Testing Circus Vol2 Issue5

Testing Circus
Volume 2 - Issue 5 - May 2011

A Fake Testerʹs Journey
The Great Quality Challenge for Mobile
Planning Your Next Testing Assignments
Software Testing News
Test Idea Generation
Promoting Software Testing in Your Organization
Crack The Code u re
at
Fe
r
la
Testers at Twitter gu
i rcus Re
QTP Code Corner
i n gC
Testers Greatest Nemesis
Test
Sahi Automation Tool
Test Events for June 2011
3 Essentials to Setting Expectations
YOUR MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Interview with Parimala Shankaraiah ON
SOFTWARE TESTING
www.TestingCircus.com
8
From the Keyboard of Editor-in-Chief
RIP Chandrasekhar.
(http://helpchandru.com)
‐ Ajoy Kumar Singha
editor@testingcircus.com Vol 2 - Issue 5
http://twitter.com/ajoysingha
Testing Circus
www.TestingCircus.com May 2011 -2-

Testing Circus Vol 2 - Issue 5
In this issue Volume 2 - Issue 5 - May 2011
Topic Author Page Number
Letters to the Editor 5
A Fake Testerʹs Journey A Fake Tester 6
The Great Quality Challenge for Mobile Doron Reuveni 8
Planning Your Next Testing Assignments Bernice Niel Ruhland 10
Software Testing News 12
Test Idea Generation Riyaj Shaikh 13
Promoting Software Testing in Your Organization Rob van Steenbergen 16
Crack The Code Blindu Eusebiu 19
Testers at Twitter 20
QTP Code Corner Jaijeet Pandey 22
Testers Greatest Nemesis Martin Jansson 23
Sahi Automation Tool Akanksha Talwar 26
Test Events for June 2011 Testevents.com 31
3 Essentials to Setting Expectations Varada Sharma 33
Interview with Parimala Shankaraiah 35

Testing Quote
Testers do many things and there are many titles that could apply to the many
things we testers do.
Weʹre detectives. Weʹre investigators.
Weʹre evaluators. Weʹre communicators.
Weʹre writers. Weʹre critics.
Weʹre advocates. Weʹre leaders.
Weʹre supporters. Weʹre learners.
Weʹre teachers. Weʹre forecasters.
Weʹre testers.
‐ Ben Simo

Letters to the Editor
Hi Ajoy,
Your ʺTesting Circusʺ is very interesting and knowledgeable magazine for testers. All test cases
and test ideas are very good. I am expecting some new test ideas in your future issues on payment
gateway, cookies testing etc.
So please give some lights on these topics.

Thanks,
‐Arunesh Kumar
Hi Arunesh,
Thanks for appreciating our work. We will try to publish topics of you choice in our future editions.
‐Editor.
editor@testingcircus.com
—‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Hello Testing Circus team,
Kudos to each one of you. I am a young testing Professional from Chennai, India . From a campus
recruit to a Senior Quality Assurance Analyst, I am a testing professional constantly in pursuit of
learning testing through every possible way. And it was in Feb 2011, I identified this great work
Testing Circus magazine while googling some stuff. I am a Biotech Engineer by Graduation and
IT was never my cup of tea. But when I landed into testing 2 years back, I decided this is my area
http://twitter.com/testingcircus
and I need to prove myself. Yes I fallen in love with the art of testing.
Efforts from testing Circus is truly inspiring for young QA folks like me. Thank you each one of
you for the commendable Job.

Thanks,
‐Preethi S, Chennai
Hi Preethi, http://facebook.com/testingcircus
We are happy that you liked Testing Circus Magazine. Keep spreading the word about Testing
Circus to your friends circle and QA folks.
‐Editor
Write to editor@testingcircus.com
A Fake Tester’s Diary Part 5
e
t ur
F ea
a r
g ul Appraisal Season ‐2
us Re
g Circ
in By Fake Software Tester
Test
Last month, I had told you the story of “whom you know” Memory Loss
and “what you know”. Why did “whom you know” get This disease runs rampant during the appraisal season at top
promoted in a quicker pace, compared to “what you know”? level. The big bosses need to prove to the biggest bosses that
I have listed some of the reasons below. Here’s an excerpt of they are aware of ground reality. So, they look into recent
what happened around me this appraisal season… history to quote a top level performance by an individual and
use the power bestowed in them to recommend a good rating
The search for Objectives for him. The disease runs deeper when more often than not,
As soon as the appraisal season set in, everyone started to only the performance of the last few months is kept in mind
search for their objectives. Though it’s difficult to believe, it when management were discussing employee performance.
was the truth in most cases. People search for their objectives Any super work done in the initial 3‐6 months are conven‐
only after the onset of the appraisal monsoon. And this iently forgotten by everybody, proving the initial sentence,
mostly resulted in a scramble for certifications, the scramble that memory loss is indeed rampant in management.
being so bad that certification slots are unavailable. Similar‐
ly, people were trying to ensure that they had completed the How do people try to get promoted?
required training programs prescribed for them at the end of And there is this set of people who are on the look‐out for
the previous appraisal. promotions. These would include people who have been in the
system for quite some time and have seen new people with the
Bell Curves same experience join the company at a higher designation,
This is the most popular curve, on everyone’s mind during people who have been deprived off onsite opportunities, people
the appraisal season. Originally, the bell Curve was a well‐ who are under the impression that they get a low pay, etc. etc.
known statistical method used for grading. Appraisals made etc. This would be the set of people who are used to periodic
these curves more popular. The 1st generation of managers rewards and think that they deserve a promotion only because
passed it on to the next generation manager, who passed it on they have existed in the company for a long time.
to the next generation and so on. Lost in these translation
sessions was the original intent of the bell curve. Popular How people try to get more hikes?
belief was that whenever someone used this term, it meant And there are people who try to talk to their bosses to ensure
that they had done a proper stack ranking of their team that they get a better hike than the person sitting across them.
members, and were not questioned any further. The disad‐ They quote family financial crisis, lack of onsite opportuni‐
vantage of the bell curve is that community influences can ties, why they did not fight a poor appraisal last time, why
lead the bell curve to be wrongly interpreted, and the crea‐ they took the beating for the boss’s mistake, why they have
tions of a lot of fluctuations of the bell curve especially when been very faithful to the organization, etc. to try and get a
many groups are involved. Such disadvantages are ques‐ better hike than the person that they have lunch with. Some
tioned by nobody. of the back stabbers also go to the extent of telling their bosses

the goof‐ups of a colleague, so that they get a better deal than 2) Time spent on appraisals ‐ The time spent on ap‐
their colleagues. So much for team‐work!!! praisals. Most of the time is spent on how we can justify
ourselves and not at improving product quality. We are
How people call in for favours during appraisal season? trying to fight for rights
And you have some vice‐presidents, and some super‐manag‐ during this season,
ers who sit on top of the entire pyramid. These people are the mainly because the stake
ones that view the system from a height of a trillion feet. They involves money. You
are always on the look‐out to award their favourite personnel guys ever wonder if we
who exist at the grass‐root level, irrespective of how the should fight like this to
individual performs. uphold product quality?
Ever fight like this to
Resignations are much‐loved ensure that the client
And during the appraisal season, everyone loves resignations gets his due of quality
for the simple reason that the person who has resigned can be code? If only we spend
put at the bottom of the pile, to make up for the bell curve. He half of our energy for the
might have been a superstar, or a great performer, but the betterment of the prod‐
very fact that he has decided to leave the company would uct, am sure that our
ensure that his name is listed as the bottom performer. No‐ products would be much
body looks at names, they look at only numbers. better!!!
Pro‐activism
And this word “You should have been pro‐active” can be A fake Tester’s Diary was first published in Testing
found in the feedback of at least 60% of the people. It’s so easy Circus January issue. New Readers are encouraged
asking someone to be “pro‐active”, and that too at the end of to read our old issues at www.testingcircus.com
1 year. When managers cannot give their team members a to understand the journey of a fake software tester.
good hike, or a promotion, they use this term to put off the
Keep reading future issues of Testing Circus to
candidate in the hope that he’d shut up for the next year, or
know more!!! Do you have anything to say about
get an employment elsewhere.
fake testing practices?
The Blame Game Write to us. faketester@testingcircus.com
Employees ask for reasons as to why they don’t get a good By the way, have you seen the blog on fake software
appraisal. And their bosses try to spend most of their time testing? Here it is ‐
justifying it. Don’t be surprised if your boss quotes a spelling http://fakesoftwaretester.blogspot.com
mistake in an email from you to your client a year back and – Editor
ask you to sign‐up for “Communication sessions”. Or if your
boss quotes a telephone discussion that happened between
you and your client 6 months back and asks you to sign up
for “Telephone etiquette” sessions. Or if you find that you are
being penalized for a very low priority UI defect that hap‐
pened 8 months back. The blame game is at its best during the
appraisal season.
A platform for software testers to collaborate, test
My Thoughts (Not too many thoughts. Just a couple) various kinds of software, foster hope, gain peer recog‐
1) Unplugged Loopholes ‐ The appraisal process, like nition, and be of value to the community.
any other process, has a lot of “unplugged” loopholes. Not
http://weekendtesting.com
plugging them is very convenient for most people, since it
allows them and their cronies to prosper. Will we ever close
these gaps?

The Great
Quality
Challenge
for
Mobile
Applications
‐ Doron Reuveni, CEO of uTest
The mobile enterprise is no longer on its way – it is here. This New apps for BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, and Android are
is creating a mobile app revolution that is driving the need for making deep in‐roads into enterprise organizations in indus‐
fast, effective application testing that mimics your user base tries as diverse and mature as healthcare, finance, education,
in terms of technical environments, locations, and demo‐ media, and retail. This means that the pressure to get high‐
graphics. And while it’s tempting to think that mobile apps quality mobile apps built, tested, and launched has never been
won’t alter your company or industry, no space is exempt greater. With so much critical data flowing to smart phones
from the mobile revolution. It is critical that companies, from and tablets, companies must ensure that their mobile apps are
startups to enterprises, are ready to address the challenges stable, private, and secure. Even the smallest flaw can ruin a
that mobile apps bring to the development and testing proc‐ mobile app, and sometimes, the company behind it.
esses.
For those who haven’t been living in the mobile space, it’s
important to note just how different mobile apps are com‐
pared to the worlds of web and desktop apps, not to mention
sets of very different rules. The mobile web and native apps
present distinct challenges for companies and require new
skill sets for design, engineering, and testing. For a mobile
app to work as intended, consider the multi‐dimensional
testing matrix. There are multiple operating systems, differ‐
ent mobile browsers, myriad smartphone device makers and
models, a host of carriers, and worldwide locations. With all
these criteria, it’s clear that the cost and complexity of man‐
aging QA in the mobile era is not something many organiza‐
tions are equipped to handle.
If an organization does not focus on the functionality, usabil‐
ity, reliability, and security of the application, they may find
According to a recent survey by Bloomberg Businessweek
themselves in the awkward position of explaining to their
Research Services, enterprise mobility is no longer just for
customers, or the CEO, why their application was rejected by
email. Employees are using mobile apps to access CRM
the apps store, or why users are sharing their dissatisfaction
systems, financial results, marketing campaigns, and to track
on Twitter, Facebook, TechCrunch, and others. This mobile
orders, to name just a few. In fact, ABI Research anticipates
quality challenge calls for a better way to test, one that meets
worldwide enterprise mobile data revenues will reach $133
the “in‐the‐wild” testing demands of mobile apps.
billion by 2014.

Three Alternative Testing Methods been difficult and prohibitively expensive. The testing matri‐
The three testing approaches that have historically been used ces for mobile apps are exponentially more complex than for
in mobile are insufficient for the challenges of this new reali‐ web and desktop apps. No matter what type of mobile app,
ty. That doesn’t mean they are bad or ill‐intentioned, merely multimedia, chat, business, or productivity tools, all mobile
that they aren’t sufficient on their own. Here’s a quick
app developers face the same testing complexity across:
summary: Handset Makers & Models
Operating Systems
1. In‐House: Building a comprehensive in‐house test‐ Browsers
ing lab is extremely time‐consuming and expensive. Wireless Carriers
Imagine the expense of building an in‐house team Languages (for multi‐geo apps)
Location, Location, Location
and lab capable of assuring the functionality for
iPhone, Blackberry and Android handsets (of all
Through crowdsourcing, companies can meet mobile’s “in
makes and models) across wireless carriers in the the wild” testing needs by utilizing a community of diverse
U.S., U.K, Australia, China and Japan. For reasons and talented professional testers, capable of testing their app
of cost and coverage, it’s no surprise that mobile app across any and all criteria, and on an on‐demand basis. Your
companies rarely rely solely on in‐house testing re‐ users are distributed around the country (or globe), so your
sources. testers should be too. And just as your users utilize your app
outside the sterile confines of the testing lab, under “in the
2. Emulators/Simulators: One of the biggest chal‐ wild” conditions so too should your testers.
lenges for mobile developers is that traditional test‐
With the rapid evolution of crowdsourced testing, top compa‐
ing is occurring in an environment far removed from
nies are doing the impossible: maintaining app quality,
the real world. The gap between “in‐the‐lab” simula‐
achieving broad testing coverage, meeting launch dates, and
tion and “in‐the‐wild” usage is vast and cannot be staying within budget. As the mobile market doubles and
ignored. The convenience of simulators and emula‐ triples in size over the next decade, those that have made
tors has made it easy to be lured into a false sense of testing coverage a priority will enjoy their ROI in terms of
security, but they should not be considered a substi‐ increased market share, profitability, and above all, user loy‐
alty.
tute for real‐world, on‐device testing.
3. Beta Testers: It’s rare for a software company to Doron Reuveni co‐founded uTest
in February, 2007. Since its in‐
attract a large group of beta testers to test their app.
ception, uTest has provided func‐
After all, not every company can be Google, with its
tional, usability and load testing
wildly popular beta versions. But even if you can services through a community
assemble a large beta group, the method still falls that includes more than 35,000
short on its own. First, if a beta goes poorly, most professional testers from 170
companies can’t afford to have it happen in the bright countries around the globe. He is
lights of the blogosphere or Twitterati. Beta testers a published author and expert in
testing methodologies for web,
are more often like users in that they will only try to
desktop, and mobile applications. Prior to uTest, Doron was
get your app to function properly; a real tester will
the Senior Vice President of Technology at Enigma, Inc.,
systemically structure their usage to identify weak‐ delivering large‐scale software implementations through his
nesses in your app. global team of product managers, developers, QA profes‐
sionals, and project managers. He has more than 20 years of
Crowdsourced Mobile App Testing experience delivering software applications to Fortune 500
The increasingly fragmented device and platform environ‐ companies as well as young, agile startups. To learn more,
ment has escalated the demand for comprehensive, always‐on visit uTest at www.utest.com.
global testing; however, testing mobile apps has traditionally

Planning Your Next Testing Assignment
‐ Bernice Niel Ruhland
Imagine you have been assigned the responsibility to oversee what features are more important to them. This will allow
the testing of a new module being added to the company’s you to write better test guidelines and to properly allocate the
flag‐ship application! What a wonderful opportunity to chal‐ testing time.
lenge your skills and to show management you can handle the
responsibility. Where do you start with this assignment? Do Review Documentation and Identify Contacts
you dive in and start testing? Or do you take some time to lay An important aspect of the planning process is to review
out a testing approach? available documentation to identify initial questions and to
determine if critical information is missing. At this stage,
There is value in the planning process to better understand consider the optimal skill‐sets required in your testing team
the expectations, risks, timelines, and testing approaches. and identify subject‐matter experts to contact with questions.
Often people confuse test planning with heavy documenta‐
tion. A light‐weight approach can be adopted by balancing Layout
the amount of time spent planning and the size of the test Layout the test plan in a concise manner selecting a medium
plan based upon the project’s scope and risk level. that is most closely aligned with the project’s scope and risk
level.
To make the process easier,
translate the word “PLAN” Create the Test Plan
into four actionable steps: As you gather the information, start to create the test plan
Prepare, Layout, Analyze, using any word processing, spreadsheet, or online collabora‐
and Navigate. These steps tive tool. The specific tool selected can be a personal prefer‐
can help you plan and man‐ ence as each one has its pros and cons. When assembling the
age your next testing as‐ document, consider using tables and bullet points to make it
signment. easier to read and locate information.
Prepare Another avenue is the use of low‐tech options such as: a white
Prepare by gathering infor‐ board, an easel board, or a notebook allowing you to quickly
mation to form a foundational knowledge base. make changes and track progress. Whatever option is select‐
ed, keep the test plan concise to ensure it is used as a reference
Understand Expectations and Deliverables tool throughout testing.
In defining a testing approach, understand the purpose of the
assignment, the clients’ expectations, the deliverables and Analyze
associated deadlines. It is helpful to understand how the Analyze the information to identify risks, milestones, com‐
client will use the module, importance to their business, and munication, and testing approaches.
www.TestingCircus.com May 2011 - 10 -

Identify Risks and Training through the test results. As testing progresses, risks may
Review the assembled information to identify initial risks change, unexpected problems are encountered, and certain
with approaches to minimize those risks and identify any phases of testing may take longer than originally anticipated.
training that is necessary. For example, the testers may need The planning process is interwoven throughout test execu‐
to be trained on a system that feeds into the module. Common tion as it allows you to deal with the anticipated problems and
risks include not having enough testers and insufficient the unknowns discovered during testing.
testing time. This is not the time for panic but for creative
solutions! Tap into the tester’s strengths; identify how to Conclusion
integrate testing approaches; and keep the approach agile by The test plan is a tool to develop an overall testing strategy
reducing heavy documentation. If there is a strong explorato‐ and to provide guideposts to measure progress. The key to
ry tester, consider allocating time upfront to identify the planning is to consider the project’s scope and risk level to
module’s weaker areas to assist in prioritizing the testing. determine how much time to devote to the planning process.
Keep the test plan light‐weight by documenting information
Identify Testing Approaches and Milestones that is helpful in managing the project. Remember that the
It is important to identify testing approaches that could test plan is a living document. As you learn from the test
include functional, regression, integration, and performance results the test approach will adjust accordingly. Most im‐
testing. Balance potential testing approaches with testing portantly, enjoy your testing assignment by allowing the test
time and available testers to plan out rough time estimates plan to become one of the tools you use to successfully com‐
considering any overlap across approaches. From this infor‐ plete your mission.
mation, identify testing milestones to help measure the test‐
ing progress against the deliverable date.
Review the Test Plan with Stakeholders
Bernice Niel
While developing the test plan, review the test approach with
Ruhland is a
the appropriate stakeholders to determine if anything impor‐
tant is missing and to gain buy‐in. It is better to discuss Software Test‐
differences earlier in the project than to try and bridge mis‐ ing Manager
communication at the end of the project. This does not have with more than
to be a formal review as sometimes a meeting discussing the 20‐years experi‐
approach is sufficient. The frequency and the timing of com‐ ence in testing
munications with the stakeholders are dependent upon the strategies and
scope and complexity of the project. execution, de‐
veloping testing frameworks, performing data vali‐
Navigate
dation, and financial programming. She devotes
Navigate through testing by referencing the test plan and
many hours to reading testing approaches adopted
adjusting approaches based upon new knowledge.
by other testers to challenge her own testing skills
Test Plans and Approaches Evolve and approaches.
A test plan will provide strategic oversight to manage your
testing assignment. Refer to the test plan periodically to When not exploring the testing world, Bernice en‐
ensure that the objectives and deliverables are being met; joys cooking and spending time with her husband
review identified risks to assess likelihood; and review mile‐ living a health‐conscious lifestyle. The opinions of
stones against the team’s progress for any corrective action. this article are her own and not reflective of the
When reviewing the test plan, continue to identify new risks company she is employed. Bernice enjoys interacting
and determine if there is a need to change testing direction. with other testing professionals and can be reached
at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bernicenielruhland
A test plan evolves throughout testing because test approach‐
and http://twitter.com/#!/bruhland2000.
es are refined based upon additional knowledge gained

*
Software Testing News
e
t ur
F ea
r
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gu
i rcus Re
i n gC
Test
Red Cross hires IBM for software overhaul The testing phase for new software consists of three steps:
developing the tests, running the tests and evaluating the
IBM has secured a new contract with the Australian
results. These three steps are generally performed manually.
Red Cross Blood Service to work through the serviceʹs first
Model‐Based Testing is a method that automates all steps in
national overhaul of its critical blood management software.
the software testing process. When used properly, the method
The win sees IBM working as an implementation partner completely eliminates the need for manual software testing.
with the Blood Service to continue the roll‐out of its National
Model‐Based Testing has a number of major advantages: it
Blood Management System that kicked off in March.
makes the software testing process faster, cheaper and more
The system tracks the supply chain of blood products and accurate. It is not uncommon for manual software testing to
facilitates testing, inventory and distribution management take anywhere from several months to years. Van der Bijl’s
facilities for the serviceʹs red cell, plasma and platelet stock. new system can significantly reduce the duration of the
IBMʹs role as implementation partner will see the technology testing period and thus reduce costs. “We can reduce the
giant provide databases and software testing resources, and duration of the testing phase by at least thirty percent. We
will ensure legal and regulatory compliance of the system. were even able to reduce overall software development time
for one of our customers by a factor of four.” Model‐Based
ʺUpgrading the … software is essential for maintaining the
Testing is more accurate, because in principle there is no
efficient and effective operation of blood donation and blood
limit to the number of tests you run, says Van der Bijl. “If
product supply services for Australians,ʺ said Jennifer Wil‐
you want, you can even run a million tests.”
liam, CEO of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.
If his system takes off, this could represent an enormous cost
ʺThis is the first software application upgrade on a nation‐
and time savings for software developers. In particular, I’m
wide scale to be undertaken by the Blood Service,ʺ said Anne
impressed that the software doesn’t just run the tests — it
Cheetham, IBMʹs associate partner and lead, Victorian Pub‐
actually develops them. Mr. Van der Bijl has also started a
lic Sector.
spin‐off company, Axini, to market the process.
Both IBM and the Blood Service declined to comment on the http://blogs.forbes.com/alexknapp/2011/05/18/researcher‐develops‐automatic‐software‐testing/
length and value of the new contract, which sees IBM add yet
another card to its healthcare deck — which contains other
prominent contract wins including a $23.6 million contract
with the National E‐Health Transition Authority (NEHTA).
Get your organisation’s testing
http://www.zdnet.com.au/red‐cross‐hires‐ibm‐for‐software‐overhaul‐339314714.htm
Researcher Develops Automatic Software Testing news published here. Write to us at
Machiel van der Bijl of the University of Twente has editor@testingcircus.com
developed a software package that eliminates the need for
manual software testing.
*News in Hindi Script.
Test Idea Generation
‐ Riyaj Shaikh
e
t ur
F ea ing applications
ar
g ul ‐ Internal components: Libraries and other components that
i rcus Re are embedded in the product
in gC ‐ Run from Network installs. Check whether your app actu‐
Test ally runs ‐ some apps wonʹt, especially if the network share
is read‐only. What happens if the network is unavailable
Hello Readers, when you try to launch your app? What happens if the
This is my second article about Testing Ideas. Generating network goes down while the application is running?
Ideas can be more fun, enjoyable if you do it in a group. You
will find that everyone adds their experiences while discuss‐ Operations Based:
ing ‐ contributing to the richness of the topic. Earlier, I used ‐ Unattended installs / command line installs
to write ideas in random, but now I use heuristics and set of ‐ Mass installs via an enterprise deployment process like
oracles to generate those. I may be losing some better ideas by Microsoft system management server.
this approach, but I can assure myself that I covered all ‐ Minimum, typical, full and custom install. Verify that each
important topics. on will install correct files. Enables the correct functionality,
In this article the testing ideas/scenarios for Installation sets correct registry and configuration settings. Also try
testing are illustrated. All are based on Heuristics Test upgrading /downgrading between these types.
Planning: Context Model by James Bach. ‐ Install locally: Depending on how the setup was created, a
4 sub‐ types are covered: Installing, uninstalling, reinstall‐ custom install may allow the individual components to be
ing and upgrade of the application. installed locally, or to be run from a shared network location,
or to be installed on demand, or not be installed at all. If you
Installing the application: install one component locally, run another from the network
Platform based: and set a third to install on first Use, does everything work
‐ Installing on different Operating systems –Windows (98, correctly?
2000, XP, XP‐SP3, Vista, Win7), Mac, Unix ‐ Install on First Use installs: Check whether components are
‐ Installing from CD‐Rom/DVD‐ROM installed when they need to be (and not before), installed in
‐ Installing from/to network share the correct location (what happens if the destination folder
‐ Installing from local hard drive has been deleted?) and they get registered correctly.
‐ Verify app is working/installing correctly under remote ‐ Verify installs to deeply nested folder structures work cor‐
terminal , virtual terminal rectly.
‐ External required software: drivers, concurrently execut‐ ‐ Verify that all checks made by the installer (e.g., for suffi‐

cient disk space) work correctly. upgrade. An upgrade typically replaces all of the applica‐
‐ Verify that all errors handled by the installer (e.g., for tionʹs installed files, whereas a patch usually overwrites only
insufficient disk space) work correctly. a few files.
‐ Verify that ʺnormalʺ or limited‐access (i.e., non‐admin) ‐ Perform a Minor Upgrade on a previously patched version.
users can run the application when it was installed by an ‐ Patch on a previously upgraded version.
administrator. Especially likely to be troublesome here are ‐ Upgrade a previously installed‐then‐modified install.
install on First Use scenarios. ‐ Patch a previously installed‐then‐modified install.
‐ Verify canceling an in‐progress install to see it cancels and
leaves no trace of the unfinished install Upgrades:
‐ Verify upgrading over a previous version replaces appropri‐
ate files and no others
‐ Verify installing this version side‐by‐side to previous ver‐
sions works correctly
‐ Verify the correct files do/don’t exist after an upgrade and
their versions are also correct
‐ Verify default settings are correct
‐ Verify previously existing settings and files are maintained
or modified, as appropriate
‐ Verify all functionality works correctly when the previous
version(s) and/or the new version is set to Run From Network
‐ Verify any features and applications dependent on files or
Combination installs:
functionality affected by the upgrade work correctly
‐ Perform a Typical install followed by a Modify operation to
add additional features.
Operating System Upgrade:
‐ Perform a Custom install followed by a Modify operation to
‐ Verify upgrading over a previous version replaces appropri‐
remove features.
ate files and no others
‐ Perform a Typical install, delete one or more of the installed
‐ Verify all functionality works correctly
files, and then perform a Repair operation.
‐ Verify any features and applications dependent on operat‐
‐ Perform a Custom installation that includes non‐Typical
ing system files or functionality affected by the upgrade work
features, delete one or more of the installed files and then
correctly
perform a Repair operation
Uninstalls and Re‐installs:
Multi‐User installation:
‐ Be sure that not only are all application‐specific/shared files
What happens when multiple users mess by modifying the
are removed, but that the registry and other configuration
setup configuration of your application?
changes are undone as well. Verify components/files which
are shared with other applications are/not uninstalled de‐
Network Setup:
pending whether any of the sharing apps are still installed.
Can you install your app from the network rather than a
Try out‐of‐order uninstalls: install app A and then app B,
local CD?
then uninstall app A and then uninstall app B.
‐ Reinstall after uninstalling the new and previous versions
Patches:
of your application.
‐ Patch previous versions. Patching is different from an

Security Testing in Installation?
Your product is expensive, what if the version you are Riyaj Shaikh is
testing is available freely somewhere on internet? a test
Check torrents, I have found that most popular apps can be enthusiast and
has a habit of
downloaded from various file uploading and torrent sites
learning new
freely. Also search for cracked versions. If there is Authoriza‐
things in
tion keys required while installation, check on Google, if
testing world.
anyone has publish those keys.
Once I download 15 days trial pro version of an app, I applied He loves
some tricks and then next time app is showing 300 days freedom of testing. He also likes to demonstrate
remaining for trial!! Check if you can do that too. his testing skills. Riyaj has participated in
(Remember, testers are authorized hackers) If you could find variour testing community activities and often
the tricks for your application, you are priceless tester for blogs at http://riyajs.wordpress.com.
your organization. !!!
Riyaj contributes to Testing Circus magazine
as an assitant editor.
Do you have better ideas for installation testing? Can He can be reached at
you generate more Testing ideas on different topics? http://twitter.com/riyajshaikh or in his
You want to contribute for the next issue on test email riyajs@testingcircus.com
ideas? If yes, just write to us at
riyajs@testingcircus.com

Promoting Software Testing in Your
Organization
e
t ur
F ea
a r
g ul
us Re
Circ
i ng
Test
‐ Rob van Steenbergen

How to promote Testing in Your Organization
Test Promotional Tip 7: Stay positive about test‐ Do not go along with the negative trend in a bad or
ing in your conversation and communication. Ra‐ difficult project
diate passion for the testing profession.
Fortunately, often you are not the only critical employee
This article is part of my other articles published in in a critical project. Especially at the end of a project
earlier Testing Circus issues: ʺ29 Tips to promote when the real exciting things start to happen, certain
testing in your organizationʺ people will be more negative about the software. If you
notice this negative behaviour in other people, you can
Stay positive about testing in every conversation you do two things: Agree that it is not so well, or bring this
have and in all your communication. Radiate a constant criticism on the project in perspective.
passion for testing.
The latter is very difficult, but youʹll have to try to bring
This is something that’s very difficult. As a tester you this in perspective in your daily communication. Youʹre
mostly will see the bad characteristics of a software the “expert of the software problems” and if youʹd start
product. And this is the subject where you think about talking in the negative sense, you will get a negative
the most and you will discuss these problems a lot in mark on you as a person and on the testing trade.
workplace because you’re mainly concerned to
communicate and give information about the problems Listen first, then think and then talk
that are encountered concerning a software product (or
IT system). In order to deal with this, it might be a good idea to stop
talking and listen more in conversations with colleagues
It can be difficult to keep a positive attitude when or in meetings. And if you still want to say something,
communicating about this. Though you should try to try to keep silent and listen to the critics. Listening to
formulate problems and approach this in a positive way. complaints and stories about troubles in a project,
whether these are product related or project problems,
Well, here he/she comes: “The tester. O my, what should can help you get a deeper understanding of the root
we do? Run?”. This is one of the reactions we should causes of these complaints.
try to avoid, although this is not always avoidable. As a
tester you will almost always communicate bad news. A good thing to do is discuss this type of complaints in
a one‐on‐one interview with the project manager or
Here are some tips in this area that may help you to not another colleague who is not involved in the project.
be ʺthe complainer of the projectʺ.
Doing this you can get insights from other people’s
perspective that you can use in your communication.
For most cases there is a solution, but it often requires Testing is a great job!
keeping just a bit of distance, listen to other people, then If someone starts to complain about the tests you do and
think about how to communicate these perspectives to shows negative behaviour about the testing processes, it
your main stakeholders of your project. is often the lack of knowledge of testing, really.
Always discuss issues with a group of the project We testers are not “constant complainers”, we do not

members complain about every detail, but we do want to be honest
Everyone can add his product issues (or bugs) in a bugs and objective in test executing tests and test reporting.
database. Always ensure that there is an issue meeting This is a balance that every tester has to find in his own
planned to consult with the right people from the project professionalism.
(project manager, developer, tester, customer,...).
Keep telling people that testing is fun, hard work (harder
Together, discuss the issues one by one: than lot of people suspect). The phrases ʺtesting is the
‐ You determine the impact of the problem together most beautiful job in ITʺ and ʺa testing department is
‐ Is the team even going to solve the problem or not. often the knowledge base of an organizationʺ are
Now or later? occasionally nice to ventilate. Although sometimes an
‐ And very important, who will solve the problem. eyebrow can go up with a colleague by saying this, it
will help in a positive sense. Giving clear, fun and
Never do take informational presentations about testing in your
initiative on your organization also will help to make some things clear
own as a tester, about the testing trade.
otherwise you won’t
be taken seriously,
you’re not the In the next issue – Rob will write more on how to promote
project leader, the testing in an organization. Keep reading Testing Circus.
‐ Editor
developer or the one
who’s going to use
the software (the Rob van Steenbergen is an independent software
customer). Only within a team discussion the right test consultant from The Netherlands. In the last 4
“action holder” and priority can be assigned. This will years he has been involved in infrastructure projects
make testing a part of the development via the issues that and is working now on a desktop virtualization
are found. In organizations where teams are just starting project where he is testing and coordinating the tests.
with testing, the issue list is the main focus and source For more information visit – www.chickenwings.nl
of information about test results.
Rob can be reached at
Think beyond test and make suggestions http://twitter.com/rvansteenbergen
You need not be limited to only testing of software
products. You could also discuss project ideas on how
problems can be found in advance.
For example by asking if you (or the team) could do a
review session of the documentation before creating the
code. Or developers checking each other’s work before
integrating it in the configuration tool (peer code
reviews).
Crack The Code!
‐ Blindu Eusebiu
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQJUtSbpquY
Use Youtube annotations. Each video

is interlinked with the other videos
through links.
Mission ‐ Find any type of mismatch,
exceptions or inconsistencies etc.
Send your answers directly to
Blindu Eusebiu ‐
testalways@testingcircus.com
Blindu Eusebiu is
a tester for more
than 5 years. He is
currently hosting
European Weekend
Testing.
He considers
himself a context‐
driven follower and he is a fan of
exploratory testing.
He tweets as @testalways. You can find
more interactive testing puzzles on his Names of puzzle solver will be published in the
website http://www.testalways.com
next issue of Testing Circus.
Send your answers to
testalways@testingcircus.com

Testers at Twitter
e
t ur
F ea
r
la
gu
us Re
Circ
i ng
Test Jodie Alaine Parker
#NLP #Agile #ExploratoryTesting #Enable the team to breath crea‐
tivity and you will have one awesome delivery.
522 Following
420 Followers
50 Listed
http://twitter.com/ubuntutester
Derk‐Jan de Grood
Thought leader in software testing. Author of books on software
testing, IT and ʹgiving presentationsʹ.
58 Following
169Followers
10 Listed
http://twitter.com/DerkJanDeGrood
Rob Lambert
Creative Director at Software Testing Club. Editor of The Testing
Planet. Test Manager at NewVoiceMedia.
http://thesocialtester.posterous.com/
1324 Following
1225 Followers
104 Listed
http://twitter.com/Rob_Lambert
AST
The Association for Software Testing: Advancing the understand‐
ing & practice of software testing via conferences, publications,
training, web sites & services.
http://www.associationforsoftwaretesting.org
0 Following
425 Followers
29 Listed
http://twitter.com/AST_News
http://Twitter.com/TestingCircus
i t t e r
t T w
u sa
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Fo
i rcus
e st i ng C
m/T
r. co
t te
/Twi
h tt p:/

u re
at
Fe
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Problem: I have 10 open Browsers. How can I close them 1 by 1?
i rc
gC
Solution: ʹClose All the Open Browser
i n
Test
While Browser(ʺtitle:=.*ʺ,ʺindex:=0ʺ).Exist
Browser(ʺtitle:=.*ʺ,ʺindex:=0ʺ).close
Wend

Problem:Sometimes it happens that QTP does not recognise objects. Can I use keyboard strokes to click the links and
Navigate the different parts of open application.
Solution: ʹUse of KeyStroke on Active Browser/Window
Set Obj=CreateObject(ʺWScript.Shellʺ)
wait 2
Obj.Run ʺhttp://www.google.comʺ
wait 2
Obj.SendKeys ʺ{Enter}ʺ
wait 2
Obj.SendKeys ʺ{Tab}ʺ
wait 2
wait 2
wait 2
wait 2 Jaijeet Pandey has over 5 and half
Obj.SendKeys ʺ{Tab}ʺ years of experience in Application
wait 2 Development, Maintenance and
Obj.SendKeys ʺ{Tab}ʺ Testing. From more than last 4 years
wait 2 he is involved in automation testing
Obj.SendKeys ʺ{Tab}ʺ with QTP and Load Runner tools.
wait 2 He is associated with various testing
initiatives in NCR region of India.
wait 2
He teaches QTP on weekends.
Jaijeet writes his blog at
wait 2
http://jaijeetpandey.blogspot.com
He is currently employed with
ʹThe above code will Birlasoft, Noida. He can be reached
1. Launch ʺGoogle.comʺ at http://twitter.com/jaijeetpandey
2. Click on link “Advanced Searchʺ
3. Click on link “Google Instantʺ within Advanced Search Page

Testers Greatest Nemesis
Martin Jansson
Background something to test we showed them it was a big difference with
When I first got in contact with software testers, I worked as what we found compared to them.
PM and developer for a language tool. Our CEO had said The thing that is constant is the confusing perception on a
that he had hired two testers, easily since you can just pick tester is and what we should do.
them from any street corner. Sadly they had no clue what to How are testers perceived?
do and did not find any bugs, they just found out how the OS
worked or things that were built‐in. After some time we were If you look at testers from a salary perspective we very often
able to get a new group of testers and now things really have lower salaries than developers and project managers, but
changed. Some of them were aspiring to be developers, but we have higher than documentation specialists and support
settled to be testers for a short time. At that time they had no personnel (at least in Sweden). For many salary also drives
knowledge about how testing should be done according to the your career choices, so you naturally want to get out of the
so called rules, but they did a good job and found bugs in our testing department. In Sweden consultants can charge higher
software. for test leads than testers at many major customers. This does
not motivate consultancies to grow great testers.
Some year later I began at a product development company.
During my years there we had change of manager almost If you look at testers through career perspective you often see
every year for the test department. Each one brought their that tester is a pit stop in pursuit to become a developer. Or
own perspective on testers. Most of them accepted any perhaps more rarely you see people have been demoted from
personnel from any department when there was lack of testers. other positions. Someone needs to take the role of tester, letʹs
During that time we got to experience a lot of different take the person we need the least for other tasks. I also see
backgrounds, skills and interests from the extra personnel. personnel that are promoted from support to testing (as they
We also experienced many employees who were moved or even express it). If you become test lead you might be on the way
demoted ʺdownʺ to the test department. Many stayed in to become project manager. Managers know that many with
testing where they excelled and eventually liked it. During higher ambition will just pass through the test department,
all those years management saw us as the complaining guys while others less motivated will stay behind. Still, there will
from the test department, perhaps a too common view? What always be a group of testers who love testing and want to
we really did was express risks, bugs or any information we excel in it, but some companies do not have them yet.
thought endangered the company or products under test. I In the scripted test approach you most often want a domain
am sure their perception of us was misplaced, but naturally expert to write test cases and let someone else (or sometimes
we were somewhat to blame for how we communicated and the same person) execute the tests. In this situation the tester
how we acted when communicating. can be ʺanybodyʺ, he/she just need to execute the tests. When
Some years later I joined a smaller company with mostly a manager is seeking new resources to become testers he will
researchers and scientists. Most of them were used to working accept anybody to become a tester, than you have the potential
alone in development projects so they did all things of getting anyone, even demoted personnel, from other parts
themselves. They did not see the need for testing as a of the organization. This is the most common view on testers,
discipline on its own. Eventually when we (testers) got as I see it.
**This article was first published in http://thetesteye.com/blog/2011/05/testers‐greatest‐nemesis/

Certification arguments about multiple‐choice questions in his article
During my whole career I have not heard that many talk about ʺFrederick Taylor In The Classroom: Standardized Testing
the need or requirement of certification at places where I And Scientific Managementʺ [6].
worked or at clients. In one case a tester approach me, when Attitude
he was about to enter my test group. He said he was ISTQB Just because we have to work up streams does not mean we
certified and that his employer required all testers to be can keep on having a lousy attitude. Iʹve often seen us picture
certified. I told I was not, but I had more than 10 years of test ourselves as victims because of our situation, lack of
experience and close to 20 years of product development personnel, time etc. If we are too few to test and if we got too
experience. Was that ok? I asked him of his testing skills and little time, we can only offer to do our best. We can also
what he could do to contribute to my team. He got scared and explain what we could do if we were more and if we had more
did not want to join the team. I regret that I scared him off time. The prior combined with that we often speak in anger
like that. Someone must have introduced the idea that to be a when we talk about quality. This only fuels the perception
good tester you need to be certified. Or was it perhaps set up that we are a bunch of idiots, angry ones.
as a minimum requirement when handling allocating
personnel to teams? Perhaps the original intention was When we get deliverables from developers we are sometimes
certified tester or experiences enough to cover it? There is angry because of the bad quality or the lousy state of a certain
seldom context behind decisions like that. My belief is that build. Do we consider why it is like that, what shortcuts they
some consultancy got them to buy‐in on the idea, then sold needed to take or if someone forced the delivery of a new build?
them lots of courses and certification packages. Do we really need to focus our blame on the developers?
Consider their ever increasing technical debt that they might
After reading Dorothy Grahams blog posts ([1], [2] and [3]) not get proper priority to adjust.
about the intention of certification, I wonder why no one spoke
up about where things were heading. Their intent might have In most areas of expertise you have lots of education, at
been to make the perception on testers better, but I think it various levels of the school system, to back you up. This has
instead has hurt our craft. At each conference and at most just started to get going with testing. At least it is not only
meetings there is often someone who speaks up with lots of a chapter in a book that you skip. There are lots of books,
argument against certification. I rarely see anyone take up articles, blogs and other sources of information to gain other
the discussion to meet their arguments or perhaps I do not peoples experience on testing. Why is it ok to think you do
listen? James Bach has made a lot of good arguments [4]. not need to learn more about your craft? Why do so many
testers with lots of years in the testing craft still state that
There are many so called test experts out there who say that they have not studied anything to get better at testing?
certification such as ISEB or ISTQB is needed to be a tester. Having that attitude damages the perception on testers by
Some companies even require it of their testers and therefore keeping you ignorant of what you claim to be expert at. With
the recruiters require people seeking jobs to have it. I think it the increasing use of agile teams where a tester has a natural
is all a charade. Having testers who take courses in testing, part, you are supposed to know at least something about your
who read books, blogs and articles, who want to learn and craft.
who want to excel as testers are what is needed. Passionate
testers who want to become great! If they are certified that is What do we do to affect that perception?
ok, perhaps they got some ideas from it and they might have If we are continuously providing valuable information to our
had a great teacher who stimulated them into becoming stakeholders the perception will be altered. This means that
passionate themselves. you need to know what they find valuable and what could
ISTQB uses multiple‐choice questions on their exams, but threaten that value. You also need to consider how you
they are quite limited. Cem Kaner has written an excellent communicate, thus in what form, if you are going to use
post about Writing Multiple Choice Test Questions [5] where metrics or not, how much subjectivity or objectivity you
he makes some strong arguments. If ISTQB was altered along should use and how you act when communicating. Less
those lines it would make it harder to pass and naturally drama‐queen and more professionalism.
harder to create, but it would still not solve the main issue We are working up streams here, so everything that you do
with content being out of date and totally wrong in many that is bad will have a great impact on the perception on
areas, as I see it. Jonathan Rees brings up other strong testers. Where ever you go you will bring your attitude and
ambition. When interacting with non‐testers consider what References
you are saying and how it might appear to them. Consider if [1] Certification is evil? ‐
you are in the correct crowd to utter your disapproval, if you http://dorothygraham.blogspot.com/2011/02/part‐1‐certification‐
need to go somewhere else or if you can just go to your manager. is‐evil.html
We need to communicate to managers that it is demeaning [2] A bit of history about ISTQB certification ‐
and de‐motivating to be seen as idiots or just anybody. We http://dorothygraham.blogspot.com/2011/02/part‐2‐bit‐of‐
need to show that having skilled, passionate and motivated history‐about‐istqb.html
testers will give a lot better result. What else can you do to [3] Certification does not assess tester skill ‐
motivate yourselves to get those attributes? Those who have http://dorothygraham.blogspot.com/2011/02/part‐3‐certification‐
been demoted or are de‐motivated, show them how creative schemes‐do‐not.html
and exciting the testing profession can be. Bring in other
[4] Search for ISTQB at James blog ‐
external passionate testers to give them some new ideas. If
http://www.satisfice.com/blog/index.php?s=istqbor http://www.s
nothing of this work, perhaps they need to find what they
atisfice.com/blog/index.php?s=certification
really want to do and go there.
[5] Writing Multiple Choice Test Questions ‐
Before accepting new testers to the team, we need to make
http://kaner.com/?p=34
sure they are right for the job. Do not accept demoted
personnel without explain the consequences. When you as [6] Frederick Taylor In The Classroom: Standardized Testing
And Scientific Management ‐
test lead discuss having extra personnel join your team,
http://radicalpedagogy.icaap.org/content/issue3_2/rees.html
clarify that you want to test them before accepting them into
the group and that some in the team need to be able to veto [7] Developers, let the testers assist with the technical debt ‐
acceptance. http://thetesteye.com/blog/2011/01/developers‐let‐the‐testers‐
assist‐with‐the‐technical‐debt/
We need to tell developers that we understand that they must
take shortcuts, thus increasing the technical debt, but we can [8] What being a Context‐Driven Tester means to me ‐
help [7]. Work closer with the developers. Stop building walls http://www.testingreflections.com/node/view/8657
between you. The more the developers trust and respect you, [9] Where are you going with testing ‐
the more information you will have before you commence your http://thetesteye.com/blog/2010/04/where‐are‐you‐going‐with‐
work as a tester which will lead to a better work done. testing/
Remember a good bug is a fixed bug.
Consider how the test organization is built, how it markets Martin Jansson, Test Manager
itself and what you communicate to management. See Scott at Qamcom Research &
Barbers excellent blog about ʺWhat being a Context‐Driven Technology, started his career as
Tester means to meʺ [8] that can be used as a starting point tester 1996. He has tried many
for you and your test organization. Also consider where you professions in product
are going with testing [9] to understand where you come development, but his heart and
from, what your next goal is and perhaps what is pushing soul belongs in testing. Martin
you in a certain direction. Are you going in the right direction? is one of the founders of
www.thetesteye.com which has grown into one of the
Conclusion greatest Swedish blogs on software testing. In 2010 he and
I think the perception on testers is our greatest nemesis, we a colleague won the competition for apprenticeship in
have to fight it every day. Certification in testing does not EuroSTAR TestLab and they will together in 2011 manage
help us, as I see it, but it is not our main target for concern it. Martin is always on the lookout for great, passionate
just one of the bullies. There are many things that make us people to work with.
get a bad reputation and are therefore perceived badly. Start
changing your own ways and affect those around you to You can reach him on Twitter @martin_jansson or on
become great, passionate testers who deliver valuable martin.jansson@qamcom.se
information effectively.

Open Source Test Automation Tool - Sahi
(A brief Introduction)
‐ Akanksha Talwar
Automation Tool Tutorial
Watch out for our next issues for a series of articles on Sahi Web
Automation Tool. By Narayan Raman
Test Automation is a hot topic in the world of software Start With Sahi
testing. Every company is looking for automation testers to Download Sahi from http://sourceforge.net/projects/sahi/
increase the effectiveness, efficiency and coverage of testing.
Automation is a way of smart testing which helps in Installation
delegating monotonous, repetitive or time consuming tasks. Double click on install Sahi v35_xxx.jar
It helps to reduce test cycle span and increase the test Or open a command prompt, navigate to where
coverage. If done correctly, automated software testing can the file is and run command
reduce the time to run repetitive tests from days to hours. Java –java install_v35_xxx.jar
“Sahi – a web application testing tool” has been developed by To check how to download the sahi go through
Narayan Raman. This article can be useful to the people who http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Zktf‐zsXU
are new to automation tools or are interested in exploring
Sahi to make testing more productive and effective. It will create icon on the
Desktop like
Introduction Double click on shortcut
Sahi is automation and testing tool for web applications. It created on the desktop
gives the facility to record and playback scripts. This tool
works on various browsers (e.g. – IE 9.0) which support Or
JavaScript. It is browser and Platform independent. Sahi
injects JavaScript into web pages using a proxy and the Go to start > All program >
JavaScript helps automate web applications. It uses Rhino as start sahi
its JavaScript engine and Rhino has excellent support for
handling XML. While recording and playing, Sahi does not
create junk scripts which normally are the case with other It will open the Sahi
Automation tools. It does not use xpath like Selenium. Dashboard which will show
all the available browsers in
your system. It will
automatically configure the proxy setting on the browser
before invoking it. Or just enter the URL where you want to record and click on
Go.
Click on the browser which you want to choose. It will open
the browser as shown below: To configure the browser settings– click on configure on the
dashboard of the Sahi.
And it will open the
configuration file for Sahi.
To Record the script
On the Controller, go the the

Record tab (would be selected
by default).
Press ALT and double click on the browser (lower part of the On the Controller have to set
screen); it will open the controller for Sahi. the script name Like below and
click on the Record button.
This controller
helps to record &
playback scripts,
e v a l u a t e
expressions and
add assertions.
Sahi creates the
script in folder
userdate >
scripts under the Navigate on your website like you normally would. Most
location where actions on the page will now get recorded.
you have Click “Stop” to finish recording.
installed the
sahi. It will
create the script with the extn “.sah”.
You can also learn Sahi by using the sample application which
is present in the browser opened by the Sahi.
To View the script
The recoded script can be viewed and edited by opening the
.sah file in the <sahi_root>\userdata\scripts directory. Sahi
scripts are simple text files which use JavaScript syntax.
The script can be edited even while recording, so that logical
segregation into functions etc. can be done as recording
happens. To View Scripts from the controller, click on “View
Script” link at the bottom right of the controller.

To Play Back the Script This was a very basic introduction about Sahi. Sahi is a
From the Sahi Controller go to the playback tab. powerful tool. And I hope you will be able to learn more about
Enter the script name in the “File:” field. Sahi next few issues of Testing Circus.
Click ‘Set’. Wait for the page to reload. And click ‘Play’ References
Steps will start executing, and the Controller will be updated 1. http://sahi.co.in/w/
accordingly. 2. http://sourceforge.net/projects/sahi/
3. http://blog.sahi.co.in/search/label/Sahi
Once finished, SUCCESS or FAILURE will be displayed at
the end of the steps. Logos and trademarks used in this article are the property of
the respective trademark owners.
To view the Log
On the Controller, go to Playback tab and click on “View
Logs” link at the bottom right. It will open a window with
the results neatly formatted in HTML.
Assertion
Assertion is used in Sahi when we expect something and want
to verify that the actual result is same as the expected result.
To Add Assertion in the script
Click the “Assert” button to generate assertions for the
element. They will appear in the “Evaluate Expression” box.
Click “Test —>” to check that the assertions are true. You
can evaluate any JavaScript using “Evaluate Expression”
and “Test —>”. Actions performed via the Controller will Akanksha Talwar is a passionate tester from
not be automatically recorded. Only actions which are Bangalore. She is into testing from last 6 years.
performed directly on the page are automatically recorded. She loves to learn new things and likes to explore
This lets you experiment on the webpage at the time of new tools whenever she can. Akanksha has been
recording without impacting the script. involved in various testing communities. She
coaches trainees who are new to testing and wants
Once satisfied, click on “Append to Script”. This will add the to make long career in software testing.
assertions to the Script.
Click “Stop” to finish recording. Akanksha can be reached at
http://twitter.com/aku24
Every Software Engineer continues his state of chatting or forwarding mails until
and unless he is assigned work by manager.
The rate of change in the software quality is directly proportional to the payment
received from client and the deadline time, and it takes place at the quick rate as
and when deadline force is applied.
Bugs can neither be created nor be removed from software by a developer. It can
only be converted from one form to another. The total number of bugs in the
software always remains constant.

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3 Essentials to Setting Expectations
‐ Varada Sharma
Yet another day of her project’s user acceptance test phase Any relationship – friends, husband‐wife, parents‐kids, busi‐
and I see Debo looking as tired and frustrated as ever. “I left ness‐clients – relies on trust factor and trust comes from
at 9.30 pm last night, was on phone with onsite till 11 pm meeting each other’s expectations. Setting expectations right
and awoke with a phone call from onsite at 7 am this morn‐ is crucial if you are going to meet the party’s expectations at
ing. I am quitting this job as soon as this testing ends. Feels all. Here are my top 3 golden rules to setting the “right”
like people here don’t trust testers for doing their job right!” expectations:
she frowns while sipping tea.
a. State clearly what you are going to do: “I’ll pick you
As we get into details of how things are going so bad with her, up”, a mother might tell her daughter. But it leaves
I end up pointing out that as a test lead (and neither the room open for many differences that can arise due to
product owner nor UAT co‐ordinator), it is not her job in the
this statement. “At what time?”, “From where?” are
first place to be available to onsite for discussing issues. I
two obvious things that can be misunderstood. Imag‐
advise her to tell politely but firmly that she should not be
contacted after office hours for discussing issues that arise. ine what happens if mom waits at the school gate, but
the girl is waiting at the bus stop.
“It is all about
setting expecta‐ This is also a common scenario in business (especially
tions right. software industry!). People walk away from the same
Quitting your meeting understanding entirely different things. The
job is a tempo‐ client is thinking he is getting the requirement built
rary solution. this month, the developer is thinking next month.
What guarantee
do you have that State clearly, repeat and ask the other person to summa‐
you won’t land rize at the end of conversation to make sure your
up in same situ‐
point has made it across correctly.
ation in your
new job?”, I b. State clearly what you are not going to do: If there are
countered.
certain things that you know, you won’t do, state
that. Explicitly.

It gets trickier with the things that you do not know c. State the price of exceeding expectations: In spite of
about. Most often, you don’t know what you don’t your best efforts it can happen that the other party
starts demanding more. How many times has your
son stayed within the budget for his toy shopping?
Put a price on the exceeded expenditure upfront. Try
something like, “You get to pick toys up to 1000/‐ Rs.
Anything more than that and I’ll deduct from your
next month’s pocket money.” Although it might feel
cruel to do so, make good on your words once or
twice. You’ll get the necessary message across.
Similarly in business cases. Tell your client, you’ll be

happy to accept changes for up to one review cycle at
no cost. After that any change will be charged at
hourly rate. Make this a part of your contract, start
following it religiously and see the change in your
projects.
Yes, these things are easier said than done, at times. But then,
your peace of mind is well worth these efforts, isn’t it?
Varada Sharma is

currently working
as a Test Manager
know, right? You won’t do it anyway, but you also at GrapeCity In‐
do not know with enough clarity what you are not dia. In her 13 years
going to do or cannot do. So you are not in a position of software career
to set the account straight here. she has been a
trainer, developer,
The way to deal with this situation is to make sure you
tester, business an‐
put in a general boundary like “I will do X, Y and Z
alyst, project man‐
and nothing else.” It is also important to stick to this
ager and a test
boundary. If you say you won’t do anything else and manager at differ‐
then start making exceptions, you are letting people ent times. She shares her experiences on various
walk all over you. e‐magazines and also authors a blog dedicated to
testing:
Classic example is a software firm that accepts require‐
ments, defines boundaries and then kills its develop‐
http://www.effectivesoftwaretestingblog.com
ment team to include everything else that the client
starts portraying as desired, implicit or business
critical requirement.

Parimala Shankaraiah Interview with Testers
Organisation – Consona Corporation
Role/Designation – Principal Tester
Location – Bangalore, India
Parimala Shankaraiah has seven plus years of experience in testing as well as
mentoring teams of software testers. Apart from testing that she is most
passionate about, she loves to mentor upcoming testers and students. She
writes frequently about her testing experiences at Curious Tester.
She is also a regular contributor of articles on testing and issues concerning
testing. Her hobbies include reading books, blogs, magazines etc. She is a great
foodie and a self‐confessed emotional overeater who eats to beat every emotion
in the world.
Parimala Shankaraiah currently works as a Principal Tester at Consona

Corporation, Bangalore.
e
t ur
F ea
r the time was a job. Testing or
u la
eg
cusR Development didn’t matter and I took it
g Ci r up.
in
Test
3. By any means, do you regret being
associated with software testing?
1. How long have you been associated with Hell NO! Not a single time in all these
software testing? years! My friends and classmates played
It’s been great 7.5 years now and I am down my job offer from a reputed MNC
enjoying each and every moment. saying “Testing is a boring job. Blah!
Blah! Blah!” I dismissed their views as
2. How did you become a software tester? comments filled with jealousy as I was the
Same old traditional story! Graduated in highest paid student in my batch at that
2003 and started hunting for a job at a time . When many people started telling
time when my own seniors weren’t yet the same thing, I said to myself ‘Let me
placed in jobs thanks to the recession in give myself 3 months time. If I don’t like
2001. After innumerable tests and what I am doing, I’ll quit and look out for
umpteen number of interviews, I finally a job in development just like the rest of
landed a job. As a tester. All I needed at the souls”. At the end of 3 months, I

looked back and I knew that I was part of Added to that, whoever wants to join
a highly satisfying and flourishing testing is welcome. There are ample
profession of ‘All times.’ opportunities in testing. Not because it’s
an often ignored or less respected career
4. Do you think software testing is less option, but because testing is one of the
respected than other departments in IT professions which respects and values
industry? diversity. Whether people are from
It depends. I have worked for a couple technical background or not, they come
large organizations that think testing is with a brand new perspective which works
an obstacle. I have also worked for a couple wonders for any team.
smaller ones which iconize testing. It
varies from company to company In addition, doing some amount of
irrespective of being large or small. One groundwork like testing open source
thing I have noticed very often is that projects, reading books, blogs, magazines,
Software Testing as a profession appears being as diverse as possible by solving
to be less respected because some big guys puzzles, developing critical and lateral
in the organization build that kind of a thinking skills and networking with the
culture among people who work there. right people who are willing to help will
They keep preaching how testing delays allow wannabe testers to do well in this
releases, how it burdens timelines and profession.
how testers are lousy because they neither
test COMPLETELY nor do they find ALL So all you people who are curious to
bugs. And that mentality drills down to explore testing, Welcome Onboard!
the lowest possible level within the
organization eventually forcing testers 6. Where do you see Software Testing in
and many others to think that it is a less next five years?
respected profession. If software testing Exciting Question! I see software testing
was less respected, it would have perished at the top rung of many organizations in
by now. As simple as that! the next five years. We currently have
amazing testing leaders across the world
5. What will you suggest to people who want who are toiling day and night to educate
to join IT industry as software testers? organizations about the value of testing
Dear xyz, if you want to flourish in and how it’s a boon and not a bane. As
testing, have the right attitude and good this network of leaders reaches out to
communication skills in addition to good more and more testers, many more
testing skills. Else, be rest assured that leaders will be born who will eventually
you’ll die in boredom or move to a get absorbed into organizations and
different profession. become great change agents. In the next
five years, I also foresee testers develop 9. Movie you would like to watch again?
the courage and confidence to challenge Shawshank Redemption, Pretty Woman,
blind beliefs and age old conventions. Shakespeare in Love, and All movies
Not just talk, but be able to show how directed by Shekar Kapur, K
they can add more value if they are given Balachander, Balu Mahendran and K
more freedom. Viswanath.

7. What qualities will you look for in a 10. “I am a social networking site geek” Or
candidate when you want to recruit “I hate facebook/orkut/twitter”?
someone for software testing job? I dislike face book and orkut for sure. I do
Right attitude followed by a strong urge exist there to keep in touch with school
to learn and perform in addition to good and college friends. I love twitter because
testing skills. There are great examples of it keeps me updated on latest happenings
teaching certain languages, tools or even in the testing world. I more or less follow
doing some tasks. However, there are no people who are related to testing .
examples where curiosity and the urge to Another good thing with twitter is there
learn can be taught. Adaptability and is so much of information posted out
flexibility are key skills too. Ability to there. Though I get bogged down with
think differently and test products is very information at many times, being on
important. For me, soft skills is as much twitter helps me be in total control of my
important as any technical skill because skills and knowledge.
at the end of the day, we mostly work
with humans and it’s important to Email ID –
exhibit strong emotional intelligence over parimala.shankaraiah@gmail.com
time.
Blog/Site –
8. Your weekend routine? http://curioustester.blogspot.com/
Eat well, Sleep well and Relax with http://thefieldstonemethod.blogspot.com/
Family (not necessarily in that order).
Apart from that, I catch up with some Twitter Url –
reading mostly books. Occasionally, I test http://twitter.com/curioustester
some open source products or anything
that catches my attention (for e.g.
Recently, I was testing how set top box
responds to different options on the In the next issue we will publish
remote and found a couple cool flaws). I interview with Markus Gärtner .
enjoy going on long walks too. ‐ Editor.

Want to write for us?
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