Recording Siebel applications using Rational Functional Tester

Content

Author: AnuMohan C. P. and Jincy I. J.

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Table of Contents:

Introduction

Rational Functional Tester Extension for Siebel Test Automation

Getting Started with Siebel Application Testing using RFT

Siebel Controls

Begin recording with Rational Functional Tester

Enabling Siebel support for pre-existing Functional Tester projects

References

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Introduction

This white paper aims to helps Rational Functional Tester users involved with testing Siebel applications. This covers a few scenarios to deal with issues around setting up the environment from RFT starting with configuration and usage instruction, where users experience hurdles while testing Siebel using RFT Siebel Test Automation Extension This white paper does not talk about customized controls or using any proxy to help with any customization.

About the applications involved

Siebel

The most complete customer relationship management (CRM) solution, Oracle's Siebel CRM helps organizations differentiate their businesses to achieve maximum top and bottom-line growth. It delivers a combination of transactional, analytical, and engagement features to manage all customer-facing operations.

Siebel being the leader in customer relationship management solution, still leaves room for its functional testing. This process allows the enterprise to ensure that the CRM method they customized using Siebel application can really provide the kind of service being expected.

Rational Functional Tester

IBM Rational Functional Tester software is an automated tool which provides testers with automated testing capabilities for functional testing, regression testing, GUI testing and data driven testing.

IBM Rational Functional Tester is an object-oriented automated functional testing tool that tests HTML, Java, Dojo, Ajax, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft .NET, Microsoft Silverlight, Microsoft Visual Basic, Siebel, Flex, SAP, GEF, and PowerBuilder applications. You can also test Adobe PDF documents, and zSeries, iSeries, and pSeries applications. Rational Functional Tester enables you to record reliable, robust scripts that can be played back to validate new builds of a test application. IBM Rational Functional Tester runs on Windows and Linux platforms.

IBM Rational Functional Tester is available in two integrated development environments. For automated testing, the product records user actions to create simplified test scripts that are easy to understand in Rational Software Delivery Platform. It also supports two scripting languages for advanced users. Rational Functional Tester Eclipse Integration uses the Java language and Rational Functional Tester Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Integration uses the Microsoft Visual Basic .NET language and the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET development environment.

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Rational Functional Tester Extension for Siebel Test Automation

Features and benefits

Any organization that relies on its own application development to serve the needs of internal clients or customers recognizes that application quality is a prerequisite for success, not an option. A crucial ingredient for this success is an efficient, disciplined testing process to verify that applications have achieved a level of fitness that either meets or exceeds project expectations. Slipping schedules, frequently changing application user interfaces, and recurrent feature regression introduce variables that ad-hoc testing practices are unable to handle. IBM Rational Functional Extension for Siebel Test Automation was built to address these issues.

How does the RFT extension for Siebel Test Automation work?

Rational Functional Tester Extension for Siebel Test Automation records user interactions with Siebel applications, creating a test script that - when executed - reproduces those actions. During recording, the user can insert verification points that extract specified data or properties from the application under test. During playback, these verification points are used to compare recorded information with live information to ensure consistency. Following any test recording activity, testers have the option of adding custom code to the test script to perform an unlimited array of tasks, including the data manipulation and environment configuration activities that are often necessary to ensure the test lab is properly constituted for the test run. Following test execution, Rational Functional Tester Extension for Siebel Test Automation generates a report listing the results of the verification point comparisons. With Rational Functional Tester Extension for Siebel Test Automation, teams are able to more reliably and efficiently expose problems in Siebel 7.7 applications, increasing the opportunity for defect capture and repair before product deployment.

Features and benefits of IBM Rational Functional Tester Extension for Siebel Test Automation:

Supports Siebel controls for GUI automated testing
Siebel 8.1 delivers a rich UI comprised of standard and complex controls. Rational Functional Tester Extension for Siebel integrates with Siebel Test Automation interfaces to provide robust automation support for this rich environment. By supporting standard web controls in addition to Siebel Standard-Interactivity and High-Interactivity controls Functional Tester Extension for Siebel generates scripts consisting of advanced UI control recognition and readability.

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Getting Started with Siebel Application Testing using RFT



RFT version compatibility with Siebel Application version

IBM Rational Functional Tester contains extended functional testing support for Siebel applications.
Rational Functional Tester supports the following versions of Siebel:

· Siebel 7.7

· Siebel 7.8

· Siebel 8.0

· Siebel 8.1

· Siebel 8.2.2

The Siebel add-on for Rational Functional Tester allows you to capture and play back Graphical User Interface level interactions using Siebel object models and events. You can perform property and data verification points on Siebel custom components.

Web browser compatibility with Siebel Application version



Refer to the Oracle documentation for Siebel supported IE versions.
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11886_01/siebel/books/SRSP_80/SRSP_80_ClientEnv4.html#wp1008631
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11886_01/siebel/books/SRSP_81/SRSP_81_ClientEnv10.html#wp1021080
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11886_01/siebel/books/SRSP_82/SRSP_822_ClientEnv11.html#wp1021080


Siebel IE Settings (recommended)

Internet Explorer> Tools > Internet Options > Advanced >Section/Setting	IE6	IE7	IE8
Notations - D-Disable , E-Enable , P-Promt
Browser
Automatically check for Internet Explorer updates	D	D	D
Disable script debugging (Internet Explorer)	E	E	E
Disable script debugging (Other)	E	E	E
Display a notification about every script error	D	D	D
Enable third-party browser extensions	D	D	D
Reuse windows for launching shortcuts	E	E	E
Show friendly HTTP Error messages	D	D	D
HTTP 1.1 Settings
Use HTTP 1.1	E	E	E
Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections	E	E	E
International
Send UTF-8 URLS	--	E	E
Java (Sun)
Use JRE X.Y.Z_nn for <applet>	E	E	E
Multimedia
Show image download placeholders	E	E	E
Show Pictures	E	E	E
Smart image dithering	E	E	E
Printing
Print Background Colors and Images	E	E	E
Security
Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed	D	D	D
Enable memory protection to help mitigate online attacks	--	D	D
Warn if changing between secure and not secure mode	D	D	D
Internet Explorer> Tools > Options > Security tab > Custom Section/Setting	IE6	IE7	IE8
ActiveX controls and plug-ins
Allow previously unused ActiveX controls to run without prompt	--	E	E
Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls	E	E	E
Download signed ActiveX controls	E	E	E
Download unsigned ActiveX controls	P	P	P
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe	P	P	P
Only allow approved domains to use ActiveX without prompt	D	D	D
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins	E	E	E
Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting	E	E	E
Downloads
File download	E	E	E
Miscellaneous
Access data sources across domains	D	D	D
Allow script-initiated windows without size or position constraints:	E	E	E
Allow websites to open windows without address or status bars	--	--	E
Display mixed content	E	E	E
Don't prompt for client certificate selection when no certificates or only one certificate exists	E	E	E
Launching programs and files in an IFRAME	P	P	P
Navigate windows/frames/sub-frames across different domains	E	E	E
Scripting
Active scripting	E	E	E
Allow paste operations via script	E	E	--
Allow status bar updates via script	--	--	E
Allow websites to prompt for information using scripted windows	--	--	E
Scripting of Java applets	E	E	E

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Siebel Controls

There are two types of controls in a Siebel application

1) High Interactivity controls (HI): these are Siebel ActiveX controls
2) Standard HTML controls (SI): these are standard HTML controls, decorated with Siebel specifics

SI controls do not need the STA framework. HI controls require the STA framework to record and playback successfully. Depending upon the type of controls in a Siebel application, STA might be required.

· STA is not required for Siebel applications containing only Siebel SI (HTML) controls. The controls are recognizable to RFT just like standard HTML controls

· STA is required for testing against Siebel HI controls. If your application contains HI controls and your test scripts contain any interaction with the HI controls, STA must be installed and enabled on the Siebel server and invoked during recording by adding ?SWECmd=AutoOn to the URL

If the STA framework is not running, clicks on Siebel HI controls will be recorded as very generic coordinate based clicks on ActiveX controls, such as objectName().click(atPoint(x,y)) or atxwindows().click(atPoint(x,y)). This results in test scripts which are neither robust nor resilient.

Testing High-Interactive Siebel applications

Prerequisites:

To test high-interactive Siebel applications, you must obtain the Siebel Test Automation Framework from Oracle.

(a) Setting the registry key:

i. You must set the registry key for Rational Functional Tester to record Siebel HI controls using the user interface name. By default, Rational Functional Tester records using the repository name.

ii. In the registry, ensure that you create a new dWord named UINameInScript, and set the value to 1 in HKEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/Rational Software/Rational Test/8.

(b) Starting Siebel Test Automation framework (STA)

While invoking the Siebel application add SWECmd=AutoOn to URL

http://hostname/callcenter/start.swe?

For example,
http://hostname/callcenter/start.swe?SWECmd=AutoOn


This automatically starts the Siebel Test Automation framework.

(c) Configuring CAS timeout

Client Automation Server (CAS) provides a mechanism to configure timeout on calls which can result in the system hanging. By default, this timeout is set to 1 second, but you can configure this using the ivory.properties file by setting the rational.test.ft.siebel.cas_submit_timeout to the desired value.

(d) Browser enablement test should pass

For Siebel testing, disable the next-generation plug-in and enable the environment manually.
http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSJMXE_8.5.1/com.ibm.rational.test.ft.doc/topics/RunHTMLEnabler.html

(e) Make sure that .NET Framework is installed in the machine.

The .NET Framework 1.1 or 2.0 is required for testing Siebel applications.
http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSJMXE_8.5.1/com.ibm.rational.test.ft.install.doc/topics/r_feature_desc.html

(f) IE browser settings needs to be done as per section 3.1.3 Siebel IE Settings (recommended)

Siebel High Interactivity Framework

Siebel High Interactivity framework automatically gets installed once you run the Siebel client for the first time.

After the username & password is entered, there will be a prompt with the message on top of the browser to install the Siebel High Interactivity. Right click on the prompt and choose 'Install'. It will install the Siebel HI framework automatically:

At times there is a message prompting to enter the username and password as follows:

"Your version of the Siebel High Interactivity Framework for IE, required for use of this Siebel application, may not be current. In order to download a current version of the Siebel High Interactivity Framework, please ensure that your browser security settings are correct and then log in to the application again. Consult your Siebel system administrator for details about the Siebel High Interactivity Framework and correct browser settings"

To overcome this, follow the instruction given below:

Press the CTRL key to log on to the Siebel server.
Continue to press the CTRL key. You are prompted to install the Siebel High Interactivity Framework. Proceed with its installation.






Make sure that the Downloaded Program Files folder contains the below files which confirms that HI Framework as successfully downloaded from Siebel server.

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Begin recording with Rational Functional Tester

Known Limitations:

1. There is no way to highlight a recorded Siebel HI control.
2. Siebel testing is not supported on Linux platform.

Issue: When RFT is not at all recording with Siebel?

1. Check if the Siebel controls aren’t custom controls

2. Siebel Automation Server might not have been started yet.

3. Mismatch of Assembly versions.

Custom controls:

Check if the Siebel controls are not customized preventing RFT from identifying them. The user can crosscheck this with their developers.

Siebel Automation server is not yet started

1. Make sure the process SibelAx_Test_Automation_XXXXX.exe is up and running. This process is a mandatory for RFT for testing the Siebel applications. In other words, RFT requires CAS Automation for its operations, which get started by this process.



Mismatch of Assembly versions

1. Open C:\Windows\asssembly
2. Start>Run>assembly.



3. Make sure the following assemblies are listed:

a. rtxftnet ; RFT - assembly
b. SiebelDomainProxies ; Siebel - assembly
c. SibelIEHelper ; Siebel - assembly
d. SiebelNotificationListener ; Siebel – assembly

4. Also, make sure the following additional assemblies also present in the assembly.

a. Interop.cascomLib ; Siebel CAS automation assembly Interop
b. Interop.mshtml ; IE HTML automation assembly Interop

5. If the above assemblies are not found registered , go to the RFT bin folder and drag an drop the respective assembly components to the C:\Windows\assembly directory:



6. Restart Siebel and RFT to begin recording again.

Issue: If Siebel controls are recorded as OleObject

1. Check whether browser enablement test is passed
2. Login to application with AutoOn in URL
3. Look for SiebelAx_Test_Automation_XXXX.exe in task manager.
4. Make sure Siebel Add-Ons enabled in Browser (In Downloaded controls check for Siebel Test Automation and Siebel High Interactivity Framework Add-Ons)



5. Look for the Siebel extension DLL files loaded in Browser

(For example: SiebelDomainProxies.dll, SiebelIEHelper.dll, SiebelNotificationListener.dll)

Usually these DLL files may not be loaded in the browser due to access restrictions in browser and user level.

6. Make sure that .NET frame work is installed

If the controls are still getting recognized as OleObject, then remove the Downloaded Program Files found in C:\windows\Downloaded Program Files and re-login to Siebel application.

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Enabling Siebel support for pre-existing Functional Tester projects

To use the Siebel support for a project that was created using the earlier versions of IBM Rational Functional Tester, you must add two new templates; one for script headers and one for script helper headers to the functional tester project.

1. Start Rational Functional Tester

2. In the Functional Test Projects view, right-click the project and select the Properties option

3. In the Properties dialog box, select Functional Test Script Templates from the navigation list

4. Select the template type Script Helper: Header of the file

5. If you have not customized this template, you can upgrade it by clicking the Restore Defaults button

6. Add the line import com.rational.test.ft.object.interfaces.siebel.*; in the import section of the template

7. After modifying the template, click the Apply button

8. Select the template type Script: Header of the file and add the same line in the import section of the template.

9. If you are using the integrated Rational ClearCase support, you must check in the template file after you edit it, so that other members of your team can use them. To do this, right-click the project in the Functional Test Projects view, and click Team > Show Checkouts .

A list of elements that you have checked out are displayed.

10. Select the two templates ft_script.java.rfttpl and ft_scripthelper.java.rfttpl, right-click and select the Check in option.

Your other team members can update their project by right-clicking the project in the Functional Test Projects view and clicking Team > Get Latest Version.

11. Finally, right-click the project again in the Functional Test Projects view and click Reset Java Build Path.

Each member of your team must perform this last step, as the “Java Build Path” is local to each project on each machine.

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References

Rational Functional Tester
http://www.ibm.com/software/products/en/functional

About Siebel
http://www.oracle.com/in/products/applications/siebel/index.html

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Disclaimer

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE EFFORTS WERE MADE TO VERIFY THE COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, IT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. IN ADDITION, THIS INFORMATION IS BASED ON IBM’S CURRENT PRODUCT PLANS AND STRATEGY, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY IBM WITHOUT NOTICE. IBM SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF, OR OTHERWISE RELATED TO, THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO, NOR SHALL HAVE THE EFFECT OF, CREATING ANY WARRANTIES OR REDOCUMENTS FROM IBM (OR ITS SUPPLIERS OR LICENSORS), OR ALTERING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ANY AGREEMENT OR LICENSE GOVERNING THE USE OF IBM PRODUCTS OR SOFTWARE.