IBM Rational Functional Tester

Infobox Software
name = IBM Rational Functional Tester
developer = IBM
latest_release_version = 7.0.1.2 iFix03
programming language = Java and others
operating system = Microsoft Windows, Linux
platform = Eclipse
language = Multilingual
genre = GUI software testing
license = Proprietary
website = [http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/tester/functional/ IBM]

Software testing is critical and result oriented for the success of a product. The quality of testing would determine the quality of the product. Automating the test-related activities is usually a necessity. Many tools are available in the market and IBM Rational Functional Tester (RFT) is one of them.

RFT is a GUI test automation tool. The tool provides capabilities to record a user’s interactions with an application and create a script representing the same. The user can modify the script to enhance or make specific changes if required. The user can play back this script to repeat the same sequence of actions that was performed during recording. The user can create a script to represent a test case. This test case can be considered to have passed if the script executes without any failure, else it is a failed test case.

In an iterative development cycle, multiple builds of the application are delivered in short time frames. Manually testing the existing and new functionality in each of the new builds can be a challenge. RFT provides the ability to create a test harness to replay test cases on multiple builds to ensure that both existing and new functionality work as designed.

History

When IBM assimilated Rational, it inherited Rational Robot, a GUI Test Automation tool that performed well on Windows native applications, but not as well with .NET, Java and Web applications. Hence Rational XDE Tester was born and subsequently renamed Rational Functional Tester.

Features

criptAssure

Ensure playback resilient to application changes with ScriptAssure technology. Frequent changes to an application's user interface can hamper test script execution. IBM Rational Functional Tester introduces an advanced ScriptAssure™ technology to accommodate these changes and avoid increases in maintenance overhead. ScriptAssure uses fuzzy matching algorithms to locate objects during test execution, even if the objects have changed since test creation.

Test creation wizard

Increase script re-use with wizard for data driven test creation. Data driven tests are functional tests that perform the same series of test actions, but with varying data. IBM Rational Functional Tester can automatically detect data entered during test recording and prepare the test for data-driven testing. Using a spreadsheet-like data editor, you can then create customized data sets to be used by the test during playback. In this way, you can achieve test script re-use without time consuming manual coding.

Keyword testing

Streamline automation with keyword testing. Rational Functional Tester provides ability to define and automate keywords which can be reused in both functional and manual tests. This promotes script reuse and enables manual testers to easily and selectively leverage the power of automation within manual test cycles.

Proxy SDK

Proxy SDK. Allows testers to define support for custom controls.

Choice of test editing language

Choice of test editing language - Java or Visual Basic .NET. Test script customization is mandatory in order to perform anything but the most basic tests. IBM Rational Functional Tester gives you a choice of powerful, mainstream scripting languages to make this possible. Choose between either Java or Visual Basic .NET - both options can be used with all the supported user interface technologies. By working with Functional Tester, testers quickly learn to work with basic language constructs and acquire programming skills that facilitate more productive communication with developers.

Dynamic data validation wizard

Validate dynamic data with dynamic data validation wizard. Validating dynamic data, such as time stamps or order confirmation numbers can be tedious time consuming task, involving complex manual coding. IBM Rational Functional Tester includes wizard driven support for regular expression dynamic data validation. Users can effortlessly validate dynamic data against template patterns without having to write complex code.

Automation of manual tests

Manual Test Automation support. For teams not yet prepared to automate all of their testing efforts, IBM Rational Manual Tester is included in the Rational Functional Tester product box. Rational Manual Tester brings control and organization to manual testing efforts, introducing automated data entry and data validation to manual

Version control for test scripts

Test script version control for parallel development. Typically, more than one version of an application is deployed within an organization, and testers must therefore maintain groups of tests for each version. Without the help of automated version control, this can be extremely difficult. IBM Rational Functional Tester is designed to support automated version control, which not only provides a mechanism to maintain multiple test sets, but also enables parallel development and supports geographically dispersed teams, To help teams take advantage of this support, a full version of IBM Rational ClearCase LT, an entry-level version control tool designed for small project workgroups, is included in the product box. Rational Functional Tester users also have the option of upgrading to the standard version of IBM Rational ClearCase. For more information, click here.

Native editor and debugger for Java, VB and .NET

Native Java and Visual Basic .NET editor and debugger for advanced testers. Test script editing is important, but it can be difficult without a good editor and debugger. IBM Rational Functional Tester delivers industrial-strength options to address this concern. Testers using Java can work in the Eclipse Java editor and those using Visual Basic .NET can work in Visual Studio .NET. Both integrated development environments offer a host of options to simplify test enhancement, including a helpful code-complete feature that suggests code to accelerate editing. GUI developers will find this feature particularly useful, as they can access it within the IDE they use to build the user interface.

Linux support

Linux test editing and test execution support. For cross-platform Java applications, IBM Rational Functional Tester offers scripting to create, edit, and execute tests on the Linux platform - including everything except a test recorder. It also supports the Windows platform for all recording, editing, and execution capabilities.

upport for testing 3270/5250 applications

Add-on support available for testing 3270/5250 terminal-based applications. Teams responsible for testing mixed workload environments - environments comprised of both Java/Web/Visual Studio .NET-based applications and mainframe-based applications - can purchase the IBM Rational Functional Tester Extension for Terminal-based Applications. This extension enables automation and testing for 3270 and 5250 terminal-based applications, including automated data entry and response verification, using the testing tool and scripting language the tester favors for Windows and Linux-based applications.

Functional and regression testing for SAP

Extended automated functional and regression testing for Siebel® and SAP® applications. IBM Rational Functional Tester Extension for Siebel Test Automation interfaces to provide robust automation support for both Siebel 7.7 and 7.8. IBM Rational Functional Tester Extension Automated test creation, execution and analysis of SAP GUI applications.

External links

* [http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/tester/functional/ IBM page for RFT]
* [https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/iwm/web/preLogin.do?lang=en_US&source=dw-c-wcsdpr&S_PKG=020108 IBM Webcast 2008/09/06 03:21:53]
* [http://www.testsquad.org/2008/03/quick-notes-about-rft-rational.html Quick review of RFT (Rational Functional Tester)]