BlackBerry Test Automation

M-eux test can access the attributes of the user interface elements as they are defined in the mobile operating system. This is an essential technique that has been used by test automation tools on the PC for many years. M-eux Test brings this functionality to the mobile world.

In the enclosed figure, you have a window of the BlackBerry M-eux Test application. The tool can access the definition of the list field and thus test/verify that the list field is enabled, how many items are in the list without actually dropping the list, the text of each item in the list. Without this technique, the tool would not be able to retrieve this information from the list field. Using M-eux Test you can access all these attributes and create simple scripts that are at the same time very powerful and reusable.

It is the only technique to deal with the high dynamic interfaces of the mobile applications. Windows of mobile applications are not classic windows. They interact with the user using swipes, gestures, expanded spinner elements, highly interactive lists and many other techniques.

Jamo Solutions did not create a scripting tool of their own. Instead we chose to extend existing well know tools so that the QA engineers can re-use their experience and are not locked into a specific environment.

M-eux test in action

Jamo Solutions provides tools that automate the testing effort for mobile applications running on the BlackBerry platform.

The tool “M-eux Test” is a test automation environment that ensures:

• The re-use of test cases on different hardware models. Today several Blackberry devices are available. All these devices run the same operating system but have different hardware characteristics like screen resolution and keys. The scripts of M-eux Test are hardware independent. Once implemented, a script can be re-used across different models.
• The re-use of test cases across different version of the application under test. The scripts made by M-eux Test can easily be re-used to ensure that existing functionality is still working in new versions of the application under test. This is called regression testing.
• Easy creation and maintenance of the test scripts. The technology applied by Jamo Solutions is easy to use, the scripts are readable and easy to maintain and the expertise gained by the usage of M-eux Test can be re-applied for testing applications on other platforms.

The technology platform of M-eux Test ensures the above requirements by providing:

• Testing through the user interface of the application. Just like a manual tester will describe his test cases by using the user interface elements, the automated test is driving the user interface elements of the mobile application under test. By recognizing the user interface elements, the script becomes hardware independent. If a new version of the application under test is released, then preserved functionality can be tested with the old scripts. The tool will take care of cosmetic changes like a menu item that is now in a new position. By using the user interface elements, the script becomes also readable for a non-technical tester and the script is easy to maintain.
• Extension of existing scripting environments. M-eux Test did not implement its own scripting environment. In order to ensure a fast learning curve and to ensure re-use of gained expertise, M-eux Test is an extension of existing scripting environments. For users with a test engineering background, M-eux Test extends the leading test automation tool QuickTest Professional from Hewlett Packard. For users with a developer’s background, M-eux Test extends Visual Studio from Microsoft and Eclipse.

Blackberry GUI objects

M-eux Test is an all-round player and recognizes most of the user interface objects of Blackberry-based applications as long as these objects are developed using the Blackberry SDK. All Blackberry field objects are supported out of the box. User interface objects that are derived from these standard fields, are automatically mapped to these fields.

M-eux Test recognizes also the html-based objects of page loaded in the BlackBerry browser. This makes that the qa-engineer can test the mobile web sites on the BlackBerry device/simulator.

Blackberry System verification

Special functions are implemented to verify the Android operating system. The tester can at any time verify for example:

• Technical characteristics of the device
• The battery status
• The connection information

Special functions are foreseen to launch and verify the mobile connections:

• SMS messages
• E-mail messages
• MMS messages