definition AscentialTest Selector Selector Test Value

Selectors make it easy to get and set values to table objects. The ‘Test Value’ field provides a way for the user to test the selector and ensure that it has been correctly defined. Selectors are used in automated pdf tests to set and get values from application objects. The example below displays a test action that uses a selector on a pdf table. It verifies the description of the part that is identified with the selector value ‘336003’.

API Automated Testing Support

AscentialTest is the only testing solution that provides Omins automated testing support, available for applications built with Omnis 10 right up to the most current version.

API Testing

In addition to the capabilities for testing and validation of the target application GUI, AscentialTest provides facilities for back-end, API testing:

ODBC – execute SQL to capture test data or validate transactions against back-end database
REST/SOAP – call web services to trigger system events or verify transactions
File interfaces – for CSV, INI, JSON, PDF, Text, XML
System and Windows commands – to interact with the file system, make system calls and access the registry and environment variables
DLL – call methods published in system and application DLLs

ODBC

AscentialTest provides a Database class that allows the user to make SQL calls through drag and drop. The images below outline the available commands and provide examples of the primary actions:

Rest and Soap

The Rest class provides a way to make Rest and Soap calls to a web server. The images below outline the available commands and provide examples of the primary actions:

File interfaces

AscentialTest provides file interfaces for CSV, INI, JSON, PDF, Text, XML files. All actions are drag & drop:

System and Windows commands

DLL

AscentialTest provides the ability to call methods published in system and application DLLs

Solo Testers

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Additional Extensions Desired ($50 per month each)

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Additional Extensions Desired (one extension + collaboration package already included)

Team collaboration package includes:

Subversion (SVN) integration
Management Information Portal (IIS Intranet Site)
Centralized database storage and access for test results
Integration with Jira defect tracking

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1 Seat(s)

Additional Extensions Desired

Team collaboration package includes:

Subversion (SVN) integration
Management Information Portal (IIS Intranet Site)
Centralized database storage and access for test results
Integration with Jira defect tracking

Unlimited Edition

Monthly Cost

Unlimited Seats
Collaboration Package & All Extensions
Lifetime Maintenance & Updates
Full support package (provided by AscenialTest Leadership)

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per month

Included integrations:

Web
DotNet
Powerbuilder
Terminal
Java
CEF

Included collaboration features:

Subversion (SVN) integration
Management Information Portal (IIS Intranet Site)
Centralized database storage and access for test results
Integration with Jira defect tracking

Unlimited Edition

Perpetual License & Maintenance

Unlimited Seats
Collaboration Package & All Extensions
Lifetime Maintenance & Updates
Full support package (provided by AscenialTest Leadership)

=180000

year one

Plus annual maintenance thereafter of:

=50000

annually

Included Extensions:

Web
DotNet
Powerbuilder
Terminal
Java
CEF

Included collaboration features:

Subversion (SVN) integration
Management Information Portal (IIS Intranet Site)
Centralized database storage and access for test results
Integration with Jira defect tracking

Extremely Capable Automation Test Tool For PowerBuilder Applications

Very suitable program for automated testing of PowerBuilder applications

Top testing software for PowerBuilder

Excellent product, particularly for PowerBuilder

Philips Case Study

Philips Significantly Reduces the Cost of Test Automation

Philips is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care.

Client Contact: Vinay Krishnamurthy – Analytics Manager

Executive Summary:

Philips selected AscentialTest for test automation of PACS, a software platform for accessing a patient’s radiological history, including diagnostic reports, exam notes, clinical history and images. The test team developed a set of cross-platform tests running on both thick and thin clients, saving a significant amount of time and effort as compared with previous testing tool solutions. With AscentialTest, Philips was able to:

Normalize thick and thin PACS clients using object recognition capability so that one set of tests can be executed across three platforms, localized in 6 different languages.
Eliminate the need for a testing framework, which in the past had taken 6 to 8 months to build and stabilize.
Increase the number of tests that could be automated by 15% because of image and text recognition features.
Reduce the average time to automate a test scenario from 6 days to 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 days. Reduce test execution time by 50%.
Achieve maintenance goal of 5% of test creation time.

Client Objective:

When Vinay Krishnamurthy of Philips was tasked with developing a testing solution for PACS, he faced a number of technical challenges. The target application is deployed in three different versions to meet the needs of various types of end users. The GUI is a mixture of MFC and web controls, deployed as both thick and thin clients. These versions are then translated into 6 different languages for localized markets. Test verification requires a lot of comparison of images, along with text that is drawn upon those images to report measurements and other attributes of the scans.

Developing a separate set of test for each of the deployed versions of PACS was cost prohibitive and the organization wanted to avoid building a testing framework, which in past projects had taken 6 to 8 months to build and stabilize with existing commercial and open source tools. They were also concerned about the huge maintenance costs that they had experienced.

Furthermore, with more than 8000 tests to automate Philips wanted a scriptless solution, but had learned from experience that a record-playback tool would not provide the robustness that was required.

Our Approach:

Philips selected AscentialTest because they recognized the potential for designing a solution that could be used across platforms. Using AscentialTest’s drag and drop interface, the team uses snapshots to create object definitions that are recognized across all three platforms. They benefit from an array of options for defining objects that were difficult to recognize with other testing tools that they evaluated. Philips heavily relies on the ‘RenderText’ and ‘RenderImage’ capabilities of AscentialTest. ‘RenderText’ allows them to validate text that is drawn on scanned images. In the past, tests that require verification of that text had to be completed by manual testers. Vinay estimates that the team can automate 15% more tests because of this text recognition feature. Likewise, ‘RenderImage’ has allowed for the recognition of images for both navigation and verification of tests.

Because of the image-centric domain of PACS, Philips requires very sophisticated image ‘capture and compare’ capability. Zeenyx worked closely with Philips to enhance the existing image verification capabilities of AscentialTest. Several features were added to provide the ability to more specifically focus on the ‘area of interest’, apply masks, and tolerate for pixel and color differences.

Philips also cites AscentialTest data options as a critical component to allow the tests to be shared across platforms. By making use of ‘Project Data’, ‘Plan Data’, and ‘Attributes’, Philips is able to easily change key pieces of test configuration data in a single location to launch tests against different versions of PACS in the various test environments.

Vinay explains that the team creates two files for each page in the target application, one with the object definitions and a second with a meta-layer of steps for driving and verifying the application. Test developers use those components to build the automated tests via drag and drop.

Vinay says that the pace of automation has increased because of the reusable nature of the test components. As the more objects and steps are created, the time required to build new tests continues to decrease.

The bulk of the tests that the team has created to date are used for their ‘Smoke’ and ‘Regression’ tests runs. Recently they created a ‘Sanity’ test comprised of a handful of tests that were ‘ported’ to test six localized versions of PACS, created for different language markets. The team was surprised that it took only two days to port a test to all six languages using AscentialTest’s ‘Translate’ feature.

Results Delivered:

Philips has been able to exceed their goal of reducing the time and cost of developing automated tests by 50%. Using AscentialTest, they have reduced the average time to build an automated test scenario from 6 to 2 ½ to 3 ½ days. They have also been able to cut execution time in half. The automation team has integrated AscentialTest with TFS to launch tests and have taken advantage of a recent AscentialTest feature where ‘failed’ tests can be easily selected and rerun without user intervention.

Philips credits the support that they received from both Zeenyx and MatryxSoft, their local distributor, for their success with AscentialTest. We are happy to have exceeded their expectations for response time for fixes and enhancement requests.

Autodesk Case Study

Testing the Back End Through the Front End in an Agile Development Environment

Autodesk, Inc. makes 3D modeling and graphics design software for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, and entertainment industries. Over 100 million people use Autodesk software like AutoCAD, Revit, Maya, 3ds Max, Fusion 360, SketchBook, and more to unlock their creativity and solve important design, business, and environmental challenges. One of their products, Dynamo Studio, is a stand-alone programming environment that enables designers to create visual logic to explore parametric conceptual designs and automate tasks.

Client Contact: Neal Burnham

Executive Summary:

Autodesk selected AscentialTest for test automation of Dynamo Studio and developed a set of cross- platform tests running on both the Web and WPF clients targeted at identifying resource allocation issues in a complex multi-tiered application stack. They successfully found and fixed serious back-end issues by driving thousands of workflows through application engines and analyzing allocation of memory and other system resources to ensure that the system could handle the expected load. With AscentialTest, Autodesk was able to:

Normalize thick and thin clients using object recognition capability so that one set of tests can be used across platforms.
Validate complex data conversions by parsing XML, console logs and operating system metrics.
Verify proper graphical rendering using image capture and compare features.

Client Objective:

When Neal Burnham of Autodesk was tasked with developing a testing solution for Dynamo Studio, he faced both organizational and technical challenges. There was a mindset in place to use open-source tools and to test at the unit level using harnesses embedded in the code itself, but the harness that he inherited did not run reliably. His intuition told him that the most efficient way to identify issues with the backend was to test through the application’s GUI using a commercial testing tool.

Before selecting AscentialTest, Neal looked at open-source alternatives including AutoIt, Selenium and Winium, but he knew from experience that given the complexity of what had to be validated, something much more powerful was required. Any of these solutions could have been used to drive use cases through the GUI, but the target was a validation of the underlying engine that converts graphical programs into other formats. This is where the rubber hits the road. To validate a multi-tiered application, Neal needed to be able to analyze XML, data accessed from the Chrome dashboard and resource allocation metrics from the OS. He also needed to verify that all file contents were correct, and that the graphics were correctly rendered.

The Dynamo GUI is available in two versions. Users can access Dynamo through either a WPF desktop application or through the Chrome browser. To reduce the level of effort to build and maintain tests, Neal wanted to create a meta layer where he could drive real world workflows through both versions of the application.

Our Approach:

Neal selected AscentialTest because he recognized the potential for designing a class of solutions to solve a class of problems. He understood the power of building small, reusable components that could be glued together and scaled up to form a broad solution.

Using AscentialTest’s snapshots, he built a matching set of object definitions to normalize the thick and thin client user interfaces. This layer allowed all of the test components to be shared across platforms. Instead of having to build separate tests for the WPF and Web versions of the Dynamo GUI, he cut his work in half by building one set that could reference either object repository.

Neal also built a validation mechanism to ensure the integrity of numerous complex file conversions. His approach involved parsing data from the Chrome developer console and XML files stored in the file system and comparing sets of data to expected results. He also used AscentialTest image capture and compare features to ensure that graphics were rendered properly.

The ability to have deployed agents on various target machines was also an important component of the solution. Neal needed to ensure that he could drive the GUI hard and fast from multiple client machines in an industrial fashion, sending thousands of workflows through the engines to confirm proper allocation of memory and other system resources necessary for the system to hold up over time.

Because Neal’s solution is not embedded in the application code, he can continue to run the regression tests without being impacted by change as the back-end technologies continue to evolve or be replaced. He believes that one of the strengths of a productized offering like AscentialTest is that he is assured that his test assets are permanent. He cites a recent announcement that the Selenium ‘Keys’ command will be deprecated soon, making it necessary to modify tests to keep them running. Because AscentialTest is a complete solution, there is no need to search for plug-ins and apply workarounds. The Zee testing language is fully formed, and aspects of the product will not be deprecated in the future.

Results Delivered:

Over the course of four months, the set of tests that Neal built with AscentialTest were used to improve the stability and performance of Dynamo Studio. Initially the system failed after only an hour of execution. The tests needed to be bullet-proofed and retry loops were added because it was important to be able to keep the tests running even as the system began to fail. At first small incremental improvements were made. Eventually an incorrect memory setting was found in AWS. It had manifested in a way that the regression caught, but it was difficult to find and fix. Resolving that problem was a big win not only for Dynamo Studio. It also highlighted how process improvement can be made by breaking out of a culture of open source that had almost become religion. Using an alternative approach proved that testing from the front end with a commercial solution can yield benefits that were not obtainable using the strategy that had been become common practice. The fix in this case was not small potatoes. Neal estimates that it was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to the bottom line.

The Dynamo team also found that AscentialTest brought immediate value in an unexpected way when a Mongo database was hacked, and all of the test data lost. Fortunately, Neal had built ‘tests’ that were capable of restoring data. He said that capability “really got people’s attention” and even naysayers were stunned when it came to the rescue a second time several months later.

Being able to start building tests immediately without having to spend a lot of time building a test harness is something Neal appreciates about AscentialTest. He found that he can whip something up that can be used to identify a memory leak in a half hour. He considers it a huge win for development to be able to build tests that have a limited shelf life because the level of effort is so small. That works well in an Agile, CI environment where the feedback cycle is short.

When compared to an open-source solution, Neal found that AscentialTest is not limited. When the inevitable stumbling blocks occur, there is a dedicated technical support staff to call on along with a user forum in the Zeenyx eco system that is very targeted. While there is a huge base of Selenium users, the available help is un-curated. Neal says that in that environment “you have to do all the work, whereas with AscentialTest, there’s one place to go for an answer”.

Starchive Case Study

Tracking Performance, Verification of Uploads, and maintaining dynamic object IDs

Starchive is a cloud-based media management application designed to create organization in the midst of the media chaos and challenges. Started from their collaboration with the Bob Dylan Music Company, the web-based software application allows individuals, companies, and creative brands to solve media challenges by making it easy to find, manage, or share media within thousands of files. Starchive is constantly adapting to bring the best user experience forward so that the everyday user can utilize the application and maneuver the intricacies of media handling.

Executive Summary:

Starchive, a client of Loop Software Services and Testing, recently selected AscentialTest for its web-based application testing. Starchive made the switch for a variety of reasons and through AscentialTest, Loop was able to provide Starchive with the ability to:

Track performance of upload, download, page load times to gain insight when new features or backend changes impact performance.
Easily maintain the automated suite while Starchive’s object IDs dynamically change
Verify large upload sets of 10,0000+ which was not feasible when done manually
Shorten overall test result, test building, and maintenance time.

Client Objective:

When Starchive first made the switch from manual to automated testing, it was not without challenges, both general and technical. When it came to the performance data of their application, there was no historical data. At that point in time it was not cost-effective to gather data on Starchive’s application performance, therefore it was not always known how a new feature or change affected the application performance. When creating new features and changes in the backend, regressions were run to ensure the changes did not create any breakage, but other than apparent positive or negative performance changes, no performance metrics could be easily tracked.

Another challenge that arose was related to Starchive’s React Framework architecture which creates code generated classes for delivering asynchronous experiences. This caused the application’s object ID’s to be dynamic, making open-source automation testing solutions extremely difficult to maintain. Automated tests consistently broke, leaving Starchive concerned about their automated product testing and the costs to maintain it.

Creation and maintenance of the regression suites presented a unique challenge, as Starchive’s highly effective development team was able to rapidly create new features and backend updates. The application’s mission, storing massive file sets and handling extremely large uploads/downloads has led to issues with verification of uploads/downloads during testing, with the manual approach unable to verify such massive file sets in a cost effective manner.

Our Approach:

Starchive chose to implement AscentialTest based on the recommendation of Matt Osiecki, Head of Automation at LSTS as he saw the large benefits that Starchive would see by choosing this solution. Because of his recommendation, Starchive began utilizing AscentialTest. The initial automation build was focused on performance testing.

AscentialTest is now used to track performance times when uploading, downloading, as well as general page load times within Starchive’s application. The tests are run daily which document performance times in a client facing dashboard and the results are compared to daily, weekly, and monthly results. Any test results that are abnormal are automatically reported to the client within an “Automation” Slack channel. The performance tests are now able to run after any change in the application on both frontend and backend which allows Starchive to see the immediate performance impact of changes.

Another position in which AscentialTest is bolstering Starchive is in its ability to identify objects based on innumerable attributes such as color, position, webtext, parent objects, and others. Dynamic IDs which would normally break open sourced framework automation can be defensively defined within AscentialTest, giving it the definite advantage.

The ability for rapid development was another significant advantage of using AscentialTest. The test case creation and maintenance within AscentialTest proved to be much more efficient than when compared to manual or traditional automated frameworks.

Regarding maintenance, the tests built in AscentialTest are composed of steps and even sub-steps. These building blocks are then used across a variety of different tests. When a change occurs on the frontend, the step that is impacted can be updated, which updates all references and tests containing the step. Because Starchive consistently rolls out new features, a feature change that affects 1000+ test cases would take days to update within a manual suite, but can be done in minutes with AscentialTest’s prowess.

With reference to the creation side of things, Step, the building blocks of tests, can be reused within a test or across multiple tests. Once the steps are created within AscentialTest, it is a simple process to drag and drop them into a new test, instead of building an entire new test from scratch. This means that reusing previously created steps can significantly reduce the hours spent on test creation.

Starchive also shows huge improvements in the verification process via AscentialTest. Before, verifying upload/download/management of thousands of files would be cost-prohibitive and nearly impossible, with the likelihood of human error if done manually. Now, a verification step can be created to verify a file’s image, title, created by date, along with 30+ other properties. This step can be rerun on every file uploaded/download/edited, verifying each file in seconds, while not consuming person hours.

Results Delivered:

The effects of AscentialTest were seen straight away. There was immediate validation of new features and backend change impact on performance which was directly reported to the Starchive team within Slack. Improved user experience and adoption also rose and performance pain points are now able to be identified (slow uploading time, long page load time) via automation and remedied quickly by the development team.

When compared to open-source solutions, AscentialTest’s automation suite proved that it is resilient to dynamic ID changes, saving time and money on maintenance. Less maintenance also means that Starchive is able to obtain the test results more quickly.

The Starchive team and Loop found that the regression suite can be built and maintained much faster when compared to manual testing, saving Starchive considerable monetary investment. The automated suite is faster than manual regressions, completes more test cases with each of them covering more scenarios.

The file set verification system ensures Starchive that any files set, file type, file set size, can be uploaded, edited, and downloaded within Starchive while retaining all original data. Any issues found during file set verification can be remedied before the push to production. AscentialTest has saved Starchive time and money while opening up new testing possibilities.

U. of Minnesota Case Study

Transitioning from manual to automated testing in a PowerBuilder Environment

NCC develops and supports the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR), a dietary analysis software application widely used for the collection and analyses of 24-hour dietary recalls and the analysis of food records, menus, and recipes. Hundreds of researchers at institutions across the United States rely on NDSR for an array of nutrition-related studies.

Client Contact: Gordon Weil

Executive Summary:

The Nutrition Coordinating Center at the University of Minnesota selected AscentialTest for test automation of its Nutrition Data System for Research application and developed over a thousand automated tests which:

Reduce the testing cycle from two to three weeks to one to two days.
Validate hundreds of calculations that would require trained staff to complete.
Raise the level of confidence in new releases of the software.

Client Objective:

Gordon Weil of the Nutrition Coordinating Center found that testing NDSR manually is time-consuming. It takes 2 to 3 person weeks to run a regression test on one version of windows, but since they support multiple versions at any given time, it just isn’t feasible, especially given that the organization doesn’t have a dedicated testing staff. Gordon found that there weren’t people available to execute the tests when he needed them.

He began investigating automated testing solutions. He tried a few open source and commercial tools, but none of them worked well with PowerBuilder, upon which NDSR is built. He also needed to find a solution that was easy to learn since he planned to use students to build the automated tests.

Our Approach:

Gordon selected AscentialTest both because it provides support for PowerBuilder and because it’s easy to learn and use. Students were hired to convert their well-documented manual tests into automated tests. Gordon said that he spent only an hour or two training the students to use AscentialTest. Over the course of a summer, two students automated 1075 tests. The regression suite comprises a comprehensive set of tests that cover all aspects of the NDSR application. When the project started, NDSR was built with PowerBuilder 12.5, but was recently converted to PB 2017. Tests are separated into different plans by functional area. One plan, which runs for a couple of hours, generates a thousand reports which are compared to baselines that have been previously captured. Reports contain a large number of calculations that need to be validated. AscentialTest is used to find any differences that are later examined.

Results Delivered:

The test cycle for the original set of tests was reduced from 2 to 3 person weeks to 1 to 2 days. Additional tests have since been added to increase coverage. The regression is primarily used to ensure that when changes are made, nothing is broken. It occasionally uncovers a problem, but even when it doesn’t identify an issue, it provides confidence to the organization that the application is going to perform well for its customers. Prior to using AscentialTest, adding a new report to the system was costly because validation requires a huge amount of labor and time. Some of the tests would need to be executed by a trained nutritionist, whose time is very valuable to the organization. Gordon estimates that $10,000.00 is saved every time a regression needs to be executed and the feedback loop is significantly shorter. He no longer has to wait the 2 to 3 weeks that it would take to run the same tests manually.

Autodesk Case Study

Testing the Back End Through the Front End in an Agile Development Environment

Client Contact: Neal Burnham

Executive Summary:

Normalize thick and thin clients using object recognition capability so that one set of tests can be used across platforms.
Validate complex data conversions by parsing XML, console logs and operating system metrics.
Verify proper graphical rendering using image capture and compare features.

Client Objective:

Our Approach:

Results Delivered:

Starchive Case Study

Tracking Performance, Verification of Uploads, and maintaining dynamic object IDs

Executive Summary:

Track performance of upload, download, page load times to gain insight when new features or backend changes impact performance.
Easily maintain the automated suite while Starchive’s object IDs dynamically change
Verify large upload sets of 10,0000+ which was not feasible when done manually
Shorten overall test result, test building, and maintenance time.

Client Objective:

Our Approach:

Results Delivered:

Philips Case Study

Philips Significantly Reduces the Cost of Test Automation

Client Contact: Vinay Krishnamurthy – Analytics Manager

Executive Summary:

Normalize thick and thin PACS clients using object recognition capability so that one set of tests can be executed across three platforms, localized in 6 different languages.
Eliminate the need for a testing framework, which in the past had taken 6 to 8 months to build and stabilize.
Increase the number of tests that could be automated by 15% because of image and text recognition features.
Reduce the average time to automate a test scenario from 6 days to 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 days. Reduce test execution time by 50%.
Achieve maintenance goal of 5% of test creation time.

Client Objective:

Our Approach:

Results Delivered:

U. of Minnesota Case Study

Transitioning from manual to automated testing in a PowerBuilder Environment

Client Contact: Gordon Weil

Executive Summary:

Reduce the testing cycle from two to three weeks to one to two days.
Validate hundreds of calculations that would require trained staff to complete.
Raise the level of confidence in new releases of the software.

Client Objective:

Our Approach:

Results Delivered:

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