Regular Expressions in QTP

What is Regular Expression?

It is a way of representing data using symbols. They are often used

within matching, searching or replacing algorithms.

Regular Expressions in QTP:

Regular expressions can be used in QTP for identifying objects and text
strings with varying values.

Where we use:

o Defining the property values of an object in Descriptive programming

for handling dynamic objects
o For parameterizing a step
o creating checkpoints with varying values

Using Regular Expressions in QTP:

We can define a regular expression for a constant value, a Data Table

parameter value, an Environment parameter value, or a property value
in Descriptive programming.

We can define a regular expression in standard checkpoint to verify

the property values of an object; we can set the expected value of an
object's property as a regular expression so that an object with a
varying value can be verified.

We can define the text string as a regular expression, when creating a

text checkpoint to check that a varying text string is displayed on our
application,
For XML checkpoints we can set attribute or element values as regular
expressions.

Ways of Regular Expressions:

a) Backslash Character:

A backslash (\) can serve two purposes. It can be used in conjunction

with a special character to indicate that the next character be treated
as a literal character.
Alternatively, if the backslash (\) is used in conjunction with some
characters that would otherwise be treated as literal characters, such
as the letters n, t, w, or d, the combination indicates a special
character.

b) Matching Any Single Character:

A period (.) instructs QTP to search for any single character (except for
\n).
Ex:
welcome.
Matches welcomes, welcomed, or welcome followed by a space or any
other single character.

c) Matching Any Single Character in a List:

Square brackets instruct QTP to search for any single character within
a list of characters.
Ex:
To search for the date 1867, 1868, or 1869, enter:

186[789]

d) Matching Any Single Character Not in a List:

When a caret (^) is the first character inside square brackets, it

instructs QTP to match any character in the list except for the ones
specified in the string.
Example:
[^ab]
Matches any character except a or b.

e) Matching Any Single Character within a Range:

To match a single character within a range, we can use square

brackets ([ ]) with the hyphen (-) character.
Example:
For matching any year in the 2010s, enter:

201[0-9]

f) Matching Zero or More Specific Characters:

An asterisk (*) instructs QTP to match zero or more occurrences of

the preceding character.
For example:
ca*r

Matches car, caaaaaar, and cr

g) Matching One or More Specific Characters:

A plus sign (+) instructs QTP to match one or more occurrences of the
preceding character.
For example:
ca+r
Matches car and caaaaaar, but not cr.

h) Matching Zero or One Specific Character:

A question mark (?) instructs QTP to match zero or one occurrences of

the preceding character.
For example:
ca?r
Matches car and cr, but nothing else.

i) Grouping Regular Expressions:

Parentheses (()) instruct QTP to treat the contained sequence as a

unit, just as in mathematics and programming languages. Using
groups is especially useful for delimiting the argument(s) to an
alternation operator ( | ) or a repetition operator ( * , + , ? , { } ).

j) Matching One of Several Regular Expressions:

A vertical line (|) instructs QTP to match one of a choice of

expressions.

k) Matching the Beginning of a Line:

A caret (^) instructs QTP to match the expression only at the start of
a line, or after a newline character.

l) Matching the End of a Line:

A dollar sign ($) instructs QTP to match the expression only at the end
of a line, or before a newline character.

m) Matching Any AlphaNumeric Character Including the

Underscore:
 \w instructs QTP to match any alphanumeric character and the
underscore (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, _).

n) Matching Any Non-AlphaNumeric Character:

\W instructs QTP to match any character other than alphanumeric

characters and underscores.

Descriptive Programming
Entering / Providing objects information directly into the test script is
called Descriptive Programming.

In this method of script creation, we no need to have Object

Repositories.

Advantages:

a) Descriptive Programming based Test scripts are faster in execution

than Repository based Test scripts.

b) Scripts are portable (we can run these scripts from any machine
easily)

c) Maintenance is easy (less amount of resources)

d) We can start Test Execution process even though Application is not

ready.

QTP Commands
QTP Commands are available in 3 ways.

1.Menu options
2.Tool Bar options
3.Short cut keys (for Some important operations only)

File menu: Through file menu user can create, save tests, open
existing tests, export tests in zip format.
Command Function
New > Test Creates a new test.
New > Business Creates a new business component.
Component
New > Scripted Creates a new scripted component.
Component
New > Application Area Creates a new application area.
New > Function Library Creates a new function library.
Open > Test Opens an existing test.
Open > Business/Scripted Opens an existing business or scripted
Component component.
Open > Application Area Opens an existing application area.
Open > Function Library Opens an existing function library.
Close Closes the active function library.
Close All Function Closes all open function libraries.
Libraries
Quality Center Connection Opens the Quality Center Connection dialog
box, enabling you to connect to a

Quality Center project.

Quality Center Version Provides a sub-menu of options for managing
Control versions of QuickTest assets in Quality Center.
The sub-menu is available only when you are
connected to version-control enabled
Quality Center project.
Save Saves the active document.
Save As Opens the relevant Save dialog box so you can
save the open document.
Save Test with Resources Saves a standalone copy of the current test
together with its resource files.
Save All Saves all open documents.
Enable Editing Makes read-only function libraries editable.
Export Test to Zip File Creates a zip file of the active document.
Import Test from Zip File Imports a document from a zip file.
Convert to Scripted Converts a business component to a scripted
Component component.
Print Prints the active document.
Print Preview Displays the Keyword View as it will look
when printed and enables you to modify the
page setup.
Settings Opens the Settings dialog box, enabling you to
define settings for the open document. (Not
relevant for function libraries)
Process Guidance Opens the Process Guidance Management
Management dialog box, enabling you to manage the list of
processes that are available in QuickTest.
Associate Library Associates the active function library with the
'<Function Library open document. (Available only from function
Name>' with '<Document libraries)
Name>'
Recent Files Lists the recently viewed files.
Exit Closes the QuickTest session.

Edit Menu: It provides editing options and renaming, deleting and

splitting actions.

Command Function
Undo Reverses the last command or deletes the last entry
you typed.
Redo Reverses the most recent operation of the Undo
command.
Cut Removes the selection from your document.
Copy Copies the selection from your document.
Paste Pastes the selection to your document.
Delete Deletes the selection from your document.
Copy Documentation to Copies the content of the Documentation column of
Clipboard the Keyword View, enabling you to paste it in an
external application.
Action > Split Action Separates an action into two sibling actions or into
parent-child nested actions.
Action > Rename Action Changes the name of an action.
Action > Delete Action Enables you to remove the selected call to the
action, or delete the action and its calls from the
active test.
Action > Action Properties Enables you to specify options, parameters, and
associated object repositories for a stored action.
Action > Action Call Enables you to specify the number of run iterations
Properties according to the number of rows in the Data Table,
and to define the values of input parameters and the
storage location of output parameters.
Step Properties > Opens the Comment Properties dialog box for a
Comment Properties comment step. Available only when the selected step
is a comment.
Step Properties > Object Opens the Object Properties dialog box for a
Properties selected object. Available only when the selected
step contains a test object.
Step Properties > Opens the relevant Checkpoint Properties dialog box
Checkpoint Properties for a selected object. Available only when the
selected step is a checkpoint step.
Step Properties > Output Opens the relevant Output Value Properties dialog
Value Properties box for a selected object. Available only when the
selected step is an output value step.
Step Properties > Report Displays the Report Properties dialog box for a
Properties report step. Available only when the selected step is
a Reporter.ReportEvent step.
Find Searches for a specified string.
Replace Searches and replaces a specified string.
Go To Moves the cursor to a particular line in the test.
Bookmarks Creates bookmarks in your script for easy
navigation.
Advanced > Comment Comments out the current row, or selected rows.
Block
Advanced > Uncomment Removes the comment formatting from the current
Block or selected rows.
Advanced > Indent Indents the step according to the tab spacing defined
in the Editor Options dialog box.
Advanced > Outdent Outdents the step (reduces the indentation)
according to the tab spacing defined in the Editor
Options dialog box.
Advanced > Go to Navigates to the definition of the selected function.
Function Definition
Advanced > Complete Completes the word when you type the beginning of
Word a VBScript method or object.
Advanced > Argument Displays the syntax of a method.
Info
Advanced > Apply "With" Generates With statements for the action displayed
to Script in the Expert View, and enables IntelliSense within
With statements.
Advanced > Remove Converts any With statements in the action
"With" Statements displayed in the Expert View to regular (single-line)
VBScript statements.
Optional Step Inserts an optional step (a step that is not required to
successfully complete a run session).

View menu: Through this menu we can launch and close, active
screen, Data Table, Debug viewer, information, missing resources etc.

Insert Menu: Through this menu user can inserting check points, out
put values, synchronizing points.

In this menu step generator available, using this user can generate
recordable and non-recordable scripts.

Through insert menu user can insert VB Script conditional and loop
statements and transaction points (Start and End).

Through insert menu user can create new actions, call existing actions
and copy existing actions.
Automation Menu:
This menu provides Record, Run options and Run setting options
Through this menu we can start normal recording, analog recording
and Low level recording.

Through this menu we can stop recoding, running and also we run
tests.

Command Function
Record Starts a recording session.
Run Starts a run session from the beginning or from
the line at which the session was paused.
Stop Stops the recording or run session.
Run Current Action Runs only the active action.
Run from Step Starts a run session from the selected step.
Maintenance Run Mode Starts a run session during which the
Maintenance Run Mode wizard opens for steps
that failed because an object was not found in
the application (if applicable).
Update Run Mode Starts a run session to update test object
descriptions and other options (if applicable).
Analog Recording Starts recording in Analog Recording mode.
Low Level Recording Starts recording in Low Level Recording
mode.
Record and Run Settings Opens the Record and Run Settings dialog box,
enabling you to define browser preferences for
recording and running your test.
Process Guidance List Lists the processes that are available for the
current document type and for the currently
loaded QuickTest add-ins, enabling you to open
them.
Results Enables you to view results for a test run
session.

Resources Menu:
This menu provides object repository and recovery scenarios options.
Through this menu we can create /modify/delete objects information
and we can associate repositories.
Through this menu we can create, modify and delete recovery
scenarios.

Command Function
Object Repository Opens the Object Repository window, which
displays a tree containing all objects in the current
test or component.
Object Repository Manager Opens the Object Repository Manager dialog box,
enabling you to open and modify multiple shared
object repositories.
Associate Repositories Opens the Associate Repositories dialog box,
enabling you to manage the object repository
associations for the test.
Map Repository Parameters Opens the Map Repository Parameters dialog box,
enabling you to map repository parameters, as
needed.
Recovery Scenario Manager Opens the Recovery Scenario Manager dialog box.
Associated Function Libraries Lists the function libraries associated with the
active document, enabling you to open them.

Debug Menu:
This menu provides debug commands for step by step execution.
Through this menu we can insert/remove/break points.

Tools Menu:
This menu provides Tools settings option, view options and object
identification configuration.
Through this menu we can set tool options as well as test pane view
options.
In this menu object spy option available, through this we can get
object’s information.(Properties and values)
In this menu Virtual object option available; through this option we
can create virtual objects.

Command Function
Options Opens the Options dialog box, enabling you to modify global
testing options.
View Options Opens the Editor Options dialog box, enabling you to
customize how tests and function libraries are displayed in the
Expert View and Function Library windows.
Check Syntax Checks the syntax of the active document.
Object Identification Opens the Object Identification dialog box, enabling you to
specify how QuickTest identifies a particular test object.
Object Spy Opens the Object Spy dialog box, enabling you to view the
native properties and operations of any object in an open
application, as well as the test object hierarchy, identification
properties, and operations of the test object that QuickTest
uses to represent that object.
Web Event Recording Opens the Web Event Recording Configuration dialog box,
Configuration enabling you to specify a recording configuration level.
(Relevant for tests only)
Data Driver Opens the Data Driver dialog box, which displays the default
Constants list for the action. (Relevant for tests only)
Change Active Screen Replaces the previously recorded Active Screen with the
selected Active Screen. (Relevant for tests only)
Virtual Objects > New Opens the Virtual Object Wizard, enabling you to teach
Virtual Object QuickTest to recognize an area of your application as a
standard test object.
Virtual Objects > Virtual Opens the Virtual object Manager, enabling you to manage all
Object Manager of the virtual object collections defined on your computer.
Customize Opens the Customize dialog box, which enables you to
customize toolbars and menus, and create new menus.

Window Menu:
This menu provides QTP tool window style settings.

Help Menu:
This menu provides QTP help as well as VB Script help.
Through this menu we can contact technical support people and we
can send feedback.
Through this menu we can check for updates and download or install
directly.
Passing parameters, through this we can pass multiple values.

We use parameterization in Data Driven Testing.

Data Driven Testing: Testing the Same operation with multiple sets
of test data.
Through Data Table: QTP adds one data table (Spreadsheet) for every test, we can use
Data Table for Data Driven Testing.

Recovery Scenarios

Recovery Scenario Manager

To recover from unexpected events and errors that are occurred in the
test environment during run session, we can use Recovery Scenario
Manager. For good recovery, error must be known the occurrence is
unknown.

There are (4) Types of events such as:

(i) Application Crash

An open application fails during Test Run.

Navigation:

Resources Menu -> Recovery Scenario Manager- > Click New- > Click
Next - >
Select Application Crash as Trigger event->Next - >Select selected
executable
application->Next ->Select Recovery Operation [ Keyboard, Mouse
Operation,
Close Application Process, function Call, Restart, Microsoft Windows]
->Next - >If
you want to check Add another operation else uncheck->Next - >Next
- >Enter
Scenario Name ->Next- >Select Option - >Finish - >Close - >Save
the scenario in
specified location with “.qrs”
(qrs stands for QuickTest Recovery Scenario.)

(ii) Popup Window.

To handle unwanted popups.

Navigation:

Resources Menu ->Recovery Scenario Manager ->New - >Next

- >Select “Popup
Window” as Trigger event ->Next - >Click on Hand Icon - >Show
unwanted
window with Hand icon ->Next - >Next - >Select function call as
Recovery
Operation ->Next [Open Notepad - >Save empty file with .vbs
extension] - >Browse
the .vbs fie path ->Next - >Uncheck Add another Recovery Operation
- >Next - >
Select Post-Recovery Test Run Option [Repeat current step and
continue, Proceed to
Next step, Proceed to Next Action, Proceed to next test iteration,
Restart current test
run, Stop the Test Run] ->Next - >Enter Scenario Name ->Next
- >Select Option - >
Finish ->Save the scenario with “.qrs” ->Record required Recovery
Operation [Click
ok, Click Cancel] take the script into function ->Save the library file
->Click Run

(iii) Test Run Error.

A step in your test does not run successfully then Test Run Error
can be raised.

Navigation :

Resources Menu ->Recovery Scenario Manager - >New - >Next

- >Select “Testrunerror
Window” as Trigger event ->Next ->select any error o ->Next
- >Next - >Select function call as Recovery
Operation ->Next [Open Notepad - >Save empty file with .vbs
extension] ->Browse
the .vbs fie path ->Next - >Uncheck Add another Recovery Operation
- >Next ->
Select Post-Recovery Test Run Option [Repeat current step and
continue, Proceed to
Next step, Proceed to Next Action, Proceed to next test iteration,
Restart current test
Select Option �� Next �� Enter Scenario Name �� Next �� run,
Stop the Test Run] ��
Record required Recovery Operation [Click Save the scenario with
“.qrs” �� Finish ��
Click Run Save the library file �� ok, Click Cancel] take the script
into function ��

(iv) Object State.

The property values of an object in your application match

specified values. You can specify property values for each object in the
hierarchy.

Navigation:

Resources Menu -> Recovery Scenario Manager -> New -> Next ->
Select “Object state
Window” as Trigger event -> Next -> Click on Hand Icon -> Show
object with hand icon
-> Next -> Next->select object property with value (enabled ,false)-
>click next -> Select function call as Recovery
Operation -> Next [Open Notepad -> Save empty file with .vbs
extension] -> Browse
the .vbs fie path -> Next -> Uncheck Add another Recovery Operation
-> Next ->
Select Post-Recovery Test Run Option [Repeat current step and
continue, Proceed to
Next step, Proceed to Next Action, Proceed to next test iteration,
Restart current test
run, Stop the Test Run] -> Next-> Enter Scenario Name -> Next ->
Select Option ->
Finish -> Save the scenario with “.qrs” -> Record required Recovery
Operation [Click
ok, Click Cancel] take the script into function -> Save the library file
-> Click Run