Automating Testing of Business Objects Reports...

Question

I am a new user to empirix e-Tester and I need some assistance understanding how the program captures events during recording... I am trying to build a very simple test to use against the Business Objects Reporting package.
Basically, I have the following steps in this test case:
1. Login to the system. Got this working and configured.
2. Select a report from the listing of documents. This works.
3. Enter Report Criteria and submit report. This Works.
4. Filter report using drop down boxes that contain valid data filters. This doesn't work.
In step 4, I basically have a screen with 2 frames. The top frame contains drop down lists for the filters. The main frame contains the report data. When I am recording the script it works, but on playback it freezes and times out. If I look through the script, it shows the index of the item I selected in the associated list box. I looked in the address properties and it shows the events (onclick and onchange) and the onchange has the correct index... but it fails to update the data frame with the filtered report... it just times out.
Does anyone understand what I am doing much less doing wrong? I can attach some screen prints if neccessary to clarify what's going on.
TIA,
Wayne

Answer 1

I have run into similar issues like this in my testing. The issue is usually caused by dynamic option values. When you record a script, eTester captures the value associated with the drop down. If on playback it cannot match its recorded value to a choice in the list (remember a drop down is a restricted list) it will come back with a ?failed to set option value?? There are a couple of ways you can fix this. The first option is to expand the page, address and parameters node that that the script fails on. Find the parameters with value, number (Myval, 1) for example. Right-click the parameter and select properties. Click the ?base on index? button. The tool will now select the option by index instead of value. The other possibility is to select options-->Current Script then select General. Check the first option ?Record all list selection by index.? This will do what is described above globally when scripts are recorded. I hope this is inline with your problem and helps.