QTP's Global Settings and Options

To set global testing options Choose Tools > Options or click the Options toolbar button.

The Options dialog box opens. It is divided by subject into several tabbed pages:

General tab:

The General tab options affect the general appearance of QTP and other general testing options.

Note: The Web tab shown in the dialog box is displayed only if the Web Add-in is installed and loaded.

Description:

General tab includes the following options:

• Display Add-in Manager on startup: Determines whether the Add-in Manager is displayed when starting QuickTest.
• Display Start Page on startup: Determines whether the Welcome screen is displayed when starting QuickTest.
• Check for software updates on startup: Determines whether the QTP will check for any software updates when it starts.
• Disable recognition of virtual objects while recording: Determines whether the defined virtual objects stored in the Virtual Object Manager are recognized while recording.
• Automatically update test and component steps when you rename test objects: Instructs QTP to update any test components if there where any changes or renamed test objects (actions, folder’s paths renaming...)
• Automatically generate “With” statements after recording: Instructs QuickTest to automatically generate ”With” statements when we record.
• Generate “With” statements for __ or more objects: Indicates the minimum number of identical, consecutive objects for which we want to apply the With statement. This setting is used when QuickTest automatically generates With statements after recording and when you select to generate With statements for an existing action. Default = 2.
• When pointing at a window, activate it after __ tenths of a second: Specifies the time (in tenths of a second) that QuickTest waits before it sets the focus on an application window when using the pointing hand to point to an object in the application (for Object Spy, checkpoints, Step Generator, Recovery Scenario Wizard, and so on). Default = 5.
• Use text recognition mechanisms in this order ____: Instructs QTP which mechanism to be used when it’s retrieving any text from an object.
• Restore Layout: Restores the layout of the QuickTest window so that it displays the panes in their default sizes and positions.
• Generate Script: Generates an automation script containing the current global testing options.

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Folder tab:

The Folders tab enables us to enter the folders (search paths) in which QuickTest searches for tests, actions, or files that are specified as relative paths in dialog boxes and statements. For example, suppose we add the folder in which all of our tests are stored to the folders list. If we later insert a copy of an action to a test, we only have to enter the name of the test containing the action we want to insert in the Insert Copy of Action dialog box. QuickTest searches for the test’s path in the folders we specified in the Folders tab.

Note: The component is listed in the Search list by default. It cannot be deleted.

The order in which the folders are displayed in the search list determines the order in which QuickTest searches for the specified test, component, action, or file.

Description:

The Folders tab includes the following options:

Search List: Indicates the folders in which QuickTest searches for tests, actions, or files. If you define folders here, you do not need to designate the full path of a test, component, action, or file in other dialog boxes or call statements. The order of the search paths in the list determines the order in which QuickTest searches for a specified action or file.

                  Adds a new folder to the search list.

Tip: To add a Quality Center path when connected to Quality Center, click this button. QuickTest adds [QualityCenter], and displays a browse button so that you can locate the Quality Center path. When not connected to Quality Center, hold the SHIFT key and click this button. QuickTest adds [QualityCenter], and you enter the path. You can also type the entire Quality Center path manually. If you do, you must add a space after [QualityCenter]. For example: [QualityCenter] Subject\Tests. Note that QuickTest searches Quality Center project folders only when you are connected to the corresponding Quality Center project.

                  Deletes the selected folder from the search list.

 Moves the selected folder down/up in the list.

Tip: You can use a PathFinder.Locate statement in your test to retrieve the complete path that QuickTest will use for a specified relative path based on the folders specified in the Folders tab. For more information, refer to the QuickTest Professional Object Model Reference.

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Active Screen tab:

The Active Screen tab enables us to specify which information QuickTest saves and displays in the Active Screen while recording and running tests and components.

Tip: The more information saved in the Active Screen, the easier it is to edit the test or component after it is recorded. However, more information saved in the Active Screen adds to the recording time and disk space required. This is especially critical in Visual Basic, ActiveX, and .NET Windows Forms environments. You can increase or decrease the amount of information saved in your test or component after it is recorded.

Note: When you are recording on an MDI (Multiple Document Interface) application, the Active Screen does not capture information for non-active child frames.

Custom Active Screen Capture Settings

Active Screen - Web Page Appearance

Description:
Active Screen tab includes the following options:

Capture Level: Specifies the objects for which QuickTest stores data in the Active Screen. Use the slider to select one of the following options:

• Complete — Captures all properties of all objects in the application’s active window/dialog box/Web page in the Active Screen of each step. This level saves Web pages after any dynamic changes and saves Active Screen files in a compressed format.
• Partial — (Default). Captures all properties of all objects in the application’s active window/dialog box/Web page in the Active Screen of the first step performed in an application’s window, plus all properties of the recorded object in subsequent steps in the same window. This level saves Web pages after any dynamic changes and saves Active Screen files in a compressed format.
• Minimum — Captures properties only for the recorded object and its parent in the Active Screen of each step. This level saves the original source HTML of all Web pages (prior to dynamic changes) and saves Active Screen files in a compressed format.
• None — Disables capturing of Active Screen files for all applications and Web pages.
• Custom Level: Enables us to specify custom Active Screen options.
• Default Level: Return the capture level settings to the predefined default level (Partial).
• Advanced: Enables us to define the appearance of Web pages in the Active Screen.

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Run tab:

The Run tab options affect how QTP runs tests and components and displays test results.

Description:

Run tab includes the following options:

• Run mode: Instructs QuickTest how to run your test or component:

Normal (displays execution marker) — Runs your test or component with the execution arrow to the left of the Keyword View or Expert View, marking each step or statement as it is performed. If the test contains multiple actions, the tree in the Keyword View Item column expands to display the steps, and the Expert View displays the script, of the currently running action. This option requires more system resources.

Note: You must have Microsoft Script Debugger installed to enable this mode. For more information, refer to the QuickTest Installation Guide.

Fast — Runs your test or component without the execution arrow to the left of the Keyword View or Expert View and does not expand the item tree or display the script of each action as it runs. This option requires fewer system resources.

• Submit a defect to Quality Center for each failed step: Instructs QuickTest to automatically submit a defect to Quality Center for each failed step in your test or component. This option is available only when you are connected to a Quality Center project.
• View results when run session ends: Instructs QuickTest to display the results automatically following the run session.
• Allow other HP products to run tests and components: Enables other Mercury products such as Quality Center and Test Batch Runner to run QuickTest tests and components. This option is not required to enable WinRunner to run QuickTest tests and components.
• Save still image capture to results: Instructs QuickTest when to capture and save images of the application during the run session to display them in the results. Choose an option from the list:

Always — Captures images of each step, whether the step fails or passes.

For errors — Captures images only if the step fails.

For errors and warnings — Captures images only if the step returns a failed or warning status.

• Save movie to results: Instructs QTP when to register the application during the run session. Choose an option from the list:

Always — Captures images of each step, whether the step fails or passes.

For errors — Captures images only if the step fails.

For errors and warnings — Captures images only if the step returns a failed or warning status.

It’s possible to set the max length of the movie or to set record for the entire test run.

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Windows Applications tab:

The Windows Applications tab options allow you to configure how QuickTest records and runs tests and components for Standard Windows, ActiveX, .NET Windows Forms, and Visual Basic applications.

Windows Applications tab - Advanced view

Description:

Windows Applications tab includes the following options:

Attached Text: Enables you to specify the search criteria that QuickTest uses to retrieve an object’s attached text. An object’s attached text is the closest static text within a specified radius from a specified point. The retrieved attached text is saved in the object’s corresponding text or attached text test object property.
Note: Sometimes the static text that you believe to be closest to an object is not actually the closest static text. You may need to use trial and error to make sure that the attached text is the static text object of your choice.

Search radius — Indicates the maximum distance, in pixels, that QuickTest searches for attached text.

Search area — Indicates the point on an object from which QuickTest searches for the object’s attached text.

   Choose an option from the list:

   • Top-Left—top-left corner

   • Top—midpoint of the two top corners

   • Top-Right—top-right corner

   • Right—midpoint of the two right corners

   • Bottom-Right—bottom-right corner

   • Bottom—midpoint of the two bottom corners

   • Bottom-Left—bottom-left corner

   • Left—midpoint of the two left corners

Open menu to retrieve item properties: Instructs QuickTest to open menu objects before retrieving menu item properties during a run session.
Note: Selecting this option may slow the run, but it can be useful if menu item properties change upon opening the menu. This option, selected by default, sets the default behavior for all menu objects. You can use the ExpandMenu method to set this behavior for a specified menu object.
Record non-unique list items: Determines what QTP records when more than one item (in a list or tree) has an identical name:

by name – Records the item’s name. When the test or component runs, QTP finds and selects the first instance of the name, no matter which item was chosen during recording. Select this option if the all items with the same name have identical properties.

by index – Records the item’s index number. Select this option if items with the same name do not necessarily have identical properties.

Record owner – drawn button as: Instructs QTP how to identify and record custom-made buttons in the application. Choose an option from the list:

• push button;
• check boxes;
• radio buttons;
• objects;

Advanced: Opens "Advanced Windows Applications Options" dialog box, where you can customize record and run options for our Windows applications.