Rational Testing Tool

Can you tell me in detail about the IBM Rational Functional Tester Tool? Is it really an Automated functional testing and regression testing software?

[Shaleen]

IBM Rational Functional Tester is an automatic functional testing and degeneration testing tool. It provides automated testing capabilities for functional, regression, GUI, and data-driven testing.

Rational Function Tester supports a range of applications like - web-based, .Net, Java, Siebel, SAP, terminal emulator-based applications, PowerBuilder, Ajax, Adobe Flex, Dojo Toolkit, GEF, Adobe PDF documents, zSeries, iSeries, and pSeries.

• Storyboard testing: Simplifies test visualization and editing using natural language and rendered screenshots.
• Automated testing: Enables testers to automate tests resilient to frequent application user interface changes with ScriptAssure technology.
• Data-driven testing: Lets you perform the same series of test actions with a varying set of test data.
• Test scripting: Combines a recorder of user actions with multiple customization options and intelligent script maintenance capabilities.
• Integrations: Integrates with IBM Rational Team Concert and IBM Rational Quality Manager to provide access to work items and logical or compound SCM test asset support.

Storyboard testing
• Rational Functional Tester provides a visual, storyboard format for representing test actions.
• Storyboard testing combines natural language test narrative with visual editing through application screenshots.
• Novice and professional testers can communicate and understand test flow and edit test actions without reading or writing test script code.
Automated testing
• Rational Functional Tester introduces an advanced ScriptAssure technology to accommodate frequent client edge changes and to shun increases in repairs overhead.
• ScriptAssure uses fuzzy matching algorithms to locate objects during test execution, even if the objects have changed since test creation.
• One can develop automation scripts that are associated with keywords.
• Keyword testing promotes script reprocess and enables manual testers to use automation within manual test cycles.
Data-driven testing
• Rational Functional Tester automatically detects data entered during test recording and prepares the test for data-driven testing.
• Using a spreadsheet-like data editor, one can create customized data sets to be used by the test during playback.
• Rational Functional Tester manages validation of dynamic data with multiple verification points and support for regular expression pattern matching.
Test scripting
• Rational Functional Tester gives a choice between either Java or Visual Basic .NET; testers using Java can work in the Eclipse Java editor, and those using Visual Basic .NET can work in Visual Studio .NET.
• Rational Functional Tester offers scripting to create, edit, and execute tests on the Linux platform, including everything except a test recorder.
• On the Windows platform, Rational Functional Tester provides all recording, editing, and execution capabilities.
• Rational Functional Tester supports automated version control to maintain multiple test sets and to enable parallel development.
Integrations
• Rational Functional Tester provides IBM Jazz integration to support collaborative application lifecycle management.
• Jazz Eclipse Client integration provides Rational Functional Tester access to work items within Rational Team Concert and Rational Quality Manager.
• Enhanced SCM integration with Rational Team Concert supports the management and sharing of test assets.