Decades of Leadership in the Software Testing Industry
AscentialTest has been forming in the minds of our founders for several years. After building QA Partner/SilkTest at Segue Software in the 90s, they got the opportunity to use their product extensively in the field. As consultants implementing test automation with various tools for more than 10 years, they’ve formed a thorough assessment of the state of the field. What they found surprised them: automated tests were too expensive to build.
Furthermore, the requirement for programming skills to move beyond the superficial tests that can be recorded left out too many members of the team. They also discovered that a large portion of test development time is spent ‘writing code’ to workaround object recognition deficiencies. Some users estimate that time to approach 80%. Clearly this explains why the decision to adopt automation is not always straightforward. With a fresh understanding of the challenges and our heads full of ideas, we’re energized and excited to bring about the next paradigm shift in test automation.
Brian has been working in the field of test automation for more than 30 years. Brian began as a QA Engineer using the testing tools available in the early 1980’s. He joined Segue Software in its infancy and served as the EVP of R&D during that company’s golden years. Brian formed Star Quality, a consulting firm specializing in test automation in the late 90s. After 12 years of experience in the trenches, he’s excited to be building the next generation testing tool that will increase the productivity and and effectiveness of test and development teams.
Dave is a pioneer in the field of automated testing. Dave developed ATF, one of the first automation tools, more than 20 yeas ago. He was a founder and Chief Architect of Segue Software, Inc., the original creators of QA Partner/SilkTest. Dave believes that no testing tool can be easy to use without a solid foundation. That’s why he is committed to providing AscentialTest’s universal agent with the most powerful object recognition engine in the industry.
We look forward to offering additional integration with Microsoft’s Team Foundation Server and Azure through defect tracking and version control soon.
Omnis Studio
Automated testing support for OMNIS Studio is coming soon. All OMNIS elements will be supported including complex grids, list boxes, tables and tree views.
Custom Objects
Add automated testing support easily for your custom application elements by responding to simple test API messages with json strings. This feature will open up the possibility of testing any GUI element and will be offered free of charge.
Test Debugger
Set breakpoints in your automated tests, view global and local variables and execute statements to make it easier to debug tests running on any of our supported platforms.
AscentialTest is an automated testing tool, manual testing tool and test management tool. It is a productivity tool for software testing. AscentialTest provides a highly visual environment for developing manual and automated tests and managing the testing process.
Zeenyx understands that the cost of maintenance erodes the return on investment in test automation and has given it the highest priority in the product’s design. The step-based approach allows testers to create durable tests that are as easy to maintain as they are to create. By eliminating the need to build a costly test framework, AscentialTest reduces the level of effort, increases productivity and lowers the cost of software testing.
Test frameworks are costly to build and maintain. Unlike keyword-driven testing, AscentialTest does not require the development of a test framework. AscentialTest is a productivity tool for software testing. It has been designed to lower the learning curve, reduce test creation time and minimize the level of effort to maintain tests. Instead of investing time in building frameworks, software testers can spend more time testing. AscentialTest provides a highly visual environment where test components are created using drag and drop in an easy 4 step process
Users point and click to capture Snapshots, which contain all of the data required to expose and organize application objects and attributes. Users define objects by dragging and dropping to the object repository.
Uniquely identify objects using a rich array of descriptors
Visually confirm object definitions
Reduce ‘noise’ by filtering out unwanted levels in the application hierarchy
Text and images are recognized as application objects
Powerful object recognition for complex objects like tables and grids
Table wizard guides definition of web table objects
‘Selectors’ provide easy interaction with objects in tables and lists
Capture list of values from dropdowns, listboxes and other list-based controls
Capture and compare image-based application components
Refactor project automatically when renaming objects
Locate object references throughout the project
Build Snapshot series to storyboard test transactions
Create object classes to define objects that display on multiple pages
Special object recognition for PowerBuilder, dotNet (Windforms and WPF) and PDF
Special object recognition for Java and Terminals (5250 and 3270)
AscentialTest marries the usability of a recorder with the strength of script-based testing. Reusable steps are created by point and click. Actions are automatically generated by interacting with Snapshots.
Visually build steps in drag and drop interface
Generate input and verification actions
Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Test data objects automatically generated
Data types are automatically handled by AscentialTest
Access interfaces to DLLs, database, xml and the operating system
Powerful scripting language available for users with scripting experience
Run individual steps out of context to aid in debugging
Build steps from Snapshots even when offline to the target application
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameters
Reusable tests are built by dragging and dropping steps. AscentialTest automatically generates data tables and binds to the data fields of the test. As the library of steps grows, the pace of building new tests accelerates. The most important benefit of the Step-Based approach is not realized until the target application changes over time. When the target application changes, only the impacted steps need to be modified. All the tests that use those steps are automatically updated. This not only saves time and resources, it assures that tests are ready when you need them.
Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Build cross-browser tests without need for modifications
Access built-in startup and error recovery
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Tests can be ported to multiple languages at a fraction of the time required with other tools
Combine manual and automated steps
Data tables are automatically generated by AscentialTest based on test input fields. Data tables offer significant advantages over spreadsheets for maintaining test data. Instead of storing only strings, AscentialTest data tables store data in the type that is required by test actions including complex lists and records. Users can automatically generate data tables from tests or build them visually using a specialized editor. All the user has to do is provide the test data.
Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files
How To: Manual Testing
AscentialTest provides a unique way to create and execute manual tests. Manual tests are developed by combining and organizing re-usable steps by drag and drop. At test execution time, the tester is prompted with instructions for each step and provided a way to capture outputs, notes, images and attachments. Results are stored along with automated test results, making it easy to generate comprehensive reports. AscentialTest provides a highly visual environment where test components are created using drag and drop in an easy 4 step process
Build reusable steps to reduce test maintenance when the target application changes in the future.
Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameter
Reusable tests are built by dragging and dropping steps. AscentialTest automatically generates data tables and binds to the data fields of the test. As the library of steps grows, the pace of building new tests accelerates. The most important benefit of the Step-Based approach is not realized until the target application changes over time. When the target application changes, only the impacted steps need to be modified. All the tests that use those steps are automatically updated. This not only saves time and resources, it assures that tests are ready when you need them.
Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
Outputs captured in one step can be linked to input instructions of subsequent steps so that the tester is provided with session specific data
Data lookups can be embedded within instructions so that the tester is provided with current and relevant test data. Significant time is saved searching for records and eliminating input errors due to out-of-date data
Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
Combine manual and automated steps
Data tables are automatically generated by AscentialTest based on test input fields. Data tables offer significant advantages over spreadsheets for maintaining test data. Instead of storing only strings, AscentialTest data tables store data in the type that is required by test actions including complex lists and records. Users can automatically generate data tables from tests or build them visually using a specialized editor. All the user has to do is provide the test data.
Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Import test data from .csv
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files
The manual test prompter invokes on the tester’s computer and provides instructions along with the ability to capture outputs, notes and attachments.
Application images can be captured during execution for display in test results or defect reports
Test results including date/time, tester and executed actions are recorded for audit or regulatory review
AscentialTest Manual Test Edition can be purchased separately as a standalone solution for manual-only testing
How To: Application Lifecycle Management
AscentialTest is designed to make it easy to manage test plans, test data, manual and automated tests, test results and metrics. It supports collaborations and integrates easily with version control, defect tracking and continuous delivery solutions.
The Test Plan Editor is a planning tool used to describe test requirements in outline, list or scenario form. It provides links to manual and automated tests and to test data stored in built-in data tables.
Link tests to plans via drag and drop
Link test requirements with test data by point and click
Test plan attributes provide the ability to locate tests using a powerful query tool
Automatically generate test plans from test data tables
Specify number of iterations to repeat tests n times
Group test plans into suites for execution
AscentialTest is integrated with Jira for defect tracking to provide a way to manage the relationship between test results and defects. (Figure 1)
Failures can be associated with defects so that testers will be notified when defects have been fixed and ready for re-testing. (Figure 2)
Create a defect
Assign a test to a defect
Get prompted to create defects for failed tests
Check the current status of a defect
Get prompted to re-run tests as defects are fixed
Get prompted to close defects for ‘passed’ tests
Access a defect to modify status and details
AscentialTest offers several collaboration features by integrating seamlessly with other software development tools. By integrating with version control systems like Subversion (SVN), large teams can contribute to the test development effort. Integration with GIT and TFS will also be offered in the near future.
Check out/check in components to SVN repository
Merge files with integrated merge utility
Review project history
Restore to previous revision
Test Sets provide test execution management and reporting. A Test Set may be created for a build, a sprint, a test cycle or a project, depending upon how your organization tests and delivers software. Test Sets help manage test results.
Combine automated and manual tests within a Test Set
Manage test results in a centralized database
Indicate and specify reasons for blocked and failed tests
Annotate Test Set to explain test results
Generate and export reports to PDF, HTML, EXCEL, RTF, TXT or TIF formats
Email results automatically
View real-time results in web portal
Attach documents of any type to results
Execute tests locally, remotely or on multiple machines
Schedule tests using test scheduler
How To: Test Data Management
AscentialTest makes it easy to mange test data and integrate it with manual and automated tests.
Build data structures and tables visually
Import test data from .csv
Project and plan level data available to provide for global data parameters
Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
Standalone applet available for editing test data
Random data generation available
Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files
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Brian has been working in the field of test automation for more than 30 years. Brian began as a QA Engineer using the testing tools available in the early 1980’s. He joined Segue Software in its infancy and served as the EVP of R&D during that company’s golden years. Brian formed Star Quality, a consulting firm specializing in test automation in the late 90s. After 12 years of experience in the trenches, he’s excited to be building the next generation testing tool that will increase the productivity and and effectiveness of test and development teams.
Dave is a pioneer in the field of automated testing. Dave developed ATF, one of the first automation tools, more than 20 yeas ago. He was a founder and Chief Architect of Segue Software, Inc., the original creators of QA Partner/SilkTest. Dave believes that no testing tool can be easy to use without a solid foundation. That’s why he is committed to providing AscentialTest’s universal agent with the most powerful object recognition engine in the industry.
