Master QTP: Retrieve Data from Excel Easily

QuickTest Professional (QTP) is a powerful test automation tool that excels at scripting automated tests for software applications. One of its most useful features is the ability to retrieve data from external sources like Excel, which significantly boosts test case management and data-driven testing. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how to integrate Excel data into QTP scripts effectively, streamlining your testing process.

Understanding Excel Integration with QTP

QTP's Data Table and the Excel COM (Component Object Model) libraries provide a robust framework for accessing Excel data. Here’s why integrating Excel with QTP can be beneficial:

• Ease of data maintenance: Updating test data in Excel is simpler and less error-prone than hardcoding values in scripts.
• Enhanced test coverage: Use Excel to define multiple scenarios, thereby testing different aspects of your application.
• Data-driven testing: Execute the same test script with different sets of data to verify the application’s response.

To begin, you need to understand how QTP interacts with Excel:

Prerequisites for Excel Integration

• Microsoft Excel installed on the same system.
• QTP 11 or above to leverage built-in Excel functionalities.
• Basic understanding of VBScript, QTP’s scripting language.

Setting Up Your Excel File

Start by organizing your data in Excel:

1. Create an Excel workbook named 'testData.xlsx' with sheets like 'TestData'.
2. Enter headers in the first row to signify column names or parameter names used in QTP.
3. Under each header, fill in the respective test data you wish to use.

💡 Note: Save your Excel file in the same directory as your QTP script for easier access.

Connecting QTP to Excel

Now, let's establish the connection with Excel through QTP:

Dim objExcel, objWorkbook, objSheet

Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
objExcel.Visible = True
Set objWorkbook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open("C:\path\to\testData.xlsx")
Set objSheet = objWorkbook.Sheets("TestData")

Here’s what each line does:

• Dim declares variables for Excel object references.
• CreateObject("Excel.Application") creates an instance of the Excel application.
• The Visible property lets you see Excel for debugging purposes; typically, this would be False in automated testing.
• Workbooks.Open opens the specified Excel file.
• Sheets selects the sheet from which you'll retrieve data.

Reading Data from Excel

To fetch data from your Excel sheet into QTP, use the following:

Dim userName, password
userName = objSheet.Cells(2, 1).Value 'Column A, Row 2
password = objSheet.Cells(2, 2).Value 'Column B, Row 2

MsgBox "User Name: " & userName & ", Password: " & password

Important notes on data retrieval:

• Excel uses 1-based indexing, so (2, 1) refers to Column A, Row 2.
• You can loop through data or select specific cells using the Cells property.
• Close the Excel file and application after your script completes to release resources:

objWorkbook.Close
objExcel.Quit
Set objWorkbook = Nothing
Set objExcel = Nothing

Using Data in QTP Tests

You can now utilize the retrieved data in your QTP scripts:

Browser("Google").Page("Google").WebEdit("q").Set userName
Browser("Google").Page("Google").WebEdit("pw").SetSecure password
Browser("Google").Page("Google").WebButton("Sign In").Click

This example logs into Google using data from Excel. However, consider the following:

• Ensure your Excel data matches the format expected by the application under test.
• Use variables to avoid hardcoding values, enhancing script reusability.

Writing Data Back to Excel

QTP can also write data back to Excel:

objSheet.Cells(10, 3).Value = "Test Result: Pass"
objWorkbook.Save

When writing data:

• Make sure Excel has write access to the file.
• Consider using cell comments or colors to highlight test results.

Conclusion

Incorporating Excel data into your QTP scripts not only simplifies data management but also enhances the efficiency of your test automation process. You've learned how to open an Excel file, read data, use it in your tests, write data back, and close Excel, all while ensuring best practices for automation testing. Remember, consistent data management leads to more reliable, reusable, and maintainable tests.

What versions of Excel can QTP interact with?

+

QTP can interact with any version of Microsoft Excel that supports COM, generally from Excel 97 and beyond.

Can QTP read password-protected Excel files?

+

Yes, QTP can read password-protected Excel files if the password is known, although this requires additional scripting to handle the security features.

How do I ensure data consistency when using Excel with QTP?

+

Maintain a uniform data format, use data validation in Excel, and automate data checks within your QTP script to validate the integrity of the data being used.