Graphical model for test case viewing, editing, and reporting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9417990-B2
Application number	US-201414470823-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2014
Priority date	Jan 7, 2005
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

Various techniques for interacting with a test case via a graphical model are disclosed. For example, one method involves displaying a first icon, which represents a first testing activity within a test case; displaying a second icon, which represents a second testing activity within the test case; and displaying a connector, which couples the first icon and the second icon. An assertion (e.g., against test results obtained by performing the first testing activity) is associated with the connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving data identifying selection of a first test node to be added to a particular test case, wherein the selection of the first test node is received via a graphical user interface and comprises addition, through the graphical user interface, of a first graphical element to a graphical model editing area presented in the graphical user interface based on a first user interaction with the graphical user interface, the first graphical element representing the first test node, and the first test node comprising logic for performing a first test activity on a software system;
receiving data identifying selection of a second test node to be added to the particular test case, wherein the selection of the second test node comprises addition, based on a second user interaction with the graphical user interface, of a second graphical element to the graphical model editing area, the second graphical element representing the second test node, and the second test node comprising logic for performing a second test activity on the software system;
receiving data identifying selection of a test flow path from the first test node to the second node in the particular test case, wherein the selection of the test flow path comprises addition, based on a third user interaction with the graphical user interface, of a graphical connector element between the first and second graphical elements in the graphical model editing area, the graphical connector element representing the test flow path; and
generating the particular test case to include the first and second test nodes based on the additions to the graphical model editing area, wherein the particular test case is to cause tests executing the particular test case to flow from the first test node to the second test node based on the selected test flow path.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
causing a graphical representation of the particular test case to be presented in the graphical model editing area; and
receiving a user interaction with the graphical representation through the graphical model editing area, wherein the graphical representation comprises the first graphical element, the second graphical element, and the graphical connector element.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising modifying the particular test case based on the user interaction.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein modifying the graphical representation through the user interaction comprises adding a new graphical element to the graphical representation, wherein the new graphical element represents a third test node, and the particular test case is modified, in response to the user interaction, to add the third test node to the particular test case, wherein the third test node comprises logic for performing a third test activity on the software system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the third test node replaces one of the first and second test nodes.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the user interaction with the graphical representation comprises selection of the first graphical element, and the method further comprises causing a view of detailed information of the first test activity to be presented based on the selection of the first graphical element.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving a modification of the presented detailed information;
modifying the first test activity based on the user modification of the detailed information.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first test node is configured to test software components different from software components tested using the third test node.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the first test node, adding the second test node, and adding the flow path comprises generating the particular test case.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first test node is of a type different from the second test node.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first testing activity is different from the second testing activity.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first graphical element is different from the second graphical element.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second test node is configured to store a response from execution of the first test node as a property.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flow path comprises one of a plurality of flow paths of an assertion test component defining conditions for the plurality of flow paths.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding a filter test component to the particular test case, wherein the filter test component is adapted to provide an opportunity for a user to modify data stored in a property prior to execution of a corresponding test node in the particular test case.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular test case is a preexisting test case and adding the first test node, second test node, and flow path edit the particular test case.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein execution of the particular test case causes a test to be performed on the software system.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
computer readable program code configured to receive data identifying selection of a first test node to be added to a particular test case, wherein the selection of the first test node is received via a graphical user interface to add a first graphical element to a graphical model editing area presented in the graphical user interface based on a first user interaction with the graphical user interface, the first graphical element representing the first test node, and the first test node comprising logic for performing a first test activity on a software system, wherein the first test activity comprises accessing and assessing code of a software component of the software system;
computer readable program code configured to receive data identifying selection of a second test node to be added to the particular test case, wherein the selection of the second test node comprises addition, based on a second user interaction with the graphical user interface, of a second graphical element to the graphical model editing area, the second graphical element representing the second test node, the second test node comprising logic for performing a second test activity on the software system;
computer readable program code configured to receive data identifying selection of a test flow path from the first test node to the second node in the particular test case, wherein the selection of the test flow path comprises addition, based on a third user interaction with the graphical user interface, of a graphical connector element between the first and second graphical elements in the graphical model editing area, the graphical connector element representing the test flow path;
computer readable program code configured to generate the particular test case to include the first and second test nodes based on the additions to the graphical model editing area, wherein the particular test case is to cause tests executing the particular test case to flow from the first test node to the second test node based on the selected test flow path.

19. A system comprising:
a processor device;
a memory element; and
a graphical model editing module, adapted to:
provide a graphical user interface adapted to allow user interaction with a collection of graphical elements within a graphical model edi

Assignees

• Ca Inc

Inventors

• Michelsen John Joseph

Classifications

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F11/3684

  for test design, e.g. generating new test cases · CPC title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• G06F8/33

  Intelligent editors · CPC title