IBM Rational Functional Tester, version 8.3 Release Notes

This document contains information about system requirements, installation, and new features in IBM® Rational® Functional Tester, version 8.3. It also provides information about contacting IBM Software Support.

Description

Rational Functional Tester is an object-oriented automated testing tool that tests HTML, Java™, Dojo, Ajax, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft .NET, Microsoft Silverlight, Microsoft Visual Basic, Siebel, Flex, SAP, GEF, and PowerBuilder applications that run on Microsoft Windows or Linux operating systems. You can also test Adobe PDF documents. You can test IBM zSeries®, IBM iSeries®, and IBM pSeries® applications by using the extension for terminal-based applications that is provided by Rational Functional Tester. With Rational Functional Tester, you can record reliable and robust scripts that you can play back to validate new builds of a test application.

Rational Functional Tester is available in two integrated development environments: Eclipse and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET. The product records user actions to create simplified test scripts that are easy to understand on the Rational Software Delivery Platform. Rational Functional Tester supports two scripting languages for advanced users. Rational Functional Tester Eclipse Integration uses the Java language, and Rational Functional Tester Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Integration uses the Microsoft Visual Basic .NET language and the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET development environment.

Version 8.3 includes these features and enhancements:
  • Google Chrome browser support: Rational Functional Tester supports the testing of HTML applications that are loaded in Google Chrome browsers. For more information, see the Google Chrome browser support topic in the help.
  • Support for Microsoft Windows 8 Pro (RTM) and Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview: Rational Functional Tester supports functional testing on the Microsoft Windows 8 Pro (RTM) and the Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview versions. For a list of supported operating systems, see the Software requirements topic in the help.
  • Eclipse 64-bit SWT and RCP application support: Rational Functional Tester supports the testing of Eclipse 64-bit Standard Widget Toolkit (SWT) and Rich Client Platform (RCP) applications. For more information, see the Eclipse support topic in the help.
  • Support for testing Microsoft Visual Studio .NET applications that host side-by-side CLRs: You can test Microsoft Visual Studio .NET applications that host side-by-side common language runtimes (CLRs). For information about .NET support, see the .NET support topic in the help.

To view the list of domains that are supported for functional testing in each release of Rational Functional Tester and the compatible versions of Rational products that can be integrated with Rational Functional Tester, see the technical document at http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?&uid=swg27036168

System requirements

For information about hardware and software requirements for Rational Functional Tester, version 8.3, see the System requirements topic in the help.

Installing Rational Functional Tester, version 8.3

For information about installing version 8.3, see this section of the information center: Information roadmap.

If version 8.2 or one of its releases or interim fixes is already installed on your computer, you can upgrade to version 8.3 by using the Update Packages wizard in IBM Installation Manager. For information, see the Updating Rational Functional Tester topic in the help.

Note: If your installation uses Java 7.0, the Java Zero Day Vulnerability is applicable. This vulnerability is exploited by running malicious code in a web browser. If your application uses any Java 7.0 other than IBM Java 7.0, ensure that you update it with the latest Java 7 patches to avoid being affected by this vulnerability.

Installing Rational Functional Tester through Rational Test Workbench

Rational Functional Tester is also included in the Rational Test Workbench package. You can use the Rational Functional Tester license when you install Rational Functional Tester through the Rational Test Workbench package.

Known limitations and workarounds

For Google Chrome testing, these limitations exist in version 8.3:
  • It is not possible to start recording on the Google Chrome browser before starting Rational Functional Tester.
  • Recording and playback on the Back and Forward buttons in the browser are not supported. Use browser-level back() and forward() APIs to record and play back these actions.
  • Recording and playback on controls in dialog boxes are not supported. Recording and playback in such cases are recorded as click(atPoint()) relative to the dialog box. As a workaround, you can use keystrokes to record on dialog box controls.
  • Recording and playback on combo box drop-down controls is not supported. To play back these actions, modify the script manually and update the option to be selected during playback.
  • The browser-level deletecookies() API is not supported. Cookies must be deleted manually.
  • Recording on tabs is not supported.
  • Recording on applications built using Dojo toolkit might be slow.
  • Recording and playback is not supported in Google Chrome browsers in cases where the browser has been started without an application URL.
Known problems are also documented in the form of individual technical notes in the Support Knowledge Base. As problems are discovered and resolved, the knowledge base is updated and maintained with new information. By searching the knowledge base, you can quickly find workarounds or solutions to problems. The following links run customized queries of the live Support Knowledge Base:

Contacting IBM Software Support

IBM Software Support provides you with technical assistance.

For FAQs, lists of known problems and fixes, and other support information, visit the product support page for Rational Functional Tester software at http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/tester/functional/support/.

For product news, events, and other information, visit the product home page for Rational Functional Tester Software at http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/tester/functional/index.html.

Before you contact IBM Software Support, gather the background information that you need to describe your problem. When describing a problem to an IBM Software Support specialist, be as specific as possible and include all relevant background information so that the specialist can help you solve the problem efficiently. To save time, know the answers to these questions:

Notices and trademarks

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2000, 2012.

U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.

This information was developed for products and services offered in the U.S.A. IBM may not offer the products, services, or features discussed in this documentation in other countries. Consult your local IBM representative for information on the products and services currently available in your area. Any reference to an IBM product, program, or service is not intended to state or imply that only that IBM product, program, or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product, program, or service that does not infringe any IBM intellectual property right may be used instead. However, it is the user's responsibility to evaluate and verify the operation of any non-IBM product, program, or service.

IBM may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter described in this documentation. The furnishing of this documentation does not give you any license to these patents. You can send license inquiries, in writing, to:

IBM Director of Licensing
IBM Corporation
North Castle Drive
Armonk, NY 10504-1785
U.S.A.

For license inquiries regarding double-byte (DBCS) information, contact the IBM Intellectual Property Department in your country or send inquiries, in writing, to:

Intellectual Property Licensing
Legal and Intellectual Property Law
IBM Japan, Ltd.
1623-14, Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi
Kanagawa 242-8502 Japan

The following paragraph does not apply to the United Kingdom or any other country where such provisions are inconsistent with local law: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some states do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties in certain transactions, therefore, this statement may not apply to you.

This information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes will be incorporated in new editions of the publication. IBM may make improvements and/or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this publication at any time without notice.

Any references in this information to non-IBM websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites. The materials at those websites are not part of the materials for this IBM product and use of those websites is at your own risk.

IBM may use or distribute any of the information you supply in any way it believes appropriate without incurring any obligation to you.

Licensees of this program who wish to have information about it for the purpose of enabling: (i) the exchange of information between independently created programs and other programs (including this one) and (ii) the mutual use of the information which has been exchanged, should contact:

Intellectual Property Dept. for Rational Software
IBM Corporation
5 Technology Park Drive
Westford, MA  01886
U.S.A.

Such information may be available, subject to appropriate terms and conditions, including in some cases, payment of a fee.

The licensed program described in this documentation and all licensed material available for it are provided by IBM under terms of the IBM Customer Agreement, IBM International Program License Agreement or any equivalent agreement between us.

Trademarks acknowledgments

IBM, the IBM logo, and ibm.com® are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the web at Copyright and trademark information.

Adobe is either a registered trademark or trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States, and/or other countries.

Java and all Java-based trademarks are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries, or both.

Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.

Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.