RE: [Httpunit-develop] Driving Internet Explorer From Java

[Misha R. <Mis...@Wo...>]

Hi, Brian. I've been able to create a Java plug in to Samie using =
XML-RPC. This allows me to initiate JUnit tests from Ant in the same =
manner that I would for HttpUnit tests. I have set up a Windows =
scheduled task that runs all the tests each night, but if I didn't want =
to do that, I could have just as easily set it up using a continuous =
build tool like CruiseControl, AntHill, etc. The main point is that =
JUnit, Ant, CruiseControl or other Java tools have no idea that under =
the covers there a Perl process that kicks off an IE browser.

I've been using this setup for about 9 months now with very good =
results. There are over 500 web tests, each doing dozens of assertions =
and navigations. After heavily modifying Samie to add important =
features, I have been able to write very thorough JUnit tests that =
control Internet Explorer.

As for eliminating the GUI running on Windows, there's the option of =
disabling the Visible property for Internet Explorer =
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/browser/webbrowser/reference/properti=
es/visible.asp) which won't show the browser while you're running the =
tests. This would be trivial to add to Samie ($IE->{visible} =3D 0;) and =
I'm sure there's a similar extension you can do for Jiffie. But as for =
the Windows box limitation, you would still need a reference to =
shdocvw.dll and mshtml.tlb which are the heart and soul of Internet =
Explorer. For Jiffie, you would still need a reference to jacob.dll =
which is also a Windows specific file. Perhaps if the files were placed =
on the network, the tests could access them from a non-Windows box. =
Otherwise, I don't see how you can divorce yourself Windows while =
automating a Windows based product.


Misha
aut...@go...
http://www.gomisha.com/autotest


-----Original Message-----
From: htt...@li...
[mailto:htt...@li...]On Behalf Of Brian
Kuhn
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 12:19 PM
To: htt...@li...
Subject: RE: [Httpunit-develop] Driving Internet Explorer From Java



Jon,

Thanks for the info.  I've used a similar tool called SAMIE to control =
IE=20
from Perl and it worked well for certain jobs.  I'm glad someone is =
working=20
on a Java version.  Could you explain a bit more about how you're using =
the=20
tool and how you've deployed it?  I think one of the downfalls of the=20
solution is that it requires a GUI running on a Windows box.  It's =
usfull=20
for manually initiating your tests, but you'll need to have a scheduled =
job=20
log in as a normal user in order to automate the tests.  This doesn't =
seem=20
to be a very good solution for continuous tests or any type of site=20
monitoring.  I think one of the powerful things about HttpUnit is its=20
ability to run tests without an actual GUI browser.  This allows easy=20
integration with other tools, even in a server environment.

Despite HttpUnit's promise, it does fall down when it comes to testing=20
dynamic html.  I can't even test google.com without running into =
Javascript=20
errors.  I've searched quite a bit to try to find a solution that can =
run=20
without a GUI _and_ test dynamic pages as if they were running in a real =

browser.  Have you looked into controlling Mozilla from Java?  Someone =
on=20
another list has hinted that it might be possible to run mozilla without =
the=20
GUI.  I know there are Java-to-Mozilla bridges out there, but this is=20
something I haven't had time to look into yet.  Thanks again for the =
info...

-Brian



----Original Message Follows----
From: "Jon Iles" <jon...@bc...>
Reply-To: htt...@li...
To: <htt...@li...>
Subject: [Httpunit-develop] Driving Internet Explorer From Java
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 10:37:44 +0100


Hi,

I'm posting this note to the HTTPUnit developers list as a follow up to =
a
discussion that took place last month. Apologies if you feel this is =
totally
off topic, but there seemed to be a degree of interest in this subject.

A number of emails were sent to the list discussing the options for
controlling Internet Explorer from Java in order to use this as the =
basis
for automated testing, particularly to ensure that dynamic web page =
features
(such as JavaScript) were tested.

We have put together an open source solution for this, which is now =
hosted
on SourceForge. The project is called Jiffie (Java Interface For =
Internet
Explorer), and can be found here:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/jiffie

We developed this for our own internal testing, and use it in parallel =
with
a set of HTTPUnit-based tests. HTTPUnit allows us to carry out detailed
functionality testing, with Jiffie being used to exercise the browser
interface to our product.

Hope you find this useful,

Cheers!

Jon

_________________________________________________________________
Test your 'Travel Quotient' and get the chance to win your dream trip!=20
http://travel.msn.com



-------------------------------------------------------
This SF.net email is sponsored by: The Robotic Monkeys at ThinkGeek
For a limited time only, get FREE Ground shipping on all orders of $35
or more. Hurry up and shop folks, this offer expires April 30th!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/freeshipping/?cpg=3D12297
_______________________________________________
Httpunit-develop mailing list
Htt...@li...
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/httpunit-develop