There are three scenarios we are seeing where databases feature prominently in system testing. First, increasingly users want to use “data-driven” testing, where records from a database query are used to drive the scenarios in your test. Second, while doing performance or stress testing (or even functional testing), you may wish to harvest data and push it into a database for later analysis. And third, some system tests include an NMS (or other server-based application) that has a database behind it. When testing, you’d like to ensure that the actions you are taking via a GUI or on a device are reflected in the database. Or you might want to artificially populate the database without having to do it all indirectly – to get to a certain initial state.
In all of these cases, you’d like to have a simple way to interact with databases from within iTest. In 3.4, we’ve added a new Database Client. Like telnet, ssh, web, snmp, mail, etc., this provides another way for users to interact with the outside world from iTest – both interactively and from within an automated test. The Database Client provides a simple user interface where users can enter SQL queries – SELECT, UPDATE, INSERT, DELETE, etc. – anything supported by their database. And the tool allows for predefined query templates so that end-users don’t have to remember the syntax and schemas involved. They can select from a set of queries defined in the associated session profile, tweak the parameters as needed, and execute the queries. The Database Tool supports all of the popular databases including MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle, as well as virtually any other database via JDBC.
So if you’ve ever thought it would be nice to integrate databases into your testing, you’ll be happy to see this new capability in iTest.
Want to learn more? Click the play button on the video to see this feature in action.
Message Edited by BethanyW on 06-03-2009 11:20 AM
