Attribute-based validation example

In this chapter, we’ll demonstrate the concept of attribute-based validation based on a simple example. Before working with this example, make sure you’re familiar with the ⇢ basic concept of test validation.

Of course, ⇢ text-based validation is also an example for attribute-based validation, but we’ve dedicated a separate chapter to it because it’s probably the most frequent type of validation.

Download the sample solution

To follow along with this tutorial, download the sample solution file from the link below.

Install the sample solution:

Unzip to any folder on your computer.
Start Ranorex Studio and open the solution file AttributeBasedValidation.rxsln

Test definition

Before we start recording our test, let’s define it. The test consists of 5 steps:

1. Open the Ranorex Studio Demo Application.

2. Click the tab UI-element test area.

3. Click the radio button Green light in the radio button group box.

4. Verify that a green square appears next to the radio button.

5. End the Demo Application and stop the recording.

Recording preparations

Create a desktop-test solution using the Solution Wizard and in step 2 of the setup, select the Demo Application as your AUT.

Demo App selected as AUT and is launched automatically when you start recording.

When the Solution Wizard has finished, click the Recording1 tab in the Ranorex Studio working environment.

Record the test: part one

In the recording module view of Recording1, click RECORD. Ranorex Studio is minimized to the taskbar automatically.
The Recorder control center shows that recording is active.

Attribute-based validation

The purpose of the test validation in this example is to verify whether a colored square appears in the correct color after clicking the radio button.

Since this requires us to validate the color attribute of a UI element, we’re carrying out an attribute-based validation.

Let’s go through the steps:

Activate validation

Click Validate. Recording pauses and the Recorder switches to validation mode.

Select validation element

Select the UI element to validate:

• Mouse over the green square. A purple frame follows your mouse movement.
• The purple frame indicates which element is currently selected for validation.
• Once your selection matches the green square, click it.

Confirm validation element

To confirm the UI element, click Next.

• The UI element has the role Container and the ControlName pnlColourPanel

The screenshot of the selected UI element, showing the green square.

Define validation attributes

Select the attributes Exists (usually preselected) and BackColor and click OK to confirm.

Finish recording

Once you’ve finished the validation action, Ranorex automatically continues recording. The next step is to end the test recording.

Result

After recording stops, you are returned to Ranorex Studio. The actions table contains three recorded actions. Action #3 is the validation. 

The validation action
Validation type operator

• This operator identifies the type of validation to perform.
• There are nine different validation type operators.

Validation attribute:

• This column displays the validation attribute.
• In our example, this is the BackColor attribute.
• You can select other attributes from the drop-down menu.

Match value:

• The match value can be a constant (i.e. text, number, etc.) or a variable.

Repository item:

• This column shows the repository item linked to the action, i.e. the UI element on which the validation is performed.

Interpreting the validation

If written as a statement, the validation would read as follows:

If the attribute BackColor of the UI-element PnlColourPanel is EQUAL to the value Green, THEN the validation returns the value ‘True‘.