Smart Identification In QTP

Configuring Smart Identification

When the learned definition for an object does not enable QuickTest Pro/ QTP to identify an object, QuickTest uses the Smart Identification definition (if defined and enabled) to identify the object.

The Smart Identification dialog box enables you to create and modify the Smart Identification definition that QuickTest uses for a selected test object class. 

About Configuring Smart Identification 

When QuickTest uses the learned description to identify an object, it searches for an object that matches all of the property values in the description. In most cases, this description is the simplest way to identify the object, and, unless the main properties of the object change, this method will work.

If QuickTest is unable to find any object that matches the learned object description, or if it finds more than one object that fits the description, then QuickTest ignores the learned description, and uses the Smart Identification mechanism to try to identify the object.

While the Smart Identification mechanism is more complex, it is more flexible. Therefore, if configured logically, a Smart Identification definition can probably help QuickTest identify an object, if it is present, even when the learned description fails.

The Smart Identification mechanism uses two types of properties:

Base Filter Properties. The most fundamental properties of a particular test object class; those whose values cannot be changed without changing the essence of the original object. For example, if a Web link's tag was changed from to any other value, you could no longer call it the same object.



Optional Filter Properties. Other properties that can help identify objects of a particular class. These properties are unlikely to change on a regular basis, but can be ignored if they are no longer applicable.

Understanding Smart Identification :

If QuickTest activates the Smart Identification mechanism during a run session (because it was unable to identify an object based on its learned description), it follows the following process to identify the object:

QuickTest "forgets" the learned test object description and creates a new object candidate list containing the objects (within the object's parent object) that match all of the properties defined in the Base Filter Properties list.



QuickTest filters out any object in the object candidate list that does not match the first property listed in the Optional Filter Properties list. The remaining objects become the new object candidate list.



QuickTest evaluates the new object candidate list:



If the new object candidate list still has more than one object, QuickTest uses the new (smaller) object candidate list to repeat step 2 for the next optional filter property in the list.



If the new object candidate list is empty, QuickTest ignores this optional filter property, returns to the previous object candidate list, and repeats step 2 for the next optional filter property in the list.



If the object candidate list contains exactly one object, then QuickTest concludes that it has identified the object and performs the statement containing the object.



QuickTest continues the process described in steps 2 and 3 until it either identifies one object, or runs out of optional filter properties to use.
If, after completing the Smart Identification elimination process, QuickTest still cannot identify the object, then QuickTest uses the learned description plus the ordinal identifier to identify the object.
If the combined learned description and ordinal identifier are not sufficient to identify the object, then QuickTest stops the run session and displays a Run Error message. 

Reviewing Smart Identification Information in the Test Results :

If the learned description does not enable QuickTest to identify a specified object in a step, and a Smart Identification definition is defined (and enabled) for the object, then QuickTest tries to identify the object using the Smart Identification mechanism.

If QuickTest successfully uses Smart Identification to find an object after no object matches the learned description, the step is assigned a Warning status in the Test Results, and the result details for the step indicate that the Smart Identification mechanism was used.

If the Smart Identification mechanism cannot successfully identify the object, QuickTest uses the learned description plus the ordinal identifier to identify the object. If the object is still not identified, the component fails and a normal failed step is displayed in the results.

The explanation below describes the process that QuickTest uses to find the Login object using Smart Identification:

According to the Smart Identification definition for Web image objects, QuickTest learned the values of the following properties it learned the Login image:


The learned values are as follows:
Base Filter Properties:

Property	Value
html tag	INPUT

Optional Filter Properties:

Property	Value
alt	Login
image type	Image Button
name	login
file name	login.gif
class
visible	1




QuickTest begins the Smart Identification process by identifying the five objects on the Mercury Tours page that match the base filter properties definition (html tag = INPUT). QuickTest considers these to be the object candidates and begins checking the object candidates against the Optional Filter Properties list.



QuickTest checks the alt property of each of the object candidates, but none have the alt value: Login, so QuickTest ignores this property and moves on to the next one.



QuickTest checks the image type property of the each of the object candidates, but none have the image type value: Image Button, so QuickTest ignores this property and moves on to the next one.



QuickTest checks the name property of each of the object candidates, and finds that two of the objects (both the basic and VIP Login buttons) have the name: login. QuickTest filters out the other three objects from the list, and these two login buttons become the new object candidates.



QuickTest checks the file name property of the two remaining object candidates. Only one of them has the file name login.gif, so QuickTest correctly concludes that it has found the Login button and clicks it.

You use the Smart Identification Properties dialog box, accessible from the Object Identification dialog box, to configure the Smart Identification definition for a test object class.

To configure Smart Identification properties:

Select Tools > Object Identification. The Object Identification dialog box opens.
Select the appropriate environment in the Environment list. The test object classes associated with the selected environment are displayed in the Test Object classes list.
Select the test object class you want to configure.



Click the Configure button next to the Enable Smart Identification check box. The Configure button is enabled only when the Enable Smart Identification option is selected. The Smart Identification Properties dialog box opens.
 
1. In the Base Filter Properties list, click Add/Remove. The Add/Remove Properties dialog box for base filter properties opens.
2. Select the properties you want to include in the Base Filter Properties list and/or clear the properties you want to remove from the list.

Note: You cannot include the same property in both the base and optional property lists.

You can specify a new property by clicking New and specifying a valid property name in the displayed dialog box.

Tip: You can also add property names to the set of available properties for Web objects using the attribute/ notation. To do this, click New. The New Property dialog box opens. Enter a valid property in the format attribute/ and click OK. The new property is added to the Base Filter Properties list. For example, to add a property called MyColor, enter attribute/MyColor.

Click OK to close the Add/Remove Properties dialog box. The updated set of base filter properties is displayed in the Base Filter Properties list.

In the Optional Filter Properties list, click Add/Remove. The Add/Remove Properties dialog box for optional filter properties opens.

Select the properties you want to include in the Optional Filter Properties list and/or clear the properties you want to remove from the list.

Note: You cannot include the same property in both the base and optional property lists.

You can specify a new property by clicking New and specifying a valid property name in the displayed dialog box.

Tip: You can also add property names to the set of available properties for Web objects using the attribute/ notation. To do this, click New. The New Property dialog box opens. Enter a valid property in the format attribute/ and click OK. The new property is added to the Optional Filter Properties list. For example, to add a property called MyColor, enter attribute/MyColor.

Click OK to close the Add/Remove Properties dialog box. The properties are displayed in the Optional Filter Properties list.

Use the up and down arrows  to set your preferred order for the optional filter properties. When QuickTest uses the Smart Identification mechanism, it checks the remaining object candidates against the optional properties one-by-one according to the order you set in the Optional Filter Properties list until it filters the object candidates down to one object.