TestComplete SDK
One of TestComplete’s benefits is its open COM-based architecture, which is the framework of its entire functionality. In fact, everything visible in TestComplete, panels, program objects, and so on, are implemented as plug-ins.
For instance, support for script debugging is implemented in several dynamic link libraries that are located in the <TestComplete> subfolders. TestComplete loads these DLLs at startup, so script debugging works just like a built-in feature. Some of TestComplete’s functionality, for instance, Manual Testing, Unit Testing or TestComplete 3 Compatibility are implemented as plug-ins that can be activated or deactivated, meaning you can choose the plug-ins to be installed during the product installation and deactivate them using TestComplete’s Extensions dialog. All of these plug-ins are also located in the <TestComplete>\Bin\Extensions folder.
Of course, you can create your own plug-ins for your own needs. Usually, these
will encapsulate new functionality in an object, and expose these objects for
use in scripts, in the same way the Manual Testing and Unit Testing plug-ins
expose the ManualTesting and UnitTesting objects for scripting.
TestComplete 6 SDK includes samples and documentation that demonstrate the creation of custom panels, program objects and project items.
A simpler alternative to plug-ins is script extensions. This technique allows you to create TestComplete extensions using the VBScript and JScript scripting languages. Script extensions can expose custom programming objects and add new commands to TestComplete’s toolbars. These commands can, for example, create checkpoints or put the tested application back to its initial state.
Plug-ins developed with TestComplete SDK let you extend almost any subsystem of TestComplete. However, creating a plug-in requires you to have Visual Studio or Delphi programming experience. The functionality that can be extended with script extensions is limited to the object model and the toolbar commands set. Although these extensions are much easier to create than plug-ins and do not require a programming background.
For more information on TestComplete and other Quality Assurance products from AutomatedQA, write to us at
sales@automatedqa.com.