HP Business Process Testing

Software Version: 11.00

User Guide

Document Release Date: November 2010

Software Release Date: November 2010
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Table of Contents

Welcome to This Guide .........................................................................9

How This Guide is Organized..............................................................10
Documentation Library.......................................................................12
Documentation Library Guides...........................................................13
Additional Online Resources...............................................................16
Chapter 1: Introducing Business Process Testing...............................17
About Business Process Testing ...........................................................18
Identifying Roles .................................................................................20
A Top-Down Methodology .................................................................23
Automating Business Process Testing Components ...........................34
Setting Up Business Process Testing....................................................41
Chapter 2: Getting Started with Business Components ....................43
The Business Components Module Window......................................44
Understanding the Manual Steps and Automation Sub-tabs .............73
The New Component Dialog Box .......................................................83
The Component Details Dialog Box ...................................................85
The Component Step Details Dialog Box ...........................................87
Chapter 3: Working with Business Components ................................89
About Working with Business Components.......................................90
Creating a Component Tree................................................................91
Defining Business Components ..........................................................93
Viewing and Modifying Business Components................................101
Mailing Components ........................................................................110
Handling Component Requests ........................................................110
Analyzing Your Project......................................................................114

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Table of Contents

Chapter 4: Designing Manual Component Steps.............................121

About Designing Manual Component Steps ....................................121
How to Design Manual Step..............................................................124
Working with Parameters in Manual Steps.......................................128
An Example of Using Manual Steps to
Manually Test an Application.......................................................130
Chapter 5: Working with Automated Component Steps.................131
About Automating Components ......................................................132
Working with Application Areas.......................................................136
Generating a Script to Automate Components ................................140
Automating Using the Scripted Automation Type ...........................142
Automating Using the Keyword-driven Automation Type ..............143
Creating Steps in the Keyword View.................................................149
Entering Comments in the Keyword View .......................................162
Parameterizing in the Keyword View................................................164
Modifying Component Steps in the Keyword View .........................172
Adding Checkpoints and Output Values to Steps ............................174
Chapter 6: Getting Started with Business Process Tests..................183
About Getting Started with Business Process Testing
in the Test Plan Module................................................................184
The Test Plan Module Window for
Business Process Testing ...............................................................186
Test Plan Module Tabs for Business Process Testing.........................190
Test Plan Module Components and Flows Pane...............................210
Chapter 7: Managing Business Process Tests ...................................211
About Managing Business Process Tests ...........................................212
Creating Business Process Tests.........................................................213
Adding Components and Flows to a Business Process Test..............216
Managing Parameters at the Component, Flow, and Test Levels.....218
Defining Failure Conditions .............................................................221
Grouping Components and Flows ....................................................222
Requesting New Components for Business Process Tests or Flows ..227
Copying Business Process Tests and Flows .......................................230
Deleting Business Process Tests and Flows........................................232
Mailing Business Process Tests or Flows............................................233
Validating Business Process Tests and Flows.....................................234
Converting Manual Tests to Components........................................235
Working with Criteria for Requirement Coverage............................241
Generating Documents for Business Process Tests and Flows ..........251

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 Table of Contents

Chapter 8: Working with Flows ........................................................253

About Working With Flows ..............................................................254
Creating Flows ...................................................................................256
Developing Flows ..............................................................................257
Understanding the Test Script Tab for Flows ....................................258
Building a Flow Structure ..................................................................259
Managing Flows.................................................................................261
Chapter 9: Working with Parameters ...............................................263
Parameter Overview ..........................................................................264
Parameter Promotion ........................................................................269
Working with Parameters—A Workflow...........................................271
Defining Parameters and Setting Default Values ..............................273
Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their Status .............................282
Managing Parameters ........................................................................284
Dialog Boxes and Tabs for Defining Parameters ...............................291
Chapter 10: Linking Parameters .......................................................315
Parameter Linkage Overview.............................................................315
How to Link Parameters ....................................................................321
Dialog Boxes for Linking Parameters ................................................324
Chapter 11: Working with Iterations ................................................329
Iterations Overview ...........................................................................330
Group Iterations ................................................................................332
How to Define Iterations to Run with Different Values ...................334
How to Select Iteration Ranges .........................................................337
Dialog Boxes and Tabs for Working with Iterations.........................340
Chapter 12: Working with Test Configurations ...............................349
Test Configurations Overview...........................................................350
How to Define Test Configurations to Run with Different Values...354
How to Generate a Configuration from a Modified Instance ..........367
Chapter 13: Defining Run Conditions...............................................369
About Defining Run Conditions .......................................................369
Adding Run Conditions ....................................................................371
Managing Run Conditions................................................................374
Running Tests with Run Conditions.................................................375

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Table of Contents

Chapter 14: Running Business Process Tests and Flows...................377

About Running Business Process Tests and Flows ............................377
Running a Business Process Test or Flow Manually..........................380
Understanding the Manual Runner Window ...................................388
Understanding the Manual Runner Dialog Box ...............................391
Debugging Tests in the Test Plan Module.........................................400
Running Automated Business Process Tests or Flows .......................406
Viewing Run Results of Business Process Tests or Flows...................410
Appendix A: Business Process Testing Keyboard Shortcuts .............415
General Keyboard Shortcuts..............................................................415
Business Component Module Shortcuts ...........................................415
Test Plan Module Shortcuts for Business Process Testing .................417
Manual Runner Shortcuts for Business Process Testing....................417
Appendix B: Business Process Testing Glossary ...............................419

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Welcome to This Guide

Welcome to HP Business Process Testing. Business Process Testing with

HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) enables non-technical subject
matter experts to build and work with business components in a script-free
environment and to create application-quality business process tests.

This chapter includes:

➤ How This Guide is Organized on page 10
➤ Documentation Library Guides on page 13
➤ Additional Online Resources on page 16

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Welcome to This Guide

How This Guide is Organized

The HP Business Process Testing User Guide describes how to use Business
Process Testing to create business process tests. It provides step-by-step
instructions to help you create and debug business components, create
flows, build and run business process tests, and report defects detected
during the testing process.

This guide contains the following chapters:

Chapter 1 Introducing Business Process Testing

Provides an introduction to the Business Process Testing model and its
integration with HP QuickTest Professional and other testing tools.

Chapter 2 Getting Started with Business Components

Provides an overview of the Business Components module in ALM, and
describes the component tree view. The chapter also describes the key
elements in the module interface, including the various formats of the tabs
when working with manual components, keyword view components, and
scripted components.

Chapter 3 Working with Business Components

Describes how to create, define, and modify the business components that
are incorporated into business process tests and flows. The chapter also
describes how to request new components, enter manual steps in a
requested component, and generate reports, graphs, and other project
documents that include component information.

Chapter 4 Designing Manual Component Steps

Describes how to create business component content in the form of manual
steps and expected results, and how to create and insert parameters into the
steps directly from the Component Steps tab.

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 Welcome to This Guide

Chapter 5 Working with Automated Component Steps

Describes how to work with automated component steps, how to convert
manual components to keyword-driven components, and how to add or
modify component content in the form of keyword-driven steps,
operations, parameters, and comments. The chapter also describes viewing
scripted components that are created in QuickTest Professional and other
testing tools.

Chapter 6 Getting Started with Business Process Tests

Provides an overview of the Test Plan module in ALM and describes the
unique elements in the module interface when a business process test or
flow is selected.

Chapter 7 Managing Business Process Tests

Describes how to create and manage business process tests and flows in the
Test Plan module of ALM.

Chapter 8 Working with Flows

Describes how to create and develop flows, and how to use flows to build
business process tests.

Chapter 9 Working with Parameters

Describes how to expand the flexibility and reusability of business
components, flows, and business process tests by replacing fixed values with
parameters.

Chapter 10 Linking Parameters

Describes how to expand the scope of business process tests and flows by
passing the values of output component parameters to input component
parameters of subsequent business components in a flow or test.

Chapter 11 Working with Iterations

Describes how configure a component or flow to run a specified number of
iterations during a single run, using different values for the component’s or
flow’s parameters.

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Welcome to This Guide

Chapter 12 Working with Test Configurations

Describes how to expand the flexibility and reusability of business
components, flows, and business process tests by creating test
configurations that represent different use-case scenarios, and having each
configuration access different data.

Chapter 13 Defining Run Conditions

Describes how to add run conditions to your flows, enabling you to run
business components selectively, depending on parameter values of
previous components in a flow.

Chapter 14 Running Business Process Tests and Flows

Describes how to run and debug business components in manual and
automated business process tests and in flows, and how to view the results.

Appendix A Business Process Testing Keyboard Shortcuts

Provides a list of keyboard shortcuts for the Business Component module,
the Test Plan module (for business process tests and flows) and the Manual
Runner (for business process tests and flow).

Appendix B Business Process Testing Glossary

Glossary of Business Process Testing terms.

Documentation Library
The Documentation Library is an online help system that describes how to
use ALM. You can access the Documentation Library in the following ways:

➤ Click Documentation Library in the ALM Help menu to open the

Documentation Library home page. The home page provides quick links
to the main help topics.
➤ Click Help on this page in the ALM Help menu to open the
Documentation Library to the topic that describes the current page.

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 Welcome to This Guide

Documentation Library Guides

The Documentation Library consists of the following guides and references,
available online, in PDF format, or both. PDFs can be read and printed using
Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Web site
(http://www.adobe.com).

Reference Description

Using this Explains how to use the Documentation Library and how
Documentation it is organized.
Library

What’s New? Describes the newest features in the latest version of

ALM.
To access, select Help > What's New.

Product Feature Short movies that demonstrate the main product

Movies features.
To access, select Help > Product Feature Movies.

Readme Provides last-minute news and information about ALM.

Application Lifecycle Management Guides

Guide Description

HP ALM User Guide Explains how to use ALM to organize and execute all
phases of the application life cycle management process.
It describes how to specify releases, define requirements,
plan tests, run tests, and track defects.

HP ALM Explains how to create and maintain projects using Site

Administrator Guide Administration, and how to customize projects using
Project Customization.

HP ALM Tutorial A self-paced guide teaching you how to use ALM to

manage the application life cycle management process.

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Welcome to This Guide

Guide Description

HP ALM Installation Describes the installation and configuration processes for

Guide setting up ALM Platform.

HP Business Process Explains how to use Business Process Testing to create

Testing User Guide business process tests.

ALM Performance Center Guides

Guide Description

HP ALM Performance A self-paced guide giving the Performance Center user a

Center Quick Start high level overview of creating and running performance
tests.

HP ALM Performance Explains to the Performance Center user how to create,

Center Guide schedule, run, and monitor performance tests. Explains
to the Performance Center administrator how to use Lab
Management for overall lab resource management, lab
settings management, and system configuration.

HP ALM Performance Describes the installation processes for setting up

Center Installation Performance Center Servers, Performance Center Hosts
Guide and other Performance Center components.

HP ALM Performance Provides information for troubleshooting problems while

Center working with HP ALM Performance Center.
Troubleshooting
Guide

HP Performance Provides best practices for successfully building and

Center of Excellence operating Performance Centers of Excellence.
Best Practices

HP Performance Provides best practices for monitoring the performance

Monitoring Best of applications under test.
Practices

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 Welcome to This Guide

ALM Best Practices

Guide Description

HP ALM Database Provides best practices for deploying ALM on database

Best Practices Guide servers.

HP ALM Upgrade Provides methodologies for preparing and planning your

Best Practices Guide ALM upgrade.

HP ALM Business Provides best practices for working with the Business
Models Module Best Models module.
Practices Guide

ALM API References

Guide Description

HP ALM Project Provides a complete online reference for the project

Database Reference database tables and fields.

HP ALM Open Test Provides a complete online reference for the ALM COM-
Architecture API based API. You can use the ALM open test architecture to
Reference integrate your own configuration management, defect
tracking, and home-grown testing tools with an ALM
project.

HP ALM Site Provides a complete online reference for the Site

Administration API Administration COM-based API. You can use the Site
Reference Administration API to enable your application to
organize, manage, and maintain ALM users, projects,
domains, connections, and site configuration
parameters.

HP ALM REST API Provides an online reference for the ALM REST-based API.
Reference You can use the REST API to access and work with ALM
data.

HP ALM Custom Test Provides a complete online guide for creating your own
Type Guide testing tool and integrating it into the ALM
environment.

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Welcome to This Guide

Additional Online Resources

The following additional online resources are available from the ALM Help
menu:

Part Description

Troubleshooting & Opens the Troubleshooting page on the HP Software

Knowledge Base Support Web site where you can search the Self-solve
knowledge base. Choose Help > Troubleshooting &
Knowledge Base. The URL for this Web site is
http://h20230.www2.hp.com/troubleshooting.jsp.

HP Software Support Opens the HP Software Support Web site. This site
enables you to browse the Self-solve knowledge base. You
can also post to and search user discussion forums,
submit support requests, download patches and updated
documentation, and more. Choose Help > HP Software
Support. The URL for this Web site is
www.hp.com/go/hpsoftwaresupport.
Most of the support areas require that you register as an
HP Passport user and sign in. Many also require a support
contract.
To find more information about access levels, go to:
http://h20230.www2.hp.com/new_access_levels.jsp
To register for an HP Passport user ID, go to:
http://h20229.www2.hp.com/passport-registration.html

HP Software Web site Opens the HP Software Web site. This site provides you
with the most up-to-date information on HP Software
products. This includes new software releases, seminars
and trade shows, customer support, and more. Choose
Help > HP Software Web site. The URL for this Web site
is www.hp.com/go/software.

Add-ins Page Opens the HP Application Lifecycle Management Add-

ins Page, which offers integration and synchronization
solutions with HP and third-party tools.

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1
Introducing Business Process Testing

HP Business Process Testing enables subject matter experts to create business

process tests using reusable business components and flows.

This chapter introduces Business Process Testing and HP Application

Lifecycle Management application (ALM), and describes workflows for
working with Business Process Testing.

Note: For information on configuring user permissions, see the

HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.

This chapter includes:

➤ About Business Process Testing on page 18
➤ Identifying Roles on page 20
➤ A Top-Down Methodology on page 23
➤ Automating Business Process Testing Components on page 34
➤ Setting Up Business Process Testing on page 41

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

About Business Process Testing

Many applications are mission critical for modern corporations. Effective
functional testing is essential to assess the quality of your applications and
ensure that they are stable and free from damaging and costly defects.

Business Process Testing enables subject matter experts to:

➤ Design quality assurance tests for an application early in the development

cycle and in a script-free environment.
➤ Design quality assurance tests at various levels without any scripting
knowledge from the design of a high-level test structure down to the
design of actual steps.
Business Process Testing uses a new methodology for testing, and in
conjunction with testing tools such as HP QuickTest Professional, provides
numerous benefits in an improved automated testing environment.

ALM Editions: Business Process Testing is not available with

Performance Center Edition. For more information, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

This section includes the following topic(s):

➤ "Benefits of Business Process Testing" on page 18

Benefits of Business Process Testing

Business Process Testing and its integration with various testing tools
provide numerous benefits in efficiency and cost reduction, including the
following:

➤ Business process tests can be created in a script-free environment by

subject matter experts who best understand the business processes that
need to be tested, without the need for a programming background.
➤ Business Process Testing enables structured testing of an application by
combining test automation and automatically generated,
easy-to-understand, plain-language test documentation.
➤ When creating manual tests, Business Process Testing dramatically
reduces the need for repeating steps and facilitates text reusability.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

➤ Business Process Testing supports a keyword-driven approach for

constructing automated scripts.
➤ Business Process Testing is not dependent on the completion of detailed
testing scripts. After designing the test and establishing automation
guidelines, applications can be tested manually before automated tests are
ready by non-technical users. Business process tests can therefore be
created and implemented more quickly than other automated tests,
enabling potential performance issues to be detected earlier in the
development process, and before downtime can occur.
➤ Usage of automation assets (created by the automation engineer) in the
design or implementation of test steps does not require coding skills.
➤ Business process test creation is further accelerated by the ability to use
modular, reusable flows and business component units in multiple tests.
➤ Version control enables you to keep track of changes made to entities in
your project, including business process tests, flows, and components.
➤ Ongoing test maintenance time and costs are reduced, while increasing
staff efficiency.
➤ Quality assurance experts can take advantage of the sophisticated
automated testing capabilities in QuickTest Professional and other testing
tools to prepare object hierarchies and application-specific functions that
can be packaged as building blocks for use in business process tests by
subject matter experts. Subject matter experts can work efficiently with
quality assurance experts to test the functionality of applications.
➤ Documents containing information about the tests, flows, and
components in a project can be easily generated.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Identifying Roles
The Business Process Testing model is role-based, allowing non-technical
subject matter experts to work on tests with automation engineers, both
together and in parallel. Two basic user roles are identified in the Business
Process Testing model and are referred to in this guide:

➤ Subject Matter Expert

➤ Automation Engineer

Note: The automation engineer is only needed if the Business Process

Testing framework will include automated tests.

These two main roles are the key players designing and implementing
business process test. In addition to these two main roles, QA testers use and
run the business process tests and ALM administrators set up and configure
Business Process Testing.

Roles are flexible, depending on the abilities and time resources of the
personnel using Business Process Testing. There are no product-specific rules
or limitations controlling which roles must be defined in a particular
organization, or which types of users can perform which Business Process
Testing tasks (provided that the users have the correct permissions). For
example, in some organizations, the tasks of the subject matter expert may
be performed by multiple personnel.

Note: To control access to various modules and tasks, ALM enables you to
configure access permissions for users. For more information, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Subject Matter Expert

The subject matter expert has specific knowledge of the application logic, a
high-level understanding of the entire system, and a detailed understanding
of the individual elements and tasks that are fundamental to the application
being tested. This enables the subject matter expert to:

➤ Determine the operating scenarios or business processes that must be

tested.
For example, the subject matter expert has the knowledge necessary to
design the business process at a high-level by creating a business process
test and requesting components for the test.
➤ Identify the key business activities that are common to multiple business
processes.
For example, most applications require users to log in before they can
access any of the application functionality. The subject matter expert
could create one business component that represents this login
procedure. This component procedure can be used in many business
process tests or flows, resulting in easier and more cost-efficient
maintenance, updating, and test management.
➤ Participate in other aspects of the creation of business process testing,
depending on his/her availability and set of skills. These include:
➤ Creating business components, and manual steps for each business
component.
➤ Defining steps as keyword-driven components and implementing the
steps as automated steps, in conjunction with the automation
engineer.
➤ Creating a business process test from existing components and
defining data for test iterations.
➤ Creating flows for the business process test.
➤ Configuring parameter values for test configurations, components,
and flows.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

➤ Executing the tests to verify that test was designed appropriately and
ran as expected.
➤ Reviewing test results to verify that the results are as expected.
➤ Maintaining test steps for each of the business components.

Automation Engineer
The automation engineer is an expert in QuickTest Professional (or another
testing tool) automated testing.

The automation engineer prepares the resources and automated functions

required for testing the features associated with each specific component.
For example:

➤ The automation engineer can create and maintain application areas both
within ALM and other testing tools.
➤ The automation engineer can create function libraries with general scripts
which are encapsulated into general operation keywords.
➤ The automation engineer can populate the shared object repository with
objects that represent the different objects in the application being tested.
The automation engineer can rename the object repository, create more
appropriate keywords, and filter out objects which are not relevant. The
subject matter expert can use these objects to create steps in keyword-
driven business components.
Depending on your company’s organization and resources, automation
engineers may also be responsible for some of the tasks listed above for the
subject matter expert.

Automation engineers can also create, debug, and modify business

components in QuickTest Professional (or the relevant testing tool) if
required. For more information, see the HP QuickTest Professional for Business
Process Testing User Guide.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

A Top-Down Methodology
Business Process Testing is flexible and does not enforce any one particular
model for incorporating business processes into your testing environment.
The actual workflow in an organization may differ for different projects, or
at different stages of the application development life cycle.

A methodology of defining low-level components first and then designing

business process tests based on the defined components is a legitimate
methodology that may meet your needs. This section, however, presents a
top-down methodology as a preferred alternative from the perspective of the
subject matter expert with a high-level understanding of the entire system.

The top-down methodology presented here for working with Business

Process Testing is based on:

➤ The high-level design and creation of a structure for business process

tests.
➤ The mid-level design, including the:
➤ Creation of flows (sets of business components in a logical order that
can be executed).
➤ Creation of business components (reusable units that perform specific
tasks in a business process).
➤ Specifying criteria for more granular test coverage (requirements) as
necessary.
➤ Specifying different test configurations for testing different use-cases
and for more “true-to-life” test coverage (requirements).
➤ The low-level implementation of business component content by
creating component steps, setting up iterations (for business process tests,
flows, and components), parameterizing, and when necessary,
automating.
➤ The execution of the business process tests and flows.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

The top-down methodology therefore advocates the creation of business

process testing entities according to the following hierarchy:

➤ Business process tests, which contain flows and/or business components.

➤ Flows, which contain business components.
➤ Business components (manual or automatic), which contain steps.

Business process tests, business components, and flows are created using
ALM’s Business Components module and Test Plan module.

Note: The Business Components module is available only if your ALM

license includes Business Process Testing. For more information, see
"Licensing" on page 41.

The Business Process Testing model is described in the following sections:

➤ Designing the High-level Structure

➤ Designing the Mid-level Structure
➤ Adding Content to the Tests and Flows
➤ Running Business Process Tests and Viewing Results

Designing the High-level Structure

Business Process Testing provides an intuitive interface that enables subject
matter experts to create and implement an effective Business Process Testing
structure, without using complex scripting or programming procedures.

The high-level component of a Business Process Testing structure is the

business process test.

Designing the high-level structure is described in the following sections:

➤ Designing with Automation in Mind

➤ Creating Business Process Tests

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Designing with Automation in Mind

Consider if the business process test might one day be automated. Reuse is a
key factor when automating tests. Consider the following:

➤ Modularity and reusability facilitate automation. Design your tests to use

smaller, reusable components that automated tests can call multiple
times.
➤ Reusability and test maintenance. With reusable components, tests are
easier to maintain.
➤ Automation engineers can use the design as a structure for creating
methods that facilitate automation, instead of for creating scripted
components.
This part of the design phase is often done by both the subject matter expert
and the automation engineer together.

After designing the test with automation in mind, you can use the Convert
to Component feature to create components from a test systematically and
effectively. For task details, see "Converting Manual Tests to Components"
on page 235.

Creating Business Process Tests

The Test Plan module enables subject matter experts to build and configure
business process tests (and flows) that represent the main tasks of a business
process.

A business process test is a scenario comprising a sequence of business

components or flows, designed to test a specific business process of an
application. For details about business process tests, see Chapter 6, "Getting
Started with Business Process Tests."

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Note: Flows are sets of business components that are executable. As such,
they are available from the Test Plan module, which allows them to share
the same functionality as business process tests (iterations, parameter,
coverage, and results). However, when designing flows, we recommend that
you consider them “compound components” and plan their design when
"Designing the Mid-level Structure."

So as not to interfere with the high-level design process at this point,

business components for each test can be created in the Business
Components module, and flows for each test can be created in the Test Plan
module, later.

Tip: As the subject matter expert creates the test or flow, he/she can request
the creation of new business components. The component request can be
very detailed (with a name, a description, a status, and implementation
requirements), or a basic shell of the component (for example, specifying
only a name). These component requests enable subject matter experts to
build business process tests even before the application is ready for testing
and make sure no duplicate business components are created.

After a business process test is complete, you can work with it in the
Requirements, Test Lab, Analysis, and Defects modules, just as for any other
test type.

You can use run conditions to enable components to run selectively, based
on earlier stages within the test or flow. This enhances the overall flexibility
of a test or flow. For more information, see Chapter 13, "Defining Run
Conditions."

This part of the design phase is typically performed by the subject matter
expert.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Designing the Mid-level Structure

The design of flows and components, and how they are parameterized, is
often the next step in creating the structure of a business process test.

Designing the mid-level structure is described in the following sections:

➤ Creating Flows
➤ Creating Business Components
➤ Linking to Other ALM Entities
➤ Adding Components to Business Process Tests and Flows

Creating Flows
The Test Plan module enables subject matter experts to build and configure
flows that represent logical sets of business components that can be
executed as a unit (“compound components”).

A flow is a type of test comprising a collection of business components in a

fixed sequence that performs a specific task. You can use a flow in multiple
business process tests. When you modify a flow or any of its components, all
business process tests containing that flow reflect that modification. For
details about flows, see Chapter 8, "Working with Flows."

This part of the design phase is typically performed by the subject matter
expert.

Creating Business Components

A business component is a reusable unit that performs a specific task in a
business process and describes the condition or state of the application
before and after those tasks. The subject matter expert defines the individual
steps for each business component comprising the business process in the
form of manual, or non-automated, steps.

You can use a component in multiple business process tests and flows.
When you modify a component or its steps, all business process tests or
flows containing that component reflect that modification.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

The Business Components module enables you to create and manage

reusable business components that perform specific tasks in a business
process. The Dependencies tab of the module lists all entities that are
dependant on each business component, which indicates the need for the
component.

This part of the design phase is typically performed by the subject matter
expert, but may also be done in conjunction with the automation engineer,
depending on available resources and skills.

Linking to Other ALM Entities

You can link business process tests and flows with other ALM entities, such
as requirements and defects. This facilitates the integration of business
process testing into ALM, providing comprehensive tracking and reporting
of business process testing.

This phase is typically performed by the subject matter expert.

Adding Components to Business Process Tests and Flows

To complete the framework, add business components to the relevant
business process tests and flows in the Test Plan module by dragging
business components from the component tree and dropping them into the
test or flow. For more information, see Chapter 8, "Working with Flows" and
Chapter 7, "Managing Business Process Tests."

This phase is typically performed by the subject matter expert.

Adding Content to the Tests and Flows

After the general framework for the business process test is designed, the
low-level details are implemented. These details form the content of the
tests and flows.

Adding the content is described in the following sections:

➤ Adding Component Steps

➤ Parameterizing and Creating Iterations
➤ Grouping Components
➤ Automating Components

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Adding Component Steps

Business components are themselves comprised of several application steps.
In a Web application, for example, a login component’s first step could be to
open the application. Its second step could be to enter a user name. Its third
step could be to enter a password, and its last step could be to click the
Submit button on the Web page. The component could also be enhanced
with other logic to test important details of the login task.

➤ If designing a manual test (or, before automated testing resources are

available for an automated test), you can add manual steps in the
Component Steps tab of each component and you can run these steps
using the Manual Runner. For information, see Chapter 4, "Designing
Manual Component Steps."
➤ If designing an automated test, after automated testing resources are
ready, you can convert components to automated components and begin
implementing the automated steps for each component by assigning
keywords to each step. For information, see Chapter 5, "Working with
Automated Component Steps."
This part of the design phase can be performed by the subject matter expert,
the automation engineer, or both together.

Parameterizing and Creating Iterations

ALM enables you to expand the scope of business components (both
manual and automated), flows, and business process tests by replacing fixed
values with input and output parameters. Parameterization enables you to
iterate specific components in a business process test, specific components
in a flow, configurations, or entire business process tests, thereby creating
data-driven tests. This process greatly increases the power and flexibility of
your component, flow, or test. For information on component and flow
parameterization, see Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

Parameterizing and creating parameters can be performed by the subject

matter expert or the automation engineer, depending on available skills and
resources.

For an example of component parameterization, see the Parameterization

Example, below.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Parameterization Example
If you want to create a business process test that tests the business process of
booking a flight from an online reservation application, you might structure
it from business components that: Log in to the application, select an
itinerary, enter credit card details, enter shipping details, and log out.

If you were planning such a test without Business Process Testing, you might
use the following diagram as part of your master test plan document:

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Using Business Process Testing, you could directly create a business process
test containing business components, as shown below:

The steps in each of these business components can be set up to receive

specific elements of data from the test that runs them (for example, the
login name and password, the number of passengers, and credit card
details). Each of these elements of data, which have different values each
time the business component is run, can be parameterized. Each business
component run is called an iteration.

Using iterations and parameterization, the same business process test can be
used to answer many testing needs, for example:

➤ Testing the flight booking process for users with different login
permissions, such as new users, VIP customers, and so on.
➤ Testing the flight booking process for one itinerary, or for several
itineraries.
➤ Testing the flight booking process for one passenger, or for several
passengers.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Additionally, due to the modular structure of these business components

and the ability to control components with external data, you can use the
same components in other business process tests and flows.

The login and logout components could be used in most other tests or flows
on the same application. For example, you might be able to use the
component for entering shipping details in other business process tests that
check the business process of ordering online merchandise from the
application, or in a test for subscribing to a frequent flyer program.

Grouping Components
In certain business process tests or flows, you may want perform several
business components together as a group, perhaps as iterations. This form of
parameterization and iteration is done within a test or a flow, and not on an
entire test or flow as a whole. For task details, see "Grouping Components
and Flows" on page 222.

This part of the design phase is generally performed by the subject matter
expert.

Automating Components
If desired, test steps can be automated (this is decided during "Designing
with Automation in Mind" on page 25). For details, see Chapter 5, "Working
with Automated Component Steps." Automating test steps within ALM is
typically done by the subject matter expert in conjunction with the
automation engineer.

Automating component steps involves the creation of application areas,

which provide access to the settings and resources required to create the
content of keyword-driven business components for a particular application
or part of an application.

You can create basic application areas based on a default template in the
ALM Test Resources module. The default application area template is stored
in the System Application Areas subfolder and cannot be moved or
modified. For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
Use QuickTest to edit and enhance application areas created in ALM.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Automation engineers can create comprehensive application areas in

QuickTest. For details, see "Automating Business Process Testing
Components" on page 34.

Running Business Process Tests and Viewing Results

When manual tests are ready (or, before automated parts of the test are
ready), you can perform a manual run of the business process test or flow.

If automating the business components, you can check for problems arising
from the combination and order of components in a business process test or
flow by running the test in Debug mode from the Test Plan module.
QuickTest Professional (and other testing tools) automated components can
be used in the same business process test. The appropriate application is
launched to run the components.

You can also check for syntax or logic errors in specific business components
by running them individually in QuickTest Professional or another testing
tool.

Then, when you are ready to run a complete business process test or flow, or
to run it as part of a larger test set, you run it from the Test Lab module.

From the Test Lab module, you can view the results of the test run. These
results include the steps in each business component, the actual value of
each component parameter, and the results of individual steps.

For details, see Chapter 13, "Defining Run Conditions" and Chapter 14,
"Running Business Process Tests and Flows."

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Automating Business Process Testing Components

Business process tests and flows are composed of business components. The
information in the component’s outer layer or shell, for example, the
component’s description, status, and implementation requirements,
together with the steps that make up the component, are defined by the
subject matter expert in ALM.

This section describes the following topics:

➤ "Keyword-driven Automation and Integration with

QuickTest Professional" on page 34
➤ "Scripted Automation and Integration with Testing Tools" on page 40

Keyword-driven Automation and Integration with

QuickTest Professional
When QuickTest Professional is connected to an ALM project with Business
Process Testing, the automation engineer can define objects in the object
repository and save them in ALM. The objects are then available for
insertion into component steps by the subject matter expert in ALM. In
addition, all business component information is visible in
QuickTest Professional.

Integration between ALM and QuickTest Professional enables the subject

matter expert to implement the testing steps for the business components in
a keyword view, and also enables the automation engineer to effectively
maintain the set of objects in the object repository and the operations in the
function libraries.

QuickTest Professional offers two types of automated components; keyword-

driven components and scripted components. The automated steps of
keyword-driven components can be created and edited in ALM. Scripted
component steps can be created and maintained only in
QuickTest Professional or another testing tool by the automation engineer.

Each testing step is made up of an item (an object in the application or an

operation), and an operation. The available items and operations are
defined by the automation engineer.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

The automation engineer compiles an object repository containing objects

that represent all the objects in the application or application segment that
you need to test.

For example, the objects in a login window may be captured in the object
repository in QuickTest Professional as follows:

The automation engineer encapsulates all the activities and steps that
require programming into a set of function libraries. These function libraries
define the operations (or keywords) that your test needs to perform. With
keyword-driven components, you can use these operations to create the
component steps in the Business Components module in ALM.

The object repository location and associated function libraries for each part
of the application being tested are specified in an application area. The
application area provides all of the settings and resources required to create
the content of its associated keyword-driven business components. These
include representations of the objects from your application (contained in
the shared object repository) and user-defined operations (contained in
function libraries).

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Note: You can create basic application areas based on a default template in
the ALM Test Resources module. (For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.) However, most application area functionality is
provided by the subject matter expert in QuickTest.

All application area settings are automatically inherited by the business

components that are based on that application area. Each application area is
intended for use with a different part of the application being tested. Each
business component is associated with a specific application area.
Application areas include the resources and settings described in Business
Component Resources and Settings, below.

For more information, see:

➤ Business Component Resources and Settings

➤ Business Process Testing Workflow Using QuickTest Professional

Business Component Resources and Settings

Using QuickTest Professional, the automation engineer defines an
important set of resources and settings that comprise the application area or
otherwise affect the business component. These include:

➤ "Object Repositories" on page 37

➤ "Function Libraries" on page 37
➤ "Associated Add-ins" on page 37
➤ "Applications List" on page 38
➤ "Recovery Scenarios" on page 38

The resources and settings supplied by the application area apply to all
components that are associated with it. You can create multiple application
areas for different purposes. Each QuickTest Professional business
component must be associated with an application area. You cannot delete
an application area that is associated with a business component.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

This section contains only a brief description of these resources and settings.
For more information on QuickTest Professional resources and settings and
the application area, see the HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process
Testing User Guide.

Object Repositories
The object repository stores all the information about the test objects that
are used in each business component. After you associate a shared object
repository with an application area, it can be accessed by any component
that is associated with that application area.

By using the same shared object repository file for multiple components, the
same objects can be used in multiple components, flows, and business
process tests in ALM, and object changes in the application can be updated
in one central location.

Function Libraries
Function libraries contain VBScript functions, subroutines, and so on, that
can be used as operations in a business component.

Associated Add-ins
The specified set of QuickTest Professional Add-ins that is associated with
the business component determines the types of objects that
QuickTest Professional recognizes and that can be tested using that business
component. Each add-in is associated with a development environment. For
example, QuickTest Professional includes built-in add-ins for testing in Web,
ActiveX, and Visual Basic environments. Additional QuickTest Professional
Add-ins are available for testing environments such as SAP Solutions, Java,
Oracle, Siebel, terminal emulators, and more.

When you convert manual components to automated components, the

add-ins associated with the first keyword-driven or scripted component in a
business process test (inherited from the application area used by the
component) are automatically loaded in QuickTest Professional when ALM
runs the test. Add-ins associated with other components in the business
process test are not loaded.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Note: ALM assumes that the add-ins associated with the first component in
a business process test are required for all the components in the same test.
Therefore, it is important to make sure that all required
QuickTest Professional Add-ins are associated with the first business
component in the test. If they are not, you should ask the automation
engineer to add them to the application area used by the first component in
the test. Then update your copy of the application area. For more
information on updating the application area, see "Working with
Application Areas" on page 136.

Applications List
QuickTest Professional runs components only on the set of Windows-based
applications that are specified for the component. It can also run on
applications in any other environment for which the appropriate
QuickTest Professional Add-in is loaded.

Recovery Scenarios
Recovery scenarios are activated during the running of a business
component if an unexpected event occurs, such as an application crash, and
the run is suspended. Recovery scenarios define the operations necessary to
recover from the event and continue the run.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Business Process Testing Workflow Using

QuickTest Professional
The following is an example of a common Business Process Testing
workflow using QuickTest Professional. The actual workflow in an
organization may differ for different projects, or at different stages of the
product development life cycle.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Scripted Automation and Integration with Testing Tools

Keyword-driven business components and scripted components are both
part of Business Process Testing. Both types of components are
maintainable, reusable modules that perform a specific task when testing
your application.

Scripted component steps can contain programming logic and can be edited
only in the applications in which they were created, such as
QuickTest Professional or Service Test. They cannot be modified by the
subject matter expert in ALM, but you can include these scripted
components in any business process tests.

In the Automation sub-tab, you can launch the component in the testing
tool in which it was automated.

You create scripted components in QuickTest Professional and Service Test:

➤ For more information on creating and editing scripted components in

QuickTest Professional, see the HP QuickTest Professional for Business
Process Testing User Guide.
➤ For more information on creating and editing scripted components in
Service Test, see the HP Service Test User Guide and HP Software Self-solve
knowledge base article KM1016396
(http://h20230.www2.hp.com/selfsolve/document/KM1016396).

Note: Most of the information, examples, and images in this guide focus
specifically on working with keyword-driven business components.
However, much of the information also applies to scripted components.

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 Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Setting Up Business Process Testing

This section describes the licensing and prerequisites for Business Process
Testing in HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM).

This section includes:

➤ "Licensing" on page 41
➤ "Prerequisites" on page 42
➤ "Accessing Business Process Testing" on page 42

Licensing
A license for Business Process Testing enables you to access the Business
Components module and provides the ability to edit business process tests
and flows in the Test Plan module.

ALM Editions: Business Process Testing is not available for the

Performance Center Edition.

Each user with the proper permissions who logs into an ALM Platform
server with a Business Process Testing license uses up both a Business Process
Testing license and an ALM license.

Note: You can run test sets containing business process tests in the Test Lab
module and you can also edit automated components in
QuickTest Professional, even if no Business Process Testing license is
available in ALM.

For more information on licensing, see the HP Application Lifecycle

Management Administrator Guide.

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Chapter 1 • Introducing Business Process Testing

Prerequisites
To work with Business Process Testing, make sure the following prerequisites
are met:

➤ To debug or run automated keyword-driven business components, or

view test results, make sure that QuickTest Professional version 10.0 or
later is installed.
➤ To create and/or modify keyword-driven components and their steps, or
to work with external data tables for test configurations, install the
QuickTest Professional Add-in for Business Process Testing Add-in on the
client computer. The QuickTest Professional Add-in for Business Process
Testing is installed from the HP Application Lifecycle Management Add-
ins page.

Accessing Business Process Testing

To work with Business Process Testing: In the ALM sidebar, under Testing,
select Business Components. If Business Components is not displayed in the
sidebar, one of the following may be the cause:

➤ No Business Process Testing licenses are currently available on the

ALM Platform server. Contact your ALM Site Administrator or see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.
➤ You belong to a ALM user group that does not have access to the Business
Components module. Contact your ALM Project Administrator or see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.

42
2
Getting Started with Business
Components

The Business Components module enables you to create and manage

business components in HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM).
These components provide the basis for Business Process Testing.

This chapter introduces the Business Components module. Chapter 3,

"Working with Business Components," describes how to work with the
features and other options available in the Business Components module.

Product Feature Movie: To view a movie that demonstrates basic

information about Business Process Testing, select Help > Product Feature
Movies in the ALM main window and click HP Business Process Testing for
Business Analysts.

This chapter includes:

➤ The Business Components Module Window on page 44
➤ Understanding the Manual Steps and Automation Sub-tabs on page 73
➤ The New Component Dialog Box on page 83
➤ The Component Step Details Dialog Box on page 87

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Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

The Business Components Module Window

The Business Components module window is shown below, displaying the
Details tab for the component selected in the component tree.

When a business component is selected in the component tree, the Business

Components module contains the following key elements:

➤ Menu bar. Contains menus with Business Components module

commands. For more information, see "Components Module Menu and
Toolbar Commands" on page 48.
➤ Toolbar. Contains buttons for frequently-used commands in the Business
Components module. These commands enable you to create and delete
folders and business components, refresh data in the tree, and filter and
sort the components displayed in the tree. For more information, see
"Components Module Menu and Toolbar Commands" on page 48.

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 Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

Tip: You can navigate the Business Components module, and perform
many commands, using shortcut keys. For a list of shortcut keys, see
"Business Component Module Shortcuts" on page 415.

➤ Filter information. Describes the filter currently applied to the

Component tree. Located directly above the Component tree.
➤ Component tree. Enables you to construct and organize the hierarchy of
your business component folders and individual business components.
For more information on the component tree, see "Component Tree" on
page 46.
For information on the special Obsolete and Component Requests
folders, see "Creating a Component Tree" on page 91.
➤ Business Component Life-cycle and Statuses. Enables you to track
business components. For details, see "Business Component Life-cycle
and Statuses" on page 58.
➤ Business Components Module Tabs
The tabs in the Business Components module enable you to provide a
complete overview of the component’s content.
➤ Details tab. Enables you to provide or view the general details of the
business component as well as a summarized description and
implementation requirements. For general details, see "Understanding
the Details Tab" on page 62.
➤ Snapshot tab. Enables you to capture a snapshot image that helps to
describe the business component from the application and attach it to
the selected business component. For general details, see
"Understanding the Snapshot Tab" on page 65.

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Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

➤ Component Steps tab. Enables you to create or view the manual steps
of your business component, and to automate it if required. For
general details, see "Understanding the Component Steps Tab" on
page 68. For task details on creating manual components, see "About
Designing Manual Component Steps" on page 121. For task details on
automating components, see Chapter 5, "Working with Automated
Component Steps."
➤ Parameters tab. Enables you to define input and output component
parameters and default parameter values for the business component.
This allows the component to receive data from an external source and
to pass data to other components or flows. For general details, see
"Understanding the Parameters Tab" on page 66.
➤ Dependencies tab. Displays the dependency relationships between
components, tests, flows, and resources (including application areas).
For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ History tab. Displays a log of changes made to the component. For
details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ Live Analysis tab. When a folder is selected, this tab is available for
creating a graphical representation of data related to business
components.

Component Tree
Business components are displayed graphically in a hierarchical tree. This
includes components created in:

➤ the Business Components module

➤ automated testing tools such as QuickTest
➤ the Test Plan module as component requests
You can organize components into folders, and filter and sort the
components according to your requirements.

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 Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

Selecting a folder (other than the Obsolete and Component Requests

folders) in the Component tree displays Details and Live Analysis tabs that
enable you to provide a descriptive overview of the folder’s contents and
create a graphical representation of data related to business components. For
conceptual information on live analysis, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

In a version-controlled project, a component checked out by the current

user is displayed with an open green lock icon next to the component icon.
A component checked out by another user is displayed with a red lock icon,
together with the name of the user. For information on working with
version control in ALM, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User
Guide.

Component Tree Icons

Business components and folders are identified by specific icons in the
component tree.

➤ Folder. Folders organize business components in the tree into logical

groups. Selecting a folder in the component tree displays a Description
area that enables you to enter a textual description of the folder contents.
A folder can either be collapsed or expanded, as indicated by its icons.
➤ Business Component. Business components are testing units that perform
specific tasks in a business process. Manual business components are
indicated by an M symbol on the component icon, for example, .

For more information on the icons used to represent business component

statuses, see "Business Component Status Icons" on page 59.

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Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

Components Module Menu and Toolbar Commands

This section describes the commands available in the Business Components
module. The commands are available from the Components Module Menu
Bar, the Components Module Toolbar, and the Components Module
context menu.

Components Module Menu

The Components Module menu bar contains the following menus:

➤ Components. Contains commands that enable you to create business

components and folders, go to a specific business component, restore a
business component, and send e-mail.
➤ Edit. Contains commands that enable you to work with and delete
business components and folders.
➤ View. Contains commands that enable you to expand and collapse
folders, and work with filters.
➤ Favorites. Contains commands for listing business components according
to favorite settings.
➤ Analysis. The Analysis menu contains commands that enable you to
generate planning reports and graphs. For more information, see
"Generating Reports and Graphs" on page 114.
➤ Versions. In a version-controlled project, the Components menu bar also
displays the Versions menu, which contains commands for checking in
and checking out components. For information on working with version
control in ALM, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

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 Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

Components Module Commands

Commands are described below in alphabetical order (unlabeled elements

are shown in angle brackets):

UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

<list of recently used ➤ Favorites Displays the four most recently used
favorite views> menu favorite views in the Business
Components module.
You can define the number of views
displayed on the menu by setting
the FAVORITES_DEPTH parameter in
the Site Configuration tab in Site
Administration. For details, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
Administrator Guide.

Add to Favorites ➤ Favorites Opens the Add Favorite dialog box,

menu enabling you to add a favorite view
to your private or the public folder.
For information on working with
favorites in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.

Change Status ➤ context Changes the status of a component

menu without switching to the Details tab.
For information on business
component statuses, see "Business
Component Life-cycle and Statuses"
on page 58.

Check In ➤ Versions Opens the Check In dialog box,

menu enabling you to check in the
➤ Toolbar selected components. For
information on working with
version control in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.
Available from: Version Control-
enabled projects

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Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

Check Out ➤ Versions Opens the Check Out dialog box,

menu enabling you to check out the
➤ Toolbar selected components. For
information on working with
version control in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.
Available from: Version Control-
enabled projects

Clean unused ➤ Components Simultaneously removes all

components menu components that are not being used
➤ context by any test or flow.
menu Available from: Obsolete folder,
when selected

Collapse ➤ View menu Collapses all branches in the

➤ context component tree. For information on
menu how to expand and collapse folders,
see "Viewing and Modifying
Business Components" on page 101.

Component ➤ context Displays the Component Details

Details menu dialog box, enabling you to display
➤ Toolbar and modify the details of the
selected component.
For information on viewing the
details of business components, see
"Viewing and Modifying Business
Components" on page 101.

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 Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

Copy URL/Paste ➤ Edit menu Copies a selected component and

➤ context pastes its URL as a link. The
menu component itself is not copied.
Instead, you can paste the address
into another location, such as an
email or a document. Clicking the
link opens ALM and takes you to the
component. If you are not already
logged in, ALM first prompts for
login details.

Copy/Paste ➤ Edit menu Copies selected components within

➤ context the same project or across projects.
menu For information on how to copy
folders and business components,
see "Copying Folders and Business
Components" on page 102.
Notes:
➤ Defect linkage data for the
component are not copied.
➤ The root folder cannot be copied
within the same project.
➤ If you paste a component that has
the same name as an existing
component, the suffix _Copy
followed by a sequential number
is added automatically to the end
of the component’s name.

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Chapter 2 • Getting Started with Business Components

UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

Cut/Paste ➤ Edit menu Moves selected components or

➤ context folders to a different location in the
menu component tree.
The root folder cannot be moved.
For information on how to cut and
paste folders and business
components, see "Viewing and
Modifying Business Components"
on page 101.
Tip: You can also move a component
to a new location in the component
tree by dragging it.

Delete ➤ Edit menu Removes the selected folders or

➤ context business components from the
menu component tree. The contents of a
➤ Toolbar
removed folder are also removed.
You cannot delete the root folder.
Any removed component that is
used by one or more business
process tests or flows is moved to the
Obsolete folder in the tree. Unused
components are permanently
deleted. For more information on
working with the Obsolete folder,
see "Removing Business
Components" on page 108.
Tip: Business components can be
easily recovered from the Obsolete
folder if they were deleted
accidentally. For more information,
see "Restoring Obsolete Business
Components" on page 109.
Version Control: Deleting a business
component deletes all previous
versions of the component.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

Expand All ➤ View menu Expands all branches in the

➤ context component tree. For information on
menu how to expand and collapse folders,
see "Viewing and Modifying
Business Components" on page 101.

Favorite bar ➤ View menu Displays the Favorite bar, enabling

you to reload a view from a drop-
down list of existing favorite views.
For details, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Filter bar ➤ View menu Displays the current filter.

Filter/Sort ➤ View menu Enables you to filter and sort the

➤ Toolbar business components in the
component tree. For user interface
details, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide. For
a list of fields available for filtering
and sorting, see "Understanding the
Details Tab" on page 62.

Find ➤ Edit menu Searches for a component in the

Components module. For details,
see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

Find Next ➤ Edit menu Searches for the next item that
meets the previously defined search
criteria.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

Go to Component ➤ Components Opens the Go To Component dialog

menu box, enabling you to find a specific
component by the component ID.
You can open the details dialog box
for the component or you can go to
the component’s location in the
tree.
Note: You can only go to
components that are in the current
filter.

Graphs ➤ Analysis Lists the graphs you can generate for

menu component data. Select a predefined
graph, or launch the graph wizard.
For details on the report types, see
"Predefined Standard Graphs" on
page 116.

Live Analysis ➤ Analysis Provides a descriptive overview of

menu the folder’s contents and creates a
graphical representation of data
related to business components. For
more information on live analysis,
see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

Most Recently Used ➤ Analysis Displays the most recently viewed

menu reports and graphs in the
Components module.

New ➤ Components Opens the New Component dialog

Component menu box, enabling you to add a
➤ context component under the selected
menu component in the selected
➤ Toolbar
component’s folder. For more
details, see "Creating a Component
Tree" on page 91.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

New ➤ Components Opens the Create New Component

Component menu Folder dialog box, enabling you to
Folder ➤ context add a folder under a selected folder.
menu For more details, see "Creating a
➤ Toolbar
Component Tree" on page 91.

Organize Favorites ➤ Favorites Opens the Organize Favorites dialog

menu box, enabling you to organize the
list of favorite views by changing
properties or deleting views. For
information on working with
favorites in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.

Pending Check In ➤ Versions Opens the Pending Check In dialog

menu box, enabling you to view a list of all
entities in the current module that
you have checked out. For
information on working with
version control in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.
Available from: Version Control-
enabled projects

Private ➤ Favorites Lists the favorite views that are

menu accessible only to the user who
created them. For information on
working with favorites in ALM, see
the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

Public ➤ Favorites Lists the favorite views that are

menu accessible to all users. For
information on working with
favorites in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

Refresh All ➤ View menu Refreshes the component tree so

➤ Toolbar that it displays the most up-to-date
business components.

Rename ➤ Edit menu Renames folders and business

➤ context components in the component tree.
menu For information on how to rename
folders and business components,
see "Viewing and Modifying
Business Components" on page 101.
You cannot rename the root,
Obsolete, or Component Requests
folders.
Syntax exceptions: A component
name cannot include the following
characters: \ ^ *

Replace ➤ Edit menu Replaces a field value in the tree. For

details, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Report Selected ➤ context Displays a report of the selected

menu components.

Reports ➤ Analysis Lists the predefined reports you can

menu produce on component data. For
details on the report types, see
"Predefined Standard Reports" on
page 115.

Restore ➤ Components Restores the selected components

menu from the Obsolete folder.
➤ context
menu

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UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

Send by E-mail ➤ Components Opens the Send E-mail dialog box,

menu enabling you to send component
➤ context email to recipients selected from a
menu list or to the author of the
➤ Toolbar
component. For more information,
see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

Text Search ➤ Edit menu Opens the text search pane in the
➤ Toolbar lower part of the Components
module window, enabling you to
search for records in predefined
fields. For more information, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.

Undo Check Out ➤ Versions Cancels the check out of selected

menu components and discards changes.
➤ context For information on working with
menu version control in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.
Available for: Version-controlled
projects

Update Selected ➤ Edit menu Opens the Update Selected dialog

box, enabling you to update a field
value for multiple selected
components. For more information,
see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Available from Description

Versions ➤ context Opens a sub-menu with versioning

menu options. For information on working
with version control in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.
Available for: Version-controlled
projects

Warn before Check ➤ Versions Instructs ALM to display a

Out menu confirmation message before
automatically checking out an
entity. For information on working
with version control in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.
Available from: Version-controlled
projects

Business Component Life-cycle and Statuses

The color of the business component icons in the component tree and the
symbols shown in the icons vary according to the status of the component.
For example, you can use the status to indicate that a business component is
ready to be run in a business process test or flow, or that it has errors that
require attention before it can be successfully used in a test or flow. The
more ready a component is to be included successfully in a business process
test or flow, the less severe is its status.

The status of a business component affects the status of any business process
tests or flows of which it is a part. The component with the most severe
status determines the status of the test or flow. For example, a business
component with an Error status causes any business process test or flow of
which it is a part to have an Error status.

Additional statuses can be defined by updating the project list for business
component statuses. For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management
Administrator Guide.

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Business Component Status Icons

Business component statuses and their corresponding icons are described in
the following table, listed in order of their level of severity, from the least
severe status to the most severe status:

Color /
Status Icon Description
Symbol

Ready Green The business component is fully

flag implemented and ready to be run. It answers
the requirements specified for it and has been
tested according to the criteria defined for
your specific system.

Maintenance Grey The business component was previously

tool implemented and is now being modified to
adapt it for changes that have been made in
the application.

Not Yellow A business component request has been

Implemented asterisk initiated in the Test Plan module. The
component request status changes from Not
Implemented to Under Development when
you move the request from the Component
Requests folder in the component tree in the
Business Components module.
Note: This status is not available from the
Business Components module.

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Color /
Status Icon Description
Symbol

Under Yellow The business component is currently under

Development triangle development. This status is initially assigned
to:
➤ New components created in the Business
Components module.
➤ Component requests dragged or moved
out of the Component Requests folder into
a component folder in the component
tree.

Error Red The business component contains errors that

need to be fixed, for example, due to a change
in the application. When a business process
test or flow contains a component with this
status, the status of the entire business
process test or flow is also Error.

➤ The above icons represent components that have been automated using a
testing tool such as QuickTest.
➤ A manual component is indicated by an M symbol on the appropriate
icon. For example, a component with an Under Development status that
has not been automated would be indicated by the icon.

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Business Component Status Life-cycle

The status of a business component shown in the component tree could
change several times during its life-cycle, as illustrated in the example
below:

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Understanding the Details Tab

The Details tab enables you to define component attributes, a general
description of the business component, and detailed implementation
requirements. It also enables you to communicate with the automation
engineer and other component users and developers.

You can change the business component’s status and other details displayed
in this tab by choosing alternative selections from the drop-down lists.

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Notes:

➤ You can add user-defined fields and change the label of the fields in the
Business Components module. You can also customize project lists. For
details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.
➤ You can use the Script Editor to restrict and dynamically change the
fields and values in the Business Components module. For details, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.
➤ For more information on the Details tab for a business component, see
"Providing Component Details and Implementation Requirements" on
page 94.

The Details tab can contain the following information:

➤ Component Name. The name of the selected component.

➤ Assigned To. The user to whom the business component implementation
is assigned.
➤ Automation engine. How the component was converted to an automated
component; QuickTestKeyword-Driven (abbreviated QT-KW) for a
QuickTest keyword-driven component and QuickTestScripted
(abbreviated QT-SCRIPTED) for a QuickTest scripted component, and
SERVICE-TEST-AUTOMATED for a Service Test component. MANUAL is
displayed for a component that has not been automated.
➤ Component ID. ID assigned to the component when the component was
created. This data is automatically entered by ALM, and cannot be
modified.
➤ Created by. The user that created the business component. This data is
automatically entered by ALM, and cannot be modified.
➤ Creation date. The date that the business component was created. This
data is automatically entered by ALM, and cannot be modified.
➤ Status. The status of the business component. For information on
business component statuses, see "Business Component Life-cycle and
Statuses" on page 58.

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➤ Deleted on (For components contained in the Obsolete folder only.) The

date that the business component was deleted. This data is automatically
entered by ALM.
➤ Original Location (For components contained in the Obsolete folder
only.) The folder in which the business component was located when it
was deleted. This data is automatically entered by ALM.
➤ Notes tab. This tab contains two areas for adding notes to the
component:
➤ Description. The Description area enables you to provide an overall
textual summary of the business component’s purpose or contents,
including the intended pre-condition and post-condition of the
application at the start and end of the component run.
➤ Comments. The Comments area enables you to communicate with the
automation engineer and other component users or developers by
adding remarks, such as requests to the automation engineer for new
operations or the need to update a step in the component.

Additional Version Control Fields

The Business Components module’s Details tab displays the following
additional fields if version control is enabled:

➤ Version Check Out Date. The date the version was checked out.
➤ Version Check Out Time. The time the version was checked out.
➤ Version Checked Out By. The name of the user who checked out the
version.
➤ Version Number. The version number.
➤ Version Status. The status of the version (Checked Out or Checked In).

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Understanding the Snapshot Tab

The Snapshot tab enables you to attach an image associated with the
business component.

The Snapshot tab toolbar contains the following buttons:

➤ Snapshot. Opens the Snapshot dialog box. For information on attaching a

snapshot, see "Attaching an Image to a Business Component" on page 98.
➤ Load from File. Enables you to load a previously saved .png, .jpg, .gif, or
.bmp file containing the snapshot. For information on how to load
snapshot files, see "Loading an Image" on page 99.
➤ Delete. Deletes the currently attached snapshot.

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A green asterisk icon next to the Snapshot tab name indicates that the
selected component has one or more snapshots.

For more information on the Snapshot tab, see "Attaching Images" on

page 98.

Understanding the Parameters Tab

The Parameters tab enables you to define component parameters that allow
a business component to receive data from an external source and/or return
data for use in other components or flows.

Input component parameters make business components more flexible and

make it easier to reuse the same component in multiple business process
tests and flows—by supplying different input values, you can change how
the component performs according to those values. Input component
parameters also enable you to transfer multiple data values to the
component in order to run the same component multiple times (iterations)
in a business process test or flow.

Output component parameters allow data values retrieved from a

component step in one component to be passed to a subsequent component
in the business process test or flow.

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Tip: The Parameters tab for flows is very similar to the Parameters tab for
business components.

The Parameters tab for Components (and flows) contains the following tabs:

➤ Input Parameters. Enables you to define component parameter names,

default values, and descriptions of the input data that the business
component can receive from a business process test or flow.
The default value is used when the business component runs, if no other
value is supplied by the business process test or flow.
➤ Output Parameters. Enables you to define component parameter names
and descriptions of the output data that the business component can
return to a business process test or flow.

A green asterisk icon next to the Input Parameters or Output Parameters

sub-tab name indicates that the selected component has one or more
parameters.

The Input Parameters and Output Parameters sub-tabs each contain the
following buttons:

➤ New Parameter. Enables you to create new component parameters.

➤ Delete. Enables you to delete existing component parameters.
➤ Refresh. Enables you to refresh the list of parameters.
➤ Set Filter. Enables you to filter or sort the parameters in the list using the
Filter dialog box. For a list of parameter fields available for filtering and
sorting, see "Understanding the Parameters Tab" on page 66.
➤ Select Columns. Opens the Select Columns dialog box, enabling you to
specify which columns to display their order. You can also set the number
of columns that remain stationary when you scroll horizontally.
➤ Parameter Details. Enables you to view the details of a parameter.

For details on the Parameters tab, see Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

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Understanding the Dependencies Tab

The Dependencies tab displays the dependency relationships that exist
between entities such as components, tests, flows, and test resources (such
as application areas). For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.

To display the Dependencies tab, select a component in the component tree

and click the Dependencies tab.

A green asterisk icon next to the Dependencies tab name indicates that
the selected component has one or more dependencies.

Dependencies can only be created outside of ALM, such as in QuickTest.

Understanding the History Tab

The History tab displays changes made to specified fields in an entity. For
each change, the tab displays the date and time of the change and the name
of the user who made the change. In addition, this tab displays a history of
baselines in which the entity appears.

For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Understanding the Component Steps Tab

The Component Steps tab provides an editable table in which you can
create manual steps for your component. You can describe each step to be
performed, create and insert parameters where required, and describe the
expected result of the step.

You can include this manual component in a business process test or flow
and then manually run the steps you created. Alternatively, you can choose
to convert a manual component to an automated keyword-driven or a
scripted component for a specific testing tool such as QuickTest.

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The Component Steps Tab

Below is a sample of the Component Steps tab before automation.

A green asterisk icon next to the Component Steps tab name indicates
that the selected component has one or more component steps.

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You create each step in the business component as a row in the Component
Steps tab. A step is an operation to be performed on an application. For each
step, you describe the procedure to be performed, and define a successful,
expected result. When a business process test or flow runs in ALM, the steps
defined in the associated business components are performed.

The rows in the Component Steps tab are divided into the following
columns:

➤ Step Name column. Displays an incrementing number for each step that
you create, for example, Step 1, Step 2, and so on. You can change this
default to a more descriptive name if required.
➤ Description column. Describes the step procedure to be performed on the
application.
➤ Expected Result column. Describes the expected result of performing the
procedure described in the Description column.

Component Steps Tab Toolbar and Context Menu Commands

The Component Steps tab contains the following commands from its
toolbar and its context menu:

➤ New Step. Opens the New Component dialog box, enabling you to add a
step below the selected step. For more information, see "The New
Component Dialog Box" on page 83.
➤ Edit step. (or double-click a step) Opens the Component Step Details
Dialog Box, enabling you to edit the selected manual step. For more
information, see "The Component Step Details Dialog Box" on page 87.
➤ Renumber Steps. Rearrange the steps in a different order by renumbering
them.
➤ Delete Selected. Deletes the selected component steps.
➤ Copy steps. Copies the selected component steps to the clipboard. Use
this button in conjunction with the Paste steps button.
➤ Paste steps. Pastes the copied component steps to a new location.

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➤ Generate Script. Converts the manual component to an automated

QuickTest keyword-driven business component or a QuickTest scripted
component, or a Service Test scripted component. For information on
how to automate components, see "Generating a Script to Automate
Components" on page 140.
When automating a component, additional sub-tabs open:
➤ Manual Steps sub-tab. Displays or provides access to the original
manual steps of the component. For more information, see
"Understanding the Manual Steps and Automation Sub-tabs" on
page 73.
➤ Automation sub-tab. Displays or provides access to automated
components. For keyword-driven components, enables you to create
and modify the steps of your automated business component in a
keyword-driven, table format, and provides a plain-language textual
description of each step of the implemented component. For more
information, see "Understanding the Manual Steps and Automation
Sub-tabs" on page 73.
For more information, see "Understanding the Manual Steps and
Automation Sub-tabs" on page 73.
➤ Insert Parameter. Inserts a parameter into the step. This command is
enabled only when your focus is in the Description or Expected Result
cells. For more information on inserting parameters, see "Defining Input
and Output Component Parameters for a Business Component" on
page 100.
➤ Find Text. Opens the Find dialog box, enabling you to search in the tab
for steps that contain a specified text value. Select the column in which
you want to search, and enter the value you want to find. For more
information, see "Using the Find Dialog Box in the Component Steps Tab"
on page 72.
➤ Select Columns. Opens the Select Columns dialog box, enabling you to
specify which columns to display their order. You can also set the number
of columns that remain stationary when you scroll horizontally.
➤ Adjust row heights. Changes the row height of the step so that more or
less of the text in the step is visible.

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➤ Save steps. Saves the component steps that you have created or modified.
New or changed steps are not saved until either you click this button or
you leave the Component Steps tab. For more information, see "Saving
Component Steps" on page 151.
➤ Move Up. Moves the selected step up or down in the list.
➤ Move Down. Moves the selected step up or down in the list.
➤ Export. This context menu command exports the information in the tab
to several formats. For more information, see "Exporting Component
Steps Data to a File" on page 73.

For more information on the Component Steps tab, see Chapter 4, "About
Designing Manual Component Steps."

Using the Find Dialog Box in the Component Steps Tab

You can search for values in the Component Steps tab using the Find dialog
box.

To find a value:
1 Click the Find Text button in the toolbar.
2 In the Find in Field box, select the column in which you want to search
for a specific value.
3 In the Value to Find box, enter the value to find.
4 To find exact matches only, select the Exact Match box.

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5 To distinguish between uppercase and lowercase characters, select the

Case Sensitive check box.
6 To use pattern-matching wildcard characters in the search, select the Use
Wildcard check box.
7 Click the Find Next button. ALM attempts to locate any steps with the
specified value. If the search is successful, the step is highlighted. If the
search is unsuccessful, an information box opens.

Exporting Component Steps Data to a File

You can export the information in the Component Steps tab to several
formats, including text file, Microsoft Word document, Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet, or HTML document.

To export data to a file:

1 Right-click in the Component Steps tab and select Export To. The Export
All Grid Data dialog box opens.
2 Navigate to the location for the exported file.
3 In the File name box, enter a name for the file.
4 In the Save as type box, select a file type.
5 Click Save.

Understanding the Manual Steps and Automation Sub-tabs

If automating a business component, the following two sub-tabs are
displayed after clicking the Generate Script button in the toolbar of the
Component Steps tab.

➤ Manual Steps. Displays the manual steps that were originally displayed in
the Component Steps tab. These are the steps that you can automate
using the Automation sub-tab, adding automated steps that can be run by
a specific testing tool such as QuickTest.
For additional information on working with the Manual Steps sub-tab to
create manual steps, see Chapter 4, "Designing Manual Component
Steps."

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➤ Automation. Enables you to automate the component either as a

keyword-driven or scripted component.
The appearance and functionality of the Automation sub-tab depends on
the development and use of the component selected in the component
tree.
➤ When automating a business component as a keyword-driven
component in ALM, you add and modify the steps of a business
component in a keyword-driven, table format. This format is called the
Keyword view.
You can also automate a component as a keyword-driven component
in a testing tool such as QuickTest, and save it to the current project.
When accessing this type of automated component in ALM, the
automated steps are displayed in Keyword view.
For more information, see Chapter 2, "Understanding the Automation
Sub-tab - Keyword View."
➤ When automating as a scripted component, a Launch button displays
enabling you to launch a testing tool, such as QuickTest.
For more information, see Chapter 2, "Understanding the Automation
Sub-tab - Scripted View."

For information on working with the Automation sub-tab to automate

components, see Chapter 5, "Working with Automated Component Steps."

Understanding the Automation Sub-tab - Scripted View

Complex functionality, such as loops or conditional statements, is added to
a keyword-driven component using operations from a function library that
was created for your needs by the automation engineer. Scripted
components can contain this type of programming functionality directly
inside the steps. They can be created in ALM, QuickTest Professional, or
another testing tool.

However, the individual steps in the scripted component are not shown in
the Automation sub-tab, and they can be edited only in the appropriate
testing tool. Click the Launch button in the Automation sub-tab to open the
applicable testing tool and edit the component.

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You can include combinations of scripted, manual, and keyword-driven

component types in business process tests and flows.

For more information on creating and editing scripted components in

QuickTest, see the HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process Testing User
Guide.

Automation Sub-tab Scripted View Buttons

The Automation sub-tab scripted view contains the following button:

➤ Launch. Launches the applicable testing tool, such as QuickTest, and

enables you to edit the component directly in the tool.

Understanding the Automation Sub-tab - Keyword View

The Keyword View format of the Automation sub-tab is displayed when a
component is created in ALM and then automated as a QuickTest keyword-
driven component, or is created as a business component in QuickTest or
another testing tool.

The Automation sub-tab of a keyword-driven business component enables

you to create new steps and modify the existing steps of your business
component in a keyword-driven, table format. You can provide additional
information in the form of comments.

Each step or comment in the component is created as a row in the table.

Columns separate the steps into individual parts, which you can modify if
required. Each step of a keyword-driven component is automatically
documented as you complete it, providing a plain-language textual
description of the component. This information makes it easy to review the
operations of an implemented (or under development) component.

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You can select which columns to display in the Automation sub-tab and
their order in the tab. If you do not see one or more of the required columns
in the tab, you can use the Keyword View Options dialog box to display
them. You can display the Documentation column only, for example, if you
want to use the steps as instructions for manual testing. For more
information, see "Setting Keyword View Options" on page 144.

Note: To view content in the Automation sub-tab, the

QuickTest Professional Add-in for Business Process Testing must be installed.
For more information, see "Prerequisites" on page 42.

This topic also contains the following information:

➤ "Automation Sub-tab Example" on page 77

➤ "Automation Sub-tab Keyword View Commands" on page 78
➤ "Automation Sub-tab Keyword View Columns" on page 80

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Automation Sub-tab Example

The steps of the following component were created in ALM. The component
was then automated as a QuickTest keyword-driven component. You can see
the automatic conversion of the manual steps that were created in the
Component Steps tab before the component was automated:

Note: In the sample Automation sub-tab above, an application area has not
yet been chosen.

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The following component was created as a business component in

QuickTest Professional. It already contains automated steps.

Automation Sub-tab Keyword View Commands

The Automation sub-tab keyword view contains the following toolbar
buttons and context menu commands:

Toolbar Button Commands

➤ Save. Saves the business component steps and comments. Steps and
comments you create or modify are not saved until either you click this
button or you leave the Automation sub-tab. For more information, see
"Saving Component Steps" on page 151.
➤ Add Step. Enables you to add a step or comment below the selected step.
For more information, see "Creating Steps in the Keyword View" on
page 149.
➤ Delete Step. Deletes the selected steps or comments.
➤ View Options. Opens the Keyword View Options dialog box, enabling you
to specify which columns to display in the Automation sub-tab and the
order in which they are displayed. For more information, see "Setting
Keyword View Options" on page 144.
➤ Select Application Area. Enables you to select an application area on
which to base your business component, or select a different application
area. For more information, see "Choosing the Application Area" on
page 139.

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➤ General Information. Displays information about the business

component and its path.
➤ Information. Displays the QuickTest Professional Add-in for
Business Process Testing version installed on your ALM client.

Context Menu Commands from Table Cells

➤ Insert New Step. Enables you to insert an new step below the selected
row.
➤ Insert Operation. Enables you to insert an operation row below the
selected row.
➤ Insert Comment. Enables you to insert a comment row below the selected
row.
➤ Checkpoint Properties. Enables you to compare the current value of a
specified property with the expected value for that property. For more
information, see "Adding Additional QuickTest Functionality to the
Automated Component" on page 82.
➤ Cut. Deletes the selected rows and stores them on the Clipboard.
➤ Copy. Copies the selected rows to the Clipboard.
➤ Paste. Pastes cut or copied rows below the selected row in the tab.
➤ Delete. Deletes selected steps or comments in the tab.

Context Menu Commands from Table Headings

➤ Item. Toggles the display of the Item column on/off.
➤ Operation. Toggles the display of the Operation column on/off.
➤ Value. Toggles the display of the Value column on/off.
➤ Output. Toggles the display of the Output column on/off.
➤ Documentation. Toggles the display of the Documentation column
on/off.
➤ Documentation only. Hides all columns other than Documentation.
➤ Copy Documentation to Clipboard. Copies the contents of the
Documentation column to the clipboard.

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Automation Sub-tab Keyword View Columns

The Automation sub-tab in the keyword view format can contain the
following columns:

➤ Item Column
➤ Operation Column
➤ Value Column
➤ Output Column
➤ Documentation Column

Item Column
The Item column displays the objects in your application on which you
perform operations. These objects are defined in the object repository that
was prepared for you by the automation engineer and associated with the
application area on which your business component is based.

You select the item from an icon-based list, which displays the item and all
sibling objects of the previous step, as well as any child objects for the
previous step.

For example, if the previous step specifies the Login Window object, then
the User name and Password objects might be displayed for the next step.

This column can also display the Operation item, which enables you to
select from operations defined in the function libraries associated with your
component’s application area. For example, operations that open an
application at the start of a business component or check the value of a
specific property.

For more information on selecting objects and operations, see "Selecting an

Item for a Step" on page 152.

If you want to add a comment to your business component, you can select
Comment from the list. Comments are displayed in a free-text cell that
extends the entire width of the row.

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For more information on adding comments, see "Entering Comments in the

Keyword View" on page 162.

Operation Column
The Operation column displays the operation to be performed on the item
selected in the business component step. This column provides a list of all
available operations that can be performed on the object selected in the
Item column, for example, Click or Select.

The available operations change dynamically according to the item selected

in the Item column. By default, the most commonly used operation for the
object is displayed.

For more information on selecting operations, see "Selecting an Operation

for a Step" on page 157.

Value Column
The Value column displays the values for the selected operation. The Value
cell is partitioned according to the number of values that must or can be
supplied for the selected operation.

The value can be a fixed value (a constant), a local parameter, or a

component parameter.

➤ Local parameter. A local parameter is specific to the business component.

Its value is defined within the component and can be accessed by that
component only. It is intended for use in a single step or between
component steps, for example, as an output parameter for one step and
an input parameter for a later step. For more information, see
"Parameterizing in the Keyword View" on page 164.
➤ Component parameter. A component parameter is assigned a value from
an external source, such as the business process test designer, test runner,
or from a retrieved value of another component or flow. For more
information, see Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

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Output Column
The Output column displays the parameter in which output values for the
step are stored. You can use the value stored in an output parameter later in
the business component or as an input parameter in other business
components or flows.

Similar to the Value column, you can use two types of parameters when
specifying an output parameter—a local parameter or a component
parameter.

For more information on defining the output type and settings for output
values, see "Defining Output Values for Steps" on page 159.

Documentation Column
The Documentation column displays read-only auto-documentation of
what the step does, in a plain-language textual description.

You can copy the contents of the Documentation column to the clipboard.
Right-click the column header row and select Copy Documentation to
Clipboard from the displayed menu. Right-click at the location you want to
paste the text and select Paste.

Adding Additional QuickTest Functionality to the Automated

Component
When creating steps in a component, automation engineers working in a
testing tool such as QuickTest can also add standard checkpoint and output
value steps:

➤ Checkpoint steps compare the current value of a specified property with

the expected value for that property.
➤ Output value steps capture one or more values at a specific point in your
component and store them for the duration of the run session. The values
can later be used as input at a different point in the run.

Checkpoint and output value steps are visible and editable in ALM. For
more information, see "Adding Checkpoints and Output Values to Steps" on
page 174.

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The New Component Dialog Box

The New Component dialog box enables you to add manual steps to your
component. You open this dialog box from the Component Steps tab by
clicking the Add Step button in the toolbar.

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For information on working with the details of your components, see

"About Designing Manual Component Steps" on page 121.

Note:

➤ You can add user-defined fields and change the label of any of the fields
in the Components module. You can also customize project lists. For
more details, refer to the HP Application Lifecycle Management
Administrator Guide.
➤ You can use the Script Editor to restrict and dynamically change the
fields and values in the Components module. For more details, refer to
the HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.

The New Component dialog box toolbar contains the following buttons:

➤ Clear All Fields. Clears all data in the dialog box.

➤ Spell Checking. Checks the spelling of the selected word or all the words
in the component.
➤ Thesaurus. Displays a synonym, antonym, or related word for the selected
word.
➤ Spelling Options. Configures the way ALM checks spelling.

For a list of available fields, see "Understanding the Details Tab" on page 62.

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The Component Details Dialog Box

The Component Details dialog box enables you to update the details of a
business component.

Note:

➤ You can add user-defined fields and change the label of any of the fields
in the Components module. You can also customize project lists. For
more details, refer to the HP Application Lifecycle Management
Administrator Guide.
➤ You can use the Script Editor to restrict and dynamically change the
fields and values in the Components module. For more details, refer to
the HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.

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The Component Details dialog box toolbar contains the following buttons:

➤ Send by E-mail. Sends an email with the component details. For more
information, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ Spell Checking. Checks the spelling of the selected word or all the words
in the component.
➤ Thesaurus. Displays a synonym, antonym, or related word for the selected
word.
➤ Spelling Options. Configures the way ALM checks spelling.

The Component Details dialog box contains sidebar entries that provide
additional information about the component. For details on these sidebar
entries (tabs), see "Business Components Module Tabs" on page 45.

For a list of available fields, see "Understanding the Details Tab" on page 62.

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The Component Step Details Dialog Box

The Component Step Details dialog box enables you to edit a selected step.

Click a component in the component tree and click the Add Step button or
Edit Step button on the toolbar to open the dialog box.

For information on working with the details of your components, see

"About Designing Manual Component Steps" on page 121.

The Component Step Details dialog box toolbar contains the following
buttons:

➤ First Step. Jumps to the first manual step in the component.

➤ Previous Step. Jumps to the previous manual step.
➤ Next Step. Jumps to the next manual step.
➤ Last Step. Jumps to the last manual step in the component.

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➤ New Step. Adds a step below the selected step.

➤ Insert Parameter. Inserts a parameter into the step. This command is
enabled only when your focus is in the Description or Expected Result
cells. For more information on inserting parameters, see "Defining Input
and Output Component Parameters for a Business Component" on
page 100.
➤ Find Text. Opens the Find dialog box, enabling you to search in the tab
for steps that contain a specified text value. Select the column in which
you want to search, and enter the value you want to find. For more
information, see "Using the Find Dialog Box in the Component Steps Tab"
on page 72.
➤ Save steps. Saves the component steps that you have created or modified.
New or changed steps are not saved until either you click this button or
you leave the Component Steps tab. For more information, see "Saving
Component Steps" on page 151.
➤ Spell Checking. Checks the spelling of the selected word or all the words
in the component.
➤ Thesaurus. Displays a synonym, antonym, or related word for the selected
word.
➤ Spelling Options. Configures the way ALM checks spelling.

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Working with Business Components

You create business components and define their details in the Business
Components module. You can then combine these components into
business process tests and flows in the Test Plan module, as described in
Chapter 6, "Getting Started with Business Process Tests."

This chapter describes the basic management operations required to create

and define business components.

This chapter includes:

➤ About Working with Business Components on page 90
➤ Creating a Component Tree on page 91
➤ Defining Business Components on page 93
➤ Viewing and Modifying Business Components on page 101
➤ Mailing Components on page 110
➤ Handling Component Requests on page 110
➤ Analyzing Your Project on page 114

Note: To control access to various modules and tasks, HP Application

Lifecycle Management (ALM) enables you to configure access permissions
for users. The procedures described in this chapter are dependent on the
user or user group to which the user belongs having the proper permissions.
For more information, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management
Administrator Guide.

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About Working with Business Components

Before creating business components, you create a component tree in which
to store them. For details, see "Creating a Component Tree" on page 91.

You create business components in the Business Components module by

defining the details of the component’s shell (which comprises an overview
of the information that is required at the test-creation level), such as the
component’s description, status, implementation requirements, and so on,
and storing the components in the component tree. You can then
incorporate the components into business process tests and flows in the Test
Plan module tabs.

Components created by converting manual tests, or by using other testing

tools such as QuickTest Professional, are also stored in the component tree
and can be included in business process tests and flows.

Business component definitions include a description of the component’s

purpose, the conditions of the application being tested before and after the
component steps are performed, and the actual steps that comprise the
component. You can define the steps in the business component as manual
steps, or you can automate them using a testing tool such as QuickTest.

You can also define manual steps for the component, and then choose
whether to convert it to an automated QuickTest keyword-driven
component, or QuickTest scripted component. For keyword-driven
components, you can begin implementing the automated steps in the
Keyword View. Components can be created and used to build business
process tests and flows even if the implementation of the application has
not yet begun.

You can define input component parameters that are required by the
business component and output component parameter values returned to
other components or flows.

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Several of the component shell settings that you define in the Business
Components module, for example, the snapshot and the component
parameters, can be viewed and modified in the Business Component
Settings dialog box in QuickTest.

Note: For more information on the Business Component Settings dialog

box, see the HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.

After the business component has been defined, the subject matter expert
and the automation engineer can work independently of each other, in
parallel or sequentially, depending on the status of the application being
tested.

Creating a Component Tree

The component tree displays business components in a graphical hierarchy.
Icons identify the status of the component and whether it is an automated
or manual component.

At the top level of the component tree is the Components root folder, which
contains the:

➤ Obsolete folder, which contains any components that have been

removed from the components folders but are still being used by one or
more business process tests or flows.
➤ Component Requests folder, which contains requests for new
components.
➤ Business components folders, which contains business components.
The Components root folder, the Component Requests folder, and the
Obsolete folder cannot be renamed or deleted. For information on the
special Obsolete and Component Requests folders, see "Understanding the
Obsolete Folder" on page 107 and "Requesting New Components for
Business Process Tests or Flows" on page 227.

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Components cannot be created directly in the root folder. Create

component folders in which to save your components.

In a version-controlled project, the new components you create are

automatically checked out.

To create a component folder in the component tree:

1 Log in to your ALM project as described in the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide. The ALM window opens.
2 To access the Business Components module: In the ALM sidebar, under
Testing, select Business Components. The Business Components module
opens.
If Business Components is not displayed in the sidebar, see "Accessing
Business Process Testing" on page 42.
3 In the component tree, select the Components root folder, or another
folder in the tree.
4 Click the New Component Folder button in the tree toolbar, or right-click
and select New Component Folder. The New Component Folder dialog
box opens.

5 Enter a descriptive name in the Component Folder Name box and click
OK.

Note: Component folder names must not contain two consecutive

semicolons (;;) or include any of the following characters: \ * ^

The new folder is displayed under the folder you selected in step 3.

To add a new business component to a folder:

1 Select the folder and click the New Component button in the toolbar, or
right-click the folder and select New Component. The New Component
dialog box opens. For user interface details, see "The New Component
Dialog Box" on page 83.

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2 Enter a descriptive name in the Component Name box and click OK. The
new business component is displayed under the folder in the component
tree. Components in a folder are displayed in alphabetical order. New
components are automatically assigned the status of Under Development.

Note: Business component names cannot exceed 255 characters, contain

two consecutive semicolons (;;), or include any of the following
characters: ! % * { } \ | ‘ : “ / < > ?
Spaces at the beginning or end of business component names are ignored.

After you have created your business component, you define its shell and
content, as described in "Defining Business Components" below.

Defining Business Components

After you create a business component and select it in the component tree,
the component tabs are displayed. You define the component by entering
the relevant details into the various component tabs.

This section contains the following topics:

➤ "Providing Component Details and Implementation Requirements" on

page 94
➤ "Attaching Images" on page 98
➤ "Defining Input and Output Component Parameters for a Business
Component" on page 100

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Providing Component Details and Implementation

Requirements
You provide or view the general details and attributes of the business
component in the upper area of the Details tab. You can enter additional
descriptive information in the Notes tab in the lower area of the window.

You can also edit business components in the Component Details dialog
box.

This section describes:

➤ "Component Details Tab and Details Dialog Box" on page 94

➤ "Specifying General Component Details" on page 95
➤ "Specifying Implementation Requirements" on page 96
➤ "Adding Comments to the Business Component" on page 97

Component Details Tab and Details Dialog Box

An example of the Details tab for a component is shown below.

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An example of the Component Details dialog box is shown below.

For a list of the fields available in the Details tab and the Component Details
dialog box, see "The Component Details Dialog Box" on page 85.

Specifying General Component Details

You provide or view the general details and attributes of the business
component in the upper area of the Details tab.

To specify general component details:

1 In the Assigned To box, enter or select the name of the user responsible
for writing and maintaining the testing steps for this business
component. You can click the arrow to search for a specific user in the
user list or view users by user group.
2 In the Status box, you can modify the status of the business component,
if required. To do so, select a different status from the list. The icon in the
component tree changes dynamically according to your selection.
Business component statuses and their corresponding icons are described in
"Business Component Life-cycle and Statuses" on page 58.

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The status can also be modified by the automation engineer in the Business
Component Settings dialog box in QuickTest.

Specifying Implementation Requirements

You can enter additional descriptive information and implementation
requirements in the Notes tab in the lower area of the window.

In the Description area, enter a description of the business component’s

purpose or contents, and the business component’s implementation
requirements.

You can use the following section headings that are provided by default:

➤ Summary. Enter an overall textual description of the business

component’s purpose or contents.
➤ Pre-Condition. Describe the point in the application at which the current
business component starts. This generally includes information on which
applications should be open or closed, whether the component should
launch an application, and/or the state of the application prior to the first
step in the component.
➤ Post-Condition. Describe the point in the application at which the
current business component ends. This generally includes information on
whether the component steps should close any applications and/or
information on the state of the application after the last step in the
component. For example, if you want the component to allow iterations,
the post-conditions should specify that the application’s end state should
match its state at the beginning of the component.
For keyword-driven components, you can also use this area to specify
additional functionality that needs to be provided by the automation
engineer in the form of new, registered operations.

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Notes:

➤ The Description area provides a comprehensive selection of text editing

and formatting commands.
➤ The information that you enter in the Business Components module
Description area can be viewed in the Business Component Settings
dialog box in QuickTest.
➤ The information can also be viewed in the Component Details pane of
the Test Script tab in the Test Plan module, as described in "Component
and Flow Details Pane" on page 202.

Adding Comments to the Business Component

The Comments Area in the Details tab provides a communication channel
between different users of the component.

The automation engineer, other component users, or developers can then

view the information that you enter. These users may also provide feedback
or instructions for you in this area. For more information, see "Components
and Flows Pane" on page 200.

To add comments to the Comments Area:

1 Click the Add Comment button to automatically insert your user name
and the current server date into the Comments Area as an introduction to
your comments.
2 Enter any additional information or remarks that you want to
communicate to the automation engineer or other users, such as requests
for new operations, future changes planned for the component, or
alternative tests or flows in which the component can be used.

Note: The Comments area provides a comprehensive selection of text

editing and formatting commands.

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Attaching Images
A snapshot of a specific part of the application provides a visual cue of the
contents or purpose of the business component. You can view the image for
each component in a business process test or flow in the Test Script tab of
the Test Plan module by clicking the relevant thumbnail image. Viewing the
sequence of these images can help you to better understand the business
process test or flow.

You can capture and attach an image associated with the business
component using the Snapshot dialog box, or you can load a previously
saved .png, .jpg, .gif, or .bmp image from your local drive.

Only one image can be attached to a business component.

For user interface details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User
Guide.

➤ Attaching an image is described in "Attaching an Image to a Business

Component" on page 98.
➤ Loading a saved image is described in "Loading an Image" on page 99.

Attaching an Image to a Business Component

You capture and attach an image associated with a business component in
the Snapshot tab.

To attach an image to a business component:

1 In the Business Components module, select the relevant business
component in the component tree and click the Snapshot tab.
2 Click the Snapshot button in the toolbar.

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The Snapshot dialog box opens.

3 Display the object you want to capture on your desktop. The Snapshot
dialog box remains in view.
4 Drag and drop the camera icon from the Snapshot dialog box onto the
object you want to use for your snapshot image. The image is captured
and displayed in the Snapshot dialog box.
5 Click the Attach button. The image is saved and displayed in the
Snapshot tab of the component.

Loading an Image
You can load an image for your component from a local drive.

To load an image for a business component:

1 Select the relevant business component in the component tree and click
the Snapshot tab.
2 Click the Load from File. button in the toolbar. The Select Snapshot dialog
box opens.

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3 Browse to the location of the snapshot you want to attach and click
Open.

Note: The image that you attach or load in the Business Components
module Snapshot tab can be viewed in the Test Script tab of the Test Plan
module, as described in "Test Script Tab" on page 196.

The image can also be viewed or replaced in the Business Component

Settings dialog box in QuickTest.

Defining Input and Output Component Parameters for a

Business Component
In the Parameters tab, you can define the input component parameters that
the business component can receive and the output component parameters
that the component can pass to other components and flows. Input
component parameters enable components to use data provided by an
external source. Output values enable data from one component to be
passed as an input value to a subsequent component or flow in the test.

Component parameter names, descriptions, and default values (in the case
of input component parameters) are initially defined in the Business
Components module. Actual values for input component parameters are
assigned in the Test Plan module.

For task details on working with parameters, see Chapter 9, "Working with
Parameters."

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Viewing and Modifying Business Components

You can view and modify business components and component folders in
the component tree.

Viewing and Modifying Business Components in the

Component Tree
When the Business Components module is first accessed, the component
tree displays only the highest level folder or business component in the
hierarchy. Expand the folders as necessary.

To modify a component, select it in the tree and edit the data in the
displayed tabs. Alternatively, double-click the component and edit the data
in the Component Details dialog box. For more information, see "Defining
Business Components" on page 93.

To refresh a folder or business component in the tree, select the folder or

component and click the Refresh All button in the toolbar.

To filter or sort the business components in the tree, click the Filter/Sort
button in the toolbar to open the Filter components dialog box. Any
currently applied filters or sort orders are displayed under the component
tree toolbar.

When defining a filter, you can also include a cross filter, which is available
in the Cross filter tab of the Filter components dialog box. This is an
advanced, second filter on fields in the Test Plan module. For example, you
can define the cross filter to display the components in the component tree
that exist in a specific business process test.

For more information on filtering and sorting a tree, and on using a cross
filter, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

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Copying Folders and Business Components

You can copy an existing business component or folder and paste it to
another location in the component tree, or to another project or server. You
can also share all the components in a project across multiple projects.

This section describes:

➤ "Copying Business Process Testing Entities to Other Projects" on page 102

➤ "Copying Components or Component Folders in the Current Project" on
page 104
➤ "Copying Components or Component Folders between Projects" on
page 105
➤ "Sharing Components and Component Resources" on page 107

Copying Business Process Testing Entities to Other Projects

When copying a business component, an application area, or a component
folder to another project or server, consider the following:

When Copying... Consider the Following...

All Entities ➤ Both servers must be running the same version of

ALM.
➤ The source and target projects must be opened in
separate browsers.
➤ Before you copy components that were created in
a previous version of Quality Center, you must
upgrade them to the current version. For more
information, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management Administrator Guide.

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When Copying... Consider the Following...

All Entities (continued) ➤ In a version-controlled project, you can copy and

paste any checked in entity, as well as any entity
that is checked out by another user - the copied
entity will contain the last checked-in data.
However, you cannot copy and paste an entity
that is currently checked out by you. You must
first check in the entity and all its checked-out
dependencies before copying and pasting it.
For example, consider a business process test
containing a flow, which in turn contains a
business component and a scripted component.
Before copying and pasting the test, you need to
check in the components in the Business
Components module, the resources associated
with those components in the Test Resources
module, and the flow in the Test Plan module.

Business Components ➤ If the component path in the target project

already exists, and a business component in a test
or flow matches the name and signature of an
existing component (meaning the number of
parameters, parameter types, and so on), the
existing component is linked to the business
process tests or flows that include it, and the
original component is not copied.
➤ If the signatures do not match, the component is
copied and a suffix, for example _Copy_1, is
automatically added to the component name to
create a unique name.

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When Copying... Consider the Following...

Folders ➤ If a copied folder has the same name as a folder

that already exists in the target folder, a duplicate
name warning message is displayed. Click OK.
The folder is copied to the new position in the
component tree, and a suffix, for example
_Copy_1, is automatically added to the folder
name.
➤ Components within folders that are copied in
the component tree are also copied. All
considerations for copying individual
components to other projects or servers, as
described above, also apply to all components
copied when you copy a folder. You can then use
the settings and steps of the copied components
as the basis for new components.

Application Areas When you copy a business component, its

associated application area is also automatically
copied, unless an application area with the same
name already exists in the location in which you are
copying the component.
Caution: If an application area with the same name
already exists in the target location, the application
area is not copied, and the new component is linked
to the existing application area. You must check to
ensure that the application area in the new location
has the correct settings and resource files for the
component you are copying.

Copying Components or Component Folders in the Current

Project
You can copy components or component folders within the same project.
For more information, see "Copying Business Process Testing Entities to
Other Projects" on page 102

To copy an existing folder or business component:

1 Select the components or component folders that you want to copy in the
component tree.

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2 Right-click and select Copy. Alternatively, Select Edit > Copy.

3 In the component tree, right-click the folder in which you want to paste
the new folder or business component, and select Paste. The folder or
component is copied to the new position in the component tree.
4 If you want to change the name of the copied folder or business
component, right-click the folder or component in the tree, select
Rename from the context menu and then enter a new name.
5 If required, select the copied business component in the tree and modify
the settings in the tabs as described in "Defining Business Components"
on page 93.

Copying Components or Component Folders between Projects

You can copy components or component folders from one project to
another. For more information, see "Copying Business Process Testing
Entities to Other Projects" on page 102.

If the components or component folders have related entities, you can

instruct ALM to copy them using one of the following methods:

➤ Copy components or component folders and their related entities to the

target project. Entities in the target project with duplicate names are
renamed.
➤ Copy components or component folders to the target project and
associate them to existing entities with the same name.
➤ Copy components or component folders to the target project without
copying related entities. The associations to the entities are removed.

To copy a component or component folder between projects:

1 If copying to another project or server, open the source and target projects
in separate browsers.
2 Select the components or component folders that you want to copy in the
component tree.
3 Right-click and select Copy. Alternatively, select Edit > Copy.
4 Open another instance of ALM and log into the project to which you
want to paste the components.

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5 Select the folder to which you want to copy the components or

component folders.
6 Right-click and select Paste. Alternatively, select Edit > Paste. The Paste
Components/Component Folders to Target Project dialog box opens.

7 Select one of the following options:

➤ Copy components/component folders and link to associated entities.
ALM copies the components or component folders and pastes them
into the target project. The copied components or component folders
are linked to related entities with the same name and path. If an entity
does not exist in the target project, ALM copies it to the target project
and links it to the component.
➤ Copy components/component folders and associated entities. ALM
copies the components or component folders along with the related
entities and pastes them into the target project. If a related entity
already exists in the target project, the copied entity is renamed to
resolve the duplicate name.
➤ Copy components/component folders without copying associated
entities. ALM copies the components/component folders without
copying related entities, and pastes them into the target project. The
copied items are not associated with any entities.
Click OK.

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Sharing Components and Component Resources

In addition to copying components, you can share all the components in a
project across multiple projects. ALM enables you to create baseline libraries
of components, tests, and other entities, together with their resources. These
entities can then be reused in other projects. For more information, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Understanding the Obsolete Folder

When you delete business components that are currently being used by one
or more business process tests or flow, they are automatically transferred to
the Obsolete folder.

Business components in the Obsolete folder are read-only, cannot be

modified, and cannot be added to other tests and flows.

Business components in the Obsolete folder can be restored to their original

location using the Restore option, as described in "Restoring Obsolete
Business Components" on page 109. They can also be transferred to any
position in the component tree by dragging them from the Obsolete folder
to the required position.

Note: Business components whose original location folders have been

deleted (and exist in the Obsolete folder), and component requests that
were not previously located in the component tree, can be transferred to the
component tree using the drag and drop method only.

You can delete business components from the Obsolete folder if they are no
longer being used by any business process test or flow.

Tip: You can simultaneously delete from the Obsolete folder all the business
components that are no longer being used by any business process test or
flow. Right-click the Obsolete folder and select Clean unused components.

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When importing libraries, components in the Obsolete folder are not

included in the process.

In a version-controlled project, components in the Obsolete folder cannot

be checked in or checked out. For information on working with version
control in ALM, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Removing Business Components

You can delete a folder or remove a business component that is not required.

Business components that are not being used by any business process test or
flow are permanently deleted. Components that are being used by one or
more business process tests or flows are automatically transferred to the
Obsolete folder. Obsolete business components cannot be copied, modified,
or added to other tests and flows. For more information on the Obsolete
folder, see "Understanding the Obsolete Folder" on page 107.

The deletion date and original location of a removed business component in

the Obsolete folder are shown in the component’s Details tab.

In addition, the component status is displayed with the Obsolete icon in

the Test Script tab in the Test Plan module, to indicate that the component
should not be used in business process tests or flows.

If you delete a component folder in the component tree, its subfolders and
all the business components in the folders are removed. Components
contained in the folders that are being used by one or more business process
tests or flows are transferred to the Obsolete folder.

Note: Business process tests or flows containing one or more obsolete

components are assigned the status of Outdated, indicating that a more
up-to-date component may be required in the test or flow.

Before you choose to remove a business component, you can check whether
any business process tests or flows are using that component by selecting it
in the tree and clicking the Dependencies tab.

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To remove a folder or business component:

1 Select the folder or business component in the component tree and click
the Delete button in the toolbar, or right-click the folder or component
and select Delete. A warning message is displayed.
2 Click OK. The folder or business component is removed. Components
that are currently being used by a business process test or flow are
transferred to the Obsolete folder.

Tip: To view a removed business component in the Obsolete folder in the

component tree, you must first refresh the folder. Select the Obsolete
folder and click the Refresh All button in the tree toolbar.

Restoring Obsolete Business Components

Business components in the Obsolete folder can be restored to their original
position in the component tree, if the folder still exists in the tree.

You can view the folder in which the business component was located when
it was last deleted in the Original Location field in the Component Details
tab. The date that the component was deleted is also displayed in the
Deleted on field.

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To restore a business component, right-click the component in the Obsolete

folder, and select Restore. The component is restored to its original location
in the component tree.

Note: You can also select the component in the Obsolete folder and drag it
to the appropriate folder in the component tree. This method must be used
for business components whose original location folders have been deleted
in the component tree.

Mailing Components
You can send an e-mail about a component to another user. A link is
included in the email message that enables the recipient to go directly to the
component in the Business Components module.

To send an email about a business component in the tree, select the

component and click the Send by E-mail button in the toolbar.

For more information, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User

Guide.

Handling Component Requests

It is possible that none of the existing business components in the
component tree meets the needs of a business process test or flow. If a
necessary component has not been defined, a request for a new component
can be initiated, created, edited, and submitted directly from the Test Plan
module. This feature is especially useful when the roles of creating
components in the Business Components module and building business
process tests or flows in the Test Plan module are performed by different
personnel.

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After a component request has been submitted from the Test Plan module, it
is automatically displayed in the Component Requests folder in the
component tree of the Business Components module. Component requests
cannot be copied in the Component Requests folder, but they may be edited
and version control is supported. Component requests can also be edited in
the Test Plan module.

You can select the Dependencies tab to view details of the business process
tests or flows that are already using the requested business component.

To change component requests to official business components of the

project, you can drag them from the Component Requests folder and drop
them in the appropriate folder in the component tree, or cut and paste them
into a component folder. When the component requests are moved out of
the Component Requests folder, their status changes from Not
Implemented to Under Development.

You can also delete the request if an existing component already answers the
same needs as the request, or you otherwise determine that the requested
component is unnecessary.

When importing libraries, components in the Component Requests folder

are not included in the process.

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In a version-controlled project, component requests cannot be checked in or

checked out. For information on working with version control in ALM, see
the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

For more information on requesting business components for business

process tests or flows, see "Requesting New Components for Business Process
Tests or Flows" on page 227.

Adding Component Requests to the Component Tree as

Business Components
If no existing business component answers the needs defined in the
component request, create a business component and add it to the
component tree.

To add a component request to the component tree:

1 Click the Refresh All button above the component tree to ensure that the
most recent component requests are displayed in the tree.
2 Select the required component request and drag it to the appropriate
folder in the component tree.
The request is displayed in the new position in the tree and its
component tabs are displayed. The status of the request changes from Not
Implemented to Under Development.
3 To rename the request, select it in the tree and then click it. Alternatively,
right-click the request and select Rename. Edit the request name and press
ENTER.
4 Edit the component in the Details, Snapshot, and Parameters tabs, and
create component steps in the Component Steps tab, as described in
"Defining Business Components" on page 93.

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Deleting Component Requests

If a requested business component is not required, you can remove the
request from the Component Requests folder.

Note: Business process tests or flows containing one or more obsolete

component requests are assigned the status of Outdated.

Before you choose to remove a component request, you can check whether
any business process tests or flows are using that component request by
selecting it in the Component Requests folder and clicking the
Dependencies tab.

Component requests in the Obsolete folder are read-only and cannot be

modified, but they can be transferred to any position in the component tree
by dragging them from the Obsolete folder to the required position.

You can delete component requests from the Obsolete folder only if they are
no longer being used by any business process test or flow.

To delete a component request from the Component Requests folder:

1 Select the component request in the Component Requests folder and
click the Delete button in the toolbar. A warning message is displayed.
2 Click OK. The request is removed from the folder. Component requests
that are currently being used by one or more business process tests or
flows are transferred to the Obsolete folder. Component requests that are
not currently being used by any business process test or flow are
permanently deleted from the project.

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To permanently delete a component request:

1 Select the component request in the Component Requests folder and
click the Dependencies tab to check that the request is not currently
being used by any business process test or flow.
2 Select the component request in the Obsolete folder and click the Delete
button in the component tree toolbar, or right-click the request and select
Delete. A warning message is displayed.
3 Click OK. The component request is permanently deleted from the
project.

Analyzing Your Project

ALM provides a number of features that enable you to analyze the business
process testing data in your project.

This section contains the following:

➤ "Generating Reports and Graphs" on page 114

➤ "Generating Project Documents" on page 117

Generating Reports and Graphs

You can create Business Process Testing standard reports and graphs that are
customizable in the ALM Dashboard module.

You can also create Business Process Testing standard reports (quick reports)
and graphs in the Analysis menu of the Business Components module (and
the Test Plan module). You can use these quick reports for one-time
reference, or you can save them in the Dashboard module, where you can
continue to configure their data and appearance. The Dashboard module
allows you to define the data that the report or graph includes, and add
extra layers of related data in sub-reports.

For a list of available predefined reports and graphs for Business Process
Testing, see "Predefined Standard Reports" on page 115, and "Predefined
Standard Graphs" on page 116.

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To create standard predefined (quick) reports in the Business Components

module, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

To define what data appears in a graph, and how the data is organized, see
the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

For more information on the Dashboard module, see the HP Application

Lifecycle Management User Guide.

In addition, you can use the Graph Wizard from the Business Components
module or the Dashboard module to create graphs of component data
(Select Analysis > Graphs > Graph Wizard.) You use the Graph Wizard to
create graphs of component data in the same way as you create graphs in
other ALM modules. For task details on the wizard, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

This section contains the following:

➤ "Predefined Standard Reports" on page 115

➤ "Predefined Standard Graphs" on page 116

Predefined Standard Reports

To create business process testing reports, select from a list of predefined
quick reports in the Analysis > Reports sub-menu of the Business
Components and Test Plan modules.

The following quick reports are available in the Business Components

module:

➤ Standard Component Report. Shows all the components currently in the

ALM project, including all detail fields, the component descriptions,
history, and whether it includes a snapshot.
➤ Component Hierarchy Report. Shows the components currently in the
ALM project, including all detail fields and the component descriptions.
Obsolete components and component requests are not shown in this
report.
➤ Components with Design Steps. Shows all the components currently in
the ALM project, including some detail fields, the component
descriptions, and each component’s steps.

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➤ Components Used By. Shows all the components currently in the ALM
project, including some detail fields, the component descriptions, and the
business process tests and flows that use each component.
➤ Components with Application Area. Shows all the components currently
in the ALM project, including some detail fields, the component
descriptions, and the application area (if any) used by each component.
➤ Report Selected. Lists the components currently selected in the tree.

The following business process testing report is available in the Test Plan
module:

➤ Business Process Tests with Script. Shows all the business process tests
and flows currently in the ALM project, including some detail fields, the
test or flow descriptions, and the components included in each test or
flow. This report also includes information about groups, iterations, On
Failure status, and contents of flows inside business process tests.

Predefined Standard Graphs

To create business process testing graphs, select from a list of predefined
quick graphs in the Analysis > Graphs sub-menu of the Business
Components module.

The following quick graphs are available:

➤ Components Summary - Group by ’Status’. Shows how many

components are currently in the ALM project. The number of
components is displayed according to the criteria that you specify. You
can specify the type of data displayed along the x-axis, and the test plan
information by which ALM groups the data. By default, the graph appears
as a bar chart.
➤ Components Progress - Group by ’Status’. Shows how many components
existed in a ALM project at each point during a period of time. The
number of components is displayed according to the criteria that you
specify. You can specify the time interval displayed along the x-axis, and
the test plan information by which ALM groups the data. You can also
specify whether you want to view the history of the selected data field,
and whether you want to view the number of tests or the change in the
number of tests. The graph can be viewed as a line chart only.

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➤ Components Trend - Group by ’Status’. Shows the history of changes to

specific component fields in a ALM project, at each point during a period
of time. You specify the field for which you want to view the number of
changes, and the time period for which you want to view data. The graph
can be viewed as a bar chart only.

Generating Project Documents

The ALM Document Generator enables you to create a Microsoft Word
document that includes information about the project’s business
components.

Business component documentation can include the following for each

component in the project: Description, Details, Snapshot, Steps, and Used
By.

For general information on how to generate project documents, see the

HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

For user interface information specific to Business Process Testing, see

"Business Components Page" on page 118.

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Business Components Page

This page enables you to specify the component information from the
Business Components module that should appear in the Components
section of the project document.

To access Select Tools > Document Generator. Then, in the

Document Generator tree, select the Business
Components link.

Important Select the check box next to the Business Components

information link to include the data in the project document.

Relevant tasks “How to Generate a Project Document” in the

HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide

See also “Document Generator Window” in the HP Application

Lifecycle Management User Guide

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User interface elements are described below:

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Components Select one of the following options:

➤ All components. Includes all the business components
from the component tree.
➤ Selected. Includes only selected business components.

Click the Filter & Sort button to specify the criteria for
selecting requirements. For details on using the Filter
dialog box, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.

Full page layout Use to customize the page layout. Click the Customize
button to choose the information that you want to
appear in the document, such as the component status,
description, and whether iterations of the component are
allowed.

Page break after Inserts page breaks in the project document after each
each component component.

Snapshot Includes component snapshots in the document.

Steps Includes all the steps of the selected components.

Click the Customize button to configure the tabular
layout and the step information that you want to appear
in the document, such as the step name, description, and
expected result.

Tests that use the Includes a list of business process tests or flows that use
component the component.

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4
Designing Manual Component Steps

Use the Component Steps tab in the Business Components module to create
or modify manual business component content in the form of steps and
expected results. Combine your manual components into business process
tests and flows and follow the steps to manually test your application.

This chapter includes:

➤ About Designing Manual Component Steps on page 121
➤ How to Design Manual Step on page 124
➤ Working with Parameters in Manual Steps on page 128
➤ An Example of Using Manual Steps to Manually Test an Application
on page 130

About Designing Manual Component Steps

You design manual component steps by:

➤ Creating and Modifying Steps in the Component Steps Tab on page 122
➤ Parameterizing Steps on page 122
➤ Automating Steps—Optional on page 123

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When you finish designing your manual steps, you can run tests containing
components manually using the Test Lab module. You can check the actual
results in the application against the expected results, and then indicate
whether the individual steps of the components passed or failed.

Note: You can use your manual steps as guidelines for creating automated
steps at a later time, using an applicable testing tool. You can use your
manual steps even before the application is ready to be tested automatically,
or before automated tests are complete. For more information, see
Chapter 5, "Working with Automated Component Steps."

Creating and Modifying Steps in the Component Steps

Tab
The Component Steps tab provides a tabular format in which you can create
and modify manual steps in your business components. These steps
represent operations that should be manually performed on your
application when you run the component in a business process test or flow.
You can also provide additional information in the form of expected results
and comments.

In the Component Steps tab for manual components, you create each step
in the component using the Component Details dialog box. For user
interface details, see "The Component Details Dialog Box" on page 85.

Each step comprises a step name, a textual description of the procedure to

be performed on the application, and the expected result (if any), of
performing that step.

Parameterizing Steps
You can expand the scope of your tests, flows, and business components by
using variable input and output parameter values in your manual steps.
Using variable values in your components can affect test results. When you
run your component manually, the parameter is replaced with an assigned
value.

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HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) enables you to create

parameters directly from the Component Steps tab and insert them into
your component steps.

You can insert input and output parameters into your steps if required.
When you enter parameters, you enclose the parameter names between
three sets of angle brackets (<<<parameter>>>). (Parameters that you insert
into your steps using the Select Parameter feature are automatically
displayed between <<< >>> brackets.)

Note: ALM recognizes the text between <<< >>> brackets as parameter
names, and displays the parameters, or their defined values, for your use
when you manually run the component. Therefore it is recommended that
you avoid using < or > symbols in parameter names or text in your steps.

Automating Steps—Optional
Later, you can convert your manual component to an automated
component. After you automate a component, you can still view its steps in
the Manual Steps sub-tab in the Component Steps tab, and you can still run
the tests containing this component manually, using the descriptions of the
automated steps.

After automating a component, the manual steps are displayed in read-only

format. You can edit the content of your original manual steps from the
Keyword View in the Automation sub-tab (for keyword-driven components)
or the testing tool (for scripted components). This means that you can
update automated components in either ALM or a testing tool and still
continue to run them manually when needed.

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For more information on working with automated steps, see Chapter 5,

"Working with Automated Component Steps."

How to Design Manual Step

You can design manual steps in the Component Step Details dialog box.

This section describes:

➤ "Creating Manual Steps" on page 124

➤ "Modifying Manual Steps" on page 127
➤ "Copying Manual Steps" on page 127
➤ "Deleting Manual Steps" on page 127

Creating Manual Steps

To design manual component steps:
1 After you have created a new business component, as described in
Chapter 3, "Defining Business Components," in the component tree,
select the business component and click the Component Steps tab.

Tip: Manual components in the component tree are indicated by an M

symbol on the component icon, for example, .

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The Component Steps tab for a manual component opens.

2 In the Component Steps tab toolbar, click the New Step button.
The Component Step Details dialog box opens.

3 In the Step Name box, enter a descriptive name for the step.

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4 In the Description box in the Details tab, enter a full description of how
to perform the first manual step.
5 In the Expected Result box, enter the expected application response to
performing the step.
6 If you want to include parameters in the descriptions or expected results
of your manual step, enter the parameter name at the appropriate point
in the text, enclosed in three sets of angle brackets < > (that is,
<<<parameter>>>). The parameter name is automatically validated when
you move to another step.

Note: If you apply any text formatting to the parameter name, you must
apply the same formatting to the three sets of angle brackets <<<>>>. If
you do not, a validation error message opens when you close the step.

Alternatively, click the Insert Parameter button after positioning the

mouse pointer at the point in the text where you need to enter a
parameter. Use the Parameters dialog box to either create a new parameter
or to select an existing one from a list.

Note: For more information on parameters, see Chapter 9, "Working with

Parameters."

7 In the Component Step Details dialog box toolbar, click the Save Step
button while you work to ensure you do not lose any data.
8 In the Component Step Details dialog box toolbar, click the New Step
button to create another new step.
9 After saving your steps, click OK in the Component Step Details dialog
box. The manual steps are displayed in the Component Steps tab.
10 In the Component Steps tab toolbar, click the Save Steps button.

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Modifying Manual Steps

In a manual component, you can modify manual steps in the Component
Step Details dialog box or directly in the Component Steps tab.

➤ To modify a manual component step in the Components Step Details

dialog box, click the Edit Step button in the Component Steps tab
toolbar. Click the Save steps button.
➤ To modify a manual component step in the Component Steps tab, select
any cell, click the cell again, and modify the step. When you have
finished, click the Save steps button.

Copying Manual Steps

When working in the Component Steps tab, you can use standard editing
Copy and Paste commands in the context menu to make it easier to create
and modify your steps.

To copy a manual component step:

1 In the Component Steps tab, right-click the step and select Copy.
2 Right-click a folder and select Paste.

Deleting Manual Steps

You can delete manual steps if required.

To delete manual component steps:

1 In the Component Steps tab, select one or more steps that you want to
delete.
2 Click the Delete Selected button in the toolbar. A warning message is
displayed.
3 Click Yes to delete the selected items.

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Working with Parameters in Manual Steps

You can use parameters to parameterize input and output values in steps.

➤ Input parameters pass values into your business component.

➤ Output parameters pass values from your component to later components
in the business process test or flow, or from one step to another step later
in the same business component.
Generally, you define component parameters in the Parameters tab of the
Business Components module. This is discussed in Chapter 9, "Working
with Parameters."

You can also create and insert parameters directly from the Component
Steps tab, as described in this section.

Inserting Parameters into Manual Steps

You can insert parameters into new or existing manual steps in the
Description or Expected Result columns of the Component Steps tab or the
Component Step Details dialog box.

The parameters that you insert are enclosed in three sets of angle brackets,
for example, <<<user_name>>>.

When you run your component manually, the inserted parameter is

replaced with the value of that parameter. For example, if Tom was defined
as the value for the user_name parameter, then when you run the manual
test, the step “Enter <<<user_name>>> in the Agent Name box” would be
displayed as “Enter Tom in the Agent Name box”.

To insert parameters into manual steps by typing:

If you know the exact name of the parameter, at the point in the text where
you need to enter a parameter in the Description area or Expected Result
area, enter the name enclosed in <<<>>> brackets.

To insert parameters into manual steps by selecting from a list:

1 In the Component Steps tab or the Component Step Details dialog box,
enter the appropriate text for your step in the Description area or
Expected Result area.

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2 At the point in the text where you need to enter a parameter, click the
Insert Parameter button in the toolbar.
The Parameters dialog box opens. The dialog box contains a list of all the
existing input and output parameters in the component, and enables you
to create a new parameter.

Note: If the required parameter is not in the list, you can create it by
clicking the New Parameter button in the toolbar. For more information,
see "Inserting Parameters into Manual Steps" on page 128.

For details on the Parameters dialog box, see "The New Parameter and
Parameter Details Pages" on page 297.
3 Select the required parameter in the list and click OK. The parameter is
inserted into the text, enclosed in <<< >>> brackets.

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An Example of Using Manual Steps to

Manually Test an Application
Each manual component step you create comprises a row in the
Component Steps tab. For example, you could create the manual
component shown below. Its rows contain the steps that are performed to
log into the Mercury Flight Reservations sample application. Using the
manual steps as a guide, do the following manually:

➤ Access the application and open the Login page.

➤ Enter the value of the parameter <<<UserName>>> in the Agent Name
edit box.
➤ Enter the value of the parameter <<<Password>>> in the Password edit
box.
➤ Click the OK button and open the Flight Reservation page.

The Component Steps tab for the component is displayed as follows:

For more details on running manual components, see Running a Business

Process Test or Flow Manually on page 380.

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Working with Automated Component
Steps

You create automated components by converting manual components to

automated components. You use the Automation sub-tab from the
Component Steps tab in the Business Components module to add or modify
business component content in the form of automated steps, operations,
and comments.

Note: This section primarily discusses automation using HP

QuickTest Professional. However, you can also automate components with
HP Service Test 11.10 or later. For more information, see the HP Service Test
User Guide and HP Software Self-solve knowledge base article KM1016396
(http://h20230.www2.hp.com/selfsolve/document/KM1016396).

This chapter includes:

➤ About Automating Components on page 132
➤ Working with Application Areas on page 136
➤ Generating a Script to Automate Components on page 140
➤ Automating Using the Scripted Automation Type on page 142
➤ Automating Using the Keyword-driven Automation Type on page 143
➤ Creating Steps in the Keyword View on page 149
➤ Entering Comments in the Keyword View on page 162
➤ Parameterizing in the Keyword View on page 164

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➤ Modifying Component Steps in the Keyword View on page 172

➤ Adding Checkpoints and Output Values to Steps on page 174

About Automating Components

You can automate previously-created manual component steps using the
applicable testing tool, and use the manual step operations as guidelines for
your automated steps. Automate using the Automation sub-tab of the
Component Steps tab, which provides:

➤ For keyword-driven automated components: A graphical format in which

to create and modify automated keyword-driven business component
steps. This format is called the Keyword View. The steps in the Keyword
View represent the operations that are performed automatically on your
application when you run the component using a testing tool.
➤ For scripted automated components: A way to launch the relevant testing
tool. When working with scripted components, the component steps can
be viewed or modified only within the relevant testing tool.

Note: The Automation sub-tab for keyword-driven steps provides similar

functionality to the Business Component Keyword View in QuickTest. For a
full description of the functionality provided in QuickTest, see the
HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.

The workflow for automating manual component steps comprises the

following:

➤ Preparing Automation Resources on page 133

➤ Generating a Script on page 134
➤ Adding Operations and Comments to the Steps on page 134
➤ Parameterizing the Steps—Optional on page 135
➤ Adding Checkpoints and Output Values—Optional on page 135

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Preparing Automation Resources

The business component resources for the project are created automatically
in the Test Resources module by the QuickTest Professional Add-in for
Business Process Testing. This occurs the first time you click the Automation
sub-tab in a new project, when you create a QuickTest automated
component for the first time, or when QuickTest connects to HP Application
Lifecycle Management (ALM) for the first time. These resources are stored in
the BPT Resources folder.

For business process tests or flows to perform properly, this folder and its
subfolders should not be renamed or deleted.

Note: In previous versions of Quality Center, the BPT Resources folder was
created in the Test Plan module. When upgrading from Quality Center
version 9.2, a BPT Resources folder that already exists in the Test Plan
module must be moved to the Test Resources module using the QuickTest
Asset Upgrade Tool for Quality Center.

The BPT Resources folder contains all the QuickTest resources available for
business components in the project, and includes the following subfolders:

➤ Application Areas. Provides all of the settings and resources required to

create the content of keyword-driven business components for a
particular application or part of an application. The application area
typically contains all the items contained in the folders listed below.
➤ Libraries. Contains all the function libraries available for business
components in the QuickTest project. Function libraries provide
customized operations for business components.
The Libraries folder contains the default function library containing
operations that can be used when creating business component steps. The
automation engineer can store additional function libraries in this folder.
➤ Object Repositories. Contains all the shared object repository files
available for business components in the QuickTest project. Object
repository files define the test objects that can be used in the steps of a
business component.

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➤ Recovery Scenarios. Contains all the recovery scenario files available for
business components in the QuickTest project. Recovery scenarios define
special operations to recover from errors and unexpected events during
the component run. By default, the Recovery Scenarios folder contains
the DefaultWeb.qrs file, which is a recovery scenario file that can be used
in the Web environment.

For conceptual information about application areas, see "Working with

Application Areas" on page 136.

Generating a Script
You create manual components in the Component Steps tab. For more
information on manual components and steps, see Chapter 4, "Designing
Manual Component Steps."

You can then automate the manual components using the applicable testing
tool and use the existing manual steps as guidelines to create automated
steps.

For conceptual details about generating the script for automation, see
"Generating a Script to Automate Components" on page 140.

For task details about generating the script for automation, see "How to Start
Automating Manual Component Steps by Generating a Script" on page 141.

Adding Operations and Comments to the Steps

You can provide additional information in the form of free-text comments.
You can mix and match entries in a component by including standard steps,
operations, and comments, thereby ensuring that every aspect of the
application to be tested is covered, even before the application is ready to be
tested.

For details about adding operations and steps, see "Creating Steps in the
Keyword View" on page 149.

For details about adding comments, see "Entering Comments in the

Keyword View" on page 162.

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Parameterizing the Steps—Optional

You can also expand the scope of your tests, flows, and business
components by using variable input and output parameter values in your
business process test or flow. Using variable values in your components can
affect test results.

For more information, see "Parameterizing in the Keyword View" on

page 164.

Adding Checkpoints and Output Values—Optional

When creating a component, automation engineers working in QuickTest
can add standard checkpoints. A checkpoint compares the current value of a
specified property with the expected value for that property, and can help
identify whether your application is functioning correctly.

The checkpoint is visible and editable in the Checkpoint Properties dialog

box in ALM, enabling you to view which properties are set to be checked
during the run.

For more information, see "Adding Checkpoints and Output Values to Steps"
on page 174.

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Working with Application Areas

An application area provides all of the settings and resources required to
create the content of keyword-driven business components for a particular
application or part of an application. These include:

➤ Representations of the objects from your application, contained in the

shared object repository.

Note: The automation engineer can change the behavior of these objects
in the application using the RegisterUserFunc utility statement in
QuickTest. For more information, see the QuickTest Professional Object
Model Reference.

➤ User-defined operations, contained in function libraries.

All application area settings are automatically inherited by the business

components that are based on that application area.

Depending on your specific requirements, you can create multiple

application areas, each representing a different area or aspect in your
application. It is important that you select the correct application area on
which to base your business component. Each application area should have
a detailed description to help you to make the correct choice.

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When you create a business component and choose an associated

application area, the settings and resources that are defined in the current
application area are embedded in the component. Therefore, any changes
that are made to the application area in QuickTest Professional at a later
time are applied directly to the component.

Note: The shared object repository, function libraries and scenario files that
comprise an application area are links to the actual repository and files
stored in ALM. Changes to the stored repository and files affect all the
components that reference them, and it is not necessary to update the
application area for such changes.

A keyword-driven component must be associated with an application area

to create steps for it, but you can also change the application area that is
associated with a specific business component when required.

The following topics are described in this section:

➤ "Creating the Application Area" on page 137

➤ "Choosing the Application Area" on page 139

Creating the Application Area

When you create a new application area, you define all of the application
area settings and resources needed to create a new business component.

The following users can create application areas:

➤ The automation engineer, in QuickTest Professional. For more

information on working with and creating application areas in QuickTest,
see the HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.

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➤ Either the subject matter expert or the automation engineer in the Test
Resources module in ALM. The application area entity that is created in
ALM provides the structure for automation, using default resources.

Note: You can start to create an automated component, even if its

application area has not yet been created or fully-defined by the automation
engineer. Create the automated component by adding comments describing
the steps you need to create when the application area is available. However,
if the application area has not yet been created, you cannot add keyword-
driven steps to your component.

To create a new application area from within ALM:

1 If not yet connected, connect to the ALM project (for which you want to
create the application area) from QuickTest Professional.
For more information, see “Connecting to Your ALM Project” in the
HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.
2 Create the application area resource in ALM’s Test Resources module. You
can also create other resources with which the application area is
associated, such as libraries, object repositories, and recovery scenarios in
ALM (and associate them to the application area in
QuickTest Professional). For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide:
3 In QuickTest Professional, define the settings, and resource files that you
want business components associated with the application area to use. By
associating a component with an application area, the component is
automatically linked to these settings and resource files.
4 In QuickTest Professional, define dependencies between entities. For more
information, refer to the HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process
Testing User Guide.

You can view the associations between the application area and the other
resources in the Dependencies tab in the Test Resources module in ALM.

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Choosing the Application Area

After an application area is created, the next stage in adding content to an
automated, keyword-driven business component is to choose the associated
application area.

A business component that does not have an associated application area

displays the following message at the top of the Automation sub-tab:

“To create steps, you must first select an application area by clicking the Select
Application Area button.”

To select or change the application area:

1 In the Automation sub-tab of the Component Steps tab, click the Select
Application Area button in the toolbar. The Select Application Area dialog
box opens.

Note: You may be prompted to connect to the project from within

QuickTest Professional the first time you try to select an application area.
For instructions, see the HP QuickTest Professional User Guide.

2 Select the required application area.

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3 Click OK to associate the business component with the selected

application area.
All of the application objects in the associated object repository, and any
operations defined in associated function libraries, are now available for
you to choose when automating your component steps.

Note: Changing an application area may affect the business component and
prevent it from running correctly. For example, if a component step uses an
object that is not contained in the object repository of the new application
area, the step fails.

Generating a Script to Automate Components

When your application is ready to be tested, and all of the required
automation resources have been prepared, you can create the automated
keyword-driven or scripted business component steps required to test your
application.

The conversion process from manual to automated components is

irreversible. However, you can still use the steps in the Manual Steps sub-tab
of the Component Steps tab to run the component manually, as described
in "Running a Business Process Test or Flow Manually" on page 380.

After generating a script to automate components, the manual steps in the

Manual Steps tab are read-only. You can update the steps:

➤ For keyword-driven components: Only by modifying the automated

component in the Automation sub-tab of the Component Steps tab.
➤ For scripted components: Directly in a testing tool.

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How to Start Automating Manual Component Steps by

Generating a Script
This section describes how to automate manual components.

To automate manual components:

1 Select the manual component in the component tree and click the
Component Steps tab.

Tip: Manual components in the component tree are indicated by an M

symbol on the component icon, for example, .

2 In the toolbar, click the Generate Script button. The available automated
component types are displayed in a list.

Note: An item in the automated component list is displayed only if the

appropriate testing tool add-in is installed.

3 Select the applicable component type from the list to automate your
manual component. The Automation sub-tab is displayed, and the format
of the Automation sub-tab changes to one of the following views,
according to your selection.
➤ Selecting QuickTestKeyword-Driven converts the component to an
automated QuickTest business component. The Automation sub-tab
displays the existing manual component steps as Manual Step
operations in a keyword view format. For more information, see
"Automating Using the Keyword-driven Automation Type" on
page 143.

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➤ Selecting QuickTestScripted converts the component to an automated

QuickTest scripted component. The Automation sub-tab provides a
Launch button that enables you to view or edit the steps in QuickTest.
For more information, see "Viewing Scripted Components" on
page 142.

Automating Using the Scripted Automation Type

Scripted components are maintainable, reusable modules that perform a
specific task when testing your application.

Scripted component steps can contain programming logic and can be edited
only in the testing tools in which they were created, such as
QuickTest Professional. They cannot be modified by the subject matter
expert in ALM, but you can include these scripted components in business
process tests.

Viewing Scripted Components

After selecting a business component that was automated as a scripted
component in the component tree, you can click the Launch button in the
Automation sub-tab to open the applicable testing tool and edit the scripted
component.

Note: The manual steps of a scripted component that was created in ALM
can be modified in the Manual Steps sub-tab and used in manual tests if
required.

When you convert a manual component to a scripted component in

QuickTest (using the Generate Script. button in the Component Steps tab),
your manual steps are converted to ManualStep operations in the script in
QuickTest. The step name, description, and expected results are displayed in
the QuickTest Keyword and Expert views.

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Automating Using the Keyword-driven Automation Type

Keyword-driven business components are maintainable, reusable modules
that perform a specific task when testing your application.

The automated steps of keyword-driven components can be created and

edited in ALM.

The following topics are described in this section:

➤ "The Keyword View" on page 143

➤ "Keyword View Example" on page 144
➤ "Setting Keyword View Options" on page 144

The Keyword View

You create each item in the business component, comprising a step or a
comment, as a row in the keyword view format of the Automation sub-tab
of the Component Steps tab.

A step is an operation to be performed in a business component. After you

create a step, you specify its contents. For example, you can select the object
on which the step is performed, specify the operation to be performed in the
step, and specify any relevant input or output parameters. When a business
process test runs in ALM, the steps defined in the associated business
components are performed automatically on the application being tested.

In keyword view, columns divide the items into individual cells. You can
choose which columns to display, and you can modify the contents of the
cells, if required. Steps are automatically documented in the Documentation
column of the Automation sub-tab, providing a plain-language textual
description of what the step does in the component. For information on
selecting which columns to display in the Automation sub-tab, see "Setting
Keyword View Options" on page 144.

Creating business component steps in the Automation sub-tab requires little

or no programming or scripting knowledge. The programming required to
perform each step of the component is done behind-the-scenes in Business
Process Testing.

Each component step you create comprises a row in the Automation tab.

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Keyword View Example

The Automation sub-tab could contain rows that show the steps that are
performed on the Mercury Flight Reservations sample application. For
example:

➤ The Login dialog box is opened.

➤ mercury is entered in the Agent Name edit box.
➤ mercury is entered in the Password edit box.
➤ The OK button is clicked.

The Documentation column automatically translates each of the steps into

understandable sentences.

Setting Keyword View Options

You can select which columns to display in the Automation sub-tab, specify
their order, and set the number of columns that remain stationary when
you scroll horizontally. You can also set the font and color of many elements
in the Automation sub-tab.

The following tasks are described in this section:

➤ "To select columns to display or hide in the Keyword View Options dialog
box:" on page 145
➤ "To display or hide specific columns using the context menu:" on
page 146

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➤ "To rearrange columns in the Automation sub-tab:" on page 147

➤ "To set font and color options for the Automation sub-tab:" on page 147

To select columns to display or hide in the Keyword View Options dialog

box:
1 In the Automation sub-tab, click the View Options button in the toolbar.
The Keyword View Options dialog box opens.

In the Columns tab, the Available columns box lists columns not
currently displayed in the Automation sub-tab. The Visible columns box
lists columns currently displayed in the Automation sub-tab.
2 Double-click column names, or select column names and click the arrow
buttons (> and <), to move them between the Available columns and
Visible columns boxes.

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3 In the Visible columns box, set the order in which columns appear in the
Automation sub-tab by selecting one or more columns and then using the
Up and Down arrow buttons.

Note: The order of the columns in the Automation sub-tab does not affect
the order in which the cells need to be completed for each step. For
example, if you choose to display the Operation column to the left of the
Item column, you select the item first, and the Operation column list is
then refreshed to match the selection you made in the Item column.

4 Click OK to close the dialog box and apply the new column display.

To display or hide specific columns using the context menu:

➤ Display a hidden column by right-clicking the column header row and
then selecting the required column name from the displayed menu.
➤ Hide a displayed column by right-clicking the column header row and
then selecting the column name from the displayed menu.

Tip: You may want to display only the Documentation column, for
example, if you want to use the steps as instructions for manual testing.
You can do this by selecting Documentation Only. The Documentation
column and any comments defined in the business component are
displayed.

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To rearrange columns in the Automation sub-tab:

Drag a column header and drop it at a new location. Red arrows are
displayed when the column header is dragged to an available location.

To set font and color options for the Automation sub-tab:

1 In the Automation sub-tab, click the View Options button in the toolbar.
The Keyword View Options dialog box opens.
2 Click the Fonts and Colors tab.

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3 Set the display options according to your preferences.

➤ Element. Select the rows for which your font and color selections
apply.
➤ Default. Applies your selections to all rows.
➤ Selected Row. Applies your selection of text and background color
to the currently selected row only.
➤ Alternate Rows. Applies your selection of a background color to
alternate rows.
➤ Comment. Applies your selections to comment rows.
➤ Font name. Select the font in which the text displays.
➤ Size. Select the font size in which the text displays.
➤ Style. Select the font style; Regular, Bold, Italic, or Underline.
➤ Foreground. Select the color in which the text displays.
➤ Background. Select the background color of the rows.
➤ Foreground for read-only. Select the color in which read-only text
displays.

Tip: Click Reset all to change all your selections back to the default.

4 Click OK to save your settings.

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Creating Steps in the Keyword View

You create the sequential steps that comprise your automated business
component content by selecting specific objects from the object repository
(created in QuickTest Professional by the automation engineer). You then
select the operation to be performed on each object, and define any required
values.

It is important to note that when the business component runs, the context
of each step in the component must be set by an earlier step or steps. This
means that for an operation on an object to be performed successfully, the
object must be currently displayed.

For example, consider a business component that opens an existing order in

a flights reservation application. Before the Customer Name check box can
be clicked in a component step, both of the following steps must first be
performed:

➤ The application must be opened

➤ The Open Order dialog box must be opened

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Creating a New Step

After you have selected an associated application area for your component,
you can create new automated steps in the Automation sub-tab.

To create a new step in a business component:

1 In the Automation sub-tab, select the row after which you want to add
the new step and click the Add Step button in the toolbar, or right-click
and select Insert New Step. The Select an Item list opens.

2 Define the step by clicking in the cell for the part of the step you want to
add content, as described below. Each cell in the step row represents a
different part of the step.
For each step, you can define the following:
➤ Item. Either an object on which you perform a step, or a user-defined
function (Operation). You must select an option from the Item column
before you can add additional content to a step. For more information,
see "Selecting an Item for a Step" on page 152.
Alternatively, you can choose to add a Comment, which enables you
to add a manual step or other text information between steps. For
more information, see "Entering Comments in the Keyword View" on
page 162.

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➤ Operation. The operation to be performed on the item. For more

information, see "Selecting an Operation for a Step" on page 157.
➤ Value (if relevant). The argument values for the selected operation. For
more information, see "Defining Values for Operations" on page 158.
➤ Output (if relevant). The parameter in which output values for the step
are stored. For more information, see "Defining Output Values for
Steps" on page 159.

3 Save the steps as described in "Saving Component Steps" on page 151.

Note: The Documentation cell is read-only. This cell displays an explanation

of what the step does in a plain-language textual description, for example,
Click the “Sign-in” image, or Select “San Francisco” in the “toPort” list. The
documentation sentence is displayed only after you have entered the item,
operation, and any required values for the selected operation.

You can use these Documentation descriptions to run your automated

components manually. For more information, see "Running a Test or Flow
Manually" on page 381.

Saving Component Steps

You must save your component steps and any other changes that you make
in the Automation sub-tab. Since changes you make in the Automation sub-
tab are not saved automatically, it is recommended that you save them
periodically.

To save component steps:

Click the Save button in the Automation sub-tab toolbar.

or

Select another tab in the component, another location in the component

tree, or another module.

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Selecting an Item for a Step

An item can be an object in the shared object repository, a comment, or it
can indicate a function from a function library. (The Operation item is
available only if functions were added by the automation engineer to a
function library that is associated with the application area on which your
business component is based.)

After you select an item, you specify an operation for it. For more
information, see "Selecting an Operation for a Step" on page 157.

This section describes:

➤ "Selecting an Object from the Item List" on page 153

➤ "Selecting an Object from the Shared Object Repository" on page 154
➤ "Selecting an Operation Item from the Item List" on page 156
In addition to selecting an item or operation in the Item cell, you can also
select to include a Comment. You use the Comment option to add notes
about your component or to provide information about adjacent steps. For
more information on comments, see "Entering Comments in the Keyword
View" on page 162.

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Selecting an Object from the Item List

The objects available in the Select an Item list are the sibling and child
objects of the previous step’s object. These objects, for example, the Login
dialog box, or User Name text box, are contained in the shared object
repository that is associated with the application area on which your
business component is based.

If you want to select an item other than a sibling or child object of the
previous step’s object, you can select the Select another object item. The
example below shows the objects available for the step following a
userName edit box object.

Notes:

➤ If no application area is associated with the component, and/or no

objects are available, only the Operation and Comment items are
included in the Select an Item list. Some operation functions, such as
OpenApp, are available without an associated application area.
➤ If an object included in a step is later removed from the shared object
repository by the automation engineer, the component run fails. Objects
that are missing from the shared object repository are indicated in the
Automation sub-tab by the icon.

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To select an object from the displayed Item list:

1 In the Automation sub-tab, click in the Item cell, and then click the arrow
button to display the Select an Item list. If you have just created a new
step, the list opens automatically as soon as you create the new step.
2 In the Select an Item list, select the object on which you want to perform
the step. The item you select is displayed in the Item cell.
You now need to specify an operation for the step. For more information,
see "Selecting an Operation for a Step" on page 157.

Selecting an Object from the Shared Object Repository

The shared object repository includes all of the objects that were defined for
the application area on which your business component is based. If the
object for which you want to add a step is not displayed in the item list, you
can select any object from the object repository using the Select Test Object
dialog box.

For more information on the shared object repository, see the HP QuickTest
Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.

To select an object from the shared object repository:

1 Click in the Item cell, then click the arrow button to display the Select an
Item list. If you have just created a new step, the list opens automatically
as soon as you create the new step.
2 In the Select an Item list, select Select another object.

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The Select Test Object dialog box opens.

Tip: You can search for the object you require by entering the object name
(or the beginning letters of the name) in the Name box and clicking the
Find Next button. You can also limit the number of objects displayed in
the list by selecting the type of object you require from the Type list, for
example, Check Box, or Button.

3 Select an object from the shared object repository tree and click OK. The
selected object is displayed in the Item cell and is also added to the Select
an Item list.
You now need to specify an operation for the step. For more information,
see "Selecting an Operation for a Step" on page 157.

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Selecting an Operation Item from the Item List

Operations, or keywords, are customized functions that may group together
multiple steps, as well as programming logic that can perform a specific task
in your application. For example, you can use an operation to open an
application at the start of a business component, or check the value of a
specific property of an object in your application.

Business Process Testing provides a set of basic keywords for you to use. The
automation engineer can add to or enhance the keywords in
QuickTest Professional. These keywords are derived from built-in methods
and properties, as well as user-defined functions associated with the
application area. The automation engineer manages the keywords and
selects which of them should be available in the Item list when creating
automated components.

Note: If an operation included in a step is later removed from the

application area by the automation engineer, the component run fails.
Operations that are missing from the application area are indicated in the
Automation sub-tab by the icon.

For more information on managing keywords, see the HP QuickTest

Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.

To select an Operation item:

1 Click in the Item cell and then click the arrow button to display the Select
an Item list. If you have just entered a new step, the list opens
automatically as soon as you create the new step.
2 In the Select an Item list, select Operation. The Operation item is
displayed in the Item cell.

You now need to specify an operation for the step. For more information,
see "Selecting an Operation for a Step", below.

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Selecting an Operation for a Step

In the Operation cell, you specify the operation to be performed on the item
selected in the Item column. The available operations vary according to the
item selected. The default operation (most commonly-used operation) for
the item is automatically displayed in the Operation column.

If you select an application object in the Select an Item list, the Operation
list for that object includes built-in operations and any operations that were
created for that specific object type in the application area’s function
libraries. For example, if you selected a button object, the list contains the
most commonly used methods available for the button object, such as Click.

If you select Operation in the Item column, the list contains the operations
defined in the function library or libraries associated with the component’s
application area. For information on function libraries, see the HP QuickTest
Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.

To select an operation for a step:

In the Automation sub-tab, click in the Operation cell, then click the arrow
button and select the operation to be performed on the item. The operation
can be either a built-in operation or an operation from a function library,
depending on the item you selected.

Tip: When you position the cursor over an operation in the list, a tooltip
describes the operation.

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Defining Values for Operations

The Value cell lists the values for the operation arguments. An operation
argument provides the specific information that an operation uses to
accomplish a specific purpose. For example, the argument of an edit box Set
operation indicates the specific value to enter in the edit box. The argument
numbers for a Click operation can optionally indicate the specific
coordinates of the click. A particular operation may have required
arguments, optional arguments, or no arguments at all.

The Value cell is partitioned according to the number of possible arguments

of the selected operation. Each partition contains different options,
depending on the type of argument that can be entered in the partition, as
follows:

Argument Argument
Instructions
Partition Type

String Enables you to enter any alphanumeric string

enclosed by quotes. If you do not enter the
quotes, Business Process Testing adds them
automatically. If you modify a cell that
contains a string enclosed by quotes by
removing the quotes, Business Process Testing
does not restore the quotes, and the value is
treated as a variable name.

Integer Enables you to enter any number, or use the up

and down arrows to select a number.

Boolean Enables you to select a True or False value from

the list.

Predefined Enables you to select a value from the list.

constant

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To define or modify a value:

Click in each partition of the Value cell and enter the argument values for
the selected operation, or click the parameterization button to parameterize
the value. When you click in the Value cell, a tooltip displays information
for each argument. In the tooltip, the argument for the partition that is
currently highlighted is displayed in bold, and any optional arguments are
enclosed in square brackets.

You can parameterize the value for an argument using a local or component
parameter. For more information, see "Parameterizing in the Keyword View"
on page 164.

Defining Output Values for Steps

For component steps that return an output value, you define the settings in
the Output cell. This determines where the output value is stored and how it
is used during the component run session. When the output value step is
reached, each value set for output is retrieved and stored in the specified
location for use later in the run session.

You can modify the output parameter, as required. If you select a local
parameter, you can modify its name and description directly in the Output
Options dialog box. If you select a component parameter, its name and
description are read-only. You can modify the parameter details in the
Parameters tab of the Business Components module. For more information
on local and component parameters, see "Parameterizing in the Keyword
View" on page 164.

If, after you specify an output value, you choose not to save the output
value, you can cancel it. For more information, see "Canceling Output for a
Parameter" on page 161.

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To configure output for a parameter:

1 Click in the Output cell of a component step that returns an output value.
Click the Specify parameter for output button. The Output Options
dialog box opens.

Note: The default output type is Component parameter if at least one

output parameter is defined in the business component Parameter tab. If
you select Local parameter, the dialog box changes to the Output Options
dialog box for a local parameter.

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2 In the Output Types box, select either Component parameter or Local

parameter.
➤ If you select Component parameter, the Parameter box displays the
available component parameters. The information displayed is read-
only.
➤ If you select Local parameter, the dialog box changes to the Output
Options dialog box for a local parameter. The Details area displays the
name and description of the available local parameters. You can select
a local parameter and specify the details for it, or create a new local
parameter if needed.
For more information, see "Parameterizing Output Values" on page 169.

Tip: If you click in the Output cell after you specify an output parameter
for an item, the icon is displayed in the cell for a local parameter, and
the icon is displayed in the cell for a component parameter.

Canceling Output for a Parameter

If you do not want to store the output value for a business component step,
you can cancel it.

To cancel output for a parameter:

Click in the Output cell. Then click the Cancel button to cancel output for
the parameter.

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Entering Comments in the Keyword View

A comment is a free text entry that you can enter on a new line below the
currently selected step in a business component. Comments span an entire
row in the Automation sub-tab.

The icon indicates a comment in the Automation sub-tab. You can use
comments for several purposes. For example, you may want to use
comments to plan steps to be included in a business component before your
application is ready to be tested.

Then, when the application is ready, you can use your plan (comments) to
verify that every item that needs to be tested is included in the component
steps.

You may want to add comments to a business component to improve

readability and make it easier to update. For example, you may want to add
a comment before each section of a component to specify what that section
includes.

After you add a comment, it is always visible in your component, as long as

one or more columns are displayed. In addition, as you scroll from side to
side across the tab, the comment can always be seen. Comments are not
processed when business components run.

Note: After you insert a comment, you cannot change it to a step.

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To add a comment to your business component:

1 Select a row after which you want to add a comment, click in the Item cell
and select Comment from the list, or right-click a component step and
select Insert Comment.

Note: You can also click the Add Step button in the toolbar and select
Comment from the list.

A comment row is added below the selected step.

2 Enter text in the comment row.

To modify an existing comment:

Double-click the comment. The text box becomes a free-text field.
Alternatively, you can click the icon.

To delete a comment:
Select the comment and click the Delete Step button in the toolbar. The
comment is permanently removed from the business component.

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Parameterizing in the Keyword View

You can define input parameters that pass values into your business
component, and output parameters that pass values from your component
to external sources or from one step to another step. You can also define
local parameters for use within the component only. You can then use these
parameters to parameterize input and output values in steps.

You can define two types of parameters—local parameters and component

parameters.

Local parameter. A local parameter is defined for a specific business

component. It is not accessible by other business components. You define
local parameters in the Automation sub-tab using the Value Configuration
Options dialog box for input parameters and the Output Options dialog box
for output parameters. You cannot delete local parameters, but you can
cancel their input or output.

Component parameter. A component parameter whose value is set can be

returned to or retrieved from a location outside the component. The values
of these parameters can be passed from one component in a business
process test or flow to a later one during a test run. You define component
parameters in the Parameters tab of the Business Components module.

This section describes how to configure local parameters and parameterize

input and output values using local and component parameters. For more
information on parameters, see Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

After you define a parameter you can use it to parameterize a value. You can
also change the parameterized value back to a constant value by entering it
directly in the Value cell.

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Parameterizing Input Values

In the Value cell, you can parameterize input values for a step using local or
component parameters.

To parameterize an input value using a local parameter:

1 In the Value cell, click the Configure the value button. The Value
Configuration Options dialog box opens.

If at least one input component parameter is defined in the component,

the default input type is Component parameter.
2 Select the Parameter radio button and then select Local Parameter from
the list.

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The details for the local parameter type are displayed.

3 Specify the property details for the local parameter:

➤ Name. Enter a meaningful name for a new parameter or select an
existing parameter name from the list.
➤ Value. Enter an input value for the parameter.
➤ Description. Enter a brief description for the parameter.

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4 Click OK. The local parameter is displayed in the Value cell of your step.
When the business component runs, it uses the value specified in the
parameter for the step.

Tips:

➤ You can cancel the parameterization of a value by selecting the

Constant radio button in the Value Configuration Options dialog box
and entering a constant value.
➤ If you click a partition in the Value cell of a step after you define a local
parameter for it, the icon is displayed in that partition of the cell.

To parameterize an input value using a component parameter:

1 In the Value cell, click the Configure the value button. The Value
Configuration Options dialog box opens.

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If at least one input component parameter is defined in the business

component, the default input type is Component parameter and the
default input name is the first input parameter from the Parameters tab of
the Business Components module.

Note: If no component parameter is defined, you must define one before

you can use it to parameterize an input value. For more information, see
Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

2 Select the Parameter radio button and then select Component Parameter
from the list. Click the list arrow to view the available component
parameters and their descriptions. Select the component parameter you
want to use for the parameterized value.

3 Click OK. The component parameter is displayed in the Value cell of your
step. When the business component runs, it uses the value specified in
the parameter for the step.

Tips:

➤ You can cancel the parameterization of a value by selecting the

Constant radio button in the Value Configuration Options dialog box
and entering a constant value.
➤ If you click a partition of the Value cell after you define a component
parameter for it, the icon is displayed in that partition of the cell.

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Parameterizing Output Values

You can parameterize output values for a step using local or component
parameters in the Output cell of a step. You can then use the output
parameter value as an input value in a later step in the component, or in a
later component or flow in the test.

To parameterize an output value using a local parameter:

1 In the Output cell, click the Specify parameter for output button. The
Output Options dialog box opens.

If at least one output component parameter is defined in the business

component, the default output type is Component parameter and the
default output name is the first output parameter from the Parameters tab
of the Business Components module.

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2 In the Output Types box, select Local parameter. The details for the local
parameter type are displayed.

3 Specify the property details for the local parameter:

➤ Name. Enter a meaningful name for a new parameter or choose an
existing parameter name from the list.
➤ Description. Enter a brief description for the parameter.
4 Click OK. The local parameter is displayed in the Output cell of your step.
When the business component runs, it outputs the value to the output
parameter specified for the step.

Tip: If you click the Output cell after you define a local parameter for it,
the icon is displayed in that partition of the cell.

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To parameterize an output value using a component parameter:

1 In the Output cell, click the Specify parameter for output button. The
Output Options dialog box opens.

If at least one output component parameter is defined in the business

component, the default output type is Component parameter and the
default output name is the first output parameter from the Parameters tab
of the Business Components module.

Note: If no component parameter is defined, you must define one before

you can use it to parameterize an output value. For more information, see
Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

2 In the Parameter box, click the list arrow to view the available
component parameters and their descriptions. The details for the
component parameter are displayed in read-only format. Select the
component parameter you want to use to store the output value.

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3 Click OK. The component parameter is displayed in the Output cell of

your step. When the business component runs, it outputs the value to the
output parameter specified for the step.

Tip: If you click a partition of the Output cell after you define a
component parameter for it, the icon is displayed in that partition of
the cell.

Modifying Component Steps in the Keyword View

You can modify any part of a step in the Automation sub-tab. For example,
you can change the object on which the step is performed or change the
operation to be performed in the step.

Note: Business components that are currently open in another session of

ALM or in QuickTest are locked and open in read-only mode.

When working in the Automation sub-tab, you can use the standard editing
commands (Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete) in the context-sensitive menu to
make it easier to modify your steps, operations, or comments. You can also
drag and drop these items to move them to a different location within a
business component.

For more information, see:

➤ Moving a Component Step

➤ Deleting a Component Step

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Moving a Component Step

You can move a step (or other item) to a different location within a business
component.

To move a step in the component, perform one of the following:

➤ In the Item column, drag the step up or down and drop it at the required
location. The step is positioned below the item over which it is dropped.
➤ Right-click the step and select Cut to cut it to the Clipboard. Right-click
an item and then select Paste to paste the step from the Clipboard. The
step is positioned below the selected item.
➤ To duplicate a step, right-click it and select Copy. Then right-click an item
and select Paste. The step is positioned below the selected item.

Deleting a Component Step

You can delete a business component step (or other item), if required. Before
you delete a step, make sure that removing it does not prevent the
component from running correctly.

Note: You cannot delete a step if one of its cells is in edit mode.

To delete a step in the Automation sub-tab:

1 Select the step that you want to delete.
2 Click the Delete Step button in the toolbar. A warning message is
displayed.

Note: A warning message is not displayed when a comment is deleted.

3 Click Yes to delete the selected item.

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Adding Checkpoints and Output Values to Steps

When creating steps in a component, automation engineers working in
QuickTest can add checkpoint and output value steps. In ALM, you can view
details of, and sometimes edit, these steps.

This section contains the following:

➤ "Checkpoints" on page 174

➤ "The Checkpoint Properties Dialog Box" on page 175
➤ "Output Value Steps" on page 178
➤ "The Output Value Properties Dialog Box" on page 179

Checkpoints
When creating a component, automation engineers working in QuickTest
can add standard checkpoints. A checkpoint compares the current value of a
specified property with the expected value for that property, and can help
identify whether your application is functioning correctly.

The checkpoint is visible and editable in the Checkpoint Properties dialog

box in ALM, enabling you to view which properties are set to be checked
during the run. The properties for the object are listed in the Properties pane
of the dialog box. The pane includes the properties, their expected values,
and their value types. For more information, see "The Checkpoint Properties
Dialog Box" on page 175.

When a component containing one or more checkpoints runs, QuickTest

compares the expected value of the checkpoint to the actual value. If the
value does not match, the checkpoint fails. You can view the results of the
checkpoint in the Run Results Viewer. For more information, see "Viewing
Run Results of Business Process Tests or Flows" on page 410.

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The Checkpoint Properties Dialog Box

Description Enables you to accept or modify the property values
of the checkpoint.

To Access Select an automated component in the business

components module, open the Automation sub-tab,
and click the Checkpoint Properties button in
the Value column of a checkpoint step.

See Also ➤ "Checkpoints" on page 174

➤ "Editing the Expected Value of an Object
Property" on page 177
➤ "Viewing Run Results of Business Process Tests or
Flows" on page 410

Below is an image of the Checkpoint Properties dialog box.

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The dialog box displays the following information about the checkpoint:

Information Description

Name The name assigned to the checkpoint.

Value Type The expected value type of the property.

➤ The icon indicates that the value of the property is currently
a constant.
➤ The icon indicates that the value of the property is currently
a parameter.
➤ The icon indicates that the value of the property is currently
a component parameter.

Checkpoint Properties Dialog Box Options

Option Description

Check box You can accept the selected checks or modify them
accordingly.
➤ To check a property, select the corresponding
check box.
➤ To exclude a property check, clear the
corresponding check box.

Browse When you click the Browse button for a property

in the Checkpoint Properties dialog box, the
Parameterization / Properties dialog box opens, in
which you can set the property value as a Constant
or a Parameter.
See "Editing the Expected Value of an Object
Property" on page 177.

Additional References
Related Concepts "Output Value Steps" on page 178

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Editing the Expected Value of an Object Property

When you click the Browse button for a property in the Checkpoint
Properties dialog box, the Parameterization / Properties dialog box opens. In
this dialog box, you can set the expected property value as a Constant or a
Parameter.

➤ Constant. A value that is defined directly in the step and remains

unchanged when the component runs.
If you select Constant, you can edit the value directly in the Constant
box.
➤ Parameter. A value that is defined or generated separately from the step
and is retrieved when the specific step runs.
If you select Parameter for a value that is already parameterized, the
Parameter box displays the current parameter definition for the value. If
you select Parameter for a value that is not yet parameterized, you can
click the Parameter Options button to open the Parameter Options dialog
box.
Specify the property details for the parameter. For more information on
using parameters in your components, see "Working with Parameters" on
page 263.

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Output Value Steps

When creating steps in a component, automation engineers working in
QuickTest can add output value steps. An output value step is a step in
which one or more values are captured at a specific point in your
component and stored for the duration of the run session. The values can
later be used as input at a different point in the run session. However,
output values are stored only for the duration of the run session. When the
run session is repeated, the output values are recaptured.

You can use standard output value steps to output property values of most
objects. For example, you can use an output value step to output text strings
by specifying to output the text property of an object.

The output value steps determine where the values are stored during the run
session and how they can be used. When you run a component containing
one or more output value steps, QuickTest retrieves each value at the
specified point and stores it in the specified location. When the value is
needed later in the run session, QuickTest retrieves it from this location and
uses it as required.

After the run session, you can view the values retrieved during the session as
part of the session results. For more information, see "Viewing Run Results
of Business Process Tests or Flows" on page 410.

The output value step is visible and editable in ALM in the Output Value
Properties dialog box. The properties are listed in the Properties pane of the
dialog box. The pane includes the properties, the property values that are
currently stored with the object in the object repository, and their value
types. The Output Value Properties dialog box enables you to choose which
property values to output and to define the settings for each value that you
select.

You can select a number of properties to output for the same object and
define the output settings for each property value. When the output value
step is reached during the run session, QuickTest retrieves all of the specified
property values.

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The Output Value Properties Dialog Box

Description Enables you to choose which property values to
output and to define the settings for each value that
you select.

To Access Select a component in the business components

module, open the Automation sub-tab, and click
the Output Value Properties button in the
Value column for an output value operation.

See Also Conceptual overview: "Output Value Steps" on

page 178
Related tasks:
➤ "Defining Output Values for Steps" on page 159
➤ "Parameterizing Output Values" on page 169
➤ "Specifying the Output Settings for a Property
Value" on page 180
Additional related topic: "Additional References" on
page 180

Below is an image of the Output Value Properties dialog box.

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The dialog box displays the following information about the checkpoint:

Item Description

Name The name assigned to the output value.

Value Type The expected value type of the property.

The icon indicates that the value of the property is
currently a constant.
The icon indicates that the value of the property is
currently a parameter.
The icon indicates that the value of the property is
currently a component parameter.

Output Value Properties Dialog Box Options

Option Description

Check box To specify a property to output, select the

corresponding check box. You can select more than
one property for the object and specify the output
options for each property value you select.

Browse When you click the Browse button for a property

in the Output Value Properties dialog box, the
Parameterization / Properties dialog box opens, in
which you can modify the property value.
See "Specifying the Output Settings for a Property
Value" on page 180

Additional References
Related Tasks "Viewing Run Results of Business Process Tests or
Flows" on page 410

Related Concepts "Checkpoints" on page 174

Specifying the Output Settings for a Property Value

When you click the Browse button for a selected property in the Output
Value Properties dialog box, the Parameterization / Properties dialog box
opens.

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The dialog box displays the output definition for the selected property
value.

When you select a property value to output, you can:

➤ Change the output type and/or settings for the selected value by clicking
the Modify button. The Output Options dialog box opens and displays
the current output type and settings for the value. For more information,
see "Defining Output Values for Steps" on page 159.
➤ Accept the displayed output definition by clicking OK.

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6
Getting Started with Business Process
Tests

You use the Test Plan module to build and configure business process tests
and flows by combining business components into an effective testing
structure.

This chapter introduces the elements of the Test Plan module that are
available for business process tests and flows. Chapter 7, "Managing Business
Process Tests" describes how to work with the features and other options
available in the Test Plan module.

This chapter includes:

➤ About Getting Started with Business Process Testing in the Test Plan
Module on page 184
➤ The Test Plan Module Window for Business Process Testing on page 186
➤ Test Plan Module Tabs for Business Process Testing on page 190
➤ Test Plan Module Components and Flows Pane on page 210

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About Getting Started with Business Process Testing

in the Test Plan Module
You create and manage business process tests and flows in the Test Plan
module.

➤ Business process tests are testing scenarios comprised of business

components and flows.
➤ Flows are a type of test that comprise a sequence of business components.

For information on creating components in the Business Components

module, see Chapter 3, "Working with Business Components." For
information on creating flows in the Test Plan module, see Chapter 8,
"Working with Flows."

Business process tests and flows are used to challenge the application
implementation by testing the processes on which the whole application is
based.

Note: The Test Plan module can be used to design manual tests, automated
business process tests and flows, and automated tests using other products,
such as HP QuickTest Professional. The information and procedures
described in this chapter are relevant only to Business Process Testing, and
are viewed using the Test Plan Tree view of the Test Plan module.

All the standard functionality in the Test Plan module applies to Business
Process Testing as well. For more information on using the Test Plan
module, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

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To access a business process test or a flow in the Test Plan module:

1 If not already logged in, log in to your HP Application Lifecycle
Management (ALM) project as described in the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide. The ALM main window opens.

Note: After login, ALM displays the module in which you last worked.

2 In the ALM sidebar, under Testing, select Test Plan.

3 If the Test Plan module opens to the Test Grid, select View > Test Plan
Tree to work with business process tests or flows as described in this
chapter.
4 Select a business process test or a flow in the Test Plan tree.

Note:

Data in the Test Plan module is read-only under the following

circumstances:
➤ The data in the Test Plan module tabs when a business process test or
flow is selected are read-only if no Business Process Testing license is
available.
➤ Business process tests that are currently open in another session of
ALM are locked and can be opened only in read-only mode.

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The Test Plan Module Window for

Business Process Testing
This section introduces the Test Plan module window for Business Process
Testing. The Test Plan module for Business Process Testing differs from the
Test Plan module for other ALM test types.

The Test Plan module window is shown below, with a business process test
selected and the Test Script tab chosen. Different tabs appear when a folder,
a flow, or other test types are selected.

Depending on whether a business process test, flow, or folder is selected in

the Test Plan tree, the interface may contain the following key elements:

➤ "Test Plan Module Menu Bar" on page 187

➤ "Test Plan Module Toolbar" on page 187
➤ "Test Plan Tree" on page 188
➤ "Test Plan Module Tabs for Business Process Testing" on page 190
➤ "Test Plan Module Components and Flows Pane" on page 210

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➤ Filter information, which describes the filter currently applied to the grid
or tree. Located directly above the grid filter boxes or tree.

Test Plan Module Menu Bar

The Test Plan menu bar contains the Tests, Edit, View, Favorites, and
Analysis menus, from which you can create and modify tests (including
business process tests and flows), remove tests, change the displayed view,
and generate reports.

For more information on the Test Plan menu bar, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Test Plan Module Toolbar

The Test Plan toolbar contains buttons for commands that are commonly
used when creating and modifying the Test Plan tree, such as creating or
deleting business process tests and flows, refreshing the data, and filtering
the tree. For more information on these commands, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Tip: You can navigate the Test Plan module, and perform many Test Plan
module commands, using shortcut keys. For a list of shortcut keys, see "Test
Plan Module Shortcuts for Business Process Testing" on page 417.

When working with Business Process Testing, the Test Plan toolbar also
contains the following button:

Convert to Component. Opens the Select Destination Folder dialog box,

which enables you to convert existing manual tests to manual components.
For more information, see "Converting Manual Tests to Components" on
page 235.

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Test Plan Tree

The Test Plan tree is a graphical representation of your test plan, displaying
subject folders, business process tests, and flows according to the
hierarchical relationship of their functions within the business process.

The entities that comprise the Test Plan tree are described under:

➤ "Test Plan Tree Folders" on page 188

➤ "Statuses and Icons" on page 190

After you have built the basic structure of your plan in the Test Plan tree,
you can create business process tests and flows and assign them to the
appropriate subjects in the tree. You build the content of a flow by dragging
business components from the component tree and dropping them in the
flow or business process test. For more information, see Chapter 8, "Working
with Flows," and Chapter 7, "Managing Business Process Tests."

Test Plan Tree Folders

The Test Plan tree contains the following folders:

➤ The top level in the Test Plan tree is the Subject root folder, which
contains the Unattached folder and the test folders.

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The Subject folder cannot be renamed or deleted. You can click the Set
Filter/Sort button in the toolbar to sort the other folders in the tree
according to your own requirements.
Selecting the subject folder displays Description, Attachments, and Live
Analysis tabs that enable you to provide a descriptive overview of the
folder’s contents, attach appropriate files, URLs or other information, and
create a graphical representation of data related to test plans and test sets.
For more information on these tabs, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.
➤ The Unattached folder contains tests whose folders have been removed
from the tree and which have not been assigned to any other folder.
The Unattached folders cannot be renamed or deleted. You can click the
Set Filter/Sort button in the toolbar to sort the other folders in the tree
according to your own requirements.
➤ Test folders contain your tests and flows. These folders can be renamed
and deleted. You can click the Set Filter/Sort button in the toolbar to sort
the other folders in the tree according to your own requirements.
Selecting a test folder in the Test Plan tree displays Description,
Attachments, and Live Analysis tabs that enable you to provide a
descriptive overview of the folder’s contents, attach appropriate files,
URLs or other information, and create a graphical representation of data
related to test plans and test sets. For more information on these tabs, see
the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ In previous versions of Quality Center: The BPT Resources folder was
created in the Test Plan module. For business process tests or flows to
perform properly in ALM, this folder and its subfolders should not be
renamed or deleted.
In ALM, the BPT Resources folder no longer exists in the Test Plan
module. This folder, which contains the business component resources in
the project, is created automatically in the Test Resources module the first
time you click the Automation sub-tab in a new project, when you create
a QuickTest automated component for the first time, or when QuickTest
connects to ALM for the first time.

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Statuses and Icons

Note the following status indicators and icons in the Test Plan tree:

➤ The status of business process tests and flows in the Test Plan tree are
indicated by their icon colors. For more information, see "Understanding
Business Process Test and Flow Statuses" on page 193.
➤ Tests and flows in the Test Plan tree to which an alert has been sent are
indicated by a red exclamation mark icon to the left of the test or flow
name. Clicking the red exclamation mark opens the alert.
➤ In a version-controlled project, tests and flows checked out by the current
user are displayed with an open green lock icon . Tests and flows
checked out by another user are displayed with a red lock icon , together
with the name of the user. No lock icon indicates that the test or flow is
checked in.

Test Plan Module Tabs for Business Process Testing

Selecting a business process test or flow in the Test Plan tree displays tabs
that provide an overview of the business process test or flow, and its status.

The tabs are described in this section.

➤ "Details Tab" on page 191

➤ "Test Script Tab" on page 196
➤ "Parameters Tab" on page 203
➤ "Test Configurations Tab" on page 205 (for business process tests only)
➤ "Attachments Tab" on page 206
➤ "Req Coverage Tab" on page 207
➤ "Linked Defects Tab" on page 207
➤ "Dependencies Tab" on page 208
➤ "Business Models Linkage Tab" on page 208
➤ "Criteria Tab" on page 209 (for business process tests only)
➤ "History Tab" on page 210

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Details Tab
The Details tab enables you to enter details and a general description of the
business process test or flow.

Note:

➤ You can add user-defined fields and change the label of any of the fields
in the Test Plan module. You can also customize project lists. For more
details, refer to the HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator
Guide.
➤ You can use the Script Editor to restrict and dynamically change the
fields and values in the Test Plan module. For more details, refer to the
HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.

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The following information is generally displayed in the Details tab:

Field/Tab Description

Test Name The current name of the business process test or

flow.
Tip: This field is read-only in the Details tab, but
you can rename a business process or flow in the
Test Plan Tree. Select the name in the tree, and
then click it again to activate the name label for
editing. Alternatively, right-click it in the tree
and select Rename. Then edit the name and
press ENTER.

Creation Date The date on which the business process test or

flow was created.

Designer The user responsible for designing the business

process test or flow. By default, the user who
created the test or flow is displayed in this box.
You can select another user from the list, if
required. Clicking the e-mail button
enables you to send an e-mail message
about the test or flow to the specified designer.

Status The status of the business process test or flow.

This box is read-only because the status of the
test or flow is determined by the status of its
business components. The component with the
most severe status determines the test or flow
status.
For more information on component statuses,
see "Component Tree" on page 46. For more
information on test or flow statuses, see
"Understanding Business Process Test and Flow
Statuses" on page 193.

Test ID A unique numeric ID automatically assigned by

ALM to the business process test or flow. This
field is read-only.

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Field/Tab Description

Description tab A rich text edit area enabling you to enter an

overall textual summary of the business process
test or flow’s purpose, or any other relevant text.

Comments tab A rich text edit area enabling you to enter any
additional information or remarks that you want
to communicate to other users, such as future
changes planned for the test or flow, or
alternative tests or flows in which the
components can be used. You can click the Add
Comment button in the tab to automatically
insert your user name and the current server date
into the area as an introduction to your
comments.

Note: The Details tab’s Description and Comments tabs provide a

comprehensive selection of text editing and formatting commands.

Understanding Business Process Test and Flow Statuses

Business process test and flow statuses are identified in the Test Plan module
tree by specific icons, and in the Status box in the test or flow’s Details tab.
The icons are colored and the symbols shown in the icons vary according to
the status of the business process test or flow. For example, a green Ready
icon indicates that all the business components in the test or flow are ready
to be run, and a red Error icon indicates that at least one component has
one or more errors that require attention.

The status of a business process test or flow is set to Design when the test or
flow is created, and changes to Maintenance when it has been modified. The
status is subsequently determined by the business component in the test or
flow with the most severe status. For example, suppose you have a business
process test that contains:

➤ 2 Ready components
➤ 1 Maintenance component

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➤ 1 Under Development component

➤ 1 Error component
➤ 1 Under Development (requested) component

In this example, the test status is Error, because Error is the most severe
status of a business component in the test.

If one of the business components was deleted and moved to the Obsolete
folder in the component tree, then the test or flow status would change to
Outdated, because an Obsolete component is more severe than the Error
status.

Business process test and flow statuses and their corresponding icons are
described in the following table, from the least severe status to the most
severe status:

Status Icon Color Description

Ready Green All the business components included in the

business process test or flow have Ready status,
indicating that they are fully implemented and
ready to be run.

Maintenance Yellow The business process test or flow has been

modified since it was created, or one or more
business components included in the test or
flow are being modified or are not yet
complete, and have Under Development or
Maintenance status (and no components in
the test or flow have a more severe status).
The Under Development component status is
initially assigned to:
➤ New components created in the Business
Components module.
➤ Component requests dragged into a
component folder in the component tree.

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Status Icon Color Description

Error Red One or more business components included in

the business process test or flow have Error
status, indicating that they have errors that
will or may cause a test run to fail.

Outdated Gray One or more business components included in

the business process test or flow are Obsolete,
indicating that they are outdated and are
included in the Obsolete folder in the
component tree in the Business Components
module.

Note: Tests created in other testing tools can also be included in the Test
Plan module tree, and are identified by other icons.

User Defined Fields

If relevant test fields were defined in the Project Customization window in
ALM, the Required Test Fields dialog box opens when a new test or flow is
created. These fields are displayed in the Details tab.

For more information on user defined fields, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management Administrator Guide.

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Test Script Tab

The Test Script tab enables you to build the structure of the business process
test or flow by adding business components (and, in the case of tests, flows).

You use this tab to:

➤ Add business components (created in the Business Components module

or in a testing tool such as QuickTest Professional) to a business process
test or flow.
➤ Group components in a business process test or flow.
➤ Add flows to a business process test.
➤ View and set values for input and output component parameters.
➤ Define flow parameters and their default values.
➤ Define failure conditions.
➤ Add run conditions to a flow.
➤ Create iterations of components, groups, and flows.
➤ Validate tests and flows.
➤ Run tests or flows in Debug mode.
➤ Generate requests for additional business components that you require
for your test or flow.

A green asterisk icon next to the Test Script tab name indicates that the
selected business process test contains one or more business components or
flows, or the selected flow contains one or more business components.

In addition to the standard functionality available for business process tests,

the Test Script tab includes additional functionality when working with
flows. For more information on using this tab when working with flows, see
"Understanding the Test Script Tab for Flows" on page 258.

For task information, see "Creating Business Process Tests" on page 213.

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The Test Script tab comprises the following panes:

➤ Test Script Pane

➤ Components and Flows Pane
➤ Component and Flow Details Pane

Test Script Pane

For each business component in the business process test or flow, the Script
pane displays the name, status, input and output component parameters,
iterations, run conditions, comments, and whether the test or flow
continues if the component fails during the run.

This section contains:

➤ "Test Script Pane Links" on page 197

➤ "Test Script Pane Toolbar" on page 198
➤ "Test Script Pane Context Menu" on page 199

Test Script Pane Links

The Test Script pane contains the following links for each business
component:

I/O Parameters. Displays the input and output parameters defined for the
business component in the I/O Parameters dialog box. For user interface
details, see "The I/O Parameter Dialog Box" on page 325.

Iterations. Lets you manage the iterations for the business component, flow,
or group, including setting parameter values for each iteration in the
Iterations dialog box. For task details, see "How to Define Iterations to Run
with Different Values" on page 334.

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Test Script Pane Toolbar

The Test Script pane toolbar contains the following toolbar buttons:

➤ Select Components. Opens the Components and Flows pane on the right
side of the Script pane. The pane displays a tree of the business
components defined for the project in the Components tab. If the item
selected in the Script pane is a business process test, the pane also displays
a tree of the flows defined for the project in the Flows tab. For more
information on building a business process test using these components,
see "Adding Components and Flows to a Business Process Test" on
page 216. For more information on building a business process test using
these flows, see "Adding Flows to Business Process Tests" on page 261.
➤ New Component Request. Enables you to request a new business
component. For more information on generating a request for a new
component, see "Requesting New Components for Business Process Tests
or Flows" on page 227.
➤ Move Up/Move Down.Enables you to change the testing order in the
business process test by moving a selected component or flow up or down
in the order. If you select a group node, you can move the group within
the business component or flow.
➤ Remove from Test. Removes the:
➤ Selected business component from the business process test or flow.
➤ Selected group from the business process test or flow.
➤ Selected flow from the business process test.
If criteria are specified for a component that is about to be removed, a
warning message is displayed. The component is still available for future
use, if required, from the component tree pane.
➤ Go to Component/Flow. Goes to and opens the selected business
component or flow.
➤ Group. Creates a new group that includes the selected business
components and flows. For more information, see "Grouping
Components and Flows" on page 222.

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➤ Ungroup. Removes the selected group, or the grouping in which the

selected business component or flow is a member. For more information,
see "Grouping Components and Flows" on page 222.
➤ Show Test Parameters Promotion Status. Enables you to view a list of test
and flow parameters that were promoted and where they were originally
defined. For task details, see "How to View the Promotion Status for Test
and Flow Parameters" on page 284
➤ Refresh. Updates the data, such as the component parameter data and
snapshot, for each business component in the business process test. The
test itself is not updated.
➤ Validate Test. Checks the business process test or flow and all the test
instances within the test set for errors. For more information, see
"Validating Business Process Tests and Flows" on page 234.
➤ Run or Debug Test. Enables you to run and debug a business process test.
For more information, see "Debugging Tests in the Test Plan Module" on
page 400.

When you select a flow in the Test Plan tree, the Test Script tab includes the
following toolbar buttons:

➤ Add/Edit Run Condition. Enables you to add run conditions to your flow.
For more information, see "Adding Run Conditions" on page 371.
➤ Remove Run Condition. Enables you to remove an existing run condition
from your flow. For more information, see "Managing Run Conditions"
on page 374.

Test Script Pane Context Menu

The right-click context menu in the Test Script pane includes many of the
above options, as well as the following commands, which provide
additional functionality and information about the business process test or
flow:

➤ Go To Component. Goes to the component in the Business Components

module.
➤ Iterations. Opens the Iterations dialog box for the selected business
component or flow.

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➤ Grouping. Opens a submenu with the Group and Ungroup options.

➤ Expand all below this node. Expands the business components in the tree
for the selected group or flow.
➤ Collapse. Collapses the business components in the tree for the selected
group or flow.

➤ Details. Opens the Details dialog box for the component or flow so that
you can view its details. If you select a component request, opens the
Details dialog box for the component request and you can edit the
request.

Components and Flows Pane

The Components and Flows pane can be optionally displayed on the right
side of the Test Script tab. The pane comprises two tabs, the Components
tab and the Flows tab, that display the hierarchical structure of all business
components and flows in the project. The Component Requests branch in
the Components tab shows any additional components that may have been
requested from the Test Plan module.

If the Components and Flows pane is not visible, click the Select
Components button in the Test Script tab toolbar.

An example of the Components and Flows pane is shown below:

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You use the Components and Flows pane to build a business process test by
dragging and dropping one or more business components, flows, or
component requests from the relevant tabs into the Script pane (or by
clicking the Quick Add button in the tab toolbar).

The Components tab and the Flows tab each contain the following toolbar
buttons:

➤ Quick Add. Adds the selected business component or flow after the
component, group or flow selected in the Test Script pane (or at the end
of the test if no component or flow is selected). As the component or flow
is added, parameters, if any exist, are promoted according to the last
promotion method used.
Alternatively, to explicitly set the promotion method, click the down
arrow and choose one of the following options:
➤ Add And Automatically Promote All Parameters. All parameters are
promoted to the next level as the component or flow is added.
➤ Add Without Promoting Parameters. Parameters are not promoted to
the next level as the component or flow is added.
➤ Add while Setting Promote Options. The Promote Parameters dialog
box opens, enabling you to individually set which parameters should
be promoted. For user interface details, see "The Promote Parameters
Dialog Box" on page 310.
For task details on promoting parameters, see "Promoting Parameters and
Viewing Their Status" on page 282.
➤ Refresh Selected. Updates the data in the Components tab or Flows tab.
➤ Find. Enables you to search for a folder in the tree using the Find dialog
box. For information on Find and Replace functionality, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ Set Filter/Sort. Enables you to filter and sort the business components or
flows in the tree. For more information on filtering and sorting a tree, see
the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ Go to Component/Test by ID. Displays and highlights the selected
component, flow, or test in the tree.

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Component and Flow Details Pane

The Component and Flow Details pane can be optionally displayed at the
bottom of the Test Script tab. This pane contains different tabs depending
on whether a flow, group, or a business component is selected in the Test
Script tab.

The following tabs may be displayed, depending on the entity selected in

the component tree:

➤ The Notes tab displays the description and comments of the business
component, flow, or group in read-only format. For more information on
editing or entering implementation requirements for a business
component, see "Providing Component Details and Implementation
Requirements" on page 94.

➤ The Manual Steps tab displays the manual component steps defined for
the component. This tab is not displayed for flows. For more information,
see Chapter 4, "Designing Manual Component Steps."

➤ The Snapshot tab displays the full-sized image of the snapshot attached to
the business component. This tab is not displayed for flows. For more
information on adding an image, see "Attaching Images" on page 98.

➤ The Parameters tab lists the parameters defined for the component or
flow. For more information, see Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

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➤ The Comments tab displays additional comments for the component

instance that can be used to communicate between various users. For
more information, see "Providing Component Details and
Implementation Requirements" on page 94.

For more information on other test types, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

Parameters Tab
The Parameters tab enables you to define:

➤ Input and output parameters at the flow level.

➤ Input parameters at the test level.

The following is an example of the Parameters tab at the test level.

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A green asterisk icon :

➤ Next to the Parameters tab name indicates that the selected test or flow
has one or more parameters.
➤ Next to the Default Value tab name indicates that the selected parameter
has a default value.

The following tabs are displayed:

➤ The Description tab displays the description and comments for the
parameter.
➤ The Default Value tab displays the default value for the input parameter.
You can edit the default value here, but for advanced editing, see "The Set
Values Page" on page 301.
For general details, see Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

For task information, see "Defining Parameters and Setting Default Values"
on page 273.

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Test Configurations Tab

The Test Configurations tab enables you to define and update test
configurations.

A test configuration is a set of definitions that describe a specific use-case of

a test. For example, a test configuration can specify a subset of data or a run-
time environment that the test should use. Associating test configurations
with requirements provide finer granularity for requirement coverage by
enabling coverage by different use-cases of a test.

Note: You cannot define configurations for flows.

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The following tabs are displayed:

➤ The Description tab displays the description and comments for the test
configuration.
➤ The Data tab displays the data associated with this test configuration. For
more information, see "How to Define Test Configurations to Run with
Different Values" on page 354.
➤ The Attachments tab. For more information, see "Attachments Tab" on
page 206.
➤ The History tab. For more information, see "History Tab" on page 210.

For task information on working with basic test configurations for manual
tests in ALM, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

For conceptual details on test configurations for business process tests, see
"Working with Parameters—A Workflow" on page 271.

For task details on working with configurations for business process tests,
see "How to Define Test Configurations to Run with Different Values" on
page 354.

Attachments Tab
The Attachments tab enables you to associate an attachment with a business
process test or flow. An attachment can be a file, URL, snapshot, or system
information, and is identified by its name, associated application icon, size,
and latest modification date and time. The tab also contains a Description
area that enables you to enter a description of the selected attachment.

A green asterisk icon next to the Attachments tab name indicates that the
selected test or flow has one or more attachments.

You can select an attachment to view its description in the Description area,
or double-click an attachment to launch it in the appropriate application.

The Attachments tab for business process tests and flows has the same
functionality as the Attachments tab for other test types. For more
information on adding attachments, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

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Req Coverage Tab

The Req Coverage tab enables you to define requirement coverage by
linking your business process tests and flows to requirements. Requirements
specify the testing objectives in ALM by describing what must be tested in
the application to assess its operation or usability. Testing requirements are
created in the Requirements module of ALM.

The tab provides a list of all the testing requirements defined in the
Requirements module, and enables you to map the specific requirements to
the currently selected business process test or flow. This enables you to
methodically build your business process tests and flows according to
preplanned requirements, and also to review the extent to which your tests
and flows cover these testing requirements.

A green asterisk icon next to the Req Coverage tab name indicates that
the selected test or flow includes requirement coverage.

The Req Coverage tab for business process tests has the same functionality
as the Req Coverage tab for other test types. For more information on
linking requirements to a test, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.

Linked Defects Tab

The Linked Defects tab enables you to add and link defects to your business
process tests.

A green asterisk icon next to the Linked Defects tab name indicates that
the selected test or flow has one or more defects.

The Linked Defects tab for business process tests has the same functionality
as the Linked Defects tab for other test types.

For details on linking defects to a test, see the HP Application Lifecycle

Management User Guide.

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Dependencies Tab
The Dependencies tab displays the dependency relationships that exist
between:

➤ The selected business component, and entities such as flows and tests.
➤ The selected flow, and entities such as tests.

A green asterisk icon next to the Dependencies tab name indicates that
the selected test or flow has one or more dependencies.

For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Business Models Linkage Tab

The Business Models Linkage tab enables you to link requirements and tests
to a model entity. For user interface details, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

A green asterisk icon next to the Business Models Linkage tab name
indicates that the selected test or flow is linked to one or more business
models.

For user interface details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User
Guide.

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Criteria Tab
The Criteria tab enables you to view the entities, such as flows and business
components, that comprise a test. These entities are defined as criteria, and
are used for the purposes of analyzing requirement coverage at a more
granular level.

You cannot define criteria for flows. Flows can, however, be defined as
criteria in business process tests.

In the Criteria tab, you can modify a criterion’s name and description.

A green asterisk icon next to the Criteria tab name indicates that the
selected business process test has one criterion or more.

For more information, see "Working with Criteria for Requirement

Coverage" on page 241.

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History Tab
The History tab in the Test Plan module comprises the following sub-tabs.

➤ The Baselines tab (or, when versioning is enabled at the site, the Versions
and Baselines tab) displays the baselines of the item selected in the Test
Plan tree. For information on working with version control in ALM, see
the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ The Audit Log tab displays changes made to specified fields in a test or
flow.

For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Test Plan Module Components and Flows Pane

When working in the Test Script tab from the Test Plan module, you can
toggle the display of the Components pane and the Flows pane by clicking
the Select Components button in the Script pane toolbar.

This pane enables you to add:

➤ Business components to flows

➤ Business components and flows to business process tests
For task information on using the Components pane and the Flows pane,
see "Adding Components and Flows to a Business Process Test" on page 216.

While adding the components and flows, you can also promote parameters
to the next level. For task information on promoting parameters, see
"Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their Status" on page 282.

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Managing Business Process Tests

This chapter describes how to create and manage business process tests in
the Test Plan module of HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). The
Test Plan module also enables you to convert existing manual tests to
manual components.

This chapter includes:

➤ About Managing Business Process Tests on page 212
➤ Creating Business Process Tests on page 213
➤ Adding Components and Flows to a Business Process Test on page 216
➤ Managing Parameters at the Component, Flow, and Test Levels
on page 218
➤ Defining Failure Conditions on page 221
➤ Grouping Components and Flows on page 222
➤ Requesting New Components for Business Process Tests or Flows
on page 227
➤ Copying Business Process Tests and Flows on page 230
➤ Deleting Business Process Tests and Flows on page 232
➤ Mailing Business Process Tests or Flows on page 233
➤ Validating Business Process Tests and Flows on page 234
➤ Converting Manual Tests to Components on page 235
➤ Working with Criteria for Requirement Coverage on page 241
➤ Generating Documents for Business Process Tests and Flows on page 251

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About Managing Business Process Tests

You create and manage business process tests in the Test Plan module of
ALM.

You define the details and description of the test, and then build up the test
structure using a sequence of business components and flows in a specific
business process. For more information, see "Creating Business Process Tests"
on page 213.

You can also define whether a business process test run continues or ends if
a specific component in the test fails. For more information, see "Defining
Failure Conditions" on page 221.

You can define parameters that allow business components and flows to
pass variable values between each other and the business process test. For
more information, see "Managing Parameters at the Component, Flow, and
Test Levels" on page 218.

You can attach appropriate files, snapshots, and URLs to provide additional
information about the business process test, and link the test to preplanned
project requirements.

If a business component that is necessary for a business process test has not
yet been defined in the Business Components module, you can create a
component request. You can use the requested component in the test you
are building, and it also acts as a signal to add a new business component to
the project. For more information, see "Requesting New Components for
Business Process Tests or Flows" on page 227.

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ALM enables you to generate a document about your project and business
process test, which includes detailed information about the project’s
requirements, planning, test list, test set folders, and defect tracking data.
For more information, see "Generating Documents for Business Process Tests
and Flows" on page 251.

Note: Much of the functionality available when working with tests is also
available when working with flows. For more information about flows, see
Chapter 8, "Working with Flows."

Creating Business Process Tests

You create business process tests by providing the overall details of the test
and building a sequence of business components and flows. You can also
attach appropriate files and link the test to project requirements.

Create the business process test in the Test Plan module.

To create a business process test:

1 Access the Test Plan module, as described in "About Getting Started with
Business Process Testing in the Test Plan Module" on page 184.

Note: Each business process test must be created in a folder or subfolder

in the Test Plan tree. Steps 2 to 4 below describe the creation of a folder to
contain the test. If you do not need to create a new folder, select the
existing folder in which you want to store the business process test and
proceed to step 5.

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2 In the Test Plan tree, select the Subject root folder, or another folder or
subfolder, in which you want to create a new folder.
3 Click the New Folder button in the toolbar above the tree. The New Test
Folder dialog box opens.

4 In the Test Folder Name box, enter a descriptive name for the folder and
click OK.

Note: The names of business process test folders must not contain two
consecutive semicolons (;;) or include any of the following characters:
\*^

The new folder is displayed as a subfolder of the selected folder in the

tree.

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5 Select the folder in which you want to create the business process test and
click the New Test button in the toolbar, or right-click the folder and
select New Test. The New Test dialog box opens.

6 In the Test Name box, enter a descriptive name for the business process
test.

Note: Business process test names must not contain two consecutive
semicolons (;;) or include any of the following characters: \ / : " ' ? ‘ < > | *
%

7 From the Type list, select BUSINESS-PROCESS.

8 Click OK. The new business process test is added to the selected folder in
the Test Plan tree.

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Adding Components and Flows to a Business Process Test

The first step in building a business process test is to select the business
components and flows (or component requests) and add them to the test.

Note: If you require a component in your business process test that does not
yet exist, you can create a new component request and include it in your
test in the same way as a regular component. For more information, see
"Requesting New Components for Business Process Tests or Flows" on
page 227.

To select business components and flows:

1 In the Test Plan Tree, select the relevant business process test.
2 Click the Test Script tab and ensure that the Components and Flows pane
is displayed on the right. If it is not displayed, click the Select
Components button in the Script pane toolbar.

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The Components and Flows pane comprises a Components tab and a

Flows tab.

3 In the relevant tab, expand the folder that contains the business
component or flow required for the business process test.
4 To add the required component or flow to the Script pane, use one of the
following options. For more information, see "Promoting Parameters and
Viewing Their Status" on page 282.
➤ To add the component or flow while setting promotion options, click
the Quick Add button in the toolbar and select Add while Setting
Promote Options. If the component or flow has parameters defined,
the Promote Parameters dialog box opens. This dialog box enables you
to choose whether to promote component or flow parameters to the
next level. Select the parameters you want to promote. For more
information, see "Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their Status" on
page 282.

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➤ To add the component or flow while automatically promoting all

parameters (and without opening the Promote Parameters dialog box),
click the Quick Add button in the toolbar and select Add And
Automatically Promote All Parameters. The component or flow
parameters are promoted to the next level.
➤ To add the component or flow without promoting all parameters (and
without opening the Promote Parameters dialog box), click the Quick
Add button in the toolbar and select Add Without Promoting
Parameters. The component or flow parameters are not promoted to
the next level.
➤ To add the component or flow using the last-used method for
parameter promotion, do one of the following:
➤ Double-click the component or the flow.
➤ Drag the component or flow to the Script pane.
➤ Click the Quick Add button in the toolbar.
➤ Click the Quick Add button in the toolbar, and select the Quick Add
menu option.
5 If necessary, click OK to close the Promote Parameters dialog box.
6 To arrange the business components and flows into a logical testing order,
select business components and flows in the Test Script pane and either
use the arrow buttons in the toolbar, or use the Move up and Move down
options in the right-click context menu.

Managing Parameters at the Component, Flow, and Test

Levels
You can configure how many times, and with which parameter values:

➤ A business component runs in a test.

➤ A flow runs in a test.
➤ A test instance runs using certain configurations and iterations.

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For more details on:

➤ Working with parameters: See Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."

➤ Working with iterations: See Chapter 11, "Working with Iterations."
➤ Working with configurations: See Chapter 12, "Working with Test
Configurations."

To view the parameters defined for a component, group, or flow in a

business process test:
1 In the Script pane of the Test Script tab, click the link in the I/O
Parameters column for the corresponding component, group, or flow.

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2 The I/O Parameters dialog box opens.

3 Click OK.

Note: This dialog box can also be used to link the values of output
parameters to input parameters.

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Defining Failure Conditions

You can define whether a business process test run continues or ends if a
specific business component in the test fails.

To define the failure condition for a component:

1 In the Script pane of the Test Script tab, click in the On Failure column for
the business component. A down arrow is displayed.

2 Click the down arrow and select one of the following from the list:
➤ Exit. The business process test run will end if the selected business
component fails.
➤ Continue. The business process test will run the next business
component if the selected component fails. By default, this failure
condition is defined for each component when it is added to a test.

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Grouping Components and Flows

In some cases, it may be helpful to iterate several business components or
flows together as a group.

This section contains the following topics:

➤ "Creating Groups"
➤ "Modifying a Group"
➤ "Ungrouping a Group"

For conceptual details on group iterations, see "Group Iterations" on

page 332.

For task details on iterating groups, see "How to Define Iterations to Run
with Different Values" on page 334.

Creating Groups
You create groups of business components and/or flows in the Test Script tab
of the Test Plan module. You can combine any number of components or
flows in the business process test into a group, providing they comply with
the following requirements:

➤ A component or flow can belong to one group only.

➤ Components or flows must be contiguous to be included in the same
group.

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➤ Components or flows in the group with input parameters must have the
same number of iterations. When grouping, if iteration ranges are set per
component, ALM requests confirmation that the iteration range should
be set to that of the first component’s iteration range. For example, if the
first component in the group is set to run iterations 2 to 3, the entire
group will be set to run iterations 2 to 3.
➤ For iterations of a group to be successful, the state of the application at
the end of the last item in the group must match the state of the
application before the first item in the group. For example, if the first
component in the group assumes that the Login dialog box in an
application is open, then at the point where the last component of the
group ends, the Login dialog box but be in an open state before the next
iteration begins.

To create a group:
1 Select the business process test or flow in which you want to create one or
more groups and click the Test Script tab.
2 In the Script pane, select one or more contiguous components or flows.
The selected items are highlighted.
3 Right-click, and select Grouping > Group. The group is created above the
items.

The group is named, by default, Group followed by a unique number. You

can rename the group by right-clicking its name and selecting Rename.
All items to be included in the group must have the same number of
iterations and the same iteration range, or a warning message is displayed.

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4 Click the iterations link for the group to view and modify the iterations
for each of the members in the Group Iterations dialog box.

5 Click OK to close the Iterations dialog box.

Groups in the Test Script tab are identified by a group node listed above its
members. The group node contains the group icon and displays the number
of iterations for the group. The group node can be expanded and collapsed
to show or hide its members.

➤ The number of iterations indicates the total number of value sets defined
for the group.
➤ The iteration range indicates the subset of iterations currently set for use
when the test runs.
For task details on working with group iterations, see "How to Define
Iterations to Run with Different Values."

For user interface details on working with the Group Iterations dialog box,
see "Iterations Dialog Boxes and Tabs."

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Modifying a Group
You can add and remove members from component groups as required,
change the order of groups in a business process test or flow, and change the
order of members inside a group. In addition, you can add or delete
iterations for all members in the group, and select a partial iteration range
for all members in the group.

Note: Moving a group or a member within a group could cause a parameter

reference conflict, for example, where a group is moved to a position
preceding the component that provides an input component parameter
needed by a parameter in the group.

If the resulting warning message is ignored, the conflicting link to the

source parameter is deleted. The value for the source parameter will be
empty. You can then either supply a value for the parameter or reinstate the
link in the Group Iterations dialog box.

To modify a group:
The following table describes the procedures you can perform when working
with groups:

To... Perform the following:

Add a business Drag the component or flow from the Component Tree
component or pane to the relevant position within the group.
flow to a group
Select the component or flow. Drag the item up or down
into the group, and drop it at the required location.

Remove a business Select the component or flow. Drag the item up or down
component or out of the group, and drop it at the required location.
flow from a group

Move a group up Select the group node, and right-click, and select Move up
or down in the or Move down.
test

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To... Perform the following:

Add group Right-click the group and click Iterations to open the
iterations Group Iterations dialog box. Click the Add Iteration
button in the toolbar to add a new iteration for all
the members in the group. Adding and configuring group
iterations is similar to adding and configuring component
iterations, as described in "Guidelines for Working with
Iterations" on page 335.

Delete group Right-click the group and click Iterations to open the
iterations Group Iterations dialog box. Select one or more iteration
columns and click the Delete Iteration button in the
toolbar.

Select a partial Click the iterations link for the group to open the Group
iteration range Iterations dialog box. Click the Select Iterations
button in the toolbar. Selecting a partial iteration range
for the members of a group is similar to selecting a partial
iteration range for a single component, as described in
"How to Select Iteration Ranges" on page 337.

Ungrouping a Group
Components and flows can be ungrouped if required.

The following table describes several procedures you can perform to

ungroup components and flows:

To... Perform the following:

Remove a grouping Select the group node and click the Ungroup
button in the toolbar.

Completely remove a group, Select the group node and click the Remove
including the members in the from Test button in the toolbar.
group

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Requesting New Components for Business Process Tests or

Flows
If, while creating a business process test or flow in the Test Plan module, you
realize that a necessary business component has not been defined, you can
create and submit a component request. The component request is a signal
to add the new component to the project.

You can view and edit component requests generated in the Test Plan
module in the Component Tree pane on the right of the Test Script tab. You
can view component requests in the Component Requests folder of the
component tree in the Business Components module.

After confirming that a requested component and its parameters are

necessary for business process testing, you can drag the component request
from the Component Requests folder to the appropriate folder in the
component tree in the Business Components module.

For more information on adding component requests to the component

tree, see "Handling Component Requests" on page 110.

This feature is especially useful when the roles of creating components in

the Business Components module and building business process tests or
flows in the Test Plan module are performed by different personnel.

Creating a Component Request

If a necessary business component has not been defined in the Business
Components module, you can create and submit a component request from
the Test Plan module.

To create a component request:

1 In the ALM sidebar, click Test Plan to open the Test Plan module.
2 In the Test Plan tree, select the business process test or flow for which you
want to create a component request and click the Test Script tab.
3 Click the New Component Request button in the Test Script tab toolbar.

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The Component Details dialog box opens.

4 In the Component name box, either enter a unique name for the request
or accept the one supplied for you by ALM.
5 From the Assigned to list, select the subject matter expert to whom the
request is assigned.
6 If required, click the Send E-mail button on the toolbar to send a
notification of the new request. For more information, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
7 If required, you can click the Snapshot sidebar entry to capture and attach
an image associated with the component request. For task information on
attaching an image, see "Attaching Images" on page 98.
8 Define any other additional properties for the component request at this
time, such as description details, and input or output component
parameters for the component request.
9 Enter the steps that should comprise the component. For information on
how to enter steps, see "About Designing Manual Component Steps" on
page 121.

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10 Click OK. The new component request is displayed in the Test Script tab
for the selected business process test or flow, and in the Component Tree
pane under the Component Requests folder.
The new request is automatically assigned the status of Not Implemented.

Note: The component request status changes from Not Implemented to

Under Development when you move the request from the Component
Requests folder into a component folder in the Business Components
module.

For more information, see "Handling Component Requests" on page 110.

Modifying a Component Request

You can edit the properties of a component request, provided the request is
still listed in the Component Requests folder in the component tree.

To edit a component request:

1 Right-click the component request in the:
➤ Script pane of the Test Script tab in the Test Plan module
➤ Component tree in the Business Component module
2 Select Details. The Component Details dialog box opens.

Note: If the component request has been moved to a component folder

from the Component Requests folder in the Business Components
module, or if the component request has been moved to the Obsolete
folder, the properties in the Component Details dialog box are displayed
in read-only format.

3 Edit the properties in the tabs, as required, and click OK.

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Deleting a Component Request

You can delete a component request in the Business Components module
only. For more information, see "Deleting Component Requests" on
page 113.

Copying Business Process Tests and Flows

You can duplicate an existing business process test or flow as the basis for a
new test or flow in the current project, or in another project, and then
position the new test or flow anywhere in the Test Plan tree of that project.

For the purposes of this discussion, references to business process tests also
include flows.

Note: You can copy a business process test to another project on the same
server or on another server.

When you copy a business process test within the current project, existing
business components in the test are linked to the copied test, and the
original components are not copied.

When you copy a business process test to another project, the test and its
related business components are copied in the same component tree
structure as in the source project (including any components in the
Obsolete folder).

When components are copied to another project or server as a result of

copying a business process test, all considerations for copying components
apply, as described in "Copying Folders and Business Components" on
page 102.

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To copy an existing business process test or flow:

1 If copying to another project or server, open the source and target projects
in separate browsers.
2 In the Test Plan tree, right-click the business process test or flow that you
want to copy and select Copy.
3 Right-click the folder in which you want to paste the new business
process test or flow (in the current project or in another project on the
same server) and select Paste. The test or flow is copied to the new
position in the Test Plan tree.

Note: If a copied business process test or flow has the same name as a test
that already exists in the target folder, a duplicate name warning message
is displayed. Click OK. The business process test or flow is copied to the
new position in the Test Plan tree and a suffix, for example _Copy_1, is
automatically added to the test or flow name to create a unique name
within the folder.

4 If you want to modify the name, select the test or flow in the tree and
click again to activate the test label for editing. Alternatively, right-click
the new test or flow and select Rename. Then enter a new name.
5 If required, select the new business process test or flow in the tree and
modify the settings in the tabs. For more information on business process
test settings, see "Test Plan Module Tabs for Business Process Testing" on
page 190.

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Deleting Business Process Tests and Flows

You can delete a business process test or flow, or a test folder, from the Test
Plan tree.

➤ If you delete a business process test or flow, ALM permanently deletes the
test or flow from the project. The test or flow is removed from all test sets
and the run history is erased.
➤ If you delete a test folder, then by default ALM moves all the tests or flows
in the folder to the Unattached folder in the tree.

Note: It is highly recommended that you do not run a business process test
or flow from the Unattached folder. Move the test or flow to a valid folder in
the Test Plan tree before running it.

To delete a business process test or flow:

1 In the Test Plan tree, select the business process test or flow and click the
Delete button in the tree toolbar, or right-click the test and select Delete.
A warning message is displayed.
2 Click Yes. The business process test or flow is permanently deleted.

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To delete a test folder:

1 In the Test Plan Tree, select the test folder and click the Delete button in
the tree toolbar, or right-click the folder and select Delete. The Confirm
Delete Folder dialog box opens.

2 Select:
➤ Delete folders only to move all the tests or flows in the folder to the
Unattached folder.
➤ Delete folders and tests to permanently delete all the tests, flows, and
subfolders in the folder.
3 Click Yes. The folder or the folders, and the tests or flows, are deleted
according to your selection.

Mailing Business Process Tests or Flows

You can send an e-mail about one or more business process tests or flows to
another user. For example, the email of a business process test could include
a flow, the components that flow contains and their component steps,
followed by a component and its component steps.

A link is included in the email message that enables the recipient to go

directly to the entity in the Test Plan module.

For more information, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User

Guide.

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Validating Business Process Tests and Flows

You can check your business process tests and flows to locate any
component errors that could halt the successful running of the test or flow.

Validating a business process test or flow in the Test Plan module checks all
instances of the test or flow within all test sets.

To validate a business process test or flow:

1 In the Test Plan tree, select the business process test or flow and click the
Test Script tab.
2 Click the Validate Test button in the toolbar.
Business Process Testing validates all instances of the business process test
or flow and reports the results in the Test Validation Results dialog box, as
shown in the example below.

3 If a validation error is reported, you can click the link in the Entity
column to jump directly to the business component causing the error.
Errors are indicated in the Description column.

Note: In the case of an iteration range mismatch, the error is indicated in

the second component.

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Open the Component Iterations dialog box of the component that caused
the error, and modify the component parameter or parameters as
required. For more information on working with business component
parameters, see Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters".
4 Click OK to close the Test Validation Results dialog box.
5 When you are finished, repeat the validation check. If the error has been
resolved, a message is displayed indicating that the validation was
successfully completed.

Converting Manual Tests to Components

In the Test Plan module, you can convert existing manual ALM tests (not
business process tests) to manual components using the Select Destination
Folder dialog box.

To convert tests to components, in the Test Plan tree, select one or more
manual tests or a test folder, and click the Convert To Component button.
You can also right-click one or more manual tests or a test folder in the Test
Plan tree, and select Convert To Component.

The new components are created in a folder that you specify or create in the
component tree in the Business Components module.

You can also recursively convert all the tests in a folder and all its subfolders
simultaneously. In this case, the components are created in the same folder
structure in the Business Components module as the original tests in the
Test Plan module. If no manual tests exist in the selected source folder, an
empty folder structure is created in the specified destination folder.

For more information, see:

➤ "The Select Destination Folder Dialog Box" on page 237

➤ "Considerations When Converting Manual Tests to Components" on
page 240

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In the Business Components module, the Details tab of the converted

component includes the following elements:

➤ Component name. The name you enter in the New Component Name
box in the Destination Folder dialog box. (The default is the name of the
test.) If a component with the same name already exists in the destination
folder, a suffix, for example _Copy_1, is automatically added to the name
to create a unique name within the folder.
➤ Assigned to. Remains empty.
➤ Automation engine. Displayed as MANUAL.
➤ Created by. The user who converted the test.
➤ Creation date. The date the test was converted.
➤ Status. Displayed as Under Development.
➤ Description. Copied from the Description tab of the test. The name of the
source test and the test ID are also displayed.
➤ Comments. Copied from the Comments tab of the test.

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The Select Destination Folder Dialog Box

Description Displays the component tree from the Business
Components module, and enables you to select a
destination folder for your converted components
in the tree.

To Access In the Test Plan tree, do one of the following:

➤ Select one or more manual tests, or a test folder,
and click the Convert To Component button.
➤ Right-click one or more manual tests, or a test
folder, and select Convert To Component.
➤ Select one or more manual tests, or a test folder,
and select the Tests > Convert To Component
menu command.

Important Information ➤ Only manual tests in the selected folders are

converted.
➤ The options available in the Select Destination
Folder dialog box depend on whether you select
a single test, multiple tests, or a folder in the Test
Plan Tree. For more information, see "Select
Destination Folder Dialog Box Options" on
page 239.

See Also Conceptual overview: "Converting Manual Tests to

Components" on page 235.
Additional related topics:
➤ "Select Destination Folder Dialog Box Options"
on page 239.
➤ "Considerations When Converting Manual Tests
to Components" on page 240.

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Below is an image of the Select Destination Folder dialog box:

The example shown above opens when a folder is selected in the Test Plan
tree.

➤ When a single test is selected:

➤ The New Component Name box is displayed.
➤ The Include tests in subfolders check box is not displayed.
➤ When more than one test is selected:
➤ The New Component Name box is not displayed.
➤ The Include tests in subfolders check box is not displayed.

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Select Destination Folder Dialog Box Options

Option Description

Refresh Updates the data in the component tree.

Find Enables you to search for a folder in the

component tree. Full or partial folder names can be
entered in the text box to the left of this button.
For information on Find and Replace functionality,
see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User
Guide.

New Folder Enables you to create a new folder for your

converted components below the selected
destination folder in the component tree.

Go to Entity by ID Enables you to highlight a folder in the tree by

entering its folder ID number.

Include tests in subfolders Enables you to recursively convert all the tests in
the selected folder and all of its subfolders
simultaneously. If the number of tests is large, this
action may take some time.
Available: When a test folder is selected in the Test
Plan Tree.

New Component Name Enables you to enter a new name for a converted
component. The default is the name of the test.
This field is mandatory.
Note: If a component with the same name already
exists in the destination folder, a suffix is
automatically added to the name to create a unique
name within the folder (for example _Copy_1).
Available: When a single test is selected in the Test
Plan Tree.

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Considerations When Converting Manual Tests to

Components

Parameters
➤ Test parameter names may contain special characters that are not
permitted in a component parameter name. Such characters are replaced
with an underscore (_) when the test is converted.
➤ If a parameter name does not start with an English letter, the letter p is
added as a prefix to the name when the test is converted.
➤ The parameter default value is copied from the test parameter.
➤ The parameter description is copied from the test parameter.

Component Steps
In the Component Steps tab of the new component:

➤ Step names and expected results are copied from the component steps in
the test.
➤ Parameter names may be changed during the conversion process - see
"Parameters", above. Parameter names in the step descriptions are
changed accordingly.
➤ Certain test steps may call another test. If a component step is of type
“call to”, it is copied as a regular step with the step name “Call”. The
description is displayed as “Call <linked test name>”.

Other
Attachments, linked defects, and the test history are not copied over to the
converted component.

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Working with Criteria for Requirement Coverage

In ALM, you can make sure that the tests in your test plan meet your
original requirements by adding links between them. This is called
requirement coverage.

In the Test Plan module, you create requirement coverage by selecting

requirements to link to a test or a test configuration. Alternatively, in the
Requirements module, you create test coverage by linking tests or test
configurations to a requirement.

With Business Process Testing, you can also link a requirement to criteria.
When creating coverage between requirements and business process tests,
instead of covering each requirement only at the level of a test and its
configuration(s), you can define coverage by criteria, such as flows or
business components. This enables you to determine if a test passed or failed
on a more granular level. For example, a test can be considered passed even
if just one of its business components passed, such as the most critical one.
Less critical business components have no effect on the overall status of the
test.

This section discusses:

➤ "About Calculating Coverage by Criteria" on page 241

➤ "How to Set Coverage by Criteria" on page 243
➤ "How to Modify the Criteria for Requirement Coverage" on page 247
➤ "How to Analyze Coverage by Criteria" on page 248

About Calculating Coverage by Criteria

The logic used for calculating coverage by criteria is similar to the logic used
for calculating coverage by tests and test configurations. For conceptual
details on coverage analysis for tests and test configurations, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

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Consider the following, however, when defining coverage for criteria:

➤ Coverage is calculated only for each instance of the selected criteria.

For example, if a business process test contains three components,
Component1, Component2, and Component3, and Component2 is the
only criterion selected for coverage, each instance of Component1 and
Component3 has no affect on coverage, regardless of whether the
instances pass or fail. When all the instances of Component2 run, the
requirement for the entire configuration is considered covered.
➤ Coverage for flows is calculated as follows:
➤ Coverage for flows that are run from within a business process test is
calculated for the flow in its entirety, and not according to the
individual criteria within the flow.
➤ Coverage for flows that are run independently of a business process
test is calculated according to the individual criteria within the flow.
➤ When working with more than one configuration and multiple iterations,
coverage for a criterion is calculated for each iteration of each
configuration. If one of the criterion for an iteration of a configuration
fails, the requirement coverage for the associated test fails.
For example, business process test OrderFlights has two business
components, CheckFlights and ReserveFlights. Only ReserveFlights is set
as a criterion for covering the test requirements, perhaps because it is
assumed that if the user was able to reserve a flight, the user must have
been able to check the flight. The test has two different configurations,
Domestic and International, representing different types of flights. Each
configuration iterates three times, testing the reservation of three
domestic flights and three international flights.

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Using this example, only the following component instances are

examined when calculating coverage:
➤ Domestic configuration, Iteration 1, ReserveFlights
➤ Domestic configuration, Iteration 2, ReserveFlights
➤ Domestic configuration, Iteration 3, ReserveFlights
➤ International configuration, Iteration 1, ReserveFlights
➤ International configuration, Iteration 2, ReserveFlights
➤ International configuration, Iteration 3, ReserveFlights

If just one of these six component instances fails, the associated tests fails
when requirement coverage is calculated.

How to Set Coverage by Criteria

With Business Process Testing, you can create requirement coverage for
flows and business components in addition to test configurations from the
Test Plan module and the Requirements module.

Note: When defining the criteria that ALM should use to calculate coverage
for a test configuration, keep in mind that the same criteria are used for all
configurations of the test. It is not possible to define different criteria for
different configurations for the same test.

To set coverage by criteria from the Test Plan module:

1 In the ALM sidebar, under Tests, select Test Plan.
2 If the test plan tree is not displayed, select View > Test Plan Tree.
3 Select the business process test or flow for which you want to set criteria
coverage in the test plan tree.
4 Click the Req Coverage tab.
5 If the requirement tree is not displayed in the pane on the right, click
Select Req button on the toolbar. The requirement tree opens.

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6 Select the requirement for which to add coverage in the requirement tree.
7 Click Add To Coverage in the requirement tree toolbar (either with or
without children). Either the Add Criterion Coverage or Add Advanced
Coverage dialog box opens.

For user interface details on the Add Criterion Coverage dialog box, see
the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
8 Select the criteria for which you want coverage and click OK. The selected
criteria are added to the grid.
If you click OK without selecting criteria, the requirement is covered by
the entire test.

Tip: To instruct ALM to hide the dialog box and add coverage only at the
test level, without prompting you to select flow or business component
criteria, select the Don’t show me this dialog again checkbox. You can
reveal the dialog box by selecting View > Req Coverage > Show Advanced
Coverage.

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9 To view the criteria you defined:

a In the Test Plan tree, select the business process test.
b Click the Criteria tab. View the name, execution status, the name of
the user who created the criteria, and the creation date.
For user interface details on the Criteria tab, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

To set coverage by criteria from the Requirements module:

1 In the ALM sidebar, under Requirements, select Requirements.
2 If the requirement tree is not displayed, select View > Requirements
Details.
3 Select the requirement for which you want to set criteria coverage in the
requirement tree.
4 Click the Test Coverage tab.
5 If the test plan tree is not displayed in the pane on the right, click Select
on the toolbar. The Test Plan tree opens.
6 In the Test Plan tree, select the test or flow for which to add coverage.
➤ When adding coverage by a flow, the flow is added to the grid.

Note: ALM does not create criteria for a flow’s business components
when selecting a flow from the test plan tree. To add business
components as criteria, add coverage by selecting the corresponding
business process test from the test plan tree.

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➤ When adding coverage by a business process test, the Add Criterion

Coverage dialog box opens.

This dialog box shows all criteria (flows, business components) that
have not yet been added as criteria for coverage of this requirement.
For user interface details on the Add Criterion Coverage dialog box, see
the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
7 In the Add Criterion Coverage dialog box, select the criteria for which you
want coverage and click OK. The selected criteria are added to the grid.
If you click OK without selecting criteria, the coverage is set for the
business process test as a whole and the test name (or, when working with
test configurations, each test configuration name) is added to the grid.

Tip: To instruct ALM to hide the Add Criterion Coverage dialog box and
add coverage only at the test level, without prompting you to select flow
or business component criteria, select the Don’t show me this dialog
again checkbox. You can reveal the Add Criterion Coverage dialog box by
selecting View > Test Coverage > Show Add Criteria to Coverage.

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How to Modify the Criteria for Requirement Coverage

After setting requirement coverage by criteria for business process test, you
can modify the coverage by adding and removing criteria using the
Criterion Settings tab.

Note: When defining the criteria that ALM should use to calculate coverage
for a test configuration, keep in mind that the same criteria are used for all
configurations of the test. It is not possible to define different criteria for
different configurations for the same test.

To modify existing coverage by criteria:

1 In the ALM sidebar, under Tests, select Test Plan.
2 If the test plan tree is not displayed, select View > Test Plan Tree.
3 Select the business process test or flow for which you want to set criteria
coverage in the test plan tree.
4 Click the Req Coverage tab.
5 Click the Criterion Settings tab near the bottom of the window.
6 To remove a criterion, select the criterion in the grid and click the
Remove Criteria button on the toolbar.

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7 To add a criterion, select the criterion in the grid and click the Add
Criteria button on the toolbar. The Add Criterion Coverage dialog box
opens. For user interface details on the Add Criterion Coverage dialog
box, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

8 In the Add Criterion Coverage dialog box, select the criteria for which you
want coverage and click OK. The selected criteria are added to the grid.

How to Analyze Coverage by Criteria

The main purpose for setting criteria for coverage is to be able to analyze
requirement coverage on a detailed level, such as by business component
and flow, and not only on a general level, such as by test.

The following methods enable you to analyze coverage by criteria:

➤ Using the Coverage Analysis View on page 249

➤ Checking Criterion Results on page 249
➤ Checking Criteria Status on page 250
➤ Creating Test Criteria Reports on page 250

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Using the Coverage Analysis View

The Coverage Analysis View enables you to examine the status of your
requirements by displaying the breakdown of requirements according to test
coverage and test configuration coverage.

When working with Business Process Testing, this view also enables you to
examine the status of requirements according to criteria coverage, such as
by flows and business components.

To access the Coverage Analysis View:

1 In the Requirements module, select Coverage Analysis from the View
menu.
2 Click the Direct Cover Status link for a requirement in the grid. The
Coverage Analysis dialog box opens.
➤ Click Show Test Coverage to see the analysis as a pie chart.
➤ Click the pie chart to open the Test Coverage dialog box, from which
you can see the coverage criteria in a grid.
For user interface details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User
Guide and the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Checking Criterion Results

The Criterion Results tab displays the results of the last test criteria run for
the selected business process test.

You can also modify the status of the last test criteria run. For example, if a
criterion failed due to a temporary condition that should not impact the
coverage of the requirement, you can override the misleading status by
changing it to Passed.

Perform one of the following to access this tab.

➤ In the Test Lab module’s Test Sets tab, select a test set and then click the
Execution Grid tab.
➤ In the Test Lab module’s Test Runs tab, select a run.
➤ In the Test Lab module’s Run Details dialog box sidebar, click Criterion
Results.

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Checking Criteria Status

The Criteria Status dialog box displays the status of each criterion for the last
test criteria run used for the coverage of the selected requirement.

To access the Criteria Status dialog box:

1 In the Requirements module, select the requirement whose coverage you
are checking. Make sure that the requirement already is associated with
criteria.
2 Click the Test Coverage tab.
3 Click the Test Configuration Status tab near the bottom of the window.
4 In the Status column, click the hypertext link for the business process test
whose criteria you want to check. The Criteria Status dialog box opens.

Tip: If there is no hypertext link to click, it means no components or

flows have been added to the test, and therefore there are no criteria to
check. Add components to the test in the Test Plan module and refresh
the display in the Requirements module.

5 View the status for each criterion’s last run.

6 Click OK.

Creating Test Criteria Reports

You can create a template-based report for tests that includes test criteria
coverage.

For complete task details on creating template-based reports, see the

HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

To create a report that displays test criteria coverage:

1 In the ALM sidebar, under Dashboard, select Analysis View.
2 In the relevant folder, click New Item and select New Project Report. The
New Project Report dialog box opens.

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3 Enter a name for the report and click OK.

4 In the Configuration tab, right-click and select Add Report Section.
5 Select Tests in the Type field.
6 Enter a name for the report section in the Name field and click OK.
7 In the tree, right-click the test node that you just created and select Add
Report Section.
8 Select Test Criteria in the Type field.
9 Enter a name for the report section in the Name filed and click OK.
10 Specify other fields as necessary and click Generate.

Generating Documents for Business Process Tests and Flows

The ALM Document Generator enables you to generate Microsoft Word
documents containing comprehensive data about a selected business
process test, flow, or test set. These documents include detailed information
about a project’s requirements, planning, test list, test set folders, and defect
tracking data.

For more information on generating documents for tests, see the

HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Note: For more information on including component data in project

documents, see "Generating Project Documents" on page 117.

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8
Working with Flows

This chapter describes how to create, build, and manage flows in the Test
Plan module of HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). This chapter
also describes how to add flows to business process tests.

This chapter includes:

➤ About Working With Flows on page 254
➤ Creating Flows on page 256
➤ Developing Flows on page 257
➤ Understanding the Test Script Tab for Flows on page 258
➤ Building a Flow Structure on page 259
➤ Managing Flows on page 261

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About Working With Flows

A flow is a collection of business components in a sequence that can be used
as a unit in multiple business process tests. This provides you with a
building block you can use in multiple tests, but that has a single point of
maintenance. When you modify a flow or any of its components, all
business process tests containing that flow reflect that modification.

For an example of how flows can be used in more than one business process
test, see "Flow Example" on page 254.

You work with flows in the Test Plan module. After you create a flow, you
develop it by providing flow details, adding components, adding
attachments, and creating associations between the flow and other ALM
records, such as requirements and defects. These associations provide real-
time visibility into modifications for interrelated, application-quality
elements.

Notes:

➤ Much of the functionality available in ALM when working with flows is

the same as the functionality when working with business process tests.
For more information, see Chapter 7, "Managing Business Process Tests."
➤ The permission settings for a user group for working with flows are the
same as those for the user group for working with tests. For more
information on configuring user group permission settings, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.

Flow Example
Suppose you are testing an application for a production and supply
company. The company supplies goods it produces, as well as goods through
third-party order processing.

In third-party order processing, the company transfers the sales order to an

external vendor. This vendor delivers the goods directly to the customer and
invoices the branch company. The customer receives an invoice from the
branch company’s sales office.

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To reflect these options, your application has two separate business

processes, one for the Generating Orders business process, and one for
Third-party Order processing. Both business processes begin with the Create
Sales Order transaction. The Create Sales Order transaction contains all the
steps necessary to begin sales processing.

The Generating Orders business process continues on to delivery and billing

of the order, as well as producing a variety of other documents and reports.
The Third-party Order business process continues on to creating a purchase
order, posting a goods receipt, posting an invoice receipt, and invoicing the
sales order.

To test these business processes, you would create a flow called Create Sales
Order. This flow would contain the components that perform the
operations necessary to complete the Create Sales Order transaction.

You would create one business process test for the Generating Orders
business process and one for the Third-party Order business process. The
Create Sales Order flow could be used in these two tests since both tests
represent business processes that contain the same transaction.

If, at any time in the future, the Create Sales Order transaction changes in
your application, you would update the Create Sales Order flow. Both your
business process tests would reflect the changes in your application.

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Creating Flows
You create flows within the Test Plan Tree in the Test Plan module. For
information on working in the Test Plan module, see "About Getting Started
with Business Process Testing in the Test Plan Module" on page 184.

To create a flow:
1 In the ALM sidebar, under Testing, select Test Plan.
2 If the Test Plan Tree is not displayed, select View > Test Plan Tree.
3 Select the folder in the Test Plan Tree in which you want to create the flow
and click the New Test button. The New Test dialog box opens.

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4 From the Type list, select FLOW.

In a version-controlled project, you can choose whether to check the flow
out immediately, and if so, you can add a comment to the check out.
5 In the Test Name box, type a name for the flow.
6 Add other details and attachments as necessary.
7 Click OK. The flow is added to the selected folder in the Test Plan Tree.

Developing Flows
After you create a flow, you can use the following tabs to plan and design
the flow:

➤ Details tab. Enables you to view and modify flow details. For more
information, see "Details Tab" on page 191.
➤ Test Script tab. Enables you to build the structure of the flow by selecting
one or more business components and adding them to the flow. For more
information, see "Understanding the Test Script Tab for Flows" on
page 258.
➤ Parameters tab. Enables you to define input and output parameters, and
their values, at the flow level. This allows the flow to receive data from an
external source and to pass data to components or flows. For general
details, see Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."
➤ Attachments tab. Enables you to associate the flow with a file, a URL, a
screenshot, system information, or the contents of the clipboard. For
more information on working with attachments, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ Req Coverage tab. Enables you to associate the flow with requirements.
You create requirements coverage for a flow in the same way as you would
for a test. For more information, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

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➤ Linked Defects tab. Enables you to link the flow with existing defects, or
to create a new defect and link it to the flow. For more information on
defect linkage, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ Dependencies tab. Enables you to view the dependency relationships that
exist between entities such as components, tests, flows, test resources, and
application areas. For more information on entity dependencies, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ Business Models Linkage. Lists the business process model entities that
are tested by the selected test or flow. For more details, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
➤ History tab. Enables you to view changes made to the item selected in the
Test Plan tree, as well as its version history. For details, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Understanding the Test Script Tab for Flows

Most of the functionality available in the Test Script tab for flows is the same
as that available for business process tests. For more information on this
functionality, see "Test Script Tab" on page 196.

When working with flows, the Test Script tab enables you to build the
structure of a flow by:

➤ Adding one or more business components to the flow.

➤ Generating requests for additional business components that you require
for your flow.

You can also use the tab to:

➤ Define flow parameters and their default values.

➤ Add run conditions to the flow.
➤ Validate the flow.
➤ Run the flow in Debug mode.
➤ View the snapshots attached to business components in the flow.
➤ View the manual steps of each business component in the flow.

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In addition to the standard functionality available for business process tests,

the Test Script tab for flows includes the following toolbar buttons:

➤ Add Run Condition. Enables you to add run conditions to your flow. For
more information, see "Adding Run Conditions" on page 371.
➤ Remove Run Condition. Enables you to remove an existing run condition
from your flow. For more information, see "Managing Run Conditions"
on page 374.

Building a Flow Structure

A flow consists of a sequence of one or more business components. You
build the structure of a flow by selecting the business components from the
Component Tree and adding them to the flow.

To build a flow:
1 In the Test Plan Tree, select the flow to which you want to add
components and click the Test Script tab. The Test Script tab displays the
components currently in the flow.
2 Click the Select Components button. The Component Tree opens in the
right pane.

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3 In the Component Tree, expand the folder containing the business

component that you want to add to the flow.

Tips:

➤ You can search for a component by clicking the Find button in the
search box located in the component tree pane toolbar.
➤ In addition to adding existing components to your flow from the
component tree, you can add component requests. A component
request acts as a signal to add a new business component to the
Business Components module. You add component requests to a flow
as you would for a business process test. For more information on
component requests, see "Handling Component Requests" on
page 110.

4 In the component tree, drag the component into the Test Script pane.
Alternatively, select the component that you want to add to the flow and
click the Quick Add button. You can also click the down arrow and choose
whether to open the Promote Parameters dialog box. This dialog box
enables you to choose whether to promote component or flow
parameters to the next level. In the Promote Parameters dialog box, select
the parameters you want to promote. For more information about
promoting parameters, see "Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their
Status" on page 282.
5 Use the Move Component Up and Move Component Down buttons to
arrange the components in the flow in the correct order. Alternatively,
click the gray sidebar to the left of a component to highlight the
component row and drag the component to the correct position.
6 You can add flow parameters and run conditions to increase the flexibility
of your flow. For information on flow parameters, see Chapter 9,
"Working with Parameters." For information on run conditions, see
Chapter 13, "Defining Run Conditions."

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Managing Flows
A business process test can comprise business components and/or flows, or a
combination of business components and flows.

You can cut, copy, paste, rename, delete, and validate flows. You perform
these actions for flows in the same way as you would for business process
tests.

Note: In a version-controlled project, you can copy and paste any checked
in flow, as well as any flow that is checked out by another user - the copied
flow will contain the last checked-in data. However, you cannot copy and
paste a flow that is currently checked out by you. You must check-in the
flow before copying and pasting it.

You can send e-mail about a flow to another user. This enables you to
inform other personnel about the status of new and existing flows, and the
components they contain.

For more information on performing these actions, see Chapter 7,

"Managing Business Process Tests."

For more information on adding flows, see "Adding Flows to Business

Process Tests" on page 261.

Adding Flows to Business Process Tests

You add flows to business process tests in the same way as you add
components, only instead of using the Components tab in the Components
and Flows pane, you use the Flows tab. For more information on adding
flows and business components to business process tests, see "Adding
Components and Flows to a Business Process Test" on page 216.

After you add flows to a test, you can manage the flows and define flow
iterations in the same way as you would for business components within a
test. For more information on managing business components in a business
process test and defining iterations, see Chapter 7, "Managing Business
Process Tests."

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9
Working with Parameters

You can affect the behavior and results of a business process test by using
parameters to define the values that components and flows receive and
return.

This chapter describes how to work with parameters in Business Process

Testing at the component, flow, and test levels.

Product Feature Movie: To view a movie that demonstrates how to handle

Business Process Testing parameters, select Help > Product Feature Movies in
the ALM main window and click HP Business Process Testing – Parameters
and Data Usage.

This chapter includes:

➤ Parameter Overview on page 264
➤ Parameter Promotion on page 269
➤ Working with Parameters—A Workflow on page 271
➤ Defining Parameters and Setting Default Values on page 273
➤ Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their Status on page 282
➤ Managing Parameters on page 284
➤ Dialog Boxes and Tabs for Defining Parameters on page 291

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Parameter Overview
You can expand the scope of business process tests, flows, and components
by defining the parameters that a component or flow can receive or return,
and then replacing fixed values with these parameters. This process, known
as parameterization, enables you to perform the same operations on the
application you are testing with multiple sets of data.

Note:

➤ You can also define input and output parameters for a business
component in QuickTest. For more information, see the HP QuickTest
Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.
➤ Defining iterations enables you to automatically run business
components, flows, and tests multiple times, each time using different
input parameter values. For details, see Chapter 11, "Working with
Iterations."
➤ You can run business process tests for different use-cases of the
application you are testing. Each use-case of a test is represented by a test
configuration. You can associate different sets of data for each test
configuration and its iterations. For conceptual details, see "Test
Configurations Overview" on page 350.

This section includes:

➤ "Parameter Categories"
➤ "Example: Linking Input and Output Component Parameters"
➤ "Example: Using Flow Parameters"

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Parameter Categories
Below is an explanation of the parameter categories for business process
testing.

Parameter
Parameter and Description
Categories

Input / Output Input parameters enable you to define data used by a

Input and output component or flow that is provided from an external source.
parameters can be When creating components, tests, and flows, you define
linked to make how the values are supplied for input parameters.
data available An input parameter can receive:
between ➤ A predefined default value, if no other value is supplied by
components or the test or flow.
flows within the
➤ An output parameter value returned by a component or
same business
flow earlier in the flow or test.
process test.
➤ A parameter value that is supplied at the test or flow level,
For an example, when the test or flow is run.
see "Example:
Linking Input Output parameters allow data values retrieved from a
and Output component step or flow (the source) to be passed as input
Component parameters to a subsequent component or flow (the target)
Parameters" on in the test run.
page 267. Note: You cannot set a default value for an output
parameter.

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Parameter
Parameter and Description
Categories

Component, Component parameters are parameters defined within a

Flow, and Test component. Component parameters can be input or output
You can use parameters.
parameters at the These parameters are available to:
component level, ➤ All subsequent steps in the same component.
the flow level,
➤ Subsequent components in a flow or a test, provided that:
and at the test
➤ The component parameter is defined as an output
level. Parameters
can be promoted parameter in the current test or flow, and as an input
from one level to parameter in the subsequent component in the current
the next. test or flow.
➤ The output parameter in the current test or flow is
For an example,
linked to the input parameter of the subsequent
see "Example:
component in the current test or flow.
Parameter
Promotion" on Flow parameters are parameters defined within a flow. These
page 270. parameters are available to all components in the flow. Like
component parameters, flow parameters can be input or
output parameters. For an example, see "Example: Using
Flow Parameters" on page 268.

Test parameters are parameters defined within a business

process test. These parameters are available to all
components and flows in the test.

Local Local parameter values are defined within a business

Local parameter component and can be accessed by that component only. It
values are not is intended for use in a single step or between component
available outside steps, for example, as an output parameter for one step and
of the component an input parameter for a later step.
in which they are This type of parameter is generally used when working with
defined. automated QuickTest components in keyword view. For
more information, see "Parameterizing in the Keyword View"
on page 164.

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Example: Linking Input and Output Component

Parameters
Suppose you create three components corresponding to different stages in
processing a customer loan request:

➤ CreateLoan. Receives a loan request and generates a unique loan ID for

the request.
➤ SearchLoan. Searches the existing loans to verify if the loan exists.
➤ ApproveLoan. Approves the loan request.

In this example, a business process test tests the entire loan processing
workflow from receiving the request through approving the request. An
output parameter called LoanID is created by the component CreateLoan.
This output parameter stores the value of the loan ID generated when the
loan is requested. You could then use this value as an input parameter for
subsequent components or flows in the business process test, such as
SearchLoan and ApproveLoan.

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Example: Using Flow Parameters

Continuing the "Example: Linking Input and Output Component
Parameters" on page 267, the business process test contains the loan
processing workflow, but should also contain components for logging in
and out of the banking application. The login and logout processes are
typically done once at the beginning of loan processing and once at the end
of loan processing, respectfully. The loan processing workflow can occur
many times within one session. The following diagram shows how adding a
flow can group related business processes together for iteration purposes.

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Because three components (CreateLoan, VerifyLoan, and ApproveLoan)

need access to the LoanID parameter value (and perhaps more components
will need access as well), you may want to consider creating the LoanID
parameter as a flow parameter from the beginning. Any component in the
flow would then have access to the loan ID without needing to link input
and output parameters.

The Login and Logout components do not need access to the loan ID.

Tips for Working with Flow Parameters

➤ When designing business process tests using top-down design, you can
create flow input parameters as needed. However, when implementing
the design, input flow parameters must be assigned the value of a
component input parameter in the flow. Otherwise, they have no
relevance in the business process test.
➤ When you promote a flow output parameter from a specific component
output parameter, the flow output parameter is automatically named to
match the component and flow parameter naming convention. If
required, you can change the flow output parameter name to suit your
needs. For more information, see "Parameter Promotion" below.

Parameter Promotion
Promoting parameters enables the components in other flows (and
components and flows in other tests) to access a parameter value.
Promotion widens the scope of a parameter so that more entities can use its
value when a business process test runs.

You can promote component parameters to the flow or test level at the same
time as you add a component to a flow or test. Similarly, flow parameters
can be promoted to the test level at the same time as you add a flow to a
test.

For task details, see "Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their Status" on
page 282.

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For user interface details, see "The Promote Parameters Dialog Box" on
page 310.

This section includes:

➤ "Example: Parameter Promotion"

Example: Parameter Promotion

Let’s take a closer look at the "Example: Using Flow Parameters" on page 268.
The three components, CreateLoan, VerifyLoan, and ApproveLoan, process
a customer loan request using a parameter called LoanID. The loan ID is
stored as a flow parameter and is available to the three components in the
flow.

However, the business process needs other flows in the business process test,
such as CancelLoans, to access the loan ID as well.

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For LoanID to be accessible to the other flows, promote the LoanID

parameter to the flow level for each flow, and then promote the LoanID
parameter to the test level. A new test level parameter called LoanID is
created that is accessible to every component and flow in the business
process test.

For task information, see "Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their Status"
on page 282.

Working with Parameters—A Workflow

This workflow provides general information for how to work with
parameters, iterations, and configurations in ALM.

1 Design parameter usage

Consider the following before working with parameters:
➤ Determine which parameters are dependant on other parameters so
that you can link them. For conceptual details, see "Parameter Linkage
Overview" on page 315.
➤ After designing the various entities in your business process test,
determine which parameters should be available at the component,
flow, and test levels. For conceptual details, see "Parameter Promotion"
on page 269.
➤ Business process tests can be iterated for different use-case scenarios by
setting up iterations and test configurations with different values.
Design how many times each component, flow, and business process
test configuration should run, and with what values. For conceptual
details, see "Iterations Overview" on page 330 and "Test Configurations
Overview" on page 350.

2 Define parameters and set default values

Define input and output parameters, and their default values. For task
details, see "Defining Parameters and Setting Default Values" on page 273.
Link output and input parameters between components. For task details,
see "How to Link Parameters" on page 321.

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3 Set parameter values for each iteration and test

configuration during a run
Define how many times each business component or flow should be
iterated when the business process test runs, define configurations (use-
cases) for testing the application iteratively according to different
scenarios, and set values for parameters.
➤ For task details on iterating components, see "How to Define Iterations
to Run with Different Values" on page 334.
➤ For task details on iterating business process test configurations, see
"How to Define Test Configurations to Run with Different Values" on
page 354.

4 Manage parameters
To manage parameters, you can:
➤ Delete parameters that are no longer needed. For task details, see "How
to Delete Parameters" on page 284.
➤ Import and save parameters. For task details, see "How to Import and
Save Parameter Values" on page 285.

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 Chapter 9 • Working with Parameters

Defining Parameters and Setting Default Values

You define parameters using various methods. When defining input
parameters, you can also set default values.

Available
Method Purpose / Use See Also
from

Basic Lets you define Business For user interface

parameters, their Component details, see "The New
descriptions, and, for / Test Plan Parameter and
input parameters, modules > Parameter Details
default values. Parameters Pages" on page 297.
tabs For task details, see
"How to Define
Parameters from the
Parameters Tab" on
page 274.

Component Provides the ability to Business For task details, see

Step define parameters “on Component "How to Define
Definition the fly” directly when module > Component Parameters
defining component Component in Component Steps"
steps. Steps tab / on page 276.
dialog box

Creation of Enables you to define Test Plan For user interface

Parameters flow and test parameters module > details, see "Iterations
while “on the fly” while Iterations Dialog Boxes and Tabs"
Setting setting values for dialog on page 340.
Values to component or flow boxes For task details, see
Other parameters, such as "How to Define
Parameters when the value for a Parameters from the
flow parameter should Iterations Dialog Boxes"
match the value of a on page 277.
new, “as-of-yet-
undefined,” test
parameter. Useful for
multiple iterations.

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Chapter 9 • Working with Parameters

Available
Method Purpose / Use See Also
from

Generation Allows you to generate Test Plan For user interface

input flow parameters module > details, see "The Create
from business Iterations Flow/Test Parameters
component parameters. dialog box > Dialog Box" on
Useful for multiple Create Test page 346.
iterations. Parameters For task details, see
button "How to Generate Flow
and Test Parameters
from the Iterations
Dialog Boxes" on
page 280.

Promotion Enables you to widen Test Plan For user interface

the scope of a parameter module > details, see "The
so that more entities can Test Script Promote Parameters
use its value when a tab Dialog Box" on
business process test page 310.
runs. For example, when For task details, see
a business component "Promoting Parameters
parameter is promoted and Viewing Their
to the flow level and Status" on page 282.
then to the test level, a
parameter with the
same name is created for
the flow and the test. All
other entities, whose
parameters have also
been promoted, access
the highest-level value
for the parameter.

How to Define Parameters from the Parameters Tab

You can define parameters in the Parameters tabs. This is the basic method
for defining parameters.

For user interface details, see "The New Parameter and Parameter Details
Pages" on page 297.

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 Chapter 9 • Working with Parameters

To define parameters in the Parameters tab:

1 Access the Parameters tab:
➤ To define parameters for a business component: In the Business
Components module, select the relevant business component in the
component tree.
➤ To define parameters for a flow or a business process test: In the Test
Plan module, select the relevant flow or business process test in the
tree.
2 Click the Parameters tab. For business components and flows, the Input
Parameters and Output Parameters sub-tabs are displayed.
3 For business components and flows: Click Input Parameters or Output
Parameters.

Note: Test parameters can only be input parameters.

4 Click New Parameter. The New Parameter dialog box opens for the
corresponding entity (component, flow, or test), as indicated in the title
bar.
5 Enter a descriptive name in the Name or Parameter Name box.
6 Click once in the Description tab at the bottom of the dialog box, and
enter a description for the parameter.
7 For input parameters, specify a default value for the parameter in the
Default Value tab, directly in the grid, or in the Set Value page (accessed
by clicking the arrow in the relevant cell). For details on the Set Value
page, see "The Set Values Page" on page 301.

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Tip: You can use the default value for providing a default value in case a
value is not supplied for the run, or you can use the default value as an
example for the type of value that can be provided (for example, a phone
number example could be ###-###-####).

8 Click OK.
9 In the Parameters tab, click the Refresh button on the toolbar. The new
parameter is listed in the grid.
A line for the new parameter is added in the parameter list.

How to Define Component Parameters in Component

Steps
ALM enables you to create input and output component parameters directly
in the Component Steps tab as you insert them into your component steps.

To define component parameters as you create component steps:

1 In the Business Components module, select a business component and
click the Component Steps tab.
2 Either create a new step or modify an existing step.

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3 In the grid, click either in the Description or Expected Result field at the
position at which you want to add and define a component parameter.
4 Enter a parameter name enclosed between three sets of angle brackets
(<<<parameter>>>). (Parameters that you insert into your steps using the
Select Parameter feature are automatically displayed between <<< >>>
brackets.)
5 Click outside of the Description or Expected Result field.
6 Click the Save button on the toolbar.
7 To see the newly-defined parameter, click the Input Parameters sub-tab
from the Parameters tab and then click the Refresh button on the toolbar.

How to Define Parameters from the Iterations Dialog

Boxes
You can manually define:

➤ New flow and test parameters from the Component Iterations dialog box.
➤ New test parameters from the Flow Iterations dialog box.

Tip: This method for creating parameters is convenient when you need to
set different parameter values for each iteration of the test or flow in which
the component (or flow) exists.

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Using the Set Value page from the Iterations dialog box, or by typing a value
directly in the relevant cell, you can assign values to parameters accordingly:

Parameter Value to Assign

Component parameter ➤ An existing flow parameter

➤ A newly-defined flow parameter
➤ An existing test parameter
➤ A newly-defined test parameter
➤ Any other value that you specify

Flow parameter ➤ An existing test parameter

➤ A newly-defined test parameter
➤ Any other value that you specify

Tip: You can also define flow parameters from the Group Iterations dialog
box. You define flow parameters from the Group Iterations dialog box as
you would from the Component Iterations dialog box.

This section describes how to set the value of a component parameter while
creating a newly-defined flow parameter in the process.

To define a new flow or test parameter to use as the value for a parameter:
1 In the Test Plan module, select the relevant flow or test in the Test Plan
tree, and click the Test Script tab.
2 In the Script pane of the Test Script tab, click in the Iterations column on
the row of the entity (flow or component) whose value you want to set.

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The Iterations dialog box opens.

3 Select Single Iteration View or Multiple Iterations View. When working in

Single Iteration View, you can switch iterations either by selecting or
clicking the arrows.
4 Click the down arrow next to the cell containing the parameter whose
value you want to set. The Set Value page opens.

Tip: You can also type a parameter value directly into the cell in the grid.

5 Use one of the following methods to create the parameter:

➤ Select Fixed Values and enter a descriptive name for the parameter
between curly brackets { }.
Ensure that you do specify the curly brackets { }, as they instruct ALM
to treat what you type as a parameter and not as a fixed value.
➤ Select Test Parameters. A list of existing flow and test parameters is
displayed. Either select an existing parameter or click New Parameter
to create a new one using the New Test Parameter dialog box. For user
interface details on using the New Test Parameter dialog box, see "The
New Parameter and Parameter Details Pages" on page 297.
Click OK. The New Parameter dialog box closes.

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6 Click OK. The Iterations dialog box closes.

How to Generate Flow and Test Parameters from the

Iterations Dialog Boxes
While defining iterations for business components or flows, you can
generate test parameters to use as values for component or flow parameters.

While defining iterations for business components, you can also generate
flow parameters to use as values for component parameters.

You can generate flow/test input parameters based on existing input

parameters for a component or flow. When the component or flow runs, its
parameters take the values assigned to the corresponding test or flow
parameters.

There are several criteria you can define when generating flow/test input
parameters. For example, you can:

➤ Specify whether to use the same or unique flow/test parameters for each
iteration
➤ Configure the naming convention for your flow/test parameters
➤ Generate flow/test parameters for all component parameters
➤ Generate test parameters for all flows
➤ Specify the cells in the Component Iterations dialog box, Flow Iterations
dialog box, or Group Iterations dialog box for which you want to generate
flow/test parameters

To generate test parameters automatically from an Iterations dialog box:

1 In the ALM sidebar, click Test Plan to open the Test Plan module.
2 Click the Test Script tab.
3 Select the business process test that contains the relevant business
component or flow, or click the flow that contains the relevant business
component.

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Note: The business component or flow must already have at least one
parameter defined.

4 Click the Iterations link for the component or flow whose input
parameters you want to use as a basis for generating test input parameters.
The Iterations dialog box opens. For user interface details on the
Iterations dialog boxes, see "Iterations Dialog Boxes and Tabs" on
page 340.

Tip: You can also generate flow/test parameters automatically from the
Group Iterations dialog box, based on input parameters for components
within component groups. You generate flow input parameters from the
Group Iterations dialog box as you would from the Component Iterations
dialog box. For more information, see "Grouping Components and Flows"
on page 222.

5 Click the Create Test Parameters button on the toolbar. The Create
Flow/Test Parameters dialog box opens. Define the criteria for creating
and naming test parameters. For more information, see "The Create
Flow/Test Parameters Dialog Box" on page 346.
6 Click OK. The Create Flow/Test Parameters dialog box closes and flow
input parameters are generated for the flow, based on the criteria you
selected.
7 Click OK to close the Iterations dialog box.

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Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their Status

You can promote component parameters to the flow or test level at the same
time as you add a component to a flow or test. Similarly, you can promote
flow parameters to the test level at the same time as you add a flow to a test.

You can also view the status of promoted parameters.

This section includes the following topics:

➤ "How to Create Parameters Using Promotion" on page 282

➤ "How to View the Promotion Status for Test and Flow Parameters" on
page 284

How to Create Parameters Using Promotion

Parameter promotion enables you to create new parameters based on
parameters defined on the component or flow level. The new parameters are
then accessible to other components and flows in the test.

As you promote parameters, new parameters with the same name are
created at the higher level.

You promote parameters to the next level when adding components or

flows to a test, or when adding components to a flow.

To create flow or the test level parameters by promotion:

1 In the Test Plan module, select the flow or the test for which you want to
promote components.
2 In the Test Script tab, click the Select Components button. The
Components pane and/or the Flows pane opens.
3 In either the Components pane or the Flows pane, select the component
or flow that contains the parameters you want to promote.
4 Click the down arrow on the right side of the Quick Add button in the
pane’s toolbar and select one of the following options for adding the
component or flow.

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➤ To add the component or flow while explicitly setting promotion

options, such as specifying which individual parameters are to be
created at the next level, select Add while Setting Promote Options.
The Promote Parameters dialog box opens. This dialog box enables you
to choose whether to promote component or flow parameters to the
next level. Select the parameters you want to promote. For task details,
see "Promoting Parameters and Viewing Their Status" on page 282. For
user interface details, see "The Promote Parameters Dialog Box" on
page 310.
➤ To add the component or flow while automatically promoting all
parameters, select Add And Automatically Promote All Parameters.
➤ To add the component or flow without promoting parameters, select
Add Without Promoting Parameters.
➤ To add the component or flow using the last-used method for
parameter promotion, do one of the following:
➤ Double-click the component or the flow.
➤ Drag the component or flow to the Script pane.
➤ Click the Quick Add button in the toolbar.
➤ Click the down arrow on the right side of the Quick Add button in
the toolbar, and select Quick Add.

Note: The Promote Parameters dialog box opens if the Add while
Setting Promote Options menu option was the last menu option
chosen when adding components or flows to the Script pane.

5 If necessary, click OK to close the Promote Parameters dialog box.

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How to View the Promotion Status for Test and Flow

Parameters
You can view a list of test and flow parameters, and how they were originally
defined, using the Parameters Promotion Status dialog box.

To access the Parameters Promotion Status dialog box in the Test Plan
module:
1 In the ALM sidebar, click Test Plan to open the Test Plan module.
2 In the Test Plan tree, select the relevant business process test or flow, and
click the Test Script tab.
3 In the Script pane toolbar, click Show Test Parameters Promotion Status.
The Parameters Promotion Status dialog box opens. For user interface
details, see "The Parameters Promotion Status Dialog Box" on page 312.
4 Review the information and click OK to close the Flow or Test Parameters
Promotion Status dialog box.

Managing Parameters
This section provides instructions for managing parameters, and includes
the following topics:

➤ How to Delete Parameters on page 284

➤ How to Import and Save Parameter Values on page 285

How to Delete Parameters

You can delete input and output component parameters by selecting the
parameter in the Input Parameters or Output Parameters sub-tabs and
clicking the Delete button in the relevant toolbar. A warning message is
displayed.

If the component had a Ready status before a component parameter was

deleted, a popup dialog box enables you to choose whether to modify the
component status to Maintenance.

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Note: If a business process contains the component parameter that you are
deleting, the test may not run successfully.

How to Import and Save Parameter Values

The task of defining lists of component or flow parameter values for
iterations can be facilitated by importing the values from an external file.
You can also save a set of defined parameter values as a file, for example, to
use with other business components or flows.

Parameter values are imported and saved in .csv (comma separated value)
files. This is a file format in which each line is a record, and each data value
field in the record is separated by a comma.

The format of a typical .csv file for a flight application is shown below:

Title
Column Headers

Parameter Values

➤ The first row is reserved as a title row. It can contain any text.
➤ The second row contains the column headers, including the name of the
source business component.
➤ The subsequent rows contain the parameter values that are used in
iterations of the business process test or flow.
You map the parameters to the column headers in the .csv file using the
Map Import Data dialog box. The Map Import Data dialog box opens when
you import parameter values from a file.

You can create a .csv file manually in a text editor, save a spreadsheet file as
a .csv file from a program such as Microsoft Excel, or save a set of already
defined parameters in a business process test or flow as a .csv file.

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Tip: Enter a few rows in the Component Iterations or Flow Iterations dialog
box and use the Export option to create an initial .csv file in the proper
format. Then edit and save the .csv file in a text editor or spreadsheet
program to enter actual data.

Importing and saving parameter values is described in the following

sections:

➤ "The Map Imported Data Dialog Box"

➤ "How to Import Parameter Values from a File"
➤ "How to Save Parameter Values to a File"

The Map Imported Data Dialog Box

The Map Imported Data dialog box enables you to associate, or map, each
component or flow parameter to a column header of the imported .csv file.

The values in the column corresponding to the selected header become the
iteration values used for that component or flow parameter.

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When the Map Imported Data dialog box opens, it automatically maps any
column headers in the .csv file to the corresponding parameter if the
column headers are identical. If no identical column header exists, the value
<None> is displayed for that parameter.

For more information on how to import parameter values, see "How to

Import Parameter Values from a File" on page 287.

How to Import Parameter Values from a File

You can import parameter values for component or flow iterations from a
.csv file. When you import a file, all the records in the file become iterations
in the business process test or flow.

Note: The parameter values that you import from a .csv file are the values
that were defined when the file was last saved before the import. The values
in the .csv file do not change dynamically according to value changes that
may be implemented in ALM. Conversely, the parameter values in ALM do
not change dynamically when you make changes to the .csv file.

Before importing a .csv file, ensure that it is set up in the proper format, as
described in "How to Import and Save Parameter Values" on page 285.

To import saved component or flow parameter values:

1 In the ALM sidebar, click Test Plan to open the Test Plan module.
2 In the Test Plan tree, select the business process test that contains the
relevant business component and click the Test Script tab. Make sure the
business component has at least one input parameter.
3 In the Test Script pane, right-click the business component or flow for
which you want to import component parameter values, and select
Iterations.

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The Component Iterations, or Flow Iterations, dialog box opens.

Note: The title and text instructions in the dialog box differ according to
whether the dialog box is opened for a component or a flow.

4 Click the Import button. The Open dialog box opens.

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5 Specify or browse to the .csv file that contains the required data and click
Open. The Map Import Data dialog box opens.

6 Expand the components to locate the relevant parameters for mapping.

7 If you need to select or modify a parameter’s mapping, click in the To
Imported cell for the relevant parameter. A down arrow is displayed.
8 Click the down arrow and select the mapping from the list.
9 Repeat steps 7 and 8 for each mapping you need to set.
10 Click OK. A confirmation message is displayed.
11 Click Yes. The values from the .csv file are imported and displayed in the
Iterations dialog box.

Note: If the Component Iterations or Flow Iterations dialog box already

has values defined for one or more iterations, these values are overwritten
by the imported values. If the Component Iterations or Flow Iterations
dialog box has more iterations currently defined than the number of
records in the imported file, the surplus iterations in the dialog box will
be removed.

12 Click OK to close the Iterations dialog box.

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How to Save Parameter Values to a File

You can save parameter values that you have defined for a business
component or flow to a .csv file.

You can then apply the same values to other component or flow iterations
by importing the saved data. Saving parameters is also a useful way to create
an initial .csv file that you can edit in a spreadsheet program, and then
reimport to the component or flow.

For more information on importing parameters, see "How to Import

Parameter Values from a File" on page 287.

Note: The values that you save to a .csv file are fixed, and do not change
dynamically when you make changes to parameter values in ALM.
Conversely, the parameter values in ALM do not change dynamically when
you make changes to the .csv file. It is important therefore, to check the
parameter values in ALM before saving them to a .csv file to ensure that they
contain up-to-date values.

To save component or flow parameter values:

1 In the ALM sidebar, click Test Plan to open the Test Plan module.
2 In the Test Plan tree, select the business process test that contains the
relevant business component or flow, and click the Test Script tab.
3 In the Script pane, right-click the business component or flow for which
you want to save the component parameter values, and select Iterations.
The Component Iterations, or Flow Iterations, dialog box opens.

Note: The title and text instructions in the dialog box differs according to
whether the dialog box is opened for a component or a flow.

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4 Click the Export button. The Save CSV (Comma Delimited) File dialog
box opens.
5 Enter a descriptive name in the File Name box and click Save. The
component or flow parameter values are saved in a .csv file. The .csv file is
saved in a comma delimited table format, as shown in the example below.

Each column in the table represents the list of values for a single
parameter. The first row of the table is a title row. The second row
contains the parameter names (column headers). Each subsequent row in
a column represents a value for the displayed parameter during a single
iteration of the business process test or flow.
6 Click OK to close the Iterations dialog box.

Dialog Boxes and Tabs for Defining Parameters

This section describes the following:

➤ "The Parameters Page" on page 292

➤ "The New Parameter and Parameter Details Pages" on page 297
➤ "The Set Values Page" on page 301
➤ "The Promote Parameters Dialog Box" on page 310
➤ "The Parameters Promotion Status Dialog Box" on page 312

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The Parameters Page

This dialog box or tab enables you to view, select, and insert parameters for
business components, flows, and business process tests.

The Parameters tab for the Business Components module is shown below.

To access Use one of the following:

➤ In the Business Components module’s component
tree, select a component and click the Parameters tab.
➤ In the Business Components module’s component
tree, select a component and click the Component
Steps tab. Double-click a step and position the cursor
in the Description or Expected Result field. Click the
Insert Parameter button . The Parameters dialog
box opens.
➤ In the Test Plan module’s component tree, select a
business process test or a flow and click the
Parameters tab.
➤ In the Test Plan module’s component tree, select a
business process test or a flow and click the Test Script
tab. Click the Parameters tab at the bottom of the
window.

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Important ➤ You can insert component parameters into your steps

information in the Component Steps tab in the Business
Components module. After you select a parameter, the
parameter is inserted at the cursor location in the
component step, using the syntax <<<parameter
name>>>.
➤ Parameter values are stored, compared, and processed
as characters strings (even if values are specified as
numeric or date values).
➤ When selecting the Parameters tab from the Test
Script tab in the Test Plan module, the parameters can
be viewed only. You cannot add, modify, or delete
parameters in this tab.
➤ Notes for users of QuickTest:
Parameters for keyword-driven components can be
viewed and modified in the Business Component
Settings dialog box. In addition, you can insert Data
Table parameters and output values to business
components, but you can store the values only in the
first row of the Data Table. Component iterations are
defined for the business process test in ALM and are
not affected by the Data Table.

Relevant tasks "How to Define Parameters from the Parameters Tab" on

page 274

See also "Parameter Overview" on page 264

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User interface elements are described below (unlabeled elements are shown
in angle brackets):

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

New Parameter. Opens the New Component Parameter

dialog box, enabling you to define a new component
parameter. For more details, see "The New Parameter and
Parameter Details Pages" on page 297.
Note: This option is not available when selecting the
Parameters tab from the Test Script tab in the Test Plan
module.

Delete. Deletes the currently selected parameter. If you

delete a parameter that is included in a design step, the
parameter in the design step is replaced by regular text,
using the syntax: <parameter name>.
Note: This option is not available:
➤ When selecting the Parameters tab from the Test
Script tab in the Test Plan module.
➤ From the Parameters dialog box.

Refresh. Refreshes the component parameters so that

they display the most up-to-date information.
Note: This option is not available:
➤ When selecting the Parameters tab from the Test
Script tab in the Test Plan module.
➤ From the Parameters dialog box.

Set Filter. Enables you to filter and sort the component

parameters in the grid. Any currently applied filters or
sorting orders are displayed below the toolbar. For details,
see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
Note: This option is not available when selecting the
Parameters tab from the Test Script tab in the Test Plan
module.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Select Columns. Opens the Select Columns dialog box,

enabling you to determine which fields are displayed and
their order. For more details, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.
Note: This option is not available when selecting the
Parameters tab from the Test Script tab in the Test Plan
module.

Parameter Details. Opens the Component Parameter

Details dialog box, displaying the details of the selected
parameter. For more details, see "The New Parameter and
Parameter Details Pages" on page 297.

Map Parameters. For use with configurations that access

dynamic data. Enables you to specify sets of parameter
values from an external Microsoft Excel file by mapping
the parameter names in the Excel file to the parameter
names in ALM. For task details, see "How to Map and
Filter Data Resource Parameter Values" on page 365
Available from: Parameters tab from Test Plan module.
This field is not available when selecting the Parameters
tab from the Test Script tab in the Test Plan module.

Resource Preview. For use with configurations that access

dynamic data. Enables you to preview the resource
specified in Data Resource in the Resource Preview dialog
box.
Available from: Parameters tab from Test Plan module.
This field is not available when selecting the Parameters
tab from the Test Script tab in the Test Plan module.

Go To Resource. For use with configurations that access

dynamic data. Opens the resource in the Test Resources
module.
Available from: Parameters tab from Test Plan module.
This field is not available when selecting the Parameters
tab from the Test Script tab in the Test Plan module.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

<grid filters> Displays a grid filter box under each column name,
enabling you to define a filter condition for a column.
Type directly into the box, or click the box to display the
browse button, which opens the Select Filter Condition
dialog box. For details, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

Data Resource Specifies the name of an external Microsoft Excel file that
contains sets of parameter values for each configuration
of the test. Used only for configurations defined to access
dynamic data. For task information, see "How to Define
Configurations that Access Dynamic Data" on page 359.
Available from: Parameters tab from Test Plan module.
This field is not available when selecting the Parameters
tab from the Test Script tab in the Test Plan module.

Default Value The default value of the input parameter. This value is
used when the component runs if no other value is
supplied by the business process test or flow.
Available from: Input Parameters sub-tabs for business
components and business process tests (not flows)

Description Provides a description of the component parameter’s

purpose, or other descriptive text.

Filter Describes the filters currently applied to the list of

parameters. Located directly above the grid filter boxes.

Input Parameters Sub-tab listing all defined input parameters.

Available from: Parameters tabs

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Name A descriptive name for the parameter.

➤ Parameter names must begin with a letter and cannot
include spaces or any of the following characters:
!@#$%^&*()+=\{}|;':",./<>?~`[]–~
Any invalid character is automatically replaced by an
underscore (_).
➤ Parameter names must be unique within a
component, flow, or test.
➤ The parameter name must begin with a letter. If the
first character of the component name is not a letter, a
prefix, such as comp_, is added.

Output Parameters Sub-tab listing all defined output parameters.

Available from: Parameters tabs

Used When checked, this user interface element means the

component parameter is included in a step.
Available from: Parameters tab for business components

The New Parameter and Parameter Details Pages

The New Parameter dialog box or tab enables you to create:

➤ Input and output component parameters

➤ Input and output flow parameters
➤ Input test parameters

The Parameter Details dialog box enables you to view the details for
parameters.

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Below is an example of the New Test Parameter dialog box for flow
parameters.

Below is an example of the Parameter details dialog box for component

parameters.

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To access ➤ To define a new parameter, click the New Parameter

button from a Parameters tab.
➤ To view the details of a parameter, double-click the
parameter from a Parameters tab or dialog box.

Important ➤ Parameter values are stored, compared, and processed

information as characters strings (even if values are specified as
numeric or date values).
➤ Notes for users of QuickTest:
Parameters for keyword-driven components can be
viewed and modified in the Business Component
Settings dialog box. In addition, you can insert Data
Table parameters and output values to business
components, but you can store the values only in the
first row of the Data Table. Component iterations are
defined for the business process test in ALM and are
not affected by the Data Table.

Relevant tasks "How to Define Parameters from the Parameters Tab" on

page 274

See also "Parameter Overview" on page 264

User interface elements are described below (unlabeled elements are shown
in angle brackets):

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

First Entity. Jumps to the first component in the business

components module.
Available from: Parameter Details tabs/dialog boxes

Previous Entity. Jumps to the previous component in the

business components module.
Available from: Parameter Details tabs/dialog boxes

Next Entity. Jumps to the next component in the

business components module.
Available from: Parameter Details tabs/dialog boxes

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Last Entity. Jumps to the last component in the business

components module.
Available from: Parameter Details tabs/dialog boxes

Delete. Deletes the currently selected parameter. If you

delete a parameter that is included in a design step, the
parameter in the design step is replaced by regular text,
using the syntax: <parameter name>.
Available from: New Parameter dialog box

Spell Checking. Checks the spelling of the selected word

or all the words in the parameter.

Thesaurus. Displays a synonym, antonym, or related

word for the selected word.

Spelling Options. Configures the way ALM checks

spelling.

Default Value tab The default value of the input parameter. This value is
used when the component runs if no other value is
supplied by the business process test or flow. The default
value can be entered in the grid directly, in the Set Value
page, or in the tab at the bottom of the window.
For details on specifying default values for parameters,
see "The Set Values Page" on page 301.
Default values are saved and compared as strings, but can
be specified according to different value types.
Available from: Input Parameters sub-tabs

Description tab A description of the component parameter’s purpose, or

other descriptive text. The description can be entered
either in the grid or in the tab at the bottom of the
window.

Details tab Enables you to modify details for the parameter.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Name A descriptive name for the parameter.

➤ Parameter names must begin with a letter and cannot
include spaces or any of the following characters:
!@#$%^&*()+=\{}|;':",./<>?~`[]–~
Any invalid character is automatically replaced by an
underscore (_).
➤ Parameter names must be unique within a
component, flow, or test.
➤ The parameter name must begin with a letter. If the
first character of the component name is not a letter, a
prefix, such as comp_, is added.

Order The position of the parameter in the set of parameters.

Available for: Test and flow parameters

The Set Values Page

This page enables you to set default and actual values for parameters at the
component, flow, and test levels. This page appears in different formats (as a
pane or a dialog box) with different options depending on the context in
which it was opened.

Set Values Pane for Fixed Date Values

The following shows a Set Values pane for setting a default parameter value
with the Set Date button selected.

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Set Values Pane for Fixed Dynamic Date Values

The following shows a Set Values pane for setting a default parameter value
with the Set Dynamic Date button selected.

Set Values Pane for Fixed Values for Iterations

The following shows a Set Values dialog box for setting an actual parameter
value for an iteration. This dialog box is accessible from the grid of the
Component Iterations dialog box or the Flow Iterations dialog box. This
shows how the dialog box appears when the Fixed Value button is selected.

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Set Values Pane for Assigning a Test Parameter Value to

Another Parameter

The following shows a Set Values dialog box for setting an actual parameter
value for an iteration. This dialog box is accessible from the grid of the
Component Iterations dialog box or the Flow Iterations dialog box. This
shows how the dialog box appears when the Test Parameters button is
selected.

Description Enables you to do one of the following:

➤ Enter a fixed, encrypted, date, or dynamic date value.
➤ Use the value of a flow or test parameter as the value for a
component parameter.
➤ Use the value of a test parameter as the value for a flow
parameter.

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To Access Click the field or cell for the parameter’s value or default
value in one of the following dialog boxes or tabs. Then, if
one exists, click the drop-down button on the right side of
the cell or field.
➤ Parameters tab (in the Business Components and Test Plan
modules)
➤ Parameters dialog box (when inserting a parameter into a
component step)
➤ New Component Parameter dialog box
➤ New Test Parameter dialog box (for flows and tests)
➤ Component and Flow Iterations dialog boxes
➤ Test Iterations tab in the Execution Settings sidebar entry
of the Test Instance Details dialog box
➤ Data sub-tab for static configurations in the Test
Configurations tab for a test in the Test Plan module

Important ➤ The structure and fields of the page change depending on:
Information ➤ The location from which you opened the page
➤ The values you select for fields in this page
➤ All parameter values are internally stored as strings,
regardless of how the parameter values are specified. For
example, you can set a value as a date, using a calendar.
But when the value is stored and compared to other
values, it is compared as a string.
➤ String. One or more characters. When you enter a
parameter value as a string, numeric, or boolean value,
the value is treated in the same way as any other
character. For example, “1” and “1.0” are treated as
different strings.
➤ Encrypted. An encoded string. The characters you enter
are encrypted and displayed as asterisks.
➤ Date. Date values, which can be specified as fixed dates
or dynamic dates (dates relative to another date, such as
the current date).
➤ Values can also be entered by typing a string value directly
in the relevant cell in the grid.

Relevant Tasks "Defining Parameters and Setting Default Values" on page 273

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See Also ➤ "Setting Dynamic Dates" on page 307

➤ "Considerations for Setting Dynamic Dates" on page 308
➤ "Manually Setting Values for Dynamic Date Parameter
Values" on page 309

User interface elements are described below (unlabeled elements are shown
in angle brackets):

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

<calendar area> Enables you to select a specific date in the calendar.

➤ Click the right or left arrow to scroll through the
calendar.
➤ Click a date to select it.
➤ Select Encrypted to encrypt the date—optional.
➤ Click Cancel to close the calendar without selecting a
date.
You can also enter date values manually in <text area>.
Available when: Set Date is selected, and if it appears,
Fixed Value is selected.

<dynamic date area> Enables you to provide a time relative to the current
date (such as Today, WeekAgo). For task details, see
"Setting Dynamic Dates" on page 307.
Available when: Set Dynamic Date is selected, and if it
appears, Fixed Value is selected.

<promotion Enables you to see promotion information for the

information> selected parameter.
Available from: The Component and Flow Iterations
dialog boxes (Test Plan module) and the Test Iterations
tab (Test Lab module) when Test Parameters is selected.

<text area> Displays the current value for the parameter, and
enables you to enter and modify the value.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Encrypted checkbox Encrypts the fixed value (including dates).

Specify the fixed value and then check Encrypted.
Once a value is encrypted, it can only be modified in
the Set Value page, and not directly in the grid.
You can modify an encrypted value. It remains
encrypted.
Available when: Entering fixed values, and if it appears,
Fixed Value is selected.

Fixed Value radio Displays areas, fields, and buttons that enable you to
button enter a fixed value for the parameter.
Note: The value can be XML code, but use an external
tool to validate the XML.
Available from: Flow and Component Iteration dialog
boxes (Test Plan module) and the Test Iterations tab
(Test Lab module).

Set Date button Displays <calendar area>, enabling you to select a fixed
date value using a calendar.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Set Dynamic Date Displays <dynamic date area>, enabling you to select a
button date that is relative to a fixed date.

Test Parameters radio Displays the Parameters dialog box, which enables you
button to select (or create) a flow or test parameter whose value
should be used as the value for the selected parameter.
You can set the value of a component parameter to the
value of a flow or test parameter. Similarly, you can set
the value of a flow parameter to the value of a test
parameter.
For user interface details, see "The Parameters Page" on
page 292.
The name of the parameter is entered as a value in the
grid, surrounded by curly brackets { } . The curly
brackets instruct ALM to treat the parameter as a
parameter, and not as a fixed value.
Available from: Flow and Component Iteration dialog
boxes (Test Plan module) and the Test Iterations tab
(Test Lab module), when a component or a flow is
included in a test.

Setting Dynamic Dates

A dynamic date is a date relative to the current date (today, yesterday, a year
from today). You can add or subtract an offset time period to the relative
date that you specify (such as 3 months before one year ago).

For example, to specify a date 10 days before the current date, the dynamic
date could be: WeekAgo - 3 days

To set a dynamic date:

1 Select a relative date from the first list box (for example, Tomorrow or
MonthAgo).
2 Select + or - from the next list.
3 Enter the number in the edit box by which you want to adjust the relative
date.

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4 Select a time period from the list that you want to use to adjust the
relative date.
5 Click Cancel to close without selecting a date.

Considerations for Setting Dynamic Dates

Consider the following points when setting dynamic dates:

➤ You can also enter relative date values manually in <text area> or other
relevant value cells or fields. For details, see "Manually Setting Values for
Dynamic Date Parameter Values" on page 309.
➤ When you run a test or flow either automatically or manually, dynamic
dates are converted to the actual dates they represent.
➤ When a test or flow run ends, the parameters displayed in Last Run Result
show the date used in the run and not the dynamic date value.
➤ When creating a run condition on a parameter that contains a dynamic
date value, define the run condition as a static date (for example,
12/10/2011), which is compared to the actual date used in the run.
➤ The dates use the date on the server (not the client).
➤ For the maximum values that can be added or subtracted to time periods,
see "Considerations" under "Manually Setting Values for Dynamic Date
Parameter Values" on page 309.

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Manually Setting Values for Dynamic Date Parameter Values

You can also set dynamic date values by manually typing the values directly
in the relevant field or cell, without selecting field values in the Set Value
page’s <dynamic date area>. Dynamic date parameters must be enclosed by
square brackets [ ]. You can provide a relative date as the dynamic date value
of the date parameter, or you can adjust the date string by an offset value.

The following are the valid relative dates you can enter manually:

[Today], [Yesterday], [Tomorrow], [WeekAgo], [WeekFromToday],

[MonthAgo], [MonthFromToday], [YearAgo], [YearFromToday].

The following values can be entered manually to customize a date string by

adding or subtracting a time period to or from it:

Value Represents Usage

Day/Days/D Time period in [Tomorrow + 1 day], [Today + 3 days],

days [Yesterday - 5 d]

Week/Weeks/W Time period in [Tomorrow - 1 week], [Today + 2 weeks],

weeks [MonthFromToday + 3 w]

Month/Months/M Time period in [YearAgo - 1 month], [YearFromToday +

months 5 months], [Today + 3 m]

Year/Years/Y Time period in [Today - 1 year], [Tomorrow + 2 years],

years [WeekFromToday + 2 y]

Considerations
➤ Date strings are not case-sensitive. For example, both [WeekAgo] and
[Weekago] are valid values.
➤Time periods used to modify date strings are not case-sensitive. For
example, both [YearFromToday + 5 Months] and [YearFromToday + 5
months] are valid.
➤Spaces are not required in dynamic date values. For example, both
[MonthFromToday + 3 w] and [MonthFromToday+3w] are valid.

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➤The following maximum values apply to the time periods used to modify
date strings:

Time Period Maximum Value

Years 5000

Months 60,000

Weeks 240,000

Days 1,680,000

For example, [today + 5000 years] is valid. [today + 5001 years] is not
valid.

The Promote Parameters Dialog Box

This dialog box enables you to promote parameters to the next level.

The contents of the dialog box differs for components and flows.

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To Access In the Test Plan module, display the Components

and/or Flows panes to the right of the Test Script tab
by clicking the Select Components button. Then,
select a component or flow that contains parameters
in the tree and click the right arrow next to the Quick
Add button in the toolbar. Select Add while
Setting Promote Options.

Important Information ➤ The content and text of the Promote Parameters

dialog box depends on whether you are adding
components to a flow or test, or flows to a test.
➤ Clicking Cancel or pressing the ESC key closes the
dialog box but still adds the component or flow,
without promoting any parameters.

See Also "Parameter Overview" on page 264

User interface elements are described below:

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

<New indicator column> If the parameter is first being created as it is being

promoted, New is displayed in this column.

<Promote All checkbox> Promotes all parameters when you add the
component to a test or flow, or the flow to a test.
The check boxes for the individual parameters
below this checkbox are disabled.

<Promote checkboxes> Enables you to select the parameters that are

promoted when you add the component to a test
or flow, or the flow to a test.

Cancel Closes the dialog box but still adds the component
or flow, without promoting any parameters.

Component Parameter Displays the parameters of the component or flow.

Name

Parameter Source Displays the source for the parameter (that is, in
which component or flow the parameter was
originally defined).

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Parameter Type Displays the type of parameter, Input or Output.

Test/Flow Parameter Name Displays the names assigned to the promoted

parameters in the current business process test or
flow.

The Parameters Promotion Status Dialog Box

The Parameters Promotion Status dialog box displays flow and test
parameters and how they were defined or promoted.

➤ Test Parameters Promotion Status dialog box: Lists the business

component and flow parameters available in the business process test.
➤ Flow Parameters Promotion Status dialog box: Lists the business
component parameters available in the flow.

The information provided in these dialog boxes include:

➤ Component input parameters, flow input parameters, and flow output

parameters that have been promoted to the flow or test level.
➤ Flow and test parameters defined manually in the Test Plan module, with
an indication that these parameters were not promoted.
➤ The names of components and flows from which flow and test
parameters were promoted.
Below is an example of the Flow Parameters Promotion Status dialog box for
output parameters.

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Below is an example of the Test Parameters Promotion Status dialog box.

Description Enables you to:

➤ View parameters available from the business process test or
flow.
➤ View how the parameters became available to the business
process test or flow.

To Access In the Test Plan module, select a business process test or flow.
Click Show Test Parameters Promotion Status in the Test
Script toolbar.

Important The title bar, structure and fields of the dialog box change
Information depending on the object that was selected in the Test Plan
Module: flow or business process test.

Relevant Tasks "How to View the Promotion Status for Test and Flow
Parameters" on page 284

See Also "How to Create Parameters Using Promotion" on page 282

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User interface elements are described below:

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Component Name Name of the component from which the output

parameter was promoted.
If the flow parameter was created manually (that is, not
promoted from a business component), this value
appears as N/A (not applicable).
Available from: The Output Parameters tab of the Flow
Parameters Promotion Status dialog box

Component Output The name of the corresponding output parameter as

Parameter Name defined in the business component.
If the flow parameter was created manually (that is, not
promoted from a business component), this value
appears as N/A (not applicable).
Available from: The Output Parameters tab of the Flow
Parameters Promotion Status dialog box

Input Parameters Displays the input parameters defined for either the flow
or the business process test.

Output Parameters Displays the output parameters defined for the flow.
Available from: The Flow Parameters Promotion Status
dialog box

Test / Flow Name of the parameter defined for the business process
Parameter Name test or flow.

Used By Components Name of the component or flow from which the input
parameter was promoted.
If the parameter was created manually (that is, not
promoted), this value appears as N/A (not applicable).
Available from: The Input Parameters tab of the Flow
Parameters Promotion Status dialog box, and the Test
Parameters Promotion Status dialog box.

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10
Linking Parameters

You can make data available between business components and flows by
linking output parameters to input parameters.

This chapter describes how to link parameters.

Product Feature Movie: To view a movie that demonstrates how to handle

Business Process Testing parameters, select Help > Product Feature Movies in
the ALM main window and click HP Business Process Testing – Parameters
and Data Usage.

This chapter includes:

➤ Parameter Linkage Overview on page 315
➤ How to Link Parameters on page 321
➤ Dialog Boxes for Linking Parameters on page 324

Parameter Linkage Overview

Parameter linkage enables you to make data available between business
components and flows.

To link parameters, you pass the values of output parameters to input

parameters of subsequent business components and flows in a test. The
process of setting the value of an input parameter to the value of an output
parameter is called linking output and input parameters.

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For example, the CreateLoan business component has an output parameter

that contains a generated loan ID. A subsequent business component,
SearchLoan, can verify the loan if it has access to CreateLoan’s loan ID
value. This access is provided by linking the CreateLoan’s output parameter
to SearchLoan’s input parameter.

The component or flow in which the output parameter is defined is the

source. The component or flow that links to that output parameter is the
target. In the example above, CreateLoan is the source component and
SearchLoan is the target component.

For task details, see "How to Link Parameters" on page 321.

This overview includes the following topics:

➤ "Linkage and Iterations" on page 316

➤ "Example: Basic Linkage" on page 319
➤ "Example: Linkage with Iterations" on page 320

Linkage and Iterations

You can configure a component or flow to run a certain number of times
during a single run, using different data values for the component’s or flow’s
parameters. Each time the component or flow runs is called an iteration. For
details on iterations, see Chapter 11, "Working with Iterations."

Iterations of a source can result in multiple parameter output values. In

these cases, the value provided by each iteration is passed as input to the
corresponding iteration of the target.

Linking can occur successfully only when ALM can determine the target
iteration for each source iteration. One of the following conditions must
exist:

➤ Condition 1. The source has one iteration and the target has one or more
iterations (a “1–to–n” relationship).
➤ Condition 2. The source and the target have the same number of
iterations (an “n–to–n” relationship).

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Note: When a source or target is a member of a group, the number of

iterations is that of the group.

If the component iterations are not represented by a “1–to–n” or “n–to–n”

relationship, a warning message is displayed.

The following topics are discussed in this section:

➤ "Condition 1: Example" on page 317

➤ "Condition 2: Example" on page 318
➤ "Partial Iteration Ranges" on page 318
➤ "Considerations" on page 318

Condition 1: Example
The source component has one iteration and the target component has one
or more iterations (a “1–to–n” relationship).

In this case, the same output value of the source component is used in each
iteration of the target component.

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Condition 2: Example
The source component and the target component have the same number of
iterations (an “n–to–n” relationship).

In this case, the different output values of each of the source component’s
iterations are used in the respective iterations of the target component.

Partial Iteration Ranges

The number of iterations in the relationship between the components can

be the number of actual iterations in each component or group, or the
number of iterations selected in a partial range.

In the example of Condition 2 above therefore, the three output iteration

values of C1 could also have been used as input values in the three iteration
runs of C2 (iterations 3, 4 and 5), if that range was selected in C2. For more
information on partial iteration ranges, see "How to Select Iteration Ranges"
on page 337.

Considerations
Take the following into account when working with parameter linkage and
iterations:

➤ When you use the output of a previous component as the value for an
input component parameter, the option applies to all component
iterations for that input parameter.

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➤ When iterations of a source component in a business process test result in

multiple parameter output values, the value that is provided by a given
iteration run is passed as input to the corresponding iteration of the target
component.
➤ Moving a business component, group, or flow can cause a parameter
reference conflict, for example, where a target component is moved to a
position preceding the source component. If the resulting warning
message is ignored, the conflicting link to the source parameter is deleted.
This causes the iteration to fail, and the link must be reinstated in the
target Iterations dialog box if necessary.
➤ In cases where there is an incompatible number of iterations between
input and output component parameters, the parameter name in the
column header is displayed in red text in the Iterations dialog box.
➤ Iteration errors cause a business process test or flow that contains the
relevant components to fail. These errors are indicated in the Test Script
tab in the Test Plan module, and reported when a flow or test is validated.
For more information, see "Validating Business Process Tests and Flows"
on page 234.

Example: Basic Linkage

Three components exist corresponding to different stages in processing a
customer loan:

➤ CreateLoan. Receives a loan request and generates a unique loan ID

number for the loan.
➤ SearchLoan. Searches existing loan requests by ID number to verify the
loan.
➤ ApproveLoan. Approves the loan once verified.

To define a business process test that tests the entire loan request workflow
from receiving the request to approving it, define an output parameter for
the component CreateLoan called LoanID, which stores the value of the loan
ID number generated when the loan is created. You can then use this value
as an input parameter for subsequent components or flows in the business
process test, such as SearchLoan and ApproveLoan.

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Example: Linkage with Iterations

In the example below, the source component CreateLoan has an “n–to–n”
(“3 to 3”) relationship with the target component SearchLoan. For each
iteration of component input parameter LoanID in SearchLoan, there is a
corresponding iteration of component output parameter LoanID from
CreateLoan.

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Conversely, the source component Login has a “1–to–n” (“1–to–3”)

relationship with the target component ApproveLoan. Each iteration of
component input parameter LoanOfficer in the ApproveLoan component
uses the same component output parameter (Username) from the Login
component.

How to Link Parameters

This section describes how to link output and input parameters.

For conceptual details, see "Parameter Linkage Overview."

For user interface details, see "Dialog Boxes for Linking Parameters."

To link output parameters to input parameters:

1 Design linkage.
➤ Determine which parameters are generated by the application being
tested. Create output parameters for these parameters either at the
component level or the flow level.
➤ Determine which input parameters are dependant on other parameters
in other business components or flows. You will link these input
parameters to their corresponding output parameters.

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2 From the Test Plan module, select the relevant business process test or
flow.
3 Click the Test Script tab.

Note the I/O Parameters column. This column displays the total number
of input and output parameters defined for each component or flow. For
example, the SearchLoan component has three input parameters. The
total (3 in) is a link.

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4 Click the link in the I/O Parameters column for a component or flow
whose input parameter you want to link to an output parameter (that is,
the link of the target). The I/O Parameters dialog box opens.

In the lower pane of this dialog box, you can see which input parameters
are already linked to the output parameters. In the example above, none
of the parameters is linked.
5 For each component or flow input parameter to link:
a Select the checkbox in the Link I/O column. The Select Output
Parameter dialog box opens.
The Select Output Parameter dialog box lists output parameters from
each source business component or flow in the business process test
prior to the current target component or flow.
b Select the output parameter to link to the input parameter and click
OK.

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Note: If the number of iterations for the output parameter and the
input parameter do not match, the parameter name is displayed in red.

The number of iterations are considered a match if either the number

of output parameter iterations is equal to the number of input
parameter iterations, or if the output parameter iterations is equal to
one (regardless of the number of input parameter iterations).

6 Click OK to close the I/O Parameters dialog box.

Dialog Boxes for Linking Parameters

The section describes:

➤ "The I/O Parameter Dialog Box" on page 325

➤ "The Select Output Parameter Dialog Box" on page 326

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The I/O Parameter Dialog Box

The I/O Parameter dialog box enables you to link target input parameters to
source output parameters.

The title of the dialog box differs according to the entity for which you
opened the dialog box (component or flow).

How to access From the Iterations dialog box for a component or a flow,
click the link in the I/O Parameters column.

Relevant tasks "How to Link Parameters" on page 321

See also "Parameter Linkage Overview" on page 315

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User interface elements are described below:

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Description Description of the parameter.

Input Parameters Target input parameters defined for the component or

flow.

Link I/O checkbox Checkboxes for linking the target input parameters to
source output parameters.

Linked To Target input parameters linked to the source output

parameter.

Name Name of the parameter.

Output Parameters Source output parameters defined for the component or

flow.

The Select Output Parameter Dialog Box

This dialog box enables you to select the source output parameter to link to
a target input parameter.

How to access From the I/O Parameters dialog box, click a checkbox in
the Link I/O column.

Important ➤ Click the row for the output parameter you want to
information select, and then click OK.
➤ Output parameters from components or flows prior to
the current component or flow in the test hierarchy
are displayed.

Relevant tasks "How to Link Parameters" on page 321

See also "Parameter Linkage Overview" on page 315

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User interface elements are described below:

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Component Name Name of the component or flow in which this source

output parameter is defined.

Description Description of the parameter.

Name Name of the parameter.

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11
Working with Iterations

You can affect the behavior and results of a business process test by using
iterations. You can configure a component, group, or flow to run a specified
number of iterations during a single run, using different values for the
parameters.

This chapter describes how to work with iterations in Business Process

Testing at the component, group, and flow levels.

Product Feature Movie: To view a movie that demonstrates how to handle

Business Process Testing parameters, select Help > Product Feature Movies in
the ALM main window and click HP Business Process Testing – Parameters
and Data Usage.

This chapter includes:

➤ Iterations Overview on page 330
➤ Group Iterations on page 332
➤ How to Define Iterations to Run with Different Values on page 334
➤ How to Select Iteration Ranges on page 337
➤ Dialog Boxes and Tabs for Working with Iterations on page 340

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Iterations Overview
Defining iterations enables you to run business components, groups, flows,
and tests multiple times, each time using different parameter values. For
example:

➤ Searching for different loans in a test for a banking application by

supplying different loan IDs
➤ Approving loans with different interest rates

When you run your business component, flow, or test, one iteration is run
for each value. For example, a test or flow with ten sets of data runs ten
times, and a component with six sets of component parameter values runs
six times before proceeding to the next component in the run.

When iterating a component, group, or flow, you determine how, and how
many times, it should run. For task details on defining iterations for
components, groups, and flows, see "How to Define Iterations to Run with
Different Values" on page 334.

When iterating a test, you define how many times each test instance should
run using its configurations. For task details on defining iterations for tests
and test configurations, see "How to Define Test Configurations to Run with
Different Values" on page 354.

Note: You can run business process tests for different use-cases of the
application you are testing. Each use-case of a test is represented by a test
configuration. You can associate different sets of data for each test
configuration and its iterations. For conceptual details, see "Test
Configurations Overview" on page 350.

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Example
Consider the following business process test for a banking application
comprising three business components: Login, CreateLoan, and Logout:

As illustrated above:

➤ The entire business process test is iterated three times.

➤ Different values for the test parameters BankURL, Username, and
Password can be used for each test iteration.
➤ Within each of the three test iterations, the CreateLoan component is
iterated twice. This means that the CreateLoan component iterates a total
of six times.
➤ Different values for the CustomerName, CustomerPhone,
CustomerAddress, and the Amount input parameters are used for each
iteration of the CreateLoan component. Six different input parameters
can be supplied in total.
➤ The CreateLoan component provides an output value for the LoanID
parameter for each iteration (six output values provided in total).

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Group Iterations
In some cases, it may be helpful to iterate several business components
together as a group in certain business process tests or flows.

Consider a business process test that contains four business components;

C1, C2, C3, and C4. The test requires that the components be iterated as
follows:

➤ Component C1 - Two iterations

➤ Component C2 - Three iterations
➤ Component C3 - Three iterations
➤ Component C4 - One iteration
Without grouping, the business process test would run each business
component in sequence, C1 and its iterations, then C2 and its iterations,
then C3 and its iterations, and then C4.

This is illustrated as follows:

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Instead of running all the iterations of component C2 followed by all the

iterations of component C3, you could group these two components
together, enabling the business process test to run:

➤ The first iteration of C1, then the second iteration of C1, followed by
➤ the first iteration of C2, then the first iteration of C3, followed by
➤ the second iteration of C2, then the second iteration of C3, followed by
➤ the third iteration of C2, and then the third iteration of C3 followed by
➤ C4.
This is illustrated as follows:

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Component groups in the Test Script tab are identified by a group node
listed above its member components. The group node contains the group
icon and displays the number of iterations for the group. The group node
can be expanded and collapsed to show or hide its member components.

➤ The number of iterations indicates the total number of value sets defined
for the group.
➤ The iteration range indicates the subset of iterations currently set for use
when the test runs.

How to Define Iterations to Run with Different Values

You can instruct a component, business process test, or flow to run multiple
times, and use different values each time by defining iterations.

This section includes the following topics:

➤ Guidelines for Working with Iterations on page 335

➤ How to Define Iterations to Run with Different Values on page 335

For information on defining iterations and values for test configurations, see
"How to Define Test Configurations to Run with Different Values" on
page 354.

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Guidelines for Working with Iterations

Take the following guidelines into account to successfully work with
iterations:

➤ Matching an application’s post-condition with the next iteration’s pre-

condition. For a business component to run iterations successfully, it is
essential that the post-condition (the state of the application after the last
step in the component runs) matches the pre-condition (the state of the
application before the first step in the component runs).
➤ Linking output parameters to input parameters. Iterations in a business
process test or flow can result in multiple output parameter values. In
these cases, each iteration passes its output value as input to the
corresponding target component or flow. This is called parameter linkage.
For conceptual details, see "Parameter Linkage Overview."

How to Define Iterations to Run with Different Values

You use the Iterations dialog boxes to set the parameter values that a
component, group, or flow will use for each iteration. For user interface
details, see "Iterations Dialog Boxes and Tabs" on page 340.

To set input parameter values for iterations:

1 In the Test Plan module, select the relevant business process test or flow
in the Test Plan tree, and click the Test Script tab.
2 In the Script pane of the Test Script tab, right-click the component, group,
or flow for which you want to set values and select Iterations.
(Alternatively, you can click the Iterations link of the component, group,
or flow.)

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The Iterations dialog box for the component, group, or flow opens.

Note: You can also set the values of input flow parameters for iterations
from the Test Lab module.

➤ Click Test Lab in the sidebar.

➤ Select the test set containing the flow in the test set tree.
➤ Click the Execution Grid tab.
➤ Click the link in the Iterations column for the flow.
By default, the Iterations column is not displayed in the Execution Grid
tab. Add it using the Select Columns dialog box, if required. For
information on how to add or arrange columns in ALM, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

3 If you want the component, group, or flow to run only once, skip to
step 4.

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If you want the component, group, or flow to run more than one
iteration, click the Add Iteration button for each iteration you want to
add. You can add a new iteration with blank values, a new iteration with
default values, or a copy of the selected iteration. An additional column
or row is added for each iteration.

4 Set the value of each input parameter for each iteration. For user interface
details, see "The Set Values Page" on page 301.
5 If you want the group, component, or flow to run for a specific range of
iterations, click the Select Iterations button and select the relevant
iterations in the Select Iterations dialog box. For more information on
specifying which component iterations to run, see "How to Select
Iteration Ranges" on page 337.
6 Click OK to close the Iterations dialog box.

Note: If a component, group, or flow has input parameters that reference

the output parameters of a different business component or flow, differences
between the number of iterations can result in an error. The parameter name
in the Iterations dialog box is displayed in red, indicating an iteration range
mismatch.

How to Select Iteration Ranges

You can specify a single iteration or a range of iterations to run in a business
process test or flow. This enables you to run and check one or more specific
iterations without having to run all the defined iterations. In addition, you
could use the same business process test or flow definition for different
scenarios. Different combinations of iterations can be run for different test
runs.

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Iteration ranges for components, flows, and test configurations that use
static data are specified using the Select Iterations dialog box.
.

Iteration ranges for test configurations that use dynamic data are specified
using the Data Resource Settings dialog box.
.

For information on working with test configurations, see Chapter 12,

"Working with Test Configurations."

The following tasks are described in this section:

➤ "To access the Select Iterations dialog box:" on page 339

➤ "To select an iteration range using the Select Iterations dialog box:" on
page 339
➤ "To select an iteration range using the Data Resource Settings dialog box:"
on page 339

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To access the Select Iterations dialog box:

Perform one of the following:

➤ For business components and flows: In any Iterations dialog box toolbar,
click the Select Iterations button. The Select Iterations dialog box opens.
➤ For business process tests that use configurations that access static data:
a In the Test Plan module, select the business process test.
b Click the Parameters tab.
c Click the Data tab near the bottom of the window.
d In the Data tab toolbar, click the Select Iterations button. The Select
Iterations dialog box opens.

To select an iteration range using the Select Iterations dialog box:

1 In the Select Iterations dialog box, select the second radio button. The
from and to spin boxes are enabled.
2 Specify or select the start and end of the iteration range to run in the
business process test or flow.

Tip: To run one specific iteration only, enter or select the same iteration
number in both the from and to spin boxes.

3 Click OK. The iterations that are not selected for inclusion in the run are
disabled. When the component or flow runs, only the defined iterations
run.

To select an iteration range using the Data Resource Settings dialog box:
1 In the Test Plan module, select the business process test.
2 Click the Parameters tab.
3 Click the Data tab near the bottom of the window.

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4 Click the Data Resource Settings button. The Data Resource Settings
dialog box opens.
5 Specify the rows from the data resource file that should be processed
when the test is run. Iterations are created only for the selected rows.
➤ To process all rows that meet the specified filter condition, if one
exists, in the data resource file, select All Rows.
➤ To indicate a subset of rows, select Rows and enter the row numbers,
separated by commas. A range of rows can be specified with a hyphen
(for example, 3-5 means that rows 3, 4, and 5 will be processed).
6 Click OK.

Dialog Boxes and Tabs for Working with Iterations

This section describes the following topics:

➤ "Iterations Dialog Boxes and Tabs" on page 340

➤ "The Create Flow/Test Parameters Dialog Box" on page 346

Iterations Dialog Boxes and Tabs

The following Iterations dialog boxes and tabs enable you to configure the
input parameter values that a business component, group, test, or flow uses
for each iteration during a test run.

➤ Component Iterations dialog box

➤ Group Iterations dialog box
➤ Flow Iterations dialog box
➤ Test Iterations tab

The title of the dialog box shown above differs according to the entity for
which you opened the dialog box.

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Below is an example of an Iterations dialog box for a component:

Below is an example of the Test Iterations tab for a business process test:

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How to access ➤ Component Iterations dialog box: From the Test Plan
module, select any test or flow to which the business
component has been added. In the Test Script tab,
select the component and click the corresponding
Iterations hypertext link in the Iterations column.
➤ Group Iterations dialog box: From the Test Plan
module, select the business process test or flow in
which the group has been defined. In the Test Script
tab, select the group and click the corresponding
Iterations hypertext link in the Iterations column.
➤ Flow Iterations dialog box: From the Test Plan module,
select any test to which the flow has been added. In
the Test Script tab, select the flow and click the
corresponding Iterations hypertext link in the
Iterations column.
➤ Test Iterations tab: From the Test Lab module, select
the test set that contains the test. In the Execution
Grid tab, right-click the test instance and select Test
Instance Details. On the sidebar, click Execution
Settings and select the Test Iterations tab.

Important ➤ Test iterations can also be viewed in the Data tab near
information the bottom of the window after clicking the Test
Configurations tab in the Test Plan module. For task
details, see "How to Define Test Configurations to Run
with Different Values" on page 354.
➤ The Add Iteration, Delete Iteration, and Select
Iterations buttons in the Component Iteration or Flow
Iteration dialog box are disabled if the business
component is a member of a component group. These
are common operations for all group members and
can be accessed by clicking the group node to open
the Group Iterations dialog box. For more
information, see "Grouping Components and Flows"
on page 222.

Relevant tasks ➤ "How to Define Iterations to Run with Different

Values" on page 335
➤ "How to Define Test Configurations to Run with
Different Values" on page 354

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See also ➤ "Iterations Overview" on page 330

➤ "Group Iterations" on page 332

User interface elements are described below (unlabeled elements are shown
in angle brackets):

UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Multiple Iterations View / Single Iteration View. Enables

you to toggle between:
➤ A view that shows all iterations in one dialog box
➤ A view that shows only one iteration at a time in the
dialog box.
Not available from: Test Iterations tab

Previous / Next Iteration. Displays the next or previous

iteration in the dialog box.
Not available from: Test Iterations tab

Iteration. Displays the iteration currently in focus in the

dialog box, and enables you to select a different iteration
on which to focus.
Not available from: Test Iterations tab

Add Iteration. Adds an iteration for the entity

(component, group, test, or flow).
When adding iterations in the Iteration dialog boxes, the
following options are available:
➤ Add New Iteration. Adds a new iteration without
setting parameter values.
➤ Copy Iteration. Adds a new iteration by copying the
values of a selected iteration’s parameters.
➤ Create Iteration with Default Values. Adds a new
iteration and sets the parameter values to the default
values.
Note: This button is disabled when the component or
flow for which you are adding an iteration is in a group.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Remove/Delete Iteration. Deletes the selected iteration

for the entity (component, group, test, or flow).
For more information on adding and deleting
component iterations, see "Guidelines for Working with
Iterations" on page 335.
Note: This button is disabled when the component or
flow for which you are deleting an iteration is in a group.

Select Iterations. Opens the Select Iterations dialog box,

which enables you to select which of the defined
iterations you want to run during the test run. You can
specify one, all, or a range of iterations. For task details,
see "How to Select Iteration Ranges" on page 337.
Note: This button is disabled when the component or
flow for which you are selecting iterations is in a group.

Find. Enables you to find a parameter value, a parameter,

or a component. For information on Find and Replace
functionality, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management
User Guide.
Not available from: Test Iterations tab

Import/Export. Enables you to import component

parameter values for iterations from a .csv (comma
separated value) file, and to save component parameter
values to a .csv file. For more information on importing
and exporting parameter values, see "How to Import and
Save Parameter Values" on page 285.

<parameter Displays the names for each parameter in the displayed

columns> iteration.
Available from: Single Iterations view and the Test
Iterations tab

<value columns> Displays the value for each parameter in the displayed
iteration.
Available from: Single Iterations view and the Test
Iterations tab

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

<values> The value of the input parameter when the instance runs.
The value can be entered in the grid directly or in the Set
Value page (accessed by clicking the arrow in the relevant
cell).
For task details on specifying default values for
parameters, see "The Set Values Page" on page 301.
If no value is specified, the default value for that
parameter is used. If no default value is specified, no
value is displayed and the entity may not run correctly.
Values are saved and compared as strings, but can be
specified according to different value types.
Test or flow parameters (parameters whose values are to
be taken from the business process test or flow), are
shown in curly brackets { }. This instructs ALM to treat
the parameter as a parameter and not as a fixed value.

Create Flow/Test Opens the Create Flow/Test Parameters dialog box, which
Parameters enables you to generate flow or test parameters from
business component input parameters or flow input
parameters.
For user interface details, see "The Create Flow/Test
Parameters Dialog Box" on page 346.
For task details, see "How to Generate Flow and Test
Parameters from the Iterations Dialog Boxes" on
page 280.

Description area The description for the parameter and its original source
entity (business component, test, or flow).
Parameter descriptions are initially entered in the
module in which they were created (the Business
Components module or the Test Plan module), or in
QuickTest for automated components.

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UI Elements (A-Z) Description

Iteration # Displays the current values for each parameter in each

columns/rows iteration.
Available from: Multiple Iterations view and the Test
Iterations tab

Parameter column Names of the parameters, grouped by entity (business

component, group, test, or flow).
Available from: Iterations dialog boxes

The Create Flow/Test Parameters Dialog Box

The Create Flow/Test Parameters dialog box defines the way generated flow
or test parameters are created and named.

For task details, see "How to Generate Flow and Test Parameters from the
Iterations Dialog Boxes" on page 280.

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User interface elements are described below:

Option Description

Flow/Test Parameters ➤ Use the same flow/test parameter for each

Creation Criteria iteration. Clears the flow or test parameter
values between iterations so that the same
parameter names are used for every iteration,
but the values are not passed from one
iteration to the next.
➤ Use a different flow/test parameter for each
iteration. Automatically creates a new flow or
test parameter for each iteration. The
parameter values are saved with each iteration
run.

Parameter Name Include component name before flow/test

parameter name. If checked, adds the
component or flow name as a prefix preceding
the generated flow/test parameter name.

Example Provides an example of the generated parameter

name based on the selected criteria.

Create flow/test parameters ➤ Empty cells only. Creates flow/test parameters

for only for cells that do not contain any value
(default).
➤ Empty cells and cells with default values.
Creates flow/test parameters for all cells that
either do not contain a value or contain the
default value defined in the component or
flow parameter.
➤ All cells. Creates flow/test parameters for all
cells in the Component Iterations, Group
Iterations, or Flow Iterations dialog boxes.

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Working with Test Configurations

You can run business process tests for different use-cases of the application
you are testing. A test configuration is a set of definitions that describe a
specific use-case of a test. You can associate different sets of data for each test
configuration.

This chapter describes how to work with test configurations in Business

Process Testing.

This chapter includes:

➤ Test Configurations Overview on page 350
➤ How to Define Test Configurations to Run with Different Values
on page 354
➤ How to Generate a Configuration from a Modified Instance on page 367

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Test Configurations Overview

You can run business process tests for different use-cases of the application
you are testing. Each use-case of a test is represented by a test configuration.
You can associate different sets of data for each test configuration and its
iterations.

Working with test configurations enables you to run the same test under
different scenarios. For example, you may want to check the same test in a
Windows environment and again in a UNIX environment. In this case, you
can define one business process test with two test configurations. The
parameters values for the Windows configuration would contain Windows-
specific values (for example, backslashes in a path name) while the UNIX
configuration would contain UNIX-specific values (for example, forward
slashes in a path name).

When using test configurations with business process tests, you can run a
test many times in succession with different values specified in a Microsoft
Excel file.

A test configuration can be associated with multiple iterations, based on the

number of sets of data supplied for that test configuration.

When creating a business process test, by default, a test configuration is

created by ALM. This test configuration is created with the same name as
the test. This test configuration can be renamed.

This section contains the following topics:

➤ Test Configurations Associated with Static Data

➤ Test Configurations Associated with Dynamic Data
➤ Configuration Example with Iterations

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Test Configurations Associated with Static Data

The basic ALM test configuration accesses static data. Static data are sets of
values that are provided for each iteration’s parameters directly from within
ALM. For task details on creating configurations for ALM manual tests, see
the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

When creating test configurations for manual and automated business

process tests, you also create a set of static data for each use-case. However,
for each test configuration, you can also add iterations and define different
parameter values for each iteration. For task details on creating test
configurations that access static data for business process tests, see "How to
Define Configurations that Access Static Data" on page 357.

Test Configurations Associated with Dynamic Data

Business process test configurations can access dynamic data. Dynamic data
are sets of values that are provided for each iteration’s parameters from
outside of ALM, in an external data table uploaded in the Test Resources
module. The external data table is a Microsoft Excel file.

When the business process test instance runs using a configuration that
accesses dynamic data, the test instance fetches the parameter values for
each iteration of the configuration from the list of parameter values in the
Microsoft Excel file.

You can supply ALM with dynamic data resources:

➤ At the test level. You can supply a Microsoft Excel file that contains all
parameter values for each iteration of the configuration is specified at the
test level. The Microsoft Excel file is uploaded as a data table in the Test
Resources module, and associated with the business process test
configuration in the Parameters tab of the Test Plan module. For task
details, see "How to Define Configurations that Access Dynamic Data" on
page 359.

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➤ At the configuration level (overriding any test-level data resources). You

can supply an alternate Microsoft Excel file, overriding the test-level data
resources file that is associated with the business process test as a whole.
The Microsoft Excel file is uploaded as a data table in the Test Resources
module, and associated with a specific configuration of the business
process test in the Test Configurations tab of the Test Plan module. For
task details, see "How to Define Configurations that Access Alternate
Dynamic Data" on page 363.

Note: Configurations that access dynamic data are not available for use with
ALM manual test configurations.

Configuration Example with Iterations

Consider the following business process test and its three configurations for
a banking application comprising three business components: Login,
ApproveLoan, and Logout:

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➤ The entire business process test tests the following aspects of the
application:
➤ Access rights are correct, based on the identity of the user.
➤ Load is handled well, such as when a bank manager approves many
loans using an external list of data created in Microsoft Excel.
➤ A bank manager can approve urgent, high priority loans, based on a
different external list created in Microsoft Excel. This external list is to
be further narrowed down to include only those loans that have
manager authorization.

➤ To test access rights, a configuration named UserAccessData accesses

static data, which provides different values for the test parameters
Username and Password for three test iterations: One iteration provides
the login information for an average loan processor, another for a bank
manager, and the third for a system administrator for the application.
Each of these users has different permissions and access to the
application. The parameter values are specified within ALM.
➤ A configuration named LoanData accesses dynamic data for one hundred
different values for the LoanID input parameters used by the
ApproveLoan component. These values are provided in a Microsoft Excel
test resource of the data table type. A test iteration is run for each value in
the Microsoft Excel file, so the test instance that uses this configuration
runs one hundred times.

Note: Configurations can supply data values for test iterations, but not for
component iterations.

➤ To test urgent loans, a configuration-level data resource can be defined to

override the test-level data resource for the business process test. This data
resource, UrgentLoanData, only contains high priority loans that are to
be approved. One test iteration is run for each value that matches the
filter criteria in the alternative configuration-level Microsoft Excel file (in
this case, urgent loans that have been authorized for approval).

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How to Define Test Configurations to Run with Different

Values
You can run business process tests according to different use-cases, for
example, with a different set of data for each iteration. Each use-case is
called a test configuration.

Before running a test within a test set, you can specify the values for any test
parameters defined for the test. If you do not specify values, and valid
default values have not been specified, the test run may fail.

This section provides instructions for defining configurations for business

process tests that access both static and dynamic data:

➤ "How to Modify Test Configurations" on page 354

➤ "How to Define Configurations that Access Static Data" on page 357
➤ "How to Define Configurations that Access Dynamic Data" on page 359
➤ "How to Define Configurations that Access Alternate Dynamic Data" on
page 363
➤ "How to Map and Filter Data Resource Parameter Values" on page 365

How to Modify Test Configurations

When a test parameter is created, ALM creates a configuration for the test
that accesses static data. You can modify the configuration to suit your
needs.

To update test configurations:

1 In the Test Plan module, select the business process test for which you
want to modify a test configuration that accesses static data.
2 In the Parameters tab, create test-level parameters that represent the
values for the first iteration of the configuration. For task details on
creating test-level parameters, see "How to Generate Flow and Test
Parameters from the Iterations Dialog Boxes" on page 280.

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3 In the Test Configurations tab, a configuration is listed in the

configuration grid with the same name as the test. You can rename the
configuration by double-clicking the configuration name and typing in a
new name.

4 Click the Description tab near the bottom of the window to enter a
description for the configuration.

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5 Click the Data tab near the bottom of the window.

6 Select Static to view the details of the static data for this test
configuration. One iteration exists for this test and the default values for
each test parameter for this iteration are displayed.
a To change the values of a parameter, click in its cell. Type a value
directly in the grid, or click the down arrow to open the Set Value
page. For task details on setting values, see "The Set Values Page" on
page 301.
b To add iterations, click the Add Iteration button and update each
iteration’s parameter values. You can also delete iterations.
c To select the iteration ranges (either partial or all) to run in a business
process test or flow, click the Select Iterations button.
Alternatively, click Dynamic to change the test configuration so that it
access an external Microsoft Excel data resource file. For task details, see
"How to Define Configurations that Access Dynamic Data" on page 359
and "How to Define Configurations that Access Alternate Dynamic Data"
on page 363.
7 Run the test to confirm the test runs according to the expected
configurations, iterations, and parameter values.

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How to Define Configurations that Access Static Data

Defining static data enables you to specify sets of parameter values for the
test directly from within ALM.

You can create configurations that access static data from the Test Plan
module, and modify them from the Test Plan and Test Lab modules.

To create a configuration from the Test Plan module:

1 In the Test Plan module, select the business process test for which you
want to define a test configuration that accesses static data.
2 Create test-level parameters. For task details on creating test-level
parameters, see "How to Generate Flow and Test Parameters from the
Iterations Dialog Boxes" on page 280.
3 In the Test Configurations tab, a test configuration is listed in the
configuration grid with the same name as the test.
4 Click the New Configuration button in the toolbar. The New Test
Configuration dialog box opens.

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5 Enter the name and other details for the configuration, and click OK. The
New Test Configuration dialog box closes.
6 In the Test Plan module, click the Data tab near the bottom of the Test
Configurations tab.

7 Select Static to view the details of the static data for this test
configuration. One iteration exists for this test and the default values for
each test parameter for this iteration are displayed.
8 To change the values of a parameter, click in its cell. Type a value directly
in the grid, or click the down arrow to open the Set Value page. For task
details on setting values, see "The Set Values Page" on page 301.
9 To add iterations, click the Add Iteration button, and update each
iteration’s parameter values. You can also delete iterations and select a
range of iterations that the test should run. For task details on selecting an
iteration range, see "How to Select Iteration Ranges" on page 337.
10 Run the test to confirm the test runs according to the expected
configurations, iterations, and parameter values.

To modify an existing configuration from the Test Lab module:

1 Create test-level parameters. For task details on creating test-level
parameters, see "How to Generate Flow and Test Parameters from the
Iterations Dialog Boxes" on page 280.
2 In the Test Lab module, select the test set that contains the business
process test for which you want to define a configuration that accesses
static data.

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3 Click the Execution Grid tab.

4 Right-click the test instance and select Test Instance Details. The Test
Instance Details dialog box opens.
5 Select the Execution Settings sidebar entry.
6 Click the Test Iterations tab.
7 Add and delete iterations, defining values for each test parameter in each
iteration. You can also:
➤ Select a range of iterations that the test should run. For task details, see
"How to Select Iteration Ranges" on page 337.
➤ Import and export data for each test parameter. For task details, see
"How to Import and Save Parameter Values" on page 285.
8 Click OK to close the Test Instance Details dialog box.

How to Define Configurations that Access Dynamic Data

Defining dynamic data enables you to specify sets of parameter values for
the test from an external Microsoft Excel file.

The same Microsoft Excel file can be used as a data resource for different
tests.

Note: To work with dynamic data, make sure that the QuickTest Professional
Add-in for Business Process Testing Add-in is installed on the client
computer. The QuickTest Professional Add-in for Business Process Testing is
installed from the HP Application Lifecycle Management Add-ins page.

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To define a configuration that accesses dynamic data:

1 In Microsoft Excel, create a spreadsheet that contains the values for each
test parameter.
a Select the Sheet1 tab.

Note: Do not define data in the other sheets. ALM ignores data entered
in the other sheets.

b Specify parameter names in the each cell of the first row. The
parameter names do not have to match the parameter names defined
in the test.
c Specify values for each parameter under the parameter names, each on
a different row. Each row represents an iteration.
d Save the file.

2 In ALM, create a test resource and upload the Microsoft Excel file to it. For
task details on creating test resources and test resource folders, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
a Select the Test Resources module.
b Either create or select a test resource folder.
c Click the New Resource button to create a new test resource. The New
Resource dialog box opens.
d Enter Data Table as the resource type and click OK.
e Click the Resource Viewer tab.
f Click the Upload File button.
g Navigate and select the Microsoft Excel file you created and click
Open.
h Click OK when prompted that the upload completed successfully. The
Resource Viewer lists the default Microsoft Excel sheets. The data is
now available in ALM.

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You can double-click Sheet1 to view the data you created in the
Resource Viewer tab.

Note: The data in the Microsoft Excel file starts with row number 2. It
is assumed that the first row in the Microsoft Excel file contains the
names for the data columns, which are mapped to parameter names in
ALM.

3 In ALM, associate the test resource with the business process test.
a In the Test Plan module, select the business process test for which you
are defining this test configuration.
b Click the Parameters tab.
c Click the down arrow next to the Data Resource field in the toolbar.
d Navigate to, and select, the data resource and click OK. The Microsoft
Excel file is now the default external data file for the test.

4 In ALM, map the test parameter names to the resource parameter names
in the Microsoft Excel data resource.
a In the Parameters tab for the test, click the Map Parameters button in
the toolbar. The Map Parameters dialog box opens, listing each test
parameter.

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b For each test parameter, click in the cell for its corresponding resource
parameter name. Type in the corresponding resource parameter name
for each test parameter, and click OK.

Tip: The mapping of resource parameter names to test parameter names

facilitates reuse of the same resource file by different tests.

5 Create the test configuration.

a Click the New Configuration button in the toolbar. The New Test
Configuration dialog box opens.

b Enter the name and other details for the configuration, and click OK.
The New Test Configuration dialog box closes.
c Click the Data tab near the bottom of the Test Configurations tab.

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d Select Dynamic. This instructs ALM to use the Microsoft Excel test
resource file defined for the test in the Parameters tab.

6 To filter the data so that the test runs only on a subset of the parameter
values, either by row or by value, click Data Resource Settings. The Data
Resource Settings dialog box opens. For task details, see "How to Map and
Filter Data Resource Parameter Values" on page 365.
7 Run the test to confirm the test runs according to the expected
configurations, iterations, and parameter values.

How to Define Configurations that Access Alternate

Dynamic Data
You can create configurations that process alternate dynamic data resource
files instead of the dynamic data resource file associated with the business
process test.

The same file can be used as a data resource for different tests.

To override the test-level data resource with an alternate, configuration-

level data resource:
1 In the Test Plan module, select the business process test for which you are
defining this configuration.
2 Click the Test Configurations tab.
3 Click the Data tab near the bottom of the window.

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4 Select Dynamic. This instructs ALM to use the Microsoft Excel test
resource file defined for the test in the Parameters tab. We will override
this data resource in step 5.

5 Select Override test data resource. The Data Resource field is enabled.
6 Navigate to, and select, the alternate data resource. Click OK.
7 Click Data Resource Settings to map the test parameter names to the
resource parameter names in the Data Resource Settings dialog box.

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8 For each parameter listed in the Test Parameter Name column, click the
cell in the Resource Parameter Name column and type the name of the
corresponding resource parameter from the Microsoft Excel file.
9 To filter the data so the test runs only on a subset of the parameter values,
either enter a filter condition or row numbers in the Data Resource
Settings dialog box. For task details, see "How to Map and Filter Data
Resource Parameter Values" on page 365.
10 Click OK in the Data Resource Settings dialog box.
11 Run the test to confirm the test runs according to the expected
configurations, iterations, and parameter values.

How to Map and Filter Data Resource Parameter Values

When working with configurations that access dynamic data, you can run a
test on a subset of the parameter values in the data resource. This is done by
instructing ALM to filter out certain parameter values in the Data Resource
Settings dialog box.

Note: This dialog box is also used to map test parameter names to alternate
data resource parameter names when overriding the default data resource
associated with the automated business process test. For each parameter
listed in the Test Parameter Name column, click the cell in the Resource
Parameter Name column and type the name of the corresponding resource
parameter from the Microsoft Excel file.

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You can filter the parameter values by specifying filter conditions and
specific rows. Only values that match both the filter condition and the
specified rows are processed.

To filter the data:

1 To access the Data Resource Settings dialog box:
a From the Test Plan module’s Test Configurations tab, select the
dynamic configuration whose data you want to filter.
b Click the Data tab near the bottom of the window.
c Click Data Resource Settings. The Data Resource Settings dialog box
opens.
2 For each parameter by which you want to filter, click its cell in the Filter
Condition column and specify a filter according to the following
guidelines:
➤ Only strings can be specified.
➤ Do not specify quotation marks or operators.
➤ Only one value can be specified.

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3 Specify the rows from the data resource file that should be processed
when the test is run:
➤ To process all rows that meet the specified filter condition, if one
exists, in the data resource file, select All Rows.
➤ To indicate a subset of rows, select Rows and enter the row numbers,
separated by commas. A range of rows can be specified with a hyphen
(for example, 3-5 means rows 3, 4, and 5 will be processed).
4 Click OK.

How to Generate a Configuration from a Modified Instance

In Business Process Testing, you can generate a new test configuration from
an existing static test configuration instance whose configuration properties
have been modified to no longer match its original static configuration.

For user interface details, see the HP Application Lifecycle Management User
Guide.

To generate a new configuration:

1 From the Test Lab module’s Test Sets tab, right-click the static test
configuration instance that was modified in the Execution Grid tab.

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Note: If a test instance has not been modified, Configuration Based

appears in the Iterations column for that instance.

2 Click Generate Test Configuration.

Note: The Generate Test Configuration option is disabled if:

➤ The test set is pinned to a baseline. You cannot generate test

configurations for pinned test sets.
➤ Version Control: If the test is checked out by another user, wait until
the test is checked in before generating the test configuration.

The Generate Test Configuration dialog box opens.

3 Enter a name for the new test configuration and click OK.
The test instance name in the Execution Grid is renamed to reflect the
name of the new configuration with which this instance is now
associated.
In the Test Plan module, a new static test configuration is added for the
corresponding text in the Test Configurations tab.

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Defining Run Conditions

This chapter describes how to define and work with run conditions for your
flows.

This chapter includes:

➤ About Defining Run Conditions on page 369
➤ Adding Run Conditions on page 371
➤ Managing Run Conditions on page 374
➤ Running Tests with Run Conditions on page 375

About Defining Run Conditions

You can use run conditions to insert condition statements into your flows. A
run condition checks the current value of a component parameter before
running the component in a flow. Based on the parameter value and the run
condition definition, HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) then
determines whether to run the component, skip to the next component, or
end the component run and set the component status to fail.

When you run business process tests containing flows with run conditions,
the test run results display the results of run conditions in the test, and lists
the components that did not run because a run condition was not met.

The following topics are discussed in this section:

➤ "Guidelines for Working with Run Conditions" on page 370

➤ "Run Condition Example" on page 370

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Guidelines for Working with Run Conditions

➤ You can define only one run condition per business component.
➤ To set run conditions for a component, the component must reference at
least one flow parameter, input component parameter, or output
component parameter.
➤ Parameters with encrypted values cannot be chosen from the list when
defining run conditions. We recommend that you do not use parameters
whose default values are encrypted when defining run conditions.
➤ In some cases, it may be preferable to define different flows, rather than
using a large number of run conditions within a particular flow.
➤ If you set run conditions, and later add or remove a component or change
the component order within a flow, the parameters may no longer be
relevant and the run condition may not work. For example, if Component
B uses an output parameter value from Component A, and you change the
order of the components so that Component B precedes Component A,
then Component B cannot receive the output parameter value from
Component A and the run fails.

Run Condition Example

Suppose you create a test called Standard Sales Order, which contains all the
transactions necessary to complete the Standard Sales Order business
process. The first transaction in this business process is Create Standard
Order. The Create Standard Order transaction contains all the steps
necessary to begin sales processing.

You would create a flow called Create Standard Order. This flow would
contain the collection of components that perform the operations necessary
to complete the Create Standard Order transaction.

In the Create Standard Order transaction, depending on the material being

ordered, some screens may or may not open.

For example, when ordering item number 10, with material number p-101,
the Standard Order: Availability Control screen is displayed. When ordering
item number 10 with material number p-103, this extra screen is not
displayed.

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You can include the Create Standard Order flow in your Standard Sales
Order test and test when either material number p-101 or p-103 is entered.

In the component that enters the material number, you promote the
parameter containing the item number and the material number, to a test
parameter. When running the test, you can then assign that parameter a
value of either p-101 or p-103.

You then create a run condition for the Standard Order: Availability Control
component. The run condition checks the status of the parameter. If the
value in the material number cell of the table parameter is p-101, the flow
runs the component for the Standard Order: Availability Control screen.
Otherwise, it skips to the next component and continues.

Adding Run Conditions

When you add a run condition to a flow, the condition is displayed in the
Run Condition column of the Script pane in the Test Script tab.

For some additional considerations when working with run conditions, see
"Guidelines for Working with Run Conditions" on page 370.

To add a run condition:

1 In the Test Script tab for a flow, select the component for which you want
to add the run condition and click the Add/Edit Run Condition button.
The Run Condition dialog box opens.
2 Specify the criteria for the component to run. For more information, see
"The Run Condition Dialog Box" on page 372.
3 Click OK. The Run Condition dialog box closes and the run condition is
added to the flow.

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The Run Condition Dialog Box

The Run Condition dialog box defines which attributes must match for the
component to run.

The Run Conditions dialog box contains the following sections. Unlabeled
elements are listed between angle brackets < >.

Section Description

Run If A drop-down list of parameter types defined in that

component. The following types are available:
➤ Input Parameter. Available only if one or more
input parameters are defined for this component.
➤ Output Parameter. Available only if one or more
output parameters are defined for one or more of
the previous components in the flow.
➤ Flow Parameter. Available only if one or more flow
input parameters are defined.

<parameter name> A drop-down list of available parameter names.

Encrypted parameters are not listed.

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Section Description

Is A drop-down list of conditions that need to be met

for the component to run. The following conditions
are available:
➤ equal to
➤ not equal to
➤ less than (not available for table parameters)
➤ less than or equal (not available for table
parameters)
➤ greater than (not available for table parameters)
➤ greater than or equal (not available for table
parameters)

<value> An edit box in which you enter the valid value for
the condition.

Else Specifies what to do if the condition is not met. The

following options are available:
➤ skip to next component and continue. If the
condition is not met, the component for which
the run condition is set does not run, and the test
run continues with the next component in the
flow.
➤ End component run and fail. If the condition is
not met, the component for which the run
condition is set does not run, but instead sets the
status of the component run as Failed. The flow
either continues to the next component or ends,
depending on the failure condition set for the
component. For more information on defining
failure conditions for components, see "Defining
Failure Conditions" on page 221.

Summary A text description of the run condition you have

defined for the component.

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Prior to a component run, the condition and value are checked. If the
condition and value are met, the component run continues. If the condition
and value are not met, then the component does not run, and the run
session proceeds according to your selection in the Else box.

Tip: Your selection in the Else box applies only if the run condition is not
met. To specify whether to continue or end the entire run if a component
run fails, set the failure condition for the component. You do this in the Test
Script tab of the Test Plan module. For more information, see "Defining
Failure Conditions" on page 221.

Managing Run Conditions

After you create a run condition, you can modify its settings. You can also
remove a run condition from a flow.

To modify a run condition:

1 In the Test Script tab for a flow, right-click the component and select Add/
Edit Run Condition. Alternatively, click the relevant link in the Run
Condition column. The Run Condition dialog box opens.
2 In the Run Condition dialog box, modify the attributes and alternative
behavior as needed. For more information on the available options, see
"The Run Condition Dialog Box" on page 372.
3 Click OK. The run condition is modified.

To remove a run condition:

1 In the Script pane of the Test Script tab select the component and click
the Delete Run Condition button.
2 Click Yes in the confirmation box. The run condition is removed from the
flow.

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To troubleshoot run conditions:

If the run condition is not valid, the run condition link is displayed in red.
This can happen, for example, if a reference parameter was deleted, a
parameter value was encrypted, and so on.

Delete the run condition and define a new one.

Running Tests with Run Conditions

You run a business process test containing flows with run conditions as you
would a regular business process test. For more information on running
business process tests, see Chapter 14, "Running Business Process Tests and
Flows."

As with regular business process tests, you can view test results in the Last
Run Report tab in the Test Lab module.

➤ If you select skip to next component and continue for a run condition,
and the run condition you specify is not met, the test results list the run
status for the component with the run condition as Ignored. The
component is not displayed in the run results.
➤ If you select end component run and fail for a run condition, and the run
condition you specify is not met, the test results list the run status for the
component with the run condition as Failed.

If a run condition is not met, the test results also provide details about the
condition that was not met to help you understand why the component run
failed or did not run.

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Running Business Process Tests and Flows

This chapter describes how to run business process tests and flows in
HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) and how to view the results.

This chapter includes:

➤ About Running Business Process Tests and Flows on page 377
➤ Running a Business Process Test or Flow Manually on page 380
➤ Understanding the Manual Runner Window on page 388
➤ Understanding the Manual Runner Dialog Box on page 391
➤ Debugging Tests in the Test Plan Module on page 400
➤ Running Automated Business Process Tests or Flows on page 406
➤ Viewing Run Results of Business Process Tests or Flows on page 410

About Running Business Process Tests and Flows

Business process tests and flows can contain manual and automated
components. You run business process tests and flows, and view run results
in the Test Plan module and Test Lab module of ALM.

The following topics are discussed in this section:

➤ "About Running Tests Manually" on page 378

➤ "About Running Tests Automatically" on page 378
➤ "About Viewing Run Results" on page 379
➤ "Working with Other Testing Products" on page 379

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About Running Tests Manually

When working with tests that contain one or more manual components,
use the Manual Runner or HP Sprinter.

For information, see "Running a Business Process Test or Flow Manually" on

page 380.

About Running Tests Automatically

When working with automated tests, you can first check whether the
individual automated business components run together successfully in the
test by debugging it in the Test Plan module. Debugging enables you to
check, for example, whether the component and flow order in the test is
logical, or that components start where previous components in the test
end. For information, see "Debugging Tests in the Test Plan Module" on
page 400.

When a debug run is complete, the Test Plan module displays a summarized
report that shows which of the business components passed or failed the
test. These results are provided for debugging purposes only and are not
stored in ALM.

After a test has been debugged and is ready for testing new builds of an
application, you use the Test Lab module. Tests can be run individually, or
they can be run as part of a test set containing multiple tests of all types. For
more information, see "Running Automated Business Process Tests or Flows"
on page 406.

Automated components can be used in the same test. When you run the
test, the testing tool opens each component in the test. For more
information, see "Working with Other Testing Products" on page 379.

Note: You can continue using the Manual Runner to run your business
process test or flow manually even after automation. However, if even one
of the components in a business process test is manual, you cannot run the
test automatically.

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About Viewing Run Results

When a test run is complete, the Test Lab module displays a detailed report
that shows the pass or fail results of checkpoints and other tested points in
the business components included in the test.

In addition, you can view a comprehensive report that displays many details
about each of the steps performed during the test.

Working with Other Testing Products

Before you run an automated test containing keyword-driven components
on a host computer, you must ensure that the relevant testing tool on the
host allows ALM to run tests.

QuickTest Professional
To enable ALM access to a specific QuickTest Professional client, open
QuickTest on the host computer, select Tools > Options, click the Run node,
and ensure that Allow other HP products to run tests and components is
selected in the Run pane.

To run a QuickTest component from ALM, you must have the necessary
ALM permissions. For more information, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management Administrator Guide.

Note: When you run a QuickTest business process test from ALM, the test
run may be influenced by QuickTest Remote Agent settings on the
QuickTest computer. For more information on the QuickTest Remote Agent,
see the HP QuickTest Professional User Guide.

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Running a Business Process Test or Flow Manually

If you are working with one or more manual components in your business
process test or flow, you can use:

➤ The HP Sprinter tool for enhanced functionality, including: the ability to

create and annotate screen captures, automatically enter data into fields
in your application, and automatically include the list of your steps or
user actions in any defect you submit.
To run tests using Sprinter, In the Test Lab module, click the Run button
in the Execution Grid tab toolbar and select Run... (Sprinter).
For more information, refer to the HP Sprinter User Guide, available from
the HP Application Lifecycle Management Adds-ins Page.
➤ The Manual Runner in the Test Lab module to run the test or flow
manually. A manual run can include a combination of manual, keyword-
driven components. You can also use the Manual Runner, for example, if
you want to run an automated test manually, or when the automation of
components has not yet been completed. This section describes how to
work with this Manual Runner.

Note: You can use both the Manual Runner and HP Sprinter to run
automated components manually.

Working with the Manual Runner for business process tests or flows is
described in the following sections:

➤ "Understanding Manual Runs" on page 381

➤ "Running a Test or Flow Manually" on page 381
➤ "Understanding Run Statuses" on page 387

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Note: The Manual Runner for business process tests and flows has additional
features that the Manual Runner used for ALM manual tests does not have.
For information on running ALM manual tests, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Understanding Manual Runs

ALM enables you to run both manual and automated tests and flows
manually, allowing you to follow the test steps and perform operations on
the application you are testing. You use data from the Component Steps tab
(manual steps from manual components, or step documentation from
keyword-driven components).

Using the Manual Runner, you mark each step as passed or failed,
depending on whether the actual application results match the expected
results. You can also mark an entire component as passed or failed.

Note: Component steps created in versions prior to Quality Center version

9.0 are not displayed in the Manual Runner.

Running a Test or Flow Manually

When you run a business process test or flow manually, you follow the test
steps and perform operations on the application you are testing. You can
run a test or flow as many times as you want and register the results. Results
are stored separately for each run.

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To run a business process test or flow manually:

1 In the Test Lab module, select the relevant test set in the test set tree. The
tests that comprise the test set are displayed in the Execution Grid tab.

2 To iterate any test in the test set, select the test and right-click. Select Test
Instance Details from the context menu. The Test Instance Details dialog
box opens. If you do not want to iterate any test in the test set, proceed to
step 7.
3 In the Test Instance Details dialog box, click Execution Settings.
4 In the Test Iterations tab, configure the number of iterations required for
the selected test, and then define the values for each parameter in each
iteration. These parameter values are displayed for any components that
reference them during the manual running of the test.
Parameter values can either be defined:
➤ Manually, in the Test Iterations tab in the Test Lab module.
➤ For each test configuration in the Test Configurations tab in the Test
Plan module.
For details on how to set values, see "How to Define Iterations to Run with
Different Values" on page 334.
5 Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each test in the test set that you want to
iterate.

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6 Click OK to close the Test Instance Details dialog box.

7 Click the Run button in the Execution Grid tab toolbar and select Run
Manually. The Manual Runner window opens.

Note: For more information on this window, see "Understanding the

Manual Runner Window" on page 388.

8 Click the Begin Run button to start the run.

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The Manual Runner dialog box opens.

Tip: You can keep the Manual Runner dialog box visible while you work
with an application by clicking the Keep on Top button. Click the button
again if you do not want to keep the Manual Runner dialog box visible
while you work. For more information on this dialog box, see
"Understanding the Manual Runner Dialog Box" on page 391.

9 If required, expand the first component in the test to view its steps. Select
the first step in the component to see a detailed description of the step, its
parameters and values, and its expected result. For more information, see
"Understanding the Manual Runner Dialog Box" on page 391.

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10 Open the application you are testing and perform the first step. If the
selected step requires input parameters, use the values displayed in the
Value cells under the Type: Input section in the Parameters pane. For
more information, see "Working with the Parameters Pane" on page 395.
11 Indicate the result of the step:
➤ If the actual result is the same as the expected result when you perform
the step, click the Pass Selected toolbar button, or select Passed from
the list in the Status column. A green check mark is added to the step
and the step status changes to Passed.
To pass the current step and all its sub-steps at once, click the Pass
Selected arrow and select Pass (Including Sub-Steps).
➤ If the actual result is different from the expected result when you
perform the step, type the actual result in the Actual box. Click the Fail
Selected toolbar button, or select Failed from the list in the Status
column. A red X is added to the step and the step status changes to
Failed.
To fail the current step and all its sub-steps at once, click the Fail
Selected arrow and select Fail (Including Sub-Steps). For example, if
a dialog box does not open as expected during the test, you can
perform none of the subsequent steps that are performed on that
dialog box. In this case, select the specific component iteration node,
click the Fail Selected arrow , and select Fail (Including Sub-Steps).
➤ If you are unable to complete the step, type the reason in the Actual
box and select Not Completed from the list in the Status column.

Note: For a description of how test, component, and step statuses

interact, see "Understanding Run Statuses" on page 387.

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12 If the step description indicates that you must manually return a value to
an output parameter, enter the resulting value in the Value cell of the
parameter Type: Output list. (Output values are populated automatically
during automated runs, but not during manual runs.) This value may be
used as the input value of one or more subsequent steps or components
in the test, but you can possibly change the value during the component
run.
13 If you detect an application flaw while running the test, click the Add
Defect toolbar button. The Add Defect dialog box opens, enabling you to
add the defect. ALM automatically creates an association between the run
and the new defect. For more information on adding defects, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.
14 If you want to attach an image or other file with more information about
what happened when you performed the step, click the Attach to Step
toolbar button. The Attachments dialog box opens, enabling you to add
attachments. An icon to the left of the step indicates an attachment. Click
the toolbar button to view any attachments. To add attachments to the
entire run, click Attach to Step and select Attach to Run. For more
information on adding attachments, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.
15 Repeat steps 9 to 14 for each step in the component.

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16 Click the End Run button when you complete the run.
17 Click the Last Run Report tab at the bottom of the Execution Grid tab and
review the results of your test. For more information, see "Viewing Test
Results in the Test Lab Module" on page 411.

Understanding Run Statuses

In certain instances, the test, component, and step statuses in the Status
column of the Manual Runner dialog box change automatically, according
to the status of their respective parent and child nodes in the test hierarchy.

In general, if a run item fails, all of that item’s parent items fail. Similarly, if
all the items of a particular type pass, their immediate parent also passes.

For example:

➤ If one or more steps receive a Failed or Not Completed status, all of its
parent nodes (component iteration, component, flow, and test) also
receive a Failed or Not Completed status.
➤ If all the steps pass in a component iteration, then their immediate parent
(the component iteration) receives a Passed status.

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➤ If all the iterations for a component receive a Passed status, the

component receives a Passed status.
➤ If all the components within a test receive a Passed status, the test
receives a Passed status.

Understanding the Manual Runner Window

The Manual Runner window enables you to view and edit run and test
details. It also lets you begin a new manual run, which opens the Manual
Runner dialog box.

The name of the test you are running and the test set are shown in the title
bar of the Manual Runner.

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Toolbar
The Manual Runner window contains the following toolbar buttons:

Begin Run. Opens the Manual Runner dialog box.

End Run. Ends the current run.

Cancel Run. Cancels the current run.

Attach to Run. Enables you to add attachments to the test run, such as a file,
URL, snapshot of your application, an image from the Clipboard, or system
information. For more information on how to add attachments, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Add Defect. Enables you to add a defect in the Defects module regarding
this run. ALM automatically creates an association between the run and the
new defect. For more information on how to add defects, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Help. Opens the Online Help for the Manual Runner window.

For more information, see:

➤ "Working with the Run Details Pane" on page 389

➤ "Working with the Test Details Pane" on page 390

Tip: You can navigate the Manual Runner, and perform many commands,
using shortcut keys. For a list of shortcut keys, see "Manual Runner
Shortcuts for Business Process Testing" on page 417.

Working with the Run Details Pane

The Run Details pane enables you to edit the following run information:

➤ Run Name. The name of the run.

➤ Tester. The user name of the person who initiated the run.

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You can view the following run information:

➤ Status. The run status of the test, for example, Failed, or Not Complete.
➤ Exec Date. The date that the run was initiated.
➤ Exec Time. The time that the run was initiated.
You can also click the Operating System Info link in the Run Details pane to
display or edit details about the operating system, operating system service
pack and operating system build.

For more information on operating system information, see the

HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Working with the Test Details Pane

The Test Details pane provides the description of the test or flow defined in
the Test Plan module.

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You can click the More link in the Test Details pane to open the Test
Properties dialog box and display test details and attachments.

➤ The Details tab displays a description of the test and contains the same
information as the Details tab in the Test Plan module. See "Details Tab"
on page 191.
➤ The Attachments tab displays the attachments that are added to the test
and contains the same information as the Attachments tab in the Test
Plan module. See the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Understanding the Manual Runner Dialog Box

The Manual Runner dialog box enables you to manually progress through
each step of your business process test or flow and indicate a Pass, Fail, or
Not Completed result for each step.

The Manual Runner dialog box displays the run status, parameters,
description, and actual result of each step.

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Tip: The various panes can be hidden or displayed. If a required pane is not
visible, click Show to the right of the pane name. Click Hide to hide
the pane.

The name of the test you are running and the test set are shown in the title
bar of the Manual Runner dialog box.

Toolbar
The Manual Runner dialog box contains the following toolbar buttons:

Previous Step. Jumps to the previous step.

Next Step. Jumps to the next step.

Pass Selected. Enables you to indicate that the actual result of the selected
step, (test, or component iteration) is the same as the expected result. A
green check mark is added to the step and the step status changes to Passed.
(To pass the current step and all its sub-steps at once, click the Pass Selected
arrow and select Pass All.)

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Fail Selected. Enables you to indicate that the actual result of the selected
step or steps is different from the expected result, and to enter the actual
result in the Actual box. A red X is added to the step and the step status
changes to Failed. (To fail the current step and all its sub-steps at once, click
the Fail Selected arrow and select Fail All.)

Return to previously clicked link. Enables you to jump back to the step
containing the input parameter link you clicked previously.

Attach to Step. Enables you to add attachments to the step. To add

attachments to the entire run, click the arrow and select Attach to Run. For
more information on how to add attachments, see the HP Application
Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Add Defect. Enables you to add a defect for the step in the Defects module.
For more information on how to add defects, see the HP Application Lifecycle
Management User Guide.

Keep On Top/Not On Top. Enables you to keep/not keep the Manual Runner
dialog box visible while you work with the application you are testing.

End Run. Ends the current run.

Help. Opens the Online Help for the Manual Runner dialog box.

For more information, see:

➤ "Working with the Run Progress Pane" on page 393

➤ "Working with the Details Pane" on page 394
➤ "Working with the Parameters Pane" on page 395
➤ "Understanding the Run Progress Pane Hierarchy" on page 397

Working with the Run Progress Pane

The Run Progress pane in the Manual Runner dialog box displays a
hierarchical tree of each test or flow iteration, business component, and
component iteration contained in the business process test or flow.

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Select a tree item to display its description, parameters and values, and
expected result in the other panes. You can expand or collapse the nodes in
the tree to display or hide the contents.

For more information on the tree hierarchy in the Run Progress pane, see
"Understanding the Run Progress Pane Hierarchy" on page 397.

You can select the Status cell of each run item in the tree to modify its
current status in the test, for example, Passed or Not Completed. For more
information on statuses, see "Understanding Run Statuses" on page 387.

The number of run items modified during the current manual run, and the
total number of run items in the test, is shown next to the Run Progress
pane title.

Working with the Details Pane

The Description box in the Details pane of the Manual Runner dialog box
provides the textual description of the selected test, flow, component, or
step. This is the text originally entered in the Business Components or Test
Plan modules.

In the Expected box, you can view the expected result of running the
selected component. This is the text originally entered in the Component
Steps tab of the component in the Business Components module.

Input and output parameters within the text in the Description and
Expected boxes are indicated by sets of angle brackets:

➤ Input parameters. Input parameters are enclosed in one set of angle

brackets. If a value has been assigned to the parameter, the value is
enclosed in the angle brackets, for example, <mercury>, for the
AgentName parameter. If no value has been assigned to the parameter, an
empty set of angle brackets is shown, for example, <>.
➤ Output parameters. Output parameter names are enclosed in three sets of
angle brackets, for example, <<<Order_Number>>>.
In the Actual box you can enter the actual result of running the step during
the test or flow.

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Working with the Parameters Pane

The Parameters pane in the Manual Runner dialog box displays the input
parameter values for you to use when manually running the component
selected in the run tree. The Parameters pane also enables you to enter
values output by the application that you can use later in the test or flow
run.

Input Parameter Values

You can view the input parameter values defined for the component
selected in the tree in the Value cells of the Type: Input section. These input
parameter values are provided by:

➤ Parameters. You can define parameters for use during a run for each
iteration using the Test Iterations tab in the Test Instance Details dialog
box before running the test.
Alternatively, you can set up values for each test configuration. For more
information, see "How to Define Iterations to Run with Different Values"
on page 334.
Parameter names are shown as links in the Source cells in the Type: Input
section. You can click the link to jump to the component or iteration that
provides the parameter value. You can click the Return to previously
clicked link button to jump back to the step containing the link.
➤ Output parameters. You can enter a value provided by a step in the
application you are testing in the Value cell of the parameter Type:
Output list. You can then use this value as an input value in a subsequent
step.
Input parameters derived from the output parameter of a previous step
are shown as links in the Source cells in the Type: Input section.
The name of the link indicates the name of the source component and
the name of the relevant output parameter, for example, [Component1]
Order_Number.
To retrieve the output parameter value, you can click the link to jump to
the step that provides the value.
You can click the Return to previously clicked link button to jump back to
the step containing the link.

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➤ Default values. Default values can be defined for input parameters in the
component Parameters tab in the Business Components module. Default
values are used if no other value is provided from a parameter or output
parameter during the test. For more information, see "Defining
Parameters and Setting Default Values" on page 273.
Input parameter values that are defined as the default values in the
Parameters tab of the component in the Business Components module do
not have any associated link.

Output Parameter Values

Output parameters allow you to retrieve values from a step in one business
component (the source component) and insert them as input parameters in
a subsequent component (the target component) in the business process test
or flow.

Note: The output parameter must already have been created in the
component Parameters tab in the Business Components module. In
addition, the output parameter must have been linked to the input
parameter in the Component Iterations dialog box. For more information,
see "Defining Parameters and Setting Default Values" on page 273.

You manually type in the relevant value provided by the application you are
testing in the Value cell of the parameter Type: Output list when you run the
step. A link to the source component is displayed when the target
component is run. You can click the link to retrieve the required value. This
value may be used as the input value of one or more subsequent steps or
components in the test.

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Understanding the Run Progress Pane Hierarchy

The Run Progress pane displays a tree hierarchy of all the components and
steps in your business process test or flow in the order that the steps should
be performed on the application. Component groups, and iterations of
groups and components, are also displayed in the tree in the defined order.
This enables you to manually perform each of the individual component
steps in the correct testing sequence.

For example, consider a business process test named Reservation_Test, that

contains four business components; Component1 (C1), Component2 (C2),
Component3 (C3), and Component4 (C4). The test requires that
components C2 and C3 be grouped and that the components and group are
then run and iterated as follows:

➤ the first iteration of C1, then the second iteration of C1, followed by
➤ the first iteration of the group comprising C2 and C3, followed by
➤ the second iteration of the group, followed by
➤ the third iteration of the group, followed by the component C4.

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This is illustrated as follows:

In addition, the entire test is iterated twice.

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The test is displayed in the Manual Runner as follows:

Note: For clarity, the components in the tree have not been expanded to
display their individual steps.

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Debugging Tests in the Test Plan Module

You can debug a business process test or flow comprised of one or more
automated business components by running the components in Debug
mode in the Test Plan module. Debugging is usually performed after the
automation engineer has ensured that the individual components can run
successfully in QuickTest Professional or other testing tools, and all the
components have a Ready status.

Tip: You can also access QuickTest to run and debug individual business
components.

For more information on running and debugging components in QuickTest,

see the HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.

Debugging ensures that the test runs properly, and locates any possible
errors that may have occurred during the building of the test. For example,
you can check the logical order of business components in the test, the
pre-conditions and post-conditions required by each component, and the
suitability of component parameter values, especially where output values
are used as input values in other components.

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You use the Run or Debug Test dialog box to choose whether to run each of
the business components in the test in Debug mode or in Normal mode.

➤ When you run an automated component in Debug mode, the component

opens and immediately pauses, enabling you (or an automation engineer)
to use the debug tools available in QuickTest to debug the component.
When one component ends, the next one immediately opens.
➤ When you run in Normal mode, the testing tool runs all the steps in the
component consecutively, and then opens the next component. You
cannot access debug options while a component runs in Normal mode.

Note: When you run a business process test or flow in Debug mode in the
Test Plan module, no results or other test data is saved to the ALM database.

Working with the Run or Debug Test Dialog Box

When you choose to run a business process test or flow from the Test Plan
module, the Run or Debug Test dialog box opens.

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The dialog box displays the business components that make up the selected
business process test or flow, and enables you to choose whether to run each
component in the test in Debug mode or in Normal mode.

➤ Debug mode adds a breakpoint that causes the test to pause before
running the first step in the specified business component. The position
of the breakpoint in the test is indicated by a red spot icon in the left
margin of the Keyword View or Expert View in QuickTest. This enables
you to use all the debug options of QuickTest to check the performance of
one or more specific steps in the component. You can then continue the
run.
For more information on QuickTest debugging options, see the
HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.
➤ Normal mode runs the selected business component from start to finish
without pausing.
Clicking the relevant cell in the Run Mode column enables you to select the
required run mode from a list. You can also click the appropriate button to
set all the components to Debug mode or to Normal mode simultaneously.

When you initiate a test to debug a business component or a complete test,

ALM opens QuickTest directly from the Test Plan module. The requested test
is then run on your local computer, and the results are exported back to
ALM for your viewing.

Note: Tests can contain both automated and manual components. Initiating
a test to debug a manual component or test containing one or more manual
components will display a warning message. To run tests that contain
manual components, use the Manual Runner. For information on the
Manual Runner, see "Running a Business Process Test or Flow Manually" on
page 380.

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To run a test or flow using Debug mode:

1 In the ALM sidebar, click Test Plan to open the Test Plan module.
2 Select the relevant test in the Test Plan tree, and click the Test Script tab.
3 Ensure that all the necessary applications for the test are set up to meet
the pre-conditions required by the first business component. For
example, close unnecessary instances of applications, or open the
application at the required window.
4 Ensure that default values are set for the parameters, as described in
Chapter 9, "Working with Parameters."
5 In the Script pane of the Test Script tab, click the Run or Debug Test
button in the toolbar.
The Run or Debug Test dialog box opens, which lists all the business
components that make up the selected test.

6 For each component, click in the Run Mode column and select Debug or
Normal from the list.

Tip: Click the Debug button to set all the components to run in Debug
mode or click the Normal button to set all the components to run in
Normal mode.

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7 Click OK to close the Run or Debug Test dialog box. QuickTest opens on
your computer and runs the first business component in the test.

Note: You should close all browsers before running a test on a Web
browser. QuickTest must load the Web Add-in (as defined in the
application area in QuickTest) before a step in the test opens the browser.

If the test contains QuickTest components, the test should include a

QuickTest component at the beginning of the test before the browser
opens.

From your task bar, you can toggle between the Test Plan module,
QuickTest, and the application you are testing.
➤ With the first keyword-driven or scripted component in the test, ALM
opens QuickTest and loads the add-ins from the application area that
is associated with that component. It assumes that these are the
required add-ins for all the components in the test.
➤ In the Test Plan module, the status of the test and the name of the
component currently being run are shown below the toolbar in the
Test Script tab, for example, Running(OrderStart). You can click the Stop
Run button to stop the run at any time.
➤ In QuickTest, the status of the test being run, for example Running, or
Ready, is shown in the status bar at the bottom of the window.
➤ In QuickTest, all the debugging functions from the Debug menu, for
example, Step Over or Step Into, are enabled for use. For more
information on applicable debug options, see the HP QuickTest
Professional for Business Process Testing User Guide.

8 If you selected a business component to run in Debug mode, the test

pauses after opening the component in QuickTest. Use the QuickTest
debug options to control the continuation of the run through the
displayed component. When you are ready to proceed with the run,
continue the run in QuickTest.

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When one component finishes running, it closes and the next

component in the test opens in QuickTest.
When the debug run is complete, ALM imports the results from QuickTest
and displays summary information in the Debug Run Information dialog
box in the Test Plan module.

This report details the results of the debug run for each business
component in the test and includes all relevant QuickTest messages.
9 Click Close to complete the run.

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Running Automated Business Process Tests or Flows

When a business process test or flow has been debugged and parameters
have been configured, you can run the test or flow, or a test set containing
several tests and flows, from the Test Lab module.

To run a business process test or flow in the Test Lab module:

1 In the Test Lab module, select the relevant test set in the test set tree. The
tests and flows in the test set are displayed in the Execution Grid tab.

2 Perform one of the following:

➤ Select the specific test in the Execution Grid tab and click the Run
button in the tab toolbar.
Or
➤ Click the Run Test Set button in the Execution Grid tab toolbar.

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Note: Clicking the Run button enables you to run a test manually using
either the standard manual runner or HP Sprinter. For more information
on using the standard manual runner, see "Running a Business Process
Test or Flow Manually" on page 380.

The Automatic Runner dialog box opens.

The Automatic Runner dialog box lists the specific tests selected in the
Execution Grid, or all the tests in the test set if you clicked the Run Test
Set button.

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3 Select the Run All Tests Locally check box if you want to run the selected
flow, test, or test set using QuickTest on your local computer. If you want
to run the test or test set on a host computer, select the cell in the Run on
Host column, click the browse button, and select a host from the list.

Notes:

If you select Run All Tests Locally, you must have QuickTest Professional
version 10.00 or above installed on your computer.
If you select a remote host, make sure that the HP ALM Client
Registration Add-in is installed on the remote host before running the
flow, test, or test set.
For information on choosing a different host computer, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

4 Select the Enable Log check box to enable QuickTest to record an

execution log of the run. For more information on the execution log, see
"Viewing the Execution Log" on page 413.
5 Select a test in the list and click the Run button to run the selected test, or
click the Run All button to run all the tests in the test set. The testing tool
required for each component, such as QuickTest, opens and runs the
applicable business components in the test or test set. From your task bar,
you can toggle between the Test Lab module, QuickTest, and the
application you are testing.
➤ The status of the test run, for example, Connecting, or Running, is
shown in the Status column of the Automatic Runner dialog box. You
can click the Stop button in the toolbar to stop the run at any time.
You can click the Stop All button in the toolbar to stop all the
currently running tests.
➤ The status of the run is shown in the status bar at the bottom of the
QuickTest window.

After the test or test set run ends, the overall result of the run is shown in
the Status column of the Automatic Runner dialog box.

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6 Close the Automatic Runner dialog box to return to the Test Lab window.

Tip: You can view an execution log of the test or test set run. For more
information, see "Viewing the Execution Log" on page 413.

Note: For improved performance when running tests or flows that

contain only QuickTest automated components, ALM creates and runs a
BPT wrapper test in QuickTest. The BPT wrapper test is recreated each
time the test or flow runs. By default, the wrapper test is not saved with
the run.

For auditing purposes, you can instruct ALM to save the BPT wrapper test
as an attachment to the test or flow run. In Site Administration, add the
BPT_WRAPPER_TEST_AUDIT parameter to the list of parameters and set
the value to Y. For more information on setting parameters, see the
HP Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide.
To view the contents of a BPT wrapper test, from the Test Lab module’s
Test Runs tab, double-click the attachment icon next to the business
process test or flow run in the grid.

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Viewing Run Results of Business Process Tests or Flows

After you run a business process test or flow from the Test Lab module, you
can view the results in various formats:

➤ For automated and manual tests, you can view the summarized results of
the run in the Last Run Report tab. This pane lists each step of all the
business components in the test, and, where applicable, the summarized
results of main events reported by QuickTest. For more information, see
"Viewing Test Results in the Test Lab Module" on page 411.
➤ For automated tests, you can view a complete QuickTest report. The
hierarchical report contains details on all the steps for all the different
iterations and business components within the automated test run. For
more information, see "Viewing Reports for Automated Business Process
Tests" on page 412.
➤ For automated and manual tests, you can view an execution log of the
tests run. From this log you can view summarized or detailed results of
any test or test set run. For more information, see "Viewing the Execution
Log" on page 413.

Note: Results are stored in ALM only when the business component runs
from the Test Lab module as part of a test. They are not stored in ALM when
you run the test in Debug mode from the Test Plan module, or when
running components directly from QuickTest.

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Viewing Test Results in the Test Lab Module

You can view the results of the latest automated or manual test run in the
Test Lab module in the Last Run Report tab at the bottom of the Execution
Grid.

The pane displays a hierarchical tree of each business component contained

in the test, the test run date and time, and the overall result obtained when
the component or step ran, such as Passed, or Failed. If one or more steps
within a component receive a Failed result, the component itself displays a
Failed status.

Note: The results of automated steps run in previous versions of ALM are
not displayed in the Last Run Report tab.

To view the results of the last test run:

1 Ensure that the Last Run Report tab is displayed at the bottom of the
Execution Grid tab.

If the Last Run Report tab is not visible, click the Show button at the
bottom-right of the Execution Grid tab. After clicking this button, it
changes to a Hide button that you can later use to hide the pane.
Expand and collapse the tree entities in the Name column as necessary to
see more or less details.

2 Select steps in the pane to view a description of the events in the test or
the reason for a failed event.

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Viewing Reports for Automated Business Process Tests

If you have QuickTest Professional or the QuickTest Professional Add-in for
ALM installed on your computer, you can view a full report of an automated
business process test run in the Test Lab module.

To view a report of an automated business process test:

1 After you run a business process test from the Test Lab module, open the
Last Run Report tab at the bottom of the Execution Grid tab, as described
in "Viewing Test Results in the Test Lab Module" on page 411.
2 Click the link to the report about each iteration in the Status column of
the pane. The Run Results Viewer opens.

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The Run Results Viewer displays a graphical representation of the result of

each step or event in the selected iteration of the test.
By selecting a node in the tree, you can view the details of how the step or
node performed in the test.
For more information on viewing and analyzing the results of tests in the
Run Results Viewer, see the HP QuickTest Professional for Business Process
Testing User Guide.

Viewing the Execution Log

The Execution Log provides a log of the automated test or tests run in a test
set. The log includes the date and time that each test ran, the host on which
it ran, and summary results of the selected test.

Note: The Execution Log is created only if the Enable Log check box is
selected in the Automatic Runner dialog box before the test or test set runs.
For more information, see "Debugging Tests in the Test Plan Module" on
page 400.

To view the Execution Log:

1 After the test or test set run is completed, the results of the run are shown
in the Status column of the Automatic Runner dialog box.

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2 Double-click a test name in the Automatic Runner dialog box, or select a

test and select View Execution Log from the Run menu.
The Execution Log window opens and displays the results of the test or
test set run.

3 If required, you can filter the list to display fewer entries by:
➤ Selecting the specific test you want to view from the Test list, and
clicking the Refresh button.
➤ Selecting your local computer or the specific host on which the test
was run from the Host list, and clicking the Refresh button.

4 In the list of test runs for the selected test set, select the test whose results
you want to view. The results of the run are displayed in the box at the
bottom of the log window.

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Business Process Testing Keyboard
Shortcuts

You can navigate HP Business Process Testing, and perform many Business
Process Testing commands, using shortcut keys.

This chapter includes:

➤ General Keyboard Shortcuts on page 415
➤ Business Component Module Shortcuts on page 415
➤ Test Plan Module Shortcuts for Business Process Testing on page 417
➤ Manual Runner Shortcuts for Business Process Testing on page 417

General Keyboard Shortcuts

You can navigate ALM, and perform common commands, by pressing the
shortcut keys described in the HP Application Lifecycle Management User
Guide.

Business Component Module Shortcuts

You can perform the following commands in the Business Components
module by pressing the corresponding shortcut keys:

Shortcut Key Function

CTRL+ALT+N Creates a new component folder.

CTRL+N Creates a new component.

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Shortcut Key Function

DELETE Deletes an entity (component, component step).

F5 Refreshes.

ALT+G Opens the Go To Component dialog box.

CTRL+U Copies a URL.

ALT+S Snapshot tab: Creates a snapshot.

ALT+L Snapshot tab: Loads a snapshot from file.

ALT+D Snapshot tab: Deletes a snapshot.

Alt+N Manual Steps tab: Adds a new step.

Parameters tab: Adds a new parameter.

CTRL+C Manual Steps tab: Copies steps.

CTRL+V Manual Steps tab: Pastes steps.

CTRL+P Manual Steps tab: Inserts a parameter.

CTRL+DELETE Parameters tab: Deletes a parameter.

CTRL+F Manual Steps tab: Finds a test.

CTRL+F11 When positioned in the Output cell from the Keyword

View of the Component Steps tab: Opens the Output
Options dialog box.
When positioned in the Value cell from the Keyword
View of the Component Steps tab: Opens the Value
Configuration Options dialog box.

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Test Plan Module Shortcuts for Business Process Testing

You can perform the following commands in the Test Plan module for
business process tests and flows by pressing the corresponding shortcut
keys:

Shortcut Key Function

CTRL+S Test Script tab: Opens the Select Component pane.

CTRL+R Test Script tab: Creates a new component request.

DELETE Test Script tab: Removes the selected item (component,

flow business process test, group).

F5 Refreshes.

F8 Validates the test.

Manual Runner Shortcuts for Business Process Testing

You can perform the following commands in the Manual Runner for
business process tests and flows by pressing the corresponding shortcut
keys:

Shortcut Key Function

CTRL+R Begins run.

CTRL+Q Ends run.

CTRL+K Cancels run.

CTRL+U Attaches to run.

CTRL+B Adds a defect.

CTRL+UP ARROW Goes to previous step.

CTRL+DOWN ARROW Goes to next step.

CTRL+P Passes selected steps.

CTRL+ALT+A Passes (including sub-steps).

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Shortcut Key Function

CTRL+F Fails selected steps.

CTRL+G Fails (including sub-steps).

ALT+LEFT ARROW Returns to previously clicked link.

ALT+S Attaches to step.

F12 Toggles the Always on Top option.

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Business Process Testing Glossary

This glossary describes terminology specific to Business Process Testing.

See also: The glossary in the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide.

Application Area. Application areas contain all of the settings and resources
required to create the content of keyword-driven business components for a
particular application or part of an application. These include
representations of the objects from your application contained in the shared
object repository, and user-defined operations, contained in function
libraries.

Automation Engineer. An expert in an automated testing product, such as

QuickTest Professional.

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Business Component (or Component). An easily-maintained, reusable unit

comprising one or more steps that perform a specific task. You can use
business components in multiple tests and flows. A business component can
be defined as a manual or automated component. Business components
may require input values from an external source or from other
components, and they can return output values to other components.

Business Process Test. A scenario comprising a sequence of business

components or flows, designed to test a specific business process of an
application.

Business Process Test Parameters. Variable values that a business process test
or flow can receive and then pass to business components or flows for use as
input values.

Dynamic data for configurations. Values for a test configuration specified in

an external Microsoft Excel file, which is then uploaded as a test resource
and mapped to a test configuration in ALM.

input component parameters. Variable values that a business component

can receive and use as the values for specific, parameterized steps in the
component.

output component parameters. Values that a business component can

return. These values can be viewed in the business process test results and
can also be used as input for a component or flow that is used later in the
test.

Component Request. A request for the creation of a new business

component, when no existing component answers the needs of a business
process test or flow. Component requests are initiated in the Test Plan
module and can be viewed in the Component Requests folder in the
Business Components module.

Flow. A reusable collection of business components in a fixed sequence that

performs a specific task. You can use flows in multiple business process tests.
Flows may require input values from an external source or from other
components or flows, and they can return output values to other
components or flows.

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Flow input parameters. Variable values that enable you to define data used
by a flow that is provided to the flow from an external source.

Flow output parameters. Values that enable you to define data that is
retrieved and stored by a flow and can be used in subsequent components in
a flow.

Group. A combination of contiguous components that you can iterate

together in a business process test or flow.

Implementation requirements. Details and information, written by the

subject matter expert that creates a business component, describing a
general overview of the business component’s purpose or goals, and the
condition of the application before and after a component is run (the
pre-conditions and post-conditions).

Iterations. The number of times that an individual business component,

group of components, or flow, runs within a single test run, or the number
of times that an entire business process test runs within a test set.

Pre-Condition and Post-Condition. The state of the application before the

first step in a business component, and the state of the application after the
last step in a business component. For example, the pre-condition for a
component may state that all applications should be closed, or a specific
application should be open to a specific screen or with a specific dialog box
displayed. A post-condition may state that an application should be open to
a particular screen, or be closed.

If you want the business component to allow iterations, the post-conditions

should specify that the application’s end state must match its state at the
beginning of the component. The pre-conditions and post-conditions
provide a guide when implementing the steps for the business component.

Roles. The various types of users who are involved in Business Process
Testing.

Run condition. A conditional statement you can insert into a flow to check
the current value of a given parameter before running a component in a
flow. The run condition determines whether to run the component, skip the
component run, or skip and set the component status to fail.

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Static data for configurations. Values for a test configuration specified from
within ALM.

Status (Component). A status value that indicates whether a business

component is fully implemented, debugged, and ready to be run in a
business process test or flow. The component with the most severe status
determines the status of the entire test or flow. The status can be modified
by the subject matter expert in ALM and the automation engineer in
QuickTest.

Status (Business Process Test, or Flow). A status value that is automatically

generated based on the status values of all the business components in the
business process test or flow.

Steps. Individual operations in a component. These can be manual steps or

detailed automated testing steps and are designed and implemented in a
business component to test the workings of a specific task in an application.

Subject Matter Expert. The subject matter expert who uses ALM to create
business components, flows, and business process tests.

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