Working with eCATT (Extended Computer Aided Test Tool)

(By: KVR Prasad Babu[11], email: [email protected] [13] )

(Revisado por Cássia Lima e Mauricio Rolim)

Hello friends my name is Prasad Babu. I would like to share some of my experiences with
eCATT, in which am currently working on.

Description:
In this article first I will introduce some of the basic concepts regarding eCATT[14] and then we
will see how to develop a test script to upload a test data file with a practical example.
So in precise in this article you will see what eCATT is, how we can use it; how we can load a
test data from a file in 4.7X and it end with an example.
After reading this article you will have a clear idea about eCATT tool. And you will be able to
write a test script in which test data can be loaded from a file.
This article is divided into following sections,

1. What is eCATT?
2. How to load test data from a file in 4.7X with an example?

What is eCATT?
eCATT stands for extended Computer Aided Test Tool (eCATT) which is built is testing tool to
test SAP system. By using testing tool we can test the entire business process, and we can also
use this tool with a third party [15]testing tool (I am not covering this topic). Execution of every
test script ends with a log, which explains the results of the test script.
By using eCATT we can do following operations,
• Test transactions, reports, and scenarios
• Call BAPIs and function modules
• Test remote systems
• Check authorizations (user profiles)
• Test updates (database, applications, GUI)
• Test the effect of changes to customizing settings
• Check system messages

For more information go to: eCATT::Extended Computer Aided Test Tool (sdn.com)
Here I am discussing fundamentals about eCATT in detail. You can find very good
documentation in sdn.com.
To develop a test script in eCATT we need to follow the following steps,
1. Creating Test Scripts.
2. Creating Test Data Containers[16].
3. Understanding System Data Containers[17].
4. Executing Test Configurations.
There is a very good web blog on eCATT in sdn.com which explains eCATT with necessary
screen shots. To read document click here Blog on eCATT in sdn.com
Loading test data from a file in 4.7X with example:

We can load test data from file using the ABAP…ENDABAP [18]statements in eCATT.
In this article I have given an example on transaction code XK01 with sample code.
To upload the test data file follow the steps given,

1. Record the transaction

Open eCATT tool. This can be done using ‘SECATT’ tcode.

Give the script name and version number example ‘Z_FORNECEDOR2’.

Version number can be used to maintain different program constructs under same program name.
And choose create button.
Give description and component name as ‘MM’.

Select editor tab panel. Then click on ‘Modelo’ button. Or go to

Edit->Pattern or Press Ctrl+F6. This opens a ‘insert statement’ dialog box.

Selecionar grupo UI, comando TCD REC TCD (Record), transação a ser mapeada e o nome da
interface a ser criado.
Then ‘Create Vendor: Initial screen’ will appear. Enter the necessary fields.
And be careful while recording, if not recording may fail. Note that while recording no error
messages should pop up. If they happen restart the recording process. Here in this example I have
considered a simple recording process. You can do any complex recording. If you have any
doubts do feel free to mail me. I will reply to you.

After completing the recording process recording ended dialog will appear.
Choose ‘Yes’.

Then a TCD statement will appear in the editor area.

With this we have finished recording
Now let us see the variable declaration, assignment and programming part.

After developing as number of scripts I found one simple method to develop these test scripts. If
you feel comfortable with this method you can also use it.

First note down the all screen fields in which you are entering values during recording process.
Then create local variables in eCATT with the same name as the screen field technical name.
(This method makes assignment easier).

Example:

In XK01 (vendor master) I have entered values for material, industry sector and material type.
And their respective technical screen field values are,

To find out technical value of the screen field select the field press F1, then clicks on technical
information button.

And now create the local variable as

To create local variables first click button, and then to create new variable click

button. And enter the variable name [19]as (V_LIFNR), Visibility of parameter [110]as ‘V’ and
finally parameter reference [111](name of the actual parameter). After declaring all the parameter
it will look like this,

After declaring the local variables we need to assign them to screen field values.
To do that again press or double click on XK01_1 in TCD (XK01, XK01_1) statement.
This will take you to the command interface which look like,

To assign the screen field values double click on the ‘FIELD’.

Caso apareça na primeira coluna valores `I` com a coluna VALOUT preenchida,
substituir por `S`.
 C CHU UH

Then replace the screen VALIN[112] values with the local variable names. After changing the
values the interface look like this,

Repeat the above step with all the screen field values. With this we have finished the process of
declaring and assigning variables.
Now we will see how to program and run the script successfully.

To write the program we need to follow two steps. They are,

1. Get the number (count) of records in file.

2. Loop through count number of times and load the data from the file pass to TCD
through local variables of eCATT.

Let us see how to handle the things,

By using ABAP…ENDABAP statements we can do that.
Before we start writing the program we need to declare some local variables (to run he example
program given) which help us to store values between two ABAP blocks.
Because in eCATT each ABAP…ENDABAP block creates different internal function module
with different contexts. So we need to declare some intermediate variables they are,

COUNT[113]: Holds the number of records.

FILE_V[114]: Holds file path of the test data file.
INT_LOC[115]: Index to read next from the file.
I am giving sample code to get the number of records from file in eCATT. Use this code
and try for XK01 for Basic view. It will work fine.
This is very simple ABAP code. For understanding purpose necessary comments are
provided.

Step 1:
First ABAP…ENDABAP block, to get the number of records from the file and store the
value in the COUNT local variable.

Obs: Este código já foi adaptado as normas de qualidade da fabrica da Aspen.

* ABAP BLOCK TO GET THE NUMBER OF TEST CASES
ABAP.
* TOT : holds total number of records
* FILE: holds file path of test file
DATA : TOT TYPE I VALUE 0,
FILE TYPE STRING.
* TYPE TO HOLD TEST DATA FROM FILE
TYPES: BEGIN OF Y_LFA1,
V_LIFNR TYPE LFA1-LIFNR , " FORNECEDOR
V_BUKRS TYPE LFB1-BUKRS , " EMPRESA
V_EKORG TYPE LFM1-EKORG , " ORG COMPRAS
V_KTOKK TYPE T077K-KTOKK, " GRP CONTAS
V_NAME1 TYPE LFA1-NAME1 , " NOME FORNEC
V_SORTL TYPE LFA1-SORTL , " TERMO PESQUISA
V_LAND1 TYPE LFA1-LAND1 , " PAIS
V_KUNNR TYPE KNA1-KUNNR , " CLIENTE
V_WAERS TYPE LFM1-WAERS , " MOEDA
END OF Y_LFA1.

DATA : I_LFA1 TYPE TABLE OF Y_LFA1.

CONSTANTS: C_X(01) TYPE C VALUE 'X' ,
C_FILE TYPE DYNPREAD-FIELDNAME VALUE 'FILE'.

* TO OPEN FILE DIALOG FOR TEST DATA FILE

CALL FUNCTION 'F4_FILENAME'
EXPORTING
PROGRAM_NAME = SYST-CPROG
DYNPRO_NUMBER = SYST-DYNNR
FIELD_NAME = C_FILE
IMPORTING
FILE_NAME = FILE_V-PATH.

FILE = FILE_V-PATH.

* LOADING DATA FROM THE FILE

CALL FUNCTION 'GUI_UPLOAD'
EXPORTING
FILENAME = FILE
HAS_FIELD_SEPARATOR = C_X
TABLES
DATA_TAB = I_LFA1.

* GETTING NUMBER OF RECORDS IN THE TABLE

DESCRIBE TABLE I_LFA1 LINES TOT.
* STORING NUMBER OF RECORDS IN LOCAL VARIABLE
COUNT = TOT.
* CLEARING INTERNAL TABLE
FREE I_LFA1.
ENDABAP.
Step 2:
Looping through the records count number of times and reading from the internal table
and passing them to the screen field values.
This sample code explains how to read, and pass values to the screen.
* LOOPING THROUGH (COUNT) NUMBER OF RECORDS
DO (COUNT).

ABAP.

* V_READINDX : holds index number to read the internal table

* FILE: holds file path of test file
DATA : V_READINDX TYPE I,
FILE TYPE STRING,
INDX TYPE I VALUE 0.
* TYPE TO HOLD TEST DATA FROM FILE
TYPES: BEGIN OF Y_LFA1,
V_LIFNR TYPE LFA1-LIFNR , " FORNECEDOR
V_BUKRS TYPE LFB1-BUKRS , " EMPRESA
V_EKORG TYPE LFM1-EKORG , " ORG COMPRAS
V_KTOKK TYPE T077K-KTOKK, " GRP CONTAS
V_NAME1 TYPE LFA1-NAME1 , " NOME FORNEC
V_SORTL TYPE LFA1-SORTL , " TERMO PESQUISA
V_LAND1 TYPE LFA1-LAND1 , " PAIS
V_KUNNR TYPE KNA1-KUNNR , " CLIENTE
V_WAERS TYPE LFM1-WAERS , " MOEDA
END OF Y_LFA1.

DATA : I_LFA1 TYPE TABLE OF Y_LFA1.

* WORKAREA TO HOLD THE I_LFA1 DATA

DATA : WA TYPE Y_LFA1.
FILE = FILE_V-PATH.

CONSTANTS: C_X(01) TYPE C VALUE 'X'.

* LOADING MASTER DATA FROM THE FILE

CALL FUNCTION 'GUI_UPLOAD'
EXPORTING
FILENAME = FILE
HAS_FIELD_SEPARATOR = C_X
TABLES
DATA_TAB = I_LFA1.

* INT_LOC : is a local variable hold the current index to read I_LFA1

V_READINDX = INT_LOC.
* READING I_MARA UGING ITS INDEX
READ TABLE I_LFA1 INDEX V_READINDX INTO WA.
* assigning work area values to the screen field values
V_LIFNR = WA-V_LIFNR. " FORNECEDOR
V_BUKRS = WA-V_BUKRS. " EMPRESA
V_EKORG = WA-V_EKORG. " ORG COMPRAS
V_KTOKK = WA-V_KTOKK. " GRP CONTAS
V_NAME1 = WA-V_NAME1. " NOME FORNEC
V_SORTL = WA-V_SORTL. " TERMO PESQUISA
V_LAND1 = WA-V_LAND1. " PAIS
V_KUNNR = WA-V_KUNNR. " CLIENTE
V_WAERS = WA-V_WAERS. " MOEDA
ENDABAP.

* TCD TRANSACTION
TCD (XK01,XK01_1).

* move index position by one

INT_LOC = INT_LOC + 1.

ENDDO.

With this we have finished programming. Finally we need to prepare the test data file and execute
the program either in Foreground or Background mode.
Please note that data in test file should resemble the order of the elements in the internal table.
Other wise it won’t work.
To execute the given test script, follow the steps, copy the code given and declare the necessary
variables.

Criar um arquivo no excel formatando as colunas como texto e salvando como .txt
(separado por tabulação)

Iniciar os testes da eCATT, para visualizar a chamada da transação XK01, voltar nas
Opções Iniciais da SECATT e na aba `Controle IU` e no campo `Modo de exibição
p/comando TCD` selecionar `A – Processar de forma visível, síncrono local`.
Opções Iniciais da SECATT e na aba `Geral` deixar as seguintes configurações.
Após a execução a seguinte tela de log será apresentada: