Why We need Test Automation?

Hello,

Today I was working on QTP and the developer next to my cube came to me and asked what is this? I said I am doing Test Automation. He was surprised to see how QTP automates complex Test Cases. He said if this software does everything? I said YES it does everything what you teach it. Functionality Testing tools do what we teach them. They will repeat test scripts number of times we want them to do. Whenever we get an application to test, first we start with digging out Test Scenarios and writing Test Cases. Once we get an application, we will execute the test cases we written. First time execution of Test Cases is always Manual Process. We cannot automate the Test Cases before the Build or Application is stable. Automation is mainly useful for Regression Testing. When first round of Manual Testing is completed and we come up with number of bugs. When development team fixes those bugs, we must re run the entire test cases to make sure that modification of code in one part(module) of application has not produced any ill effects on other parts of an application(Regression Testing). For this Manual Testing will take lot of time and it will be boring exercise for Testers. If we automate set of Test Cases for Regression testing, it will be easy for us to run them whenever some modification or debugging is done in some part of application.

I found QTP as best tool available for Functionality Testing, One can download this tool from HP's site and learn it within 14 days. I found QTP help and tutorial more than enough for self learning. Also, you can always google for your doubts. One can allocate dedicated time for learning and learn this tool very easily. You will find the tutorial section explained everything with the examples(there are demo applications with this trial versions). Try to write and execute test caes for the demo application provided with the trial version. One who knows VB script can easily learn enhancing and modification of Test Scripts.

Main points to learn in QTP:
1. Understand using of different checkpoints.
2. Parameterizing values(Test Inputs).
3. Using Regular Expressions.
4. Working with multiple Actions.
5. Analyzing Test Results.

I hope now we can start learning QTP, and you can post your questions and doubts as comments to this post. Experts can answer them.