Forum Discussion

tristaanogre's avatar
tristaanogre
Esteemed Contributor
14 years ago

Using HISUtils.StopWatch in keyword tests

I want to open this out to others to see if there's anyone else who has a better way of doing this.



Essentially, the goal is to minimize, as much as possible, the amount of script code that needs to be written to do certain tasks.  In many environments, testers have a varying skill set as to whether or not they can write code.  While it's possible to train them to do so,it would be nice to minimize that necessity.  The best example is the use of the HISUtils.StopWatch object that installs with TC 8.



As per the screenshot attached, the only way it seems to be able to do this is to use a series of code snippets to actually execute the methods on the stop watch object.  To log the time elapsed, then, the Message parameter on the log operation needs to be a code expression.  This seems to be because, unlike script code, when assigning a variable to an object, you can't, within the editor, access the methods and properties of that object.  This would be a nice feature to include in Keyword Tests, but until then, does anyone have any other ideas as to ways to do this same kind of thing without having to use code expressions or code snippets?



Thanks!
  • AlexeyKolosov's avatar
    AlexeyKolosov
    Staff
    14 years ago

    Hi Robert,





    Currently, this is impossible. We have registered a suggestion in our database.





    As an alternative, you can create a script extension with the custom keyword test operation which code will contain the usage of the StopWatch object methods. For the information on how to do this, refer to the Creating Keyword Test Operations help topic.


  • tristaanogre's avatar
    tristaanogre
    Esteemed Contributor
    14 years ago
    Thanks, Allen!



    Yeah, I had started exploring creating a script extension for that.  I think, currently, that's the best workaround there is.  Obviously, it requires someone with development experience to create the extension (not impossible for me. :-) ), but the end result is that it will allow a non-developer tester to utilize this object.
  • mgroen's avatar
    mgroen
    Frequent Contributor
    14 years ago
    Hi,

    I have a related question, for using a Stopwatch function, combined with a Wait function,

    in a keyword driven test.

    What I want to do is use as little code as possible (running code snippets out of my keyword driven test would be acceptable though),

    the goal is want to start the stopwatch immediately after a given command, then run the given command, then wait for an object to be existing or visible (either will do I guess), then stop the stopwatch.



    Like I said the Stopwatch function would do the measuring stuff however I need to have a suitable command to wait for an object in our application to become visible.



    Is there any smart way to do this? I am relatively new (3 monts TC experience), some code tips that would be able to run as Code Snippets in my keyword driven tests would be best solution.





  • tristaanogre's avatar
    tristaanogre
    Esteemed Contributor
    14 years ago
    Take a look at the screenshot I posted in the opening post of this thread.  In place of the "Delay" on the fourth line down, you would put in your command and Wait object operations.  Effectively, what I've posted is probably the "smartest".  An alternate would be to, instead of using a variable on the keyword test, put the variable on the project level.  That would make the stop watch object instance available to multiple keyword tests, script units, etc., without having to refer back to that one keyword test.
  • mgroen's avatar
    mgroen
    Frequent Contributor
    14 years ago
    Hi Robert Martin,









    thanks for your reply. Your mentioned approach seems good to me. However I come into two questions:




    1. what is the type for the variable to define, for the Stopwatch? String/integer etc




    2. What is te specific command suitable to use, to wait for an object to become visible? (I'll use that in stead of the delay, just like you mentioned). I've heard about some Wait statements, but I can type anything in the Code Snippet line (without having code autocomplete -> is that an option I can put on?), I'd have to know more concrete syntax info for the right Wait statement.









    Please advice.




    EDIT: I've entered keycode (Control-Space), that brings out the Autocompletion form, however I do not see any Wait commands??

    (see attachment)









  • tristaanogre's avatar
    tristaanogre
    Esteemed Contributor
    14 years ago
    1. what is the type for the variable to define, for the Stopwatch? String/integer etc


    I have the variable type set to "object"

    2. What is te specific command suitable to use, to wait for an object to become visible? (I'll use that in stead of the delay, just like you mentioned). I've heard about some Wait statements, but I can type anything in the Code Snippet line (without having code autocomplete -> is that an option I can put on?), I'd have to know more concrete syntax info for the right Wait statement.




    The Wait commands are not stand alone functions but are methods associated with Window objects.  So, for example, if I have a standard DeskTop application that, after I click a button, I want to wait for a form to display, I'd call something like



    Sys.Process("MyApp").WaitVCLObject("MyForm", 10000)




    So, what you'll do is insert a "Call Object Method" operation, specify the Onscreen object that is the parent of the object you're waiting for, and then call the "WaitNNN" method that is appropriate for it.  If you're using NameMapping and aliases, that will most like be WaitAliasChild (documented at http://smartbear.com/support/viewarticle/12497/).  



    Hope this helps!




  • mgroen's avatar
    mgroen
    Frequent Contributor
    14 years ago
    Hi,



    I have inserted a "Call Object Method" in my keyword script, and selected the title bar of the popup window, with the object spyder  (I have to pause the script until a popup window is displayed : the content of this window is variable so I'd better not select that one).



    The object to wait for is like this:



    Aliases.iexplore.pageKewillNavigator.panelData2.panelIcPopupmenu.panelQueryDefaultpagestyle.panel  



    However, what I noticed, is that for the WaitProperty method, I have to enter a PropertyName and a PropertyValue.

    But I do not know what these are or this object! I guess it should be something like "exists"? But I am not sure.



    Please advise.



    Also, but I am not sure of this, is that PanelData2 has a dynamic number (meaning that 2 is not a fixed value might change in each browser session).

    Does this work?



    Is it possible to contact you via email on this?



    Thanks




  • tristaanogre's avatar
    tristaanogre
    Esteemed Contributor
    14 years ago
    If you follow the link in my signature line and, from there, follow to my bio, you'll find my e-mail addy.  I'd be happy to help out but, as I'm gainfully employed myself, I can't necessarily dedicate exclusive time for it.





    As for the method, I wouldn't use WaitProperty.  I'd use WaitAliasChild on the object you're waiting for.



    Actually, as I'm looking, what you MIGHT want to do is use an "If Object" operation instead of the wait method I described above.  That would specifically allow you to check for Exists, Visible, etc.  Take a look at that operation and see if that helps you.



    As for the dynamic number on that one panel, you may need to edit the NameMapping information for that panel to either use a wild-card (*) for that number or use some other set of properties.


  • mgroen's avatar
    mgroen
    Frequent Contributor
    14 years ago
    Hi,

    I have just created a working test with the WaitProperty. However, what we have noticed sofar, is that it takes about 2-3 seconds for TestComplete to recognize that the Visible property of the object is true. Meaning that the test results are "poluted" with 2-3 seconds. The window appears after about 4 seconds, but TC's Stopwatch results tells us about 7 seconds.



    Do you know why this 2 seconds delay comes from? (perhaps because of the namemapping tree which needs to be updated?)

    Is there another, more precise approach, to time more accurately?



    Please advice.



    Thanks,

    Mathijs



  • tristaanogre's avatar
    tristaanogre
    Esteemed Contributor
    14 years ago
    There will always be a slight delay when searching for or waiting for an object as TestComplete needs to refresh the object tree in the background to ensure it gets the object properly.  Unfortunately, as far as I know, there's no easy way around it.