PTF: How to create and manage Test Cases

Let us start by understanding what PeopleSoft Test Framework (PTF) is.

Simply put, PeopleSoft Test Framework (PTF) automates business process testing within PeopleSoft through its Record and Playback capability.

A test case in PTF terminology is nothing but a data set. The data that is to be used for testing a business scenario. These are different sets of data for an individual test. Example: a test can have multiple test cases for different data values.

Test Cases helps in clearly defining the different data sets that need to be tested to test various different business criteria. They help in consolidating and maintaining test data in a single place.

We will see in this blog what test cases are in PTF, how to create them, incorporate them into test scripts and how to use them during test script execution.

Fundamentals of Test Cases in PTF

A test case in PTF terminology is nothing but a data set. The data that is to be used for testing a business scenario. These are different sets of data for an individual test. Example: a test can have multiple test cases for different data values.

They can also be considered as input parameters for a test script.

A test script is the automated script for an individual or standalone transaction executed within each module. Examples include creating a voucher, running a batch process, generating a report, etc.

A test plan in PTF consists of the scope of testing - test scripts to be executed, test data to be used, different business scenarios to be tested, different environments where test scripts to be executed, timelines, test results as a deliverable.

Creating Test Cases in PeopleSoft Test Framework

Prerequisites for creating Test Cases include: well defined test requirements - test scripts to be executed, test data to be used, different business scenarios to be tested, different environments where testing needs to be done, timelines, expected test results.

Adding Test Cases to PTF Test Scripts

Test Cases are the data sets and Test Scripts can have multiple test cases for different data values. Adding a test case to a PTF Test script - This can be done as a mass upload from an input file or manually in a test script.

Mass upload lets you add 1000s of rows of data set into a PTF test script through an input file. Alternatively, a test case can be added manually in a PTF test script as below.

Test cases enable you to associate different sets of data with a PTF test script.

Save As – You can use an existing test case value fields to create a new test case

New Test Case – You get a set of empty value fields for all the steps of the PTF test script

Delete - You can delete a test case that you no longer need

Mass Upload

You can create or modify a large number of test cases by exporting test cases to a file, editing the file(add/delete/modify test data), and then importing the file back into the test.

To import test scripts

• With a test open, select Test, Export.
• Specify a location for the file.
• Select a separator character.
• Specify whether to export one or all test cases.
• Click Start.

To import test cases:

• In PTF, with a test open, select Test, Import.
• Enter the file path or browse to the file.
• Specify the separator character.
• Click Open to display a list of test cases in the file.
• Select the test cases to import.
• Click Start.

It’s very important to follow the standards for naming conventions to organize and maintain test data based on environments they are executed in and the test cycles.

Running and Monitoring Test Cases

Test cases need to be executed based on the test cycle and the testing environment priority.

Test cases need to have the correct set of data for each environment it is being executed on.

Test cases need to be updated(if it has an obsolete data set) on a consistent basis and/or right before the test script execution.

The test script log to be monitored to check if the script has executed with the right data set else the test case needs to be modified and re-run.

Finally

We have seen the usage and importance of test cases in a PTF test script, how to create them (both manual and mass upload) and execute successfully.

If you are using PTF scripts in your organization for your testing, I would encourage you to try mass upload and following naming conventions in your test scripts execution.

Also, please share your experiences with testing using PTF and any insights you may have in the comments section.