How to design Automation Frameworks in QTP

By /

Hello Friends!

In this post, we are going to discuss about Automation Framework! I’m not going to write any bookish definitions here. It’s all what I learned from practical experience.

Okey!

First thing first…


What is framework?

Do you watch movies in Cinema Hall? I know you do!!
Take a moment and think about what happens starting from the
point you enter in Cinema Hall to the point you come out. Here are few typical
steps..
– You enter in hall >> go the ticket window >>
pick a movie broacher somewhere nearby ticket window
– Choose a particular movie you wanna watch (decision
influenced by the choice of wife/girlfriend!!)
– Come in the queue and wait for your turn, pay by card and
get the ticket.
– On ticket you find some very important information i.e.
show start time, Audi No. (Hall No.) etc.
– You go into the given sign-posted Audi, 5-10 minutes
earlier then show time, watch the movie (along with other activities 😉 ……
and so on….
Everything is planned.. In order!!  Isn’t it? This is nothing but a framework..
Automation Framework is a set of guidelines and process you
use to manage and optimize your automation testing. 
In simple words, Framework
is a way to do the things in fashioned and organized manner! Framework is
nothing but a concept.

 
Why I need a Framework?:

Now assume that Cinema Hall doesn’t follow any framework.

– You enter in Cinema Hall, go the ticket window, – but there is no
movie broacher nearby ticket window??
– You go to the ticket window, but they don’t accept
credit/debit cards?? (and you don’t carry cash..)
– Okay! You somehow managed to buy ticket, but ticket doesn’t
tell you show time and Audi/Hall No.??
– You reached into the Audi but movie has not been started on
time??
Would you like to go again in this Cinema Hall?? I’m sure
not..
It’s always possible to work without framework but you’ll be
doing a lot of rework, everything will be here & there and in most of the
time you will end-up with a mess, especially in the large projects.

Framework lets you predefine your automation plans,
strategies and how you are going to proceed.

Types of Framework:

Framework can be of several types, but here are three main types of frameworks-

1. Keyword driven framework
2. Data driven framework
3. Hybrid framework

But this is only theoretical. Practically, there is no ‘Chinese Wall’ between the framework types.

In every organization you work, you’ll find that it’s quite different from the other and not only on organization level, you can feel the difference within different projects!

Yess, but most of the them could be mapped with Hybrid type and I like it!! 🙂
Hybrid framework has no boundaries and open to take benefit of all possible type of frameworks.

How to design a framework?

I have done a lot of automation projects and designed a lot a frameworks, but seriously guys, I never used any particular type of framework!

Practically, every application/project has its own expectation. You just need to start your work in organized way and believe me friends, at the end of the day; your framework will be ready automatically!! Sounds crazy??

You can’t design a complete framework and then start automation! You start automation and framework will start building simultaneously. 

The first step of any test automation framework is to do a quick POC with few high priority test cases aka ‘smoke tests’. By doing POC, you will identify the object identification issues, challenges, complexities, required test-data and limitation you have. Once you are ready with this information, you can proceed with next steps. On the basis of above information, you can decide what type of framework is most suitable to you.


But before starting, you must take some time to decide your strategies about..


1. Object Identification
2. Test-Data
3. Function Library
4. Error Handling
5. Controller/Driver script
6. Documents and Manuals
7. Test Reults

1. Object Identification:
One of the most important aspect of QTP automation is – How to identify objects i.e. using Object Repository(OR) or Descriptive programming(DP) or both. As per my understanding, dont’t try to stick on one particular. Depending on the application/object types, mixed approach is most fruitful most of the time.

Although  both OR and DP have their own pros n cons, but remember, you get full benefit of QTP only when you use OR like debugging, chechpoints etc. So make sure how to identify objects.

Many claim that DP should be used for whole project without using any OR approach, but I disagree. DP is nice thing to use but should be used only when required like if your application is having dynamic objects etc. Doing whole automation using DP without any solid reason is not sensible (personal opinion!).


2. Test-Data:
How to manage you data? DataTable or Excel or may be flat/csv files.

3. Function Library:
Function library could be QTP specific (.qfl) or external (i.e. .vbs). Be clear about what type of function libraries you are going to use and why.

4. Error Handling:
What’s your plan for handling errors? Be clear about it. Are you going to use QTP’s Recovery Scenarios or you will be writing your own .vbs functions?

5. Controller script:
Design a controller script, which will control all your automation. It should be neat. This helps to understand what actually you are going to call.

6. Documents and Manuals:

Keep all the documentation, user guide/manuals, keywords descriptions here.
 

7. Test Results:
Result is probably most important part of the framework. Put extra attention to results.. always!!

Why? Because result is the face of your framework! This is what you show to world. If your result is fantastic, nobody bothers what type of framework you use, what the hell you have written in your functions!! 🙂 But if results are not flashy.. then.. you know!!

So never underestimate the importance of the results. It must be very well presented.


Create different folder for the these seven things and keep data in folders accordingly.

This was the one part.


Apart from this, from first day of your automation, keep only one thing in your mind.. follow general good practices!

Here are few points need to be take care in designing successful framework.

  • Try to document each and every thing, as much as you can! like comments in script, modification etc.
  • Don’t stick with any particular object identification, use mix of OR and DP
  • While using OR, don’t use record and playback, just add object in the object repository and code the script manually.
  • Follow proper Naming-Conventions for all your variables, functions, files.
  • Define all the variables in you scripts, use Option Explicit.
  • Try to keep you functions small to enhance reusability and portability.
  • Never hard code any data in the scripts, use parametrization.
  • Take regular back-up of your work.

Okey guys! Please share your views by posting comments.

Related Posts:

QTP – General Tips

 


56 thoughts on “How to design Automation Frameworks in QTP”

  2. Anonymous

    It is very nice. thanks a lot for this information. could you please elabotate about controller script.

    Thanks

    Reply
  9. Anonymous

    Very nice and well structered… will you pls explain more clear for "Controller Script".

    Thanks, Prasad

    Reply
  12. Anonymous

    Can you please tell what percentage of bugs are generally found using QTP? Is it more/less than Manual testing? Also, what kind of bugs are usually detected using automation?

    Reply
  14. Anonymous

    This is the first blog where i have commented till now. Excellent article "How to design Automation Frameworks in QTP". It is appearing as realistic

    Reply
  17. Anonymous

    hey!! thanks a lot 🙂 🙂 i understood the real concept of automation framework after reading your article !!:)

    Reply
  22. iy

    This is the first blog where i have commented till now. Excellent article "How to design Automation Frameworks in QTP". It is appearing as realistic

    Reply
  24. Anonymous

    I searched many sites for automation definition and not found useful one. I got clear idea after visiting ur site. thanks a lot. very useful info.

    Reply
  35. Anonymous

    Nice one.., Thanks for sharing your expertise.. 🙂
    Can you please share sample framework?
    It will more helpful for us..
    Advance Thanks.. 🙂

    Reply
  42. Anonymous

    I am sick of reading same old answers, definitions every where. Thanks for being so clear. Everybody else just copies and paste in other websites. I hate it so much. Website is full of junk

    Reply
  51. crazy82

    its realistic, even dummies can easily understand.it will be more useful if u explain with examples or by giving an example.

    thanks to the blogger.

    Reply
  52. Ramesh

    This is just like premium show, we just create some automation scripts for that application to check whether this is suitable for automation, if so we will expose to that client saying that we can automate this application. once that is approved by client he will sign for start of automation in detailed

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top