UFT Tutorial

In this UFT tutorial, we will start with the basics of UFT and learn all the major concepts of UFT.

What is UFT

UFT also stands for Unified Functional Testing, is a testing tool designed by the American MNC enterprise IT company Hewlett Packard Enterprise based in California's San Jose. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) can be utilized to test Graphical User Interface and Application Programming Interface, which are essentially part of any company with less than 10,000 employees or over 1000M USD in overall revenue. Currently, the latest version of HPE Unified Functional Testing is the UFT 14.

Before the release of the UFT 14, HP has been relying on QTP to carry out the functional testing of any GUI and the HP Service Test to test the overall functioning of the API. After HP released the UFT 11.50, HPE made sure to combine the best of QTP and Service Test and named the combining tool Unified Functional Testing.

In UTF, Unified stands for advanced testing by combining API and GUI. It is by far the best testing tool for strong functionalities that companies can integrate into their back-end and front-end software applications. According to HP, the UFT 14 offers better documentation support.

UFT offers an excellent assist for Business Process Testing, a great component-based framework for testing to provide an efficient and strong platform for testing overall business processes both automatically and manually. The blend between automation and manual testing offers less duplication and the reusability component, making the testing quite faster. If structured automation is the need for companies, then UFT is the answer, the all-in-one solution.

If you would like to become a UFT Certified professional, enroll in our UFT Online Training. This course will help you to achieve excellence in this domain.

Language support

UFT makes use of a VB Script, which is a scripting language. By the looks of it, it is the only scripting language that ultimately supports the Integrated Development Environment of UFT. Integrated Development Environment is the User Interface of QTP. Other than VB Script, UFT also openly supports Windows Shell Script and Java. However, it is recommended to use VB Script as users can take great advantage of Object-Oriented Programming, but not inheritance and polymorphism.

Minimum Requirements to run UFT

HPE suggests certain minimum requirements for a computer or laptop to install and run the powerful testing tool. The minimum requirements to install and run the UFT tool are:

• Dual Core or Better Processor (Minimum Intel 8th Gen)
• Windows 8.1 or better
• Minimum of 2GB RAM. If your computer has additional memory, let's say a minimum of 4GB or 8GB to add much more add-ins and save results during the overall run sessions.
• 16-bit Color Support
• Integrated HD graphics or 1GB dedicated graphics from NVIDIA or AMD Radeon
• Free H Disk Drive Space of 1 GB for storing system files, application folders, and files. Make sure that your computer will also have 120MB of complete disk space of system disk

Desktop Shortcuts of Unified Functional Testing

First Shortcut- The first shortcut that you'll find on the desktop screen is the HP Unified Functional Testing

Second Shortcut-The second shortcut that comes after the main application. The shortcut allows you to Run Results Viewer as the name suggests on your computer. Technically, the run results would automatically open when any test is done. You also have the option to open the run results separately by using the second shortcut.

Third Shortcut- The third and the last shortcut is the Edge Agent for Function Testing. The difference between this shortcut and the others is that Edge Agent is only compatible with computers powered by Windows 10. Further indicating that if your OS is Windows 8 or even 8.1, then UFT will not install Edge Agent. Additionally, if you wish to test applications on the dedicated Microsoft browser, Edge, you must use this application instead of the default Edge browser.

Nevertheless, there have been a few changes since the 2016 update of UFT. Reportedly UFT is currently not compatible with Microsoft Edge. Moreover, this is also why it is recommended to use any other Internet browser installed on your computer. Remember, Internet Exploration is present; however, it is currently hidden in all Windows 10 computers; all you have to do is enable it.

Related Article: UFT Interview Questions for Beginners

Unified Functional Testing Start Menu Options

Like any other application installed on Windows OS, UFT also acts like other programs as it stores the application in a start menu folder.

Upon clicking on the Windows start logo, you'll have to scroll on the start menu of Windows 10. Here, you'd also find a start menu folder named HP Software. Now, you have to click on the folder, and then you'll find numerous items inside the menu, as shown in the image above.

You'll find the following list of items below:

1. Additional Installation Requirements:

The application will be found in one of the options in the HP Software start menu folder. However, this will pop up during the United Functional Testing time of installation. After checking in with the first couple of system settings, you can manually select to uncheck those at will:

• Configuring the settings to Internet Explorer: The setting will enable the users to install the third-party UFT browser in the heart of Internet Explorer. Users must use the step if they wish to test out the web applications on Internet Explorer.
• Configuring the DCOM settings to integrate ALM: You will be required to check on the option if you wish to run the scripts from the core HPE ALM application. The option will then change the permissions of DCOM by opening up a firewall port on the Windows computer.
• Configuring DCOM Settings for the Automation of Scripts: Some users who prefer the need to control and run the HPE UFT installed on the admin computer must use this option to control other computers. Checking the option is done by using the Automation Object Model.

The fourth configuration is only found in the earlier version of HPE UFT. In case you're Download to Install the Microsoft Script Debugger: One piece of advice, if you're still running the older version, make sure to update it. However, if you prefer the old version over the new one then, you can use this setting. Microsoft, on the other hand, has already removed the Script Debugger option from its official site. Till the debugger from Microsoft is back and online, you can get started with MS script debugger.

2. The API Test Generator Wizard:

As the name suggests, this wizard will help you generate the necessary API tests directly from the services.

3. HP Edge Agent to oversee Functional Testing:

You'd need to rely on the option if you wish to test the web applications' real power on Microsoft's very one Edge Browser. It is already mentioned above that Windows 10 is the only Operating System that can detect the Edge Agent, which is installed automatically.

4. Flight API:

HPE provides this unique sample application to test API.

5. Flight GUI:

HPE provides the sample application to test GUI. To make use of the application, you'd require to login into the application.

6. Functional Testing License Wizard:

By using this wizard, users can install and manage the overall seat license or even the concurrent license on the computer.

7. HP Micro Player:

With this application, UFT enables users to record and even run sessions in video clips. Usually, these clips are stored in the form of .fbr files. The HP Micro Players single-handedly allows users to view these videos at their convenient time.

8. HP UFT Installation Validation Tool:

When you're running the utility, make sure that you hit on the Analyze button to garner the entire inventory of the computer's general settings. These settings are of utmost importance to run UFT.

9. Runtime Engine Settings:

The Runtime Engine allows users to run all of the UFT Graphical User Interface. Business Process Tests alongside API Tests on the computer. The best part? The application will not require you to install the whole UFT IDE. In the dialogue box in Runtime Engine Settings, you'll be able to export or import settings to-/from the VBS file, change the settings or reset the factory default. Also, the Runtime Engine doesn't require a distinctive license to run. Further, the settings' ability to help empower non-technical users is an enormous help to organizations.

10. Test Batch Runner:

The Test Batch Runner makes it seamless to run numerous UFT tests in a single-most session. You can use the Add Tests directly from the folder menu. Moreover, you can also add tests and, at the same time, create an overall batch file. Additionally, the batch files which are curated in the UFT are curated with the extension as .mtb.

Technologies at UFT supports

UFT is currently available for Stingray 1, .NET, Oracle, Terminal Emulator, PeopleSoft, Seibel, Flex, Delphi, Windows Mobile, Power Builder, WPF, Web Services, Java, both Advanced and Core, SAP, Silverlight, VisualAge Smalltalk, terminal emulators. However, the catch is that this software will work depending on the version of UFT that you as users possess.

Conclusion:

UFT is a great initiative and innovation that came into being from the people in HP. It is user-friendly, and the IDE provides the best sort of API and GUI testing. Upgrading to the newest version of UFT will tempt you not to look back at the older versions; the improvements are significant and noticeable.