IBM 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, 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.
To view the list of domains, software, and platforms 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 Software Product Compatibility Reports.
Additionally, this fix pack provides beta-level support for playing back Rational Functional Tester test scripts of browser-based web applications using the Rational Test Workbench Web UI Tester playback engine. The Rational Test Workbench Web UI Tester playback engine eliminates some of the manual steps that are required when enabling and configuring Rational Functional Tester tests scripts for playback. Playback is supported for the Firefox and Chrome browsers.
This is a beta-level feature that is being made available for you to try out in Fix Pack 9. You can enable the feature by adding rft.use.rtww=true to the ivory.properties file, which is located in the product installation directory. You are highly encouraged to use this feature in a non-production environment and to provide valuable feedback about your experience.
To take advantage of this feature, Rational Functional Tester v8.6.0.9 and Rational Test Workbench Web UI Tester v9.0.1 must be installed in the same package group (also known as shell sharing). For more information about shell sharing concepts and requirements, see IBM Software products installed together that share a common environment.
This fix pack includes support for the newest versions of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, as well as the newest JRE.
In addition, the Rational Functional Tester RQM Adapter now supports connection to a Rational Quality Manager server through Kerberos-based authentication. To use the adapter with Kerberos-based authentication, add the following two new arguments to the default config file, rqmadapterV2.ini, along with any other existing arguments. This file is located at C:\ProgramData\IBM\RQMconnectivity on a Windows 7 computer.
These two new arguments can also be specified in a user-defined configuration file which is passed to the startadapter.bat file through the -configfile argument.
If using Kerberos authentication, the config file should not provide the user id and password. The user id and password are disabled in the adapter console when you use Kerberos-authentication. To use standard user id / password authentication, remove AuthType and KerberosConfigPath from the config file and restart the adapter.
You can use IBM Rational Functional Tester plug-in for IBM UrbanCode™ Deploy to continuously initiate the launch of functional tests. For more information see: Rational Functional Tester plug-in for UrbanCode Deploy.
Rational Functional Tester is available as an installable product package with IBM Rational Test Workbench. This extension provides functional test capability through the test workbench.
A new preference has been added to the Chrome extension to "Enable Initialization Screen". The option is enabled by default. The option setting is used to decide if the initialization screen is to be shown or not.
For information about installing version 8.6, see: Installation roadmap.
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.
If you installed Rational Functional Tester 8.5.1 Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 .NET Integration, you must install Rational Functional Tester Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 .NET help manually.
Tip: To view the complete table of contents of the installed local help in the Visual Studio 2010 IDE, install the Visual Studio Help Keyword Index plug-in that is available from the Microsoft website. Alternatively, you can upgrade to Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1 to view help in the Microsoft Help Viewer.
Known problems are documented in the fix list and download document. Select a fix list from http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27036170. From the fix list, you can view the download document for additional information.
Known problems are also documented in the form of individual technotes in the Support Knowledge Base at Troubleshooting documentation for Rational Functional Tester. As problems are discovered and resolved, the knowledge base is updated. By searching the knowledge base, you can quickly find workarounds or solutions to problems.
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.
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