System and method for testing business process configurations

Claim 2

A business process test library stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising: application wrapper function logic for interacting with a business process application that executes a group of business processes that each specifies a sequence of activities to be performed in a specified order as represented by a sequence of user interface screens of a runtime of the business process application, the application wrapper function logic having a control portion and a data input portion, where each user interface screen has a screen layout of data and control as represented by user interface components to represent the business process; data input element logic operable to invoke the data input portion to provide automated test input data for a business process of the business process application, the data input portion to provide the test input data by directly referencing a data input interface component, independent of a screen layout of a data input interface of an interface screen of a runtime of the business process application of which the data input interface is a part, the screen layout including the location or size of user interface components within the screen layout of the interface screens; and control element logic operable to invoke the control portion to perform an automated business process completion operation, the control portion to perform the business process completion operation by directly referencing a control interface component, independent of a screen layout of a control interface of an interface screen of the runtime of the business process application of which the control interface is a part; wherein the application wrapper function logic invokes the data input element logic and the control element logic to transfer automated test input data to the business processes to simulate user interaction with the business process application and trigger operations of the business process application to test execution of every business process in the group based on the test input data, including testing every possible path of execution by executing each conditional and repeated sequence of activities defined by the business processes by providing elements for each interaction of every business process in the group.

Claim 3

The business process test library of claim 1 , wherein the data input portion of the application wrapper function logic provides text input to the application.

Claim 4

The business process test library of claim 1 , wherein the control portion of the application wrapper function logic generates events in a user interface associated with the application.

Claim 5

The business process test library of claim 1 , wherein the business process completion operation comprises invoking the control portion to generate an Enter key press event in a user interface associated with the application.

Claim 6

The business process test library of claim 1 , wherein the business process completion operation comprises invoking the control portion to generate an OK button press event in a user interface associated with the application.

Claim 7

The business process test library of claim 1 , wherein the business process completion operation comprises invoking the control portion to generate a Cancel button press event in a user interface associated with the application.

Claim 8

The business process test library of claim 1 , further comprising: complex element logic operable to invoke defined portions of the data input element logic, and further operable to invoke defined portions of the control element logic.

Claim 9

The business process test library of claim 7 , wherein the complex element logic includes a complex element for performing each business process of the group of business processes, which represent some or all of every business process executable by the business process application.

Claim 10

The business process test library of claim 7 , wherein defined portions of the data input element logic, the control element logic, and the complex element logic can be combined to invoke any business process provided by the application.

Claim 11

The business process test library of claim 7 , wherein a first portion of the complex element logic is operable to invoke a defined second portion of the complex element logic.

Claim 12

The business process test library of claim 7 , further comprising: business process test logic operable to invoke defined portions of the complex element logic.

Claim 13

The business process test library of claim 11 , wherein the business process test logic comprises: an invocation list having at least one call to a defined portion of control element logic, the invocation list associated with an actual parameter list, wherein the actual parameter list is passed to the defined portion of control element logic during execution of the call by a test script.

Claim 14

The business process test library of claim 11 , wherein the business process test logic comprises: an invocation list having at least one call to a defined portion of complex element logic, the invocation list associated with an actual parameter list, wherein the actual parameter list is passed to the defined portion of complex element logic during execution of the call by a test script.

Claim 15

The business process test library of claim 1 , further comprising: business process test logic operable to invoke defined portions of the data input element logic, and further operable to invoke defined portions of the control element logic.

Claim 16

The business process test library of claim 1 , wherein the data input element logic comprises: an invocation list having at least one function call for invoking a defined portion of the data input portion of the application wrapper function logic.

Claim 17

The business process test library of claim 1 , wherein the control element logic comprises: an invocation list having at least one function call for invoking a defined portion of the control portion of the application wrapper function logic.

Claim 18

The business process test library of claim 1 , wherein the data input element logic includes input elements operable to provide input data for every business process in a predefined set of business processes.

Claim 19

The business process test library of claim 17 , wherein the control element logic includes control elements for performing business process completion operations for every business process in the predefined set.

Claim 20

A computer system for generating a business process test environment, comprising: a memory device storing: business process test development environment logic operable to create a business process test from a list of predefined elements to test execution of every business process of a group of business processes based on automated test input data, where each user interface screen has a screen layout of data and control as represented by user interface components and where each business process specifies a sequence of activities to be performed in a specified order as represented by a sequence of user interface screens of a runtime of the business process application, the predefined elements including data input elements to provide automated test input data to a business process of a business process application by directly referencing a data input interface component, independent of a screen layout of a data input interface of an interface screen of a runtime of the business process application of which the data input interface is a part, the screen layout including the location or size of user interface components within the screen layout of the interface screens, and control elements to perform automated business process completion operations by directly referencing a control interface component, independent of a screen layout of a control interface of an interface screen of the runtime of the business process application of which the control interface is a part; a business process test library for invoking the business process application; a script generator operable to generate an automated test script based on the business process test, wherein the test script is operable to invoke the test library to perform the business process test to invoke data input elements and control elements to transfer input data to the business processes of the business process application and trigger operations of the business process application to test every business process in the group of business processes, where testing includes testing every possible path of execution by providing elements for each interaction of every business process in the group and executing each conditional and repeated sequence of activities defined by the business processes; and a processor to execute the business process test development environment and the script generator.

Claim 21

A computer system for generating a business process test environment, comprising: a memory device storing: business process test development environment logic operable to create a business process test from a list of predefined elements to test execution of every business process of a group of business processes based on automated test input data, where each user interface screen has a screen layout of data and control as represented by user interface components and where each business process specifies a sequence of activities to be performed in a specified order as represented by a sequence of user interface screens of a runtime of the business process application, the predefined elements including data input elements to provide automated test input data to a business process of a business process application by directly referencing a data input interface component, independent of a screen layout of a data input interface of an interface screen of a runtime of the business process application of which the data input interface is a part, the screen layout including the location or size of user interface components within the screen layout of the interface screens, and control elements to perform automated business process completion operations by directly referencing a control interface component, independent of a screen layout of a control interface of an interface screen of the runtime of the business process application of which the control interface is a part; a business process test library for invoking the business process application; a script generator operable to generate an automated test script based on the business process test, wherein the test script is operable to invoke the test library to perform the business process test to invoke data input elements and control elements to transfer input data to the business processes of the business process application and trigger operations of the business process application to test every business process in the group of business processes, where testing includes testing every possible path of execution by providing elements for each interaction of every business process in the group and executing each conditional and repeated sequence of activities defined by the business processes; and a processor to execute the business process test development environment and the script generator.

Claim 24

The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of: for each business process in a business process application configuration, adding to the test library an associated complex element for providing input data to the business process.

Claim 25

The method of claim 20 , wherein the application wrapper functions generate events in a user interface associated with the application.

Claim 26

The method of claim 20 , wherein the business process completion operation comprises invoking the wrapper functions to generate an Enter key press event in a user interface associated with the application.

Claim 27

The method of claim 20 , wherein the business process completion operation comprises invoking the wrapper functions to generate an OK button press event in a user interface associated with the application.

Claim 28

The method of claim 20 , wherein the business process completion operation comprises invoking the wrapper functions to generate a Cancel button press event in a user interface associated with the application.

Claim 29

The method of claim 20 , wherein the data input elements provide input data for every business process in a predefined set of business processes.

Claim 30

The method of claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: adding to the test library a business process test; adding to the business process test at least one complex element call for invoking an associated complex element to test a business process; adding to the business process test input data for the business process, wherein the input data is associated with the at least one complex element call; and adding to the business process test at least one control element call for invoking an associated control element to complete a defined portion of the business process.