QF-Test abstract recorded class from the framework specific classes in
order to get classes of common use. Those classes are called generic
classes. This concept provides a better readability and clearer
understanding of components. Furthermore already created tests can be
re-used once the target technology is switched or if you want to
maintain tests in various technologies in parallel.
Beside those generic classes QF-Test records generic types as well.
Those types give a more detailed specification of the target
component. A typical use-case are password fields. Those fields have the
generic class TextField, but they have that specific
characteristic to enter passwords, so they get an additional generic
type TextField:PasswordField.
Using those types makes the recognition of generic classes for certain
categories stricter and more appropriate.
A great advantage of these generic classes, especially when testing web
applications is that a user can freely assign these generic classes to
components. Later on these mappings may get reduced onto other generic
classes. An example how this can be done may be found in the manual
chapter Mapping of Tables and TreeTables.
Using generic classes has the following advantages:
-
It is possible to record additional component recognition features, depending
on the generic class. Often, depending on the generic class, it makes sense to
change the recorded 'Feature' and/or the recorded 'Extra features', e.g.
the
qfs:label.
-
Depending on the generic class, class specific checks may be provided, e.g. the
check to check a complete table row if the generic class equals
Table.
-
The indexing of sub-elements during recording, this means that e.g. during click
recording on a table cell only a 'Component' for the table gets recorded, while
the exact cell is referenced via indices.
-
The recording of the generic type, as far as reasonable.
-
With generic classes it becomes decidable whether the exact position or the
most suitable position should get record for mouse clicks.
-
Simply by assigning a recorded component to a generic class, component recognition
gets sharpened compared to non-specific HTML classes.
Properties of generic classes is listing which information
is saved in particular.
