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Test Author Guide
This guide describes how to create test scripts and enhances them by applying different test elements such as dataset, variables, and verification points.
Testing in the UI Test perspective
When you develop web applications, Windows-based applications, or mobile applications, you can use IBM® Rational® Functional Tester to create functional tests for these applications. You must first record the tests and then use Rational Functional Tester to run the tests before you can view the test results.
Testing web applications
You can test web applications in Rational® Functional Tester by using the industry-standard browsers such as Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. You can record Web UI tests and then play back the tests to evaluate the test results. You can also test the web applications on dual monitors when you extend the display of your computer to a secondary monitor.
Creating Web UI tests
See the different ways to record Web UI tests. After the recording stops, the tests are generated automatically.
Recording a Web UI test
You create a Web UI test in the UI Test perspective. Rational® Functional Tester automatically enables web browsers and configures the test environment before you start recording tests for web applications.

Test Author Guide
This guide describes how to create test scripts and enhances them by applying different test elements such as dataset, variables, and verification points.
- Testing in the UI Test perspective
  When you develop web applications, Windows-based applications, or mobile applications, you can use IBM® Rational® Functional Tester to create functional tests for these applications. You must first record the tests and then use Rational Functional Tester to run the tests before you can view the test results.
  - Testing web applications
    You can test web applications in Rational® Functional Tester by using the industry-standard browsers such as Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. You can record Web UI tests and then play back the tests to evaluate the test results. You can also test the web applications on dual monitors when you extend the display of your computer to a secondary monitor.
    - Creating Web UI tests
      See the different ways to record Web UI tests. After the recording stops, the tests are generated automatically.
      - Web UI recording
        IBM® Rational® Functional Tester provides multiple ways to create Web UI tests using the UI Test perspective. You can create a Web UI test that captures both functional and HTTP traffic in the same recording. In addition, you can create a Web UI test for a web application that is already running in an instance of the Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser. You can also initiate a recording from a step of an existing test. You can also play back tests on Microsoft™ Edge browser but they must be recorded on Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer.
      - Prerequisites for creating tests
        Before you can create a test, you must complete the prerequisite tasks.
      - Recording a Web UI test
        You create a Web UI test in the UI Test perspective. Rational® Functional Tester automatically enables web browsers and configures the test environment before you start recording tests for web applications.
        Recording a Web UI test in Google Chrome
        You create a Web UI test in the UI Test perspective. Rational® Functional Tester automatically enables web browsers and configures the test environment before you start recording tests for web applications.
        Recording a Web UI test in Microsoft Edge
        You create a Web UI test in the UI Test perspective. Rational® Functional Tester automatically enables web browsers and configures the test environment before you start recording tests for web applications.
        Recording a Web UI test in Mozilla Firefox
        You create a Web UI test in the UI Test perspective. Rational® Functional Tester automatically enables web browsers and configures the test environment before you start recording tests for web applications.
        Recording a Web UI test in Internet Explorer
        You create a Web UI test in the UI Test perspective. Rational® Functional Tester automatically enables web browsers and configures the test environment before you start recording tests for web applications.
        Recording a Web UI test in Apple Safari
        You create a Web UI test in the UI Test perspective. Rational® Functional Tester automatically enables web browsers and configures the test environment before you start recording tests for web applications.
      - Recording a Web UI test by using a running browser instance
        You can create a Web UI test of a web application from the UI Test perspective using a browser that is already running locally. For example, if you have already recorded some part of a web application, you can go back at a later time to resume the recording Support is provided for Chrome and Firefox on Windows and Linux computers and for Safari, Chrome and Firefox on Macintosh computers. Internet Explorer is not supported.
      - Recording Web UI steps for an existing test
        If you already have a test, you can add more steps to it at a desired location by initiating the recording from a step or from the application node. For instance, if the task flow has changed in the new version of the application that you recorded and you want to update the existing test script, start the recording from the step after which the new steps must be added. You can also initiate the recording from the Launch application or In application nodes of the test.
      - Recording a test with Google Chrome Device Mode
        You can use the Google Chrome Device Mode feature to emulate tests of web applications on mobile devices.
      - Annotating a test during recording
        You can add comments, add transactions, or change a page name while you record a test. The advantage of adding these elements during (rather than after) recording is that you can place the annotations in the test exactly where you want. In addition, because annotations are part of the recorded test, they are regenerated when you regenerate the test. You can also insert split points into a test during record.
      - Splitting a test during recording
        You can insert split points when you record a test. Split points allow you to generate multiple tests from a single recording that you can replay in a different order with a schedule.
      - Putting test assets under source control
        Use version-control software, such as Rational® Team Concert™, to put the test assets under source control.
    - Editing Web UI tests
      With the test editor, you can view and customize a Web UI test.
    - Frequently asked questions
      This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about the IBM® Rational® Functional TesterWeb UI extension.
    - Troubleshooting Web UI tests
      While working with Web UI tests, you might encounter problems that you can easily troubleshoot. The topics in this section address some of these problems.
  - Testing mobile applications
    You can test the Android or iOS mobile applications by recording and playing back mobile tests on Android devices or emulators, iOS mobile devices or simulators by using Rational® Functional Tester.
  - Testing Windows desktop applications
    You can configure the Windows applications to record and play back tests on the Windows desktop applications. You can also test the Windows applications on dual monitors when you extend the display of your computer to a secondary monitor.
  - Working with Selenium or Appium tests
    You can manage your Selenium or Appium Java™ tests from the UI Test perspective, where you can import and modify the tests, add them to compound tests, and run them. You can also create new Appium Java tests from the Perfecto perspective on Windows™ and Mac OS, add the tests to compound tests, and run them. Perfecto is not currently supported on Linux®.
  - Compound tests
    You can create compound tests to help you organize smaller tests into scenarios that can then be run end-to-end. You can combine tests from different extensions to achieve end-to-end flow.
  - Accelerated Functional Tests
    When you create Web UI, mobile, or Windows tests, you can use the Accelerated Functional Test (AFT) feature in Rational® Functional Tester to distribute test effort during the play back of the recorded tests.
  - Working with keywords
    In Rational® Functional Tester, you can record and then associate Test Workbench tests with the keywords that are created in IBM® Rational Quality Manager. The keywords are used in manual tests in Rational Quality Manager. When you run a manual test that contains a keyword associated with a Rational Test Workbench test, the Test Workbench test is run on the workstation where the adapter has been started.
- Testing in the Functional Test perspective
  When you develop Java, HTML, or Terminal-based applications, you can use IBM® Rational® Functional Tester to create traditional functional tests for these applications. You must first record the tests and then use Rational Functional Tester to run the tests before you can view the test results.
- Extending the UI Test perspective with custom code
  You can use custom code to extend the default Web UI testing capabilities. You can write custom Java™ code and call the code from the test. You can also specify that results from the tests that are affected by your custom code to be included in reports.
- Extending the Functional Test perspective
  You can use custom code to extend the default functional testing capabilities. You can write custom code and call the code from the test. You can also specify that results from the tests that are affected by your custom code to be included in reports.
- Experimental Features
  Rational® Functional Tester contains a set of pre-releases that enable you to test various experimental features. These experimental features, while still in progress, are introduced early in the release to seek your feedback on its overall functionality and performance. You can play around with these capabilities before they are made available and supported as a general feature in an upcoming release.

Recording a Web UI test

You create a Web UI test in the UI Test perspective. Rational® Functional Tester automatically enables web browsers and configures the test environment before you start recording tests for web applications.

The type of application defines the recorder that can be used. You can use the following client application types that are supported for recording a Web UI test: