actiWATE: Installation Guide

- actiWATE components - actiWATE Framework - actiWATE TWA

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actiWATE components

actiWATE is a Java-based environment designated for automation of regression testing for various types of web applications. The primary component of this environment is actiWATE Framework that represents basic API for tests development and execution. actiWATE Framework is delivered as a pure Java library with documentation and a number of test samples. Tests use actiWATE Framework to communicate through HTTP or HTTPS protocol with the targeted web application.

Basic API and framework functionality is extended by a number of separate modules. Currently the only available module is actiWATE TWA (Test Writing Assistant). It is a plug-in for Microsoft Internet Explorer, which is intended to facilitate test writing process by automatic generation of code parts specifying the controls of the targeted web page.
 

actiWATE Framework

actiWATE Framework a pure Java library, which is used by automated tests for verifying the functionality of tested web application.

So that automated tests can communicate with web application, actiWATE Framework executes emulated browser. The emulated browser functions the same way as real Internet browser; it parses HTML response, executes JavaScript, clicks links, submits forms, opens and closes its emulated windows etc.

Automated tests control the emulated browser via actiWATE Framework API. Tests can perform the kind of actions that real user of web application would perform using real browser. These actions include: clicking links, editing form fields, clicking submit buttons, and others. actiWATE Framework API also provides access to HTML data. Automated tests can examine the content of the particular emulated browser window to verify the results of formerly executed action.

actiWATE Framework architecture implies the use of external products: JUnit and Log4j.

JUnit is de facto standard Java-based testing framework. Automated tests based on actiWATE Framework are compatible with JUnit, so they can be run from various JUnit compatible tools. For example, actiWATE tests can be run from most Java IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse, build tools such as Apache Ant, and standard JUnit test runner.

Log4j is a subproject of Apache Logging Services project. actiWATE Framework uses log4j to output logs and reports when executing automated tests. The adoption of log4j technology allows extension of default logging behavior of actiWATE. For example, one can configure log4j to send e-mail notification when automated test fails.
 

actiWATE TWA

actiWATE TWA is a Microsoft Internet Explorer plug-in, intended to facilitate partial automation of the test writing process.

actiWATE TWA can generate code fragments that find HTML objects on a page.

To use TWA you should start Internet Explorer, enable plug-in using TWA toolbar, and select an object, such as table, text field, button, or link. After that TWA will generate possible options of code fragments that find the object and offer to choose the most suitable alternative. The generated code can be copied in the clipboard and then be used in test script.

When generated fragment is inserted into a test script, user should write additional code to perform the required action. For example, if TWA generated the code fragment that finds a text field, then user can add the code that checks or edits the value of the text field.