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Rational® Functional Tester
Test Execution Specialist Guide
This guide describes how to automate the playback of the tests by using different methods such as Docker, IBM® Cloud Private, Jenkins and so on. The test results can be pushed to Rational® Test Control Panel.
Running tests from UI Test perspective
In this section, you will learn how to play back the Web UI, mobile and Windows tests from the UI Test perspective.
Running Web UI tests
See the different ways to play back Web UI tests.
Prerequisites to running Web UI tests

Rational® Functional Tester
- Release Notes
  This document contains information about what's new, installation instructions, known problems in and contact information of IBM Customer Support.
- System Requirements
  This document includes information about hardware and software requirements for IBM® Rational® Functional Tester.
- Getting Started Guide
  This guide provides an overview of Rational® Functional Tester. You can find the task flows to get you started with Rational Functional Tester. This guide is intended for new users.
- Tutorials
  You can learn to start using Rational® Functional Tester by reviewing the information in the Tutorials for the UI Test perspective and Functional Test perspective.
- Samples
  This section describes about the sample project which can be used with Rational® Functional Tester to test the functionality of an application.
- Administrator Guide
  This guide describes how to install IBM® Rational® Functional Tester software. After you install the software, you can perform administration tasks such as license configuration and integration with other products. This guide is intended for administrators.
- 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.
- Test Execution Specialist Guide
  This guide describes how to automate the playback of the tests by using different methods such as Docker, IBM® Cloud Private, Jenkins and so on. The test results can be pushed to Rational® Test Control Panel.
  - Running tests from UI Test perspective
    In this section, you will learn how to play back the Web UI, mobile and Windows tests from the UI Test perspective.
    - Running Web UI tests
      See the different ways to play back Web UI tests.
      - Prerequisites to running Web UI tests
        Setting a specific browser profile for the playback
        When you play back a Web UI test in a browser, the test is played back in the temporary profile of the browser. You can set a specific user profile, which includes the extensions and settings to use for the test, for the browser in IBM® Rational® Functional Tester to play back the Web UI test.
        Clearing cache, cookies, and history of browsers
        To optimize the performance of web browsers that are used to play back Web UI tests, you can clear cache, cookies, and history of browsers.
        Setting or changing the ANDROID_HOME path in Linux operating systems
        When you want to run or play back recorded mobile tests by using the UI Test agent in IBM® Rational® Functional Tester, you must ensure that the ANDROID_HOME path is set correctly in computers that run on Linux.
        Setting or changing the ANDROID_HOME path in Mac operating systems
        When you want to run or play back recorded mobile tests by using the UI Test agent in IBM® Rational® Functional Tester, you must ensure that the ANDROID_HOME path is set correctly in computers that run on Mac operating systems.
        Setting or changing the ANDROID_HOME path in Windows operating systems
        When you want to run or play back recorded mobile tests by using the UI Test agent in IBM® Rational® Functional Tester, you must ensure that the ANDROID_HOME path is set correctly in computers that run on Windows operating systems.
      - Running tests from an Android mobile test client
        You can run a test from an Android mobile device or emulator. After the run, the report is automatically uploaded to Rational® Functional Tester. You can also view the report on the mobile test client.
      - Running Web UI tests on BitBar mobile device cloud
        You can run Web UI tests on mobile devices available in BitBar cloud device from the test workbench and to view the execution reports in the BitBar cloud.
      - Running Web UI tests on Perfecto mobile cloud
        To check the connection between the application and mobile cloud device, ideally before the test execution, you can enter the Perfecto mobile cloud credentials and get it verified.
      - Running Web UI tests on the pCloudy cloud
        You can run Web UI test on Android or iOS devices that are connected to the pCloudy cloud testing platform. After the test run is completed, you can view the test reports in IBM® Rational® Functional Tester.
      - Running a test using industry-standard mobile browsers
        Starting with 9.2.1, you can use industry-standard mobile browsers, such as Chrome and Safari, to run Web UI tests for mobile web applications. You can run tests with Chrome on Android devices and emulators and with Safari on iOS devices and simulators.
      - Running a test recorded in Google Chrome Device Mode
        You can run a test that you recorded in Chrome Device Mode. Doing so allows you to emulate the testing of applications on the browser of a mobile device.
      - Running tests in the headless mode
        When you do not want to view the GUI of the application under test as the recorded test is played back on a web browser, you can choose to run the test in the headless mode. Running of tests in the headless mode is useful when you use an automated testing environment.
      - Testing with Docker images
        IBM® Rational® Performance Tester, IBM Rational Functional Tester, and IBM Rational Performance Tester Agents are available for download as Docker images. You can use them to fulfill the continuous testing aspects of your DevOps lifecycle.
      - Testing with IBM® Cloud Private
        You can automate your testing environment by using Docker container images of the workbench and agents on top of IBM® Cloud Private.
      - Starting a new recording immediately after playback
        Starting from 9.1.1.1, you can keep the Google Chrome browser active after Web UI test playback is complete. This feature allows you to continue recording at the point where playback finished without the need to re-record the earlier steps.
      - Adding custom JavaScript code as a test step in a Web UI test
        You can manually add JavaScript files (*.js) to test scripts with defined functions. You might want to run your own JavaScript snippet such as retrieving some data from the application, doing some actions within the application, or validating some complex logic actions within the application for example. To be able to execute specific code in a test, write your own JavaScript code and insert the custom JavaScript statement as a new test step in your test script.
    - Running mobile tests
      After you record the tests for mobile applications by using Rational® Functional Tester, you can play back the recorded tests by using Rational Functional Tester. The test reports help you to analyze the functional and performance issues in the mobile applications developed.
    - Running Windows tests
      You can run Windows tests that you created for Windows desktop applications in Rational® Functional Tester.
    - Configuration of AFT Suite runs
      When you create Web UI, mobile, or Windows tests, you must configure the play back of the recorded tests as AFT Suite runs before you can view their test results.
    - Running a test on multiple browsers and devices simultaneously
      Rather than run a Web UI test on one browser at a time, you can run a single Web UI test on multiple browsers simultaneously. Doing so can significantly speed up your test effort. You can also extend your test coverage by adding mobile devices to the test run. You can run the test from Rational® Functional Tester, from the command line, or from Rational Quality Manager. This topic describes how to run a test from the UI Test perspective.
    - Running a test from a command line
      You can run a test without opening the product by using the command-line interface.
  - Running tests from Functional Test perspective
    In this section, you will learn how to play back tests from the Functional Test perspective.
- Test Manager Guide
  This guide describes how to keep track of the performance of the application by evaluating the test results. Following topics cover how you can work with the test results.
- Troubleshooting
  This guide describes how to analyze and resolve some of the common problems that you might encounter while you work with Rational® Functional Tester.
- Reference Guide
  This guide describes the additional topics to gain more knowledge about Rational® Functional Tester.
- All Guides (PDF)
  You can find the link to view or download the content of the release notes, system requirements, and persona guides of IBM® Rational® Functional Tester as a PDF file.
- Security Considerations
  You can take certain actions to ensure that your installation is secure, customize your security settings, and set up user access controls.
- Notices
  This document provides information about copyright, trademarks, terms and conditions for the product documentation.

Prerequisites to running Web UI tests

Before you can run a Web UI test, you must complete the prerequisite tasks.

You can find the following information about the prerequisite tasks: