Decades of Leadership in the Software Testing Industry

AscentialTest has been forming in the minds of our founders for several years. After building QA Partner/SilkTest at Segue Software in the 90s, they got the opportunity to use their product extensively in the field. As consultants implementing test automation with various tools for more than 10 years, they’ve formed a thorough assessment of the state of the field. What they found surprised them: automated tests were too expensive to build.

Furthermore, the requirement for programming skills to move beyond the superficial tests that can be recorded left out too many members of the team. They also discovered that a large portion of test development time is spent ‘writing code’ to workaround object recognition deficiencies. Some users estimate that time to approach 80%. Clearly this explains why the decision to adopt automation is not always straightforward. With a fresh understanding of the challenges and our heads full of ideas, we’re energized and excited to bring about the next paradigm shift in test automation.

Brian has been working in the field of test automation for more than 30 years. Brian began as a QA Engineer using the testing tools available in the early 1980’s. He joined Segue Software in its infancy and served as the EVP of R&D during that company’s golden years. Brian formed Star Quality, a consulting firm specializing in test automation in the late 90s. After 12 years of experience in the trenches, he’s excited to be building the next generation testing tool that will increase the productivity and and effectiveness of test and development teams.

Dave is a pioneer in the field of automated testing. Dave developed ATF, one of the first automation tools, more than 20 yeas ago. He was a founder and Chief Architect of Segue Software, Inc., the original creators of QA Partner/SilkTest. Dave believes that no testing tool can be easy to use without a solid foundation. That’s why he is committed to providing AscentialTest’s universal agent with the most powerful object recognition engine in the industry.

Pricing Plans - Solo Testers to Large Enterprise Teams

Not seeing a pricing package that fits your needs? Want to compare us directly to a competitor’s offering? Tell us more, let us take a shot at providing a custom or lower cost package.

Subscription

Solo Testers

Starting at $200/mo

“The Selenium Killer”

Subscription

Teams

Starting at $380/mo

Subscription

Unlimited

Starting at $6k/mo

Perpetual License

Teams

Starting at $8.4k

Perpetual License

Unlimited

Other Resources

Upcoming Webinar

Building Reusable Verification Tests

Tue, March 25, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT

The participant will learn:
* How indirection and dynamic instantiation are used to build generic test steps
* How to create universal verification steps and functions
* About built-in functions that provide information about the current state of the target application
* How metadata can be used to set object-related test data
* How to create a test that walks the main menu of an application, opening and closing each dialog

See How We Achieved an 83% Five Star Rating on Gartner

See how AscentialTest compares to the competition, using 18 key features and functions and across 14 different development platforms

  • Supported Platforms (14)
  • Integrated Test Planning
  • Object Recognition
  • Object Repository
  • Test Frameworks
  • Foreign Language UX
  • Drag Generations of Actions
  • Reusable Steps
  • Scripting
  • Manual Testing
  • Parallel Execution
  • Integrated Defect Tracking
  • Test Localization
  • Test Portability
  • Test Management
  • Test Execution Management
  • Integrated Version Control
  • Integrated Test Management

Eggplant

Gartner 5 Star Reviews:

0 %

TestComplete

Gartner 5 Star Reviews:

0 %

Tosca

Gartner 5 Star Reviews:

0 %

Ranorex Studio

Gartner 5 Star Reviews:

0 %

Features

Object Recognition

AscentialTest recognizes application elements regardless of complexity without coding hacks or reliance on fragile OCR

Drag & Drop

Creating tests with our drag & drop editors is faster and more efficient than recording or scripting

Reusable Elements

Reuse promote faster building and maintenance of tests

No More Test Frameworks

Stop creating test frameworks and focus on your testing

Test Management Tools

Testing projects can get messy without good management tools

Complex Objects

Let AscentialTest do the heavy-lifting when it comes to tables, grids and trees

Integrations

Testing productivity involves meaningful integration with collaboration tools

Powerbuilder Expertise

We are the recognized go-to testing platform for PowerBuilder, we cover PB v6.x all the way to the current version.

Platforms

PowerBuilder

Web Apps

.Net

Omnis

Terminal

PDF

API Testing

The Leading All-in-One Automated and Manual Software Testing Platform 

AscentialTest®

Automated testing, manual testing and test management tools that are easy to learn, easy to use, and easy to maintain.

What customers have to say:

  Top Testing Software For PowerBuilder

  Best automated testing tool for maintainability and reusability

   The maintainability of test suites are super easy. Regressions take significantly fewer man-hours and UAT is much faster

  A Highly recommend tool with a wonderful and highly skilled Zeenyx Support team

  The step based approach which is root of the Ascential test tool is easy to learn and creating tests are bit faster due to better organisation of steps, tests, objects, reporting etc.

Source: Gartner Peer Reviews

java swing automated testing
Pos autoamted testing
Terminal automated testing
Electron automated testing
Ajax automated testing
Siebel automated testing
Chromium automated testing
PDF automated testing
ODBC autoamted testing
windows automated testing
Rest automated testing
Abila NetForum automated testing
Putty autoamted testing
Firefox automated testing
Chrome automated testing
Edge automated testing

Our Satisfied Clients

83% 5 Star Rating!

  • AscentialTest: 83%
  • Tosca: 52%
  • Eggplant: 49%
  • Ranorex: 48%
  • TestComplete: 43%
Reviews
G2 review 1
Company Size: Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
5
The best automated tool for PowerBuilder Applications

The full support of PowerBuilder applications and support other technologies as well like web applications. Easy to integrate. The object oriented method reduced the maintenance cost of your automated tests. Multiple options to organize your plan and your automated tests. The element recognition is really good and you have alwas a solution to detect elements […]

Factors Considered:

G2 review 2
Company Size: Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
5
An excellent tool for speeding up the development of PowerBuilder tests

AscentialTest’s powerful path statement which has the ability to identify the custom tables and dynamic controls which is always the challenge in testing tools. It resolved most of our application challenges.

Factors Considered:

G2 review 3
Company Size: Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
5
Great partner and software

The product works and does its job well. Zeenyx did an awesome job of supporting us with training, product onboarding, and ongoing support. We have expanded our licensing to do more tests and volume. Everything from Zeenyx and everyone at the company have been a pleasure to work with.

Factors Considered:

G2 review 4
Company Size: Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
5
A great product with excellent support.

The tool is fun and easy to use. Very customizable. Support is also top notch.

Factors Considered:

G2 review 5
Company Size: Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
5
Best automated testing tool for increasing the usability and maintenability of your applications!

The object oriented method helps you reduce the maintenance cost of your Test Sets. You can do automate and manual test on the same tool, and you can obviouslly run test on non visible objects. AscentialTest is the only tool to fully support PB applications, it also supports other technologies. Last but not least, the […]

Factors Considered:

G2 review 6
Company Size: Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
5
Superb PowerBuilder Testing Tool

It is very robust and intelligent. Once you understand the basics, it is quite intuitive making quick, repeatable tests. The customer service is prompt and extremely helpful. Works very well recognizing and implementing PowerBuilder objects.

Factors Considered:

G2 review 7
Company Size: Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
5
My AscentialTest Journey

It’s been really easy to automate the same application TestComplete struggled with. I was able to created automated regression for two of our key applications in just a few months. I haven’t even taken their training.

Factors Considered:

Review #1
IT Services Industry
Company Size: $250M+
5.0
Excellent product for Automation Testing

“I have great experience using Ascential Test, There are only few tools in the market which provides automation testing for power builder. I have found Ascential Test as best tool for power builder applications. Because, with other tools i had issues like recognition of object and they were too complicated to resolve for each of […]

Factors Considered:

Product functionality and performance; Product roadmap and future vision; Strong services expertise; Strong customer focus
Other Solutions Considered: Ranorex; SmartBear; Squish

Reasons for Purchase:

Reasons for Purchase: Improve business process outcomes; Create internal/operational efficiencies; Reduce time to market; Improve customer relations/service
Review #2
Retail Industry
Company Size: $10B+
5.0
A Highly recommend tool with a wonderful and highly skilled Zeenyx Support team!

“AscentialTest is a powerful Test Management and automation tool with loads of latest capabilities and ease in maintenance. Our experiences with the Zeenyx Support team have been great. The support team members promptly respond to our queries, are very knowledgeable, and are eager to provide appropriate solutions for our applications. They provide the required support […]

Factors Considered:

Breadth of services; Strong services expertise; Pre-existing relationships
Other Solutions Considered: Silktest; Eggplant

Reasons for Purchase:

Reasons for Purchase: After SilkTest we moved on to AscentialTest
Review #3
Insurance Industry
Company Size: <50M USD
5.0
Top testing software for PowerBuilder

“After an initial relatively steep learning curve, tests can be implemented very easily and the maintenance using the step concept is very user-friendly. ” What we liked most: Concept of reusable steps Recognition of object in a snapshot CICD automation Professional support

Factors Considered:

Strong customer focus; Breadth of services; Financial/organizational viability; Product functionality and performance
Other Solutions Considered: None

Reasons for Purchase:

Reasons for Purchase: Improve customer relations/service; Improve compliance & risk management; Cost management; Improve business process agility; Create internal/operational efficiencies

83% 5 Star Rating!

  • AscentialTest: 83%
  • Tosca: 52%
  • Eggplant: 49%
  • Ranorex: 48%
  • TestComplete: 43%
Reviews
Discover AscentialTest®

AscentialTest is an automated testing tool, manual testing tool and test management tool. It is a productivity tool for software testing. AscentialTest provides a highly visual environment for developing manual and automated tests and managing the testing process.

Zeenyx understands that the cost of maintenance erodes the return on investment in test automation and has given it the highest priority in the product’s design. The step-based approach allows testers to create durable tests that are as easy to maintain as they are to create. By eliminating the need to build a costly test framework, AscentialTest reduces the level of effort, increases productivity and lowers the cost of software testing.

The Primary Components of AscentialTest®

Automated Testing

Test frameworks are costly to build and maintain. Unlike keyword-driven testing, AscentialTest does not require the development of a test framework. AscentialTest is a productivity tool for software testing. It has been designed to lower the learning curve, reduce test creation time and minimize the level of effort to maintain tests. Instead of investing time in building frameworks, software testers can spend more time testing. AscentialTest provides a highly visual environment where test components are created using drag and drop in an easy 4 step process

Users point and click to capture Snapshots, which contain all of the data required to expose and organize application objects and attributes. Users define objects by dragging and dropping to the object repository.

  • Uniquely identify objects using a rich array of descriptors
  • Visually confirm object definitions
  • Reduce ‘noise’ by filtering out unwanted levels in the application hierarchy
  • Text and images are recognized as application objects
  • Powerful object recognition for complex objects like tables and grids
  • Table wizard guides definition of web table objects
  • ‘Selectors’ provide easy interaction with objects in tables and lists
  • Capture list of values from dropdowns, listboxes and other list-based controls
  • Capture and compare image-based application components
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming objects
  • Locate object references throughout the project
  • Build Snapshot series to storyboard test transactions
  • Create object classes to define objects that display on multiple pages
  • Special object recognition for PowerBuilder, dotNet (Windforms and WPF) and PDF
  • Special object recognition for Java and Terminals (5250 and 3270)

AscentialTest marries the usability of a recorder with the strength of script-based testing. Reusable steps are created by point and click. Actions are automatically generated by interacting with Snapshots.

  • Visually build steps in drag and drop interface
  • Generate input and verification actions
  • Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
  • Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
  • Test data objects automatically generated
  • Data types are automatically handled by AscentialTest
  • Access interfaces to DLLs, database, xml and the operating system
  • Powerful scripting language available for users with scripting experience
  • Run individual steps out of context to aid in debugging
  • Build steps from Snapshots even when offline to the target application
  • Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameters

Reusable tests are built by dragging and dropping steps. AscentialTest automatically generates data tables and binds to the data fields of the test. As the library of steps grows, the pace of building new tests accelerates. The most important benefit of the Step-Based approach is not realized until the target application changes over time. When the target application changes, only the impacted steps need to be modified. All the tests that use those steps are automatically updated. This not only saves time and resources, it assures that tests are ready when you need them.

  • Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
  • Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
  • Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
  • Build cross-browser tests without need for modifications
  • Access built-in startup and error recovery
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
  • Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
  • Tests can be ported to multiple languages at a fraction of the time required with other tools
  • Combine manual and automated steps

Data tables are automatically generated by AscentialTest based on test input fields. Data tables offer significant advantages over spreadsheets for maintaining test data. Instead of storing only strings, AscentialTest data tables store data in the type that is required by test actions including complex lists and records. Users can automatically generate data tables from tests or build them visually using a specialized editor. All the user has to do is provide the test data.

  • Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
  • Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
  • Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
  • Import test data from .csv
  • Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
  • Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
  • Standalone applet available for editing test data
  • Random data generation available
  • Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Users point and click to capture Snapshots, which contain all of the data required to expose and organize application objects and attributes. Users define objects by dragging and dropping to the object repository.

  • Uniquely identify objects using a rich array of descriptors
  • Visually confirm object definitions
  • Reduce ‘noise’ by filtering out unwanted levels in the application hierarchy
  • Text and images are recognized as application objects
  • Powerful object recognition for complex objects like tables and grids
  • Table wizard guides definition of web table objects
  • ‘Selectors’ provide easy interaction with objects in tables and lists
  • Capture list of values from dropdowns, listboxes and other list-based controls
  • Capture and compare image-based application components
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming objects
  • Locate object references throughout the project
  • Build Snapshot series to storyboard test transactions
  • Create object classes to define objects that display on multiple pages
  • Special object recognition for PowerBuilder, dotNet (Windforms and WPF) and PDF
  • Special object recognition for Java and Terminals (5250 and 3270)

AscentialTest marries the usability of a recorder with the strength of script-based testing. Reusable steps are created by point and click. Actions are automatically generated by interacting with Snapshots.

  • Visually build steps in drag and drop interface
  • Generate input and verification actions
  • Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
  • Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
  • Test data objects automatically generated
  • Data types are automatically handled by AscentialTest
  • Access interfaces to DLLs, database, xml and the operating system
  • Powerful scripting language available for users with scripting experience
  • Run individual steps out of context to aid in debugging
  • Build steps from Snapshots even when offline to the target application
  • Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameters

Reusable tests are built by dragging and dropping steps. AscentialTest automatically generates data tables and binds to the data fields of the test. As the library of steps grows, the pace of building new tests accelerates. The most important benefit of the Step-Based approach is not realized until the target application changes over time. When the target application changes, only the impacted steps need to be modified. All the tests that use those steps are automatically updated. This not only saves time and resources, it assures that tests are ready when you need them.

  • Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
  • Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
  • Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
  • Build cross-browser tests without need for modifications
  • Access built-in startup and error recovery
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
  • Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
  • Tests can be ported to multiple languages at a fraction of the time required with other tools
  • Combine manual and automated steps

Data tables are automatically generated by AscentialTest based on test input fields. Data tables offer significant advantages over spreadsheets for maintaining test data. Instead of storing only strings, AscentialTest data tables store data in the type that is required by test actions including complex lists and records. Users can automatically generate data tables from tests or build them visually using a specialized editor. All the user has to do is provide the test data.

  • Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
  • Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
  • Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
  • Import test data from .csv
  • Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
  • Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
  • Standalone applet available for editing test data
  • Random data generation available
  • Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

Manual Testing

AscentialTest provides a unique way to create and execute manual tests. Manual tests are developed by combining and organizing re-usable steps by drag and drop. At test execution time, the tester is prompted with instructions for each step and provided a way to capture outputs, notes, images and attachments. Results are stored along with automated test results, making it easy to generate comprehensive reports. AscentialTest provides a highly visual environment where test components are created using drag and drop in an easy 4 step process

Build reusable steps to reduce test maintenance when the target application changes in the future.

  • Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
  • Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
  • Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameter

Reusable tests are built by dragging and dropping steps. AscentialTest automatically generates data tables and binds to the data fields of the test. As the library of steps grows, the pace of building new tests accelerates. The most important benefit of the Step-Based approach is not realized until the target application changes over time. When the target application changes, only the impacted steps need to be modified. All the tests that use those steps are automatically updated. This not only saves time and resources, it assures that tests are ready when you need them.

  • Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
  • Outputs captured in one step can be linked to input instructions of subsequent steps so        that the tester is provided with session specific data
  • Data lookups can be embedded within instructions so that the tester is provided with current and relevant test data. Significant time is saved searching for records and eliminating input errors due to out-of-date data
  • Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
  • Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
  • Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
  • Combine manual and automated steps

Data tables are automatically generated by AscentialTest based on test input fields. Data tables offer significant advantages over spreadsheets for maintaining test data. Instead of storing only strings, AscentialTest data tables store data in the type that is required by test actions including complex lists and records. Users can automatically generate data tables from tests or build them visually using a specialized editor. All the user has to do is provide the test data.

  • Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
  • Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
  • Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
  • Import test data from .csv
  • Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
  • Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
  • Standalone applet available for editing test data
  • Random data generation available
  • Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

The manual test prompter invokes on the tester’s computer and provides instructions along with the ability to capture outputs, notes and attachments.

  • Application images can be captured during execution for display in test results or defect reports
  • Test results including date/time, tester and executed actions are recorded for audit or regulatory review
  • AscentialTest Manual Test Edition can be purchased separately as a standalone solution for manual-only testing

Build reusable steps to reduce test maintenance when the target application changes in the future.

  • Parameterize steps with the touch of a button to make them reusable
  • Drag flow control and conditional statements from the ‘Actions Explorer’
  • Steps are organized in a library that can be organized by user-defined groups
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming steps or step parameter

Reusable tests are built by dragging and dropping steps. AscentialTest automatically generates data tables and binds to the data fields of the test. As the library of steps grows, the pace of building new tests accelerates. The most important benefit of the Step-Based approach is not realized until the target application changes over time. When the target application changes, only the impacted steps need to be modified. All the tests that use those steps are automatically updated. This not only saves time and resources, it assures that tests are ready when you need them.

  • Create tests by dragging and dropping re-usable steps
  • Outputs captured in one step can be linked to input instructions of subsequent steps so        that the tester is provided with session specific data
  • Data lookups can be embedded within instructions so that the tester is provided with current and relevant test data. Significant time is saved searching for records and eliminating input errors due to out-of-date data
  • Data tables generated with fields in the correct data type
  • Pass parameters between steps or access shared parameters
  • Refactor project automatically when renaming tests or test parameters
  • Tests kept up to date automatically as reusable steps are modified
  • Combine manual and automated steps

Data tables are automatically generated by AscentialTest based on test input fields. Data tables offer significant advantages over spreadsheets for maintaining test data. Instead of storing only strings, AscentialTest data tables store data in the type that is required by test actions including complex lists and records. Users can automatically generate data tables from tests or build them visually using a specialized editor. All the user has to do is provide the test data.

  • Data fields are generated in the type expected by the test
  • Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
  • Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
  • Import test data from .csv
  • Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
  • Data can be designed to be reused by multiple tests
  • Standalone applet available for editing test data
  • Random data generation available
  • Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

The manual test prompter invokes on the tester’s computer and provides instructions along with the ability to capture outputs, notes and attachments.

  • Application images can be captured during execution for display in test results or defect reports
  • Test results including date/time, tester and executed actions are recorded for audit or regulatory review
  • AscentialTest Manual Test Edition can be purchased separately as a standalone solution for manual-only testing

Application Lifecycle Management

AscentialTest is designed to make it easy to manage test plans, test data, manual and automated tests, test results and metrics. It supports collaborations and integrates easily with version control, defect tracking and continuous delivery solutions.

The Test Plan Editor is a planning tool used to describe test requirements in outline, list or scenario form. It provides links to manual and automated tests and to test data stored in built-in data tables.

  • Link tests to plans via drag and drop
  • Link test requirements with test data by point and click
  • Test plan attributes provide the ability to locate tests using a powerful query tool
  • Automatically generate test plans from test data tables
  • Specify number of iterations to repeat tests n times
  • Group test plans into suites for execution
Test Execution Management 2

AscentialTest is integrated with Jira for defect tracking to provide a way to manage the relationship between test results and defects. (Figure 1)

Failures can be associated with defects so that testers will be notified when defects have been fixed and ready for re-testing. (Figure 2)

  • Create a defect
  • Assign a test to a defect
  • Get prompted to create defects for failed tests
  • Check the current status of a defect
  • Get prompted to re-run tests as defects are fixed
  • Get prompted to close defects for ‘passed’ tests
  • Access a defect to modify status and details
Figure 1:
Figure 2:

AscentialTest offers several collaboration features by integrating seamlessly with other software development tools. By integrating with version control systems like Subversion (SVN), large teams can contribute to the test development effort. Integration with GIT and TFS will also be offered in the near future.

  • Check out/check in components to SVN repository
  • Merge files with integrated merge utility
  • Review project history
  • Restore to previous revision
Version Control

Test Sets provide test execution management and reporting. A Test Set may be created for a build, a sprint, a test cycle or a project, depending upon how your organization tests and delivers software. Test Sets help manage test results.

  • Combine automated and manual tests within a Test Set
  • Manage test results in a centralized database
  • Indicate and specify reasons for blocked and failed tests
  • Annotate Test Set to explain test results
  • Generate and export reports to PDF, HTML, EXCEL, RTF, TXT or TIF formats
  • Email results automatically
  • View real-time results in web portal
  • Attach documents of any type to results
  • Execute tests locally, remotely or on multiple machines
  • Schedule tests using test scheduler
Test Execution Management
Test Execution Management 2

The Test Plan Editor is a planning tool used to describe test requirements in outline, list or scenario form. It provides links to manual and automated tests and to test data stored in built-in data tables.

  • Link tests to plans via drag and drop
  • Link test requirements with test data by point and click
  • Test plan attributes provide the ability to locate tests using a powerful query tool
  • Automatically generate test plans from test data tables
  • Specify number of iterations to repeat tests n times
  • Group test plans into suites for execution
Test Execution Management 2

AscentialTest is integrated with Jira for defect tracking to provide a way to manage the relationship between test results and defects. (Figure 1)

Failures can be associated with defects so that testers will be notified when defects have been fixed and ready for re-testing. (Figure 2)

  • Create a defect
  • Assign a test to a defect
  • Get prompted to create defects for failed tests
  • Check the current status of a defect
  • Get prompted to re-run tests as defects are fixed
  • Get prompted to close defects for ‘passed’ tests
  • Access a defect to modify status and details
Figure 1:
Figure 2:

AscentialTest offers several collaboration features by integrating seamlessly with other software development tools. By integrating with version control systems like Subversion (SVN), large teams can contribute to the test development effort. Integration with GIT and TFS will also be offered in the near future.

  • Check out/check in components to SVN repository
  • Merge files with integrated merge utility
  • Review project history
  • Restore to previous revision
Version Control

Test Sets provide test execution management and reporting. A Test Set may be created for a build, a sprint, a test cycle or a project, depending upon how your organization tests and delivers software. Test Sets help manage test results.

  • Combine automated and manual tests within a Test Set
  • Manage test results in a centralized database
  • Indicate and specify reasons for blocked and failed tests
  • Annotate Test Set to explain test results
  • Generate and export reports to PDF, HTML, EXCEL, RTF, TXT or TIF formats
  • Email results automatically
  • View real-time results in web portal
  • Attach documents of any type to results
  • Execute tests locally, remotely or on multiple machines
  • Schedule tests using test scheduler
Test Execution Management
Test Execution Management 2

Test Data Management

AscentialTest makes it easy to mange test data and integrate it with manual and automated tests.

  • Build data structures and tables visually
  • Import test data from .csv
  • Project and plan level data available to provide for global data parameters
  • Pick lists reduce input errors and save time inputting test data
  • Data tables can contain complex data structures including lists and records
  • Special encrypted data parameters available for passwords and other sensitive data
  • Standalone applet available for editing test data
  • Random data generation available
  • Easy access to ODBC databases, ASCII, XML and INI files

How We Compare

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AscentailTest

TestComplete

Tosca

Eggplant

Ranorex Studio

Free Trial

While a short free trial term creates urgency from a sales perspective, the reality is that automated testing software requires enough time to conduct a POC and gain enough familiarity to ensure there is good client-product fit. In our experience, the POC process really requires a minimum of 60 days. In the case of AscenialTest, we often extend the trial period until our client is comfortable that our tool is a good fit.

6 Months

14-Day

14-Day

30-Day

Yes – Unknown

Features Included in Base Product

Components that have been designed to work together provide an efficient workflow. When extra steps are required to integrate components, valuable time is wasted. Cost is also a factor. An all-in-one solution is less-expensive.

Primary Features Missing

When primary features like test planning or test data management are missing, organizations need to obtain additional products either from the same vendor, a third-party or from open-source. In any case, if the modules are not designed to work together, there will be significant loss in productivity trying to integrate them.

Support/Service Model

While asking the community for assistance with techniques and tips might yield an answer eventually, knowing that there is a real expert available to not only answer questions, but to share experience is invaluable especially when there is pressure to meet project deadlines and achieve a postive ROI.

License Structure

Not sure whether test automation is right for your team? Entry level pricing makes it easy to try it out at a low cost.

Perpetual and Subscription

Subscription Only

Not Published

Perpetual Only

Perpetual Only

Single Seat Pricing

Not sure whether test automation is right for your team? Entry level pricing makes it easy to try it out at a low cost.

We did our best to do an apples-to-apples comparison, including those upsells where appropriate.

Starts at $200/mo

Includes desktop + extension

All Floating

Approx $450/mo

Includes desktop + web, distributed testing, floating seat, enhanced object recognition

Approx $900

None

Base Bundle is 3 licenses (one developer and 2 execution licenses)

Approx $5k/yr

Not Floating

Enterprise Pricing

Collaboration features are important to promote the productivity of the entire project team. Team pricing provides a cost effective way to enable teams to work together efficiently and effectively.

Starts at $380/mo

Perpetual at $8.4k

Team functionality only available via separate products like Zephyr, etc.

Not Published

Not Published

Approx $7.5k Perpetual (+ $1.8k annual maint)

Per Seat/Floating

Unlimited Pricing

Enterprise pricing provides a cost-effective way for the entire organization to adopt a single all-in-one testing solution. A single solution reduces training requirements as staff migrate from one project to another and offers economies of scale as test components can be shared across projects.

Starts at $6k/mo

Perpetual at $180k

Unlimited Seats

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

x

AscentailTest

TestComplete

Tosca

Eggplant

Ranorex Studio

WebApps

Windows MFC

.Net Winforms

.Net WPF

PowerBuilder

PowerServer

PowerClient

Omnis

Delphi

Java Swing

Terminal

CEF/Electron

MS Webview 2

PDF

AscentailTest

TestComplete

Tosca

Eggplant

Ranorex Studio

Manual Testing

By supporting both manual and automated testing within the same testing solution, AscentialTest provides a transition from manual to automated testing. Whether tests are executed manually or through automation, all of the results are captured in a common results database for comprehensive project reporting.  

API Testing

By supporting both manual and automated testing within the same testing solution, AscentialTest provides a transition from manual to automated testing. Whether tests are executed manually or through automation, all of the results are captured in a common results database for comprehensive project reporting.  

Feature Upsell

Available through an additional product called SwaggerHub

Test Planning

The built-in Test Plan Editor, which is central to the design of AscentialTest, not only promotes better test planning, it provides a way to organize tests within AscentialTest, allowing testers to increase test coverage while reducing the level of effort necessary to manage test assets. Other testing solutions require integration with a separate component in their solution suite or with a third party test management tool. But integration comes at a high cost. Not only does the organization have to purchase an additional product, but it becomes obvious right away that the disparate components were not designed to work together and a lot of time is wasted configuring import criteria for tests and test results.

Test Frameworks

The degree to which an automated testing solution provides a test framework significantly impacts the cost of building a set of automated tests and the return on investment. Building a custom test framework is costly and inefficient. Time should be focused on building tests that validate the target application, not on test frameworks.
AscentialTest automates much of the process of building automated tests by providing pre-built components like the test class, class library and test planner and through effective use of wizards to generate components including app states, steps, tests and data tables. These features combine to provide a full testing solution that reduces costs and increases tester productivity.

No framework needed. AscentialTest builds automatically as tests created

Does not appear to have appstates, some framework creation appears to be needed

Lots of dialogs and user steps to get work done. Not efficient

For simple tests, it appears to be a quick and easy process

For simple tests, it appears to be a quick and easy process

Object Recognition

AscentialTest patented snapshot technology provides a much more robust approach than competing solutions. Regardless of the target platform, AscentialTest recognizes application elements using attributes that will persist day after day and from one machine to another. Instead of spending your valuable time on hacks and tricks to make up for shortcomings in object recognition, with AscentialTest you can concentrate on building tests.

Advanced. Regardless of the target platform, AscentialTest recognizes application elements using attributes that will persist day after day and from one machine to another. 

Test Complete comes closest to AscentialTest in object recognition. Without the snapshot, it takes more time to test and maintain object definitions

Each element has full path, fragile over time and time consuming to generate, poor recognition of complex objects like treeview, table or grid

Object recognition is based on images and OCR

Each element has full path, fragile over time and time consuming to generate, poor recognition of complex objects like treeview, table or grid

Object Repository

If the target application did not change over time, you wouldn't be testing it. Not only are the types of elements used to implement an application's GUI different from version to version but the depth of the hierarchy and the relationships between the elements change too. Despite the differences in the construction of the a target application, AscentialTest recognizes the application elements with a single set of object definitions.

Yes, AscentialTest collapses object hierarchy. Objects inherit path from parents which makes maintaining object locators much more robust

Similar to Selenium. No object hierarchy. Each object is identified from top to bottom. Alias permits shorter names but it doesn’t resolve issue of object hierarchy changing in future.

Their solution is most similar to Selenium. There is no object hierarchy. Each object is identified from top to bottom.

There is no concept of an object repository

Yes, but there is not object hierarchy so if the depth of the hierarchy changes, many object paths might need to be updated

Drag Actions

Recorders are fraught with problems from object recognition to synchronization. Building automated tests through Drag & Drop reduces the learning curve, does not require a specialized skill set and provides the fastest, most efficient way to build robust automated tests.

via Recording
via Dropdowns
via Recording

Scripting

While most testing actions can be generated through drag & drop, condition and iteration require some level of scripting. AscentialTest offers scripting options to match your skill level from visual scripting to full code editing.  

Visual and manual scripting

Assisted scripting with autocomplete

Not described

Assisted scripting with autocomplete

Manual scripting and limited visual scripting

Foreign Language UI

Being able to utilize a software application of any kind in your native language makes it easier to learn features and workflows so that you can become productive faster.

Spanish, French, Japanese

German

Arabic, Hebrew

AscentailTest

TestComplete

Tosca

Eggplant

Ranorex Studio

Test Management

Keeping track of test assets can be time consuming without a good test management solution that provides the ability to locate test requirements, tests and test data.  Frequently offered via a product upsell.

Feature Upsell

Available through three separate platforms: test management for Jira, qTest pro and qTest Enterprise

Feature Upsell

Available through separate product: Eggplant Manager

Test Data Management

Most testing tools require test data to be accessed from spreadsheets that are external to the testing project. Since data retrieved from spreadsheets is in string format, it must often be transformed by the test developer to match the datatype defined in the associated test.

Inputting data to spreadsheets is time-consuming and error prone. Until we pushed the boundaries when we introduced automatically-generated data tables in AscentialTest, this was the state of the art. Our approach unique approach offers the following benefits:
    * Data tables auto-generated based on the requirements of test actions
    * Data types handled automatically
    * Pick-lists auto-generated to reduce time to input test data and eliminate data input errors
    * No need to spend $ to purchase spreadsheet

Some, Parameters and Variables are stored at project level, Data is accessed from spreadsheets, external files and databases. They do not have built-in datatables, the mapping to data sources for data driven tests is really tedious and time consuming

Partial Solution

Partial Solution

Partial, uses underlying Excel of AceOleDB

Execution Management

Organizations do not have to incur additional cost for test execution management and reporting since these features are built in to AscentialTest’s all in one testing solution. Furthermore users do not have to spend additional time manually integrating various components that were, in most cases, not designed to work together.

Feature Upsell

Available through separate product: Eggplant Manager

Defect Tracking

Testing tools don’t exist in a vacuum. The ability to interface smoothly with defect tracking impacts tester productivity. AscentialTest keeps track of the relationship between test errors and defects so that you don't have to.

Partial Solution

Partial, uses underlying Excel of AceOleDB

Test Localization

By providing a mechanism to translate tests built against one localized version of the target application to validate versions built for additional languages, AscentialTest not only saves time and money, it ensures that the the application produces the same results regardless of the local language. Return on investment is extremely high as these benefits are achieved with only a small amount of effort.

No (strings need to be recaptured via OCR)

Test Portability

By providing a mechanism to convert tests built against an application built on one platform to validate a version built on a second platform, AscentialTest not only saves time and money, it ensures that the newer version of the application produces the same results as the original. Return on investment is extremely high as these benefits are achieved with only a small amount of effort.

Parallel Execution

The ability to distribute tests across multiple machines improves throughput significantly. Rather than running tests one at a time, this feature cuts execution time in half just by adding a second target machine. Tools that provide this capability include a multi-machine controller that sends tests to physical or virtual target machines that are equipped with ‘runtime’ components that carry out test execution. The results are sent back to the controller machine or a centralized database where they are compiled for reporting and metrics.

Version Control

Testing tools don’t exist in a vacuum. The ability to interface efficiently with version control impacts tester productivity. Teams can collaborate smoothly by managing changes to test project components right from within AscentialTest.

Partial Solution

Partial: through integration with other commercial tools

What Makes Our Software Better

Why our software is so easy to learn, easy to use, easy to maintain.

Object Recognition

AscentialTest recognizes application elements regardless of complexity without coding hacks or reliance on fragile OCR

Why it’s Important

Object recognition is the foundation of GUI test automation. Object-action based tests rely on stable definitions of all application elements especially complex tables and grids.

How We Address It

The patented AscentialTest Snapshot displays a document-object-model that enables stable recognition of all application elements regardless of their relative position in the object hierarchy.

How Others Do It

Other tools recognize each object by its full path in the object hierarchy. Future changes in the target application GUI will break object definitions requiring changes to path/locator to resolve recognition problems.

Why Our Approach is Better

Changes in object hierarchy in the future have no impact on object recognition whatsoever.

Watch Object Recognition Quick Demo

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Drag & Drop

Creating tests with our drag & drop editors is faster and more efficient than recording or scripting

Why it’s Important

Testing productivity is about time, cost and level of effort to develop and maintain tests utilizing the skills of the existing test team.

How We Address It

The patented AscentialTest snapshot provides a way to generate object definitions and object-actions by dragging and dropping. The AscentialTest UI is designed so that project components are within easy reach to enable drag & drop to build tests from reusable steps, to bind test data to tests and to bind tests to test plans.

How Others Do It

Tools that rely on recorders to generate object-actions look great in a demo but when you actually try to use one, you find out that the recording requires a lot of time-consuming editing, requiring a long chain of user actions to select values from dialogs loaded with text fields and dropdowns. Other test solutions that rely on scripting require special skill sets and long learning curves.

Why Our Approach is Better

Building test automation through Drag & Drop reduces the learning curve, does not require a specialized skill set and provides the fastest, most efficient way to build robust automated tests.

Video will show D&D quickly through the entire process of defining objects, creating a step and parameterizing it, building test, binding a data table, binding to a plan and building a test set.

Watch Drag & Drop Feature Quick Demo

Play Video

No More Frameworks

Stop creating test frameworks and focus on your testing

Why it’s Important

Time should be focused on building tests that validate the target application, not on test frameworks which can take weeks or months to build.

How We Address It

Based upon information captured from the target application along with our class library, AscentialTest automatically builds pre-test and post-test actions as part of the Test Class from which every test inherits. Users can add actions to customize for the target application.

How Others Do It

Other solutions require a framework to be developed and then implemented for each test.

Why Our Approach is Better

The AscentialTest Test Class ensures that every test is independent, starting and stopping from known ‘base states’, so that a failure in a test will not produce a domino effect where all subsequent tests fail.

Video will show how appstate is automatically generate and how OnFinish is configured with Close Windows function.

Watch Drag & Drop Feature Quick Demo

Play Video

Test Management

Testing projects can get messy without good management tools

Why it’s Important

Over time, testing projects might contain thousands or tens of thousands of tests. Good management tools are needed to keep track of test components, provide a way to locate those components and integrate the pieces together seamlessly.

How We Address It

AscentialTest includes all the test management features that you need to inventory, track and integrate steps, tests, test plans and test data tables.

How Others Do It

Most other testing solutions require the purchase of additional tools that are either part of suite or from third parties where integration is cumbersome.

Why Our Approach is Better

Built-in test management increases productivity by speeding up the process of building and executing tests which reduces the duration of test cycles and increases the probability of meeting project target dates.

Watch Test Management Quick Demo

Play Video

Integrations

Testing productivity involves meaningful integration with collaboration tools

Why it’s Important

Testing tools don’t exist in a vacuum. The ability to interface smoothly with version control, defect tracking and continuous integration impacts tester productivity.

How We Address It

AscentialTest integration for version control and defect tracking is built right into the User Interface. Users can acquire locks and commit changes from the Project Explorer. Changes in defect status automatically mark tests to be run when bugs are fixed. Plug-ins are available for popular CI tools.

How Others Do It

These features are lacking in most testing tools. Other solutions provide lose integration with collaboration tools often using the Windows File Manager.

Why Our Approach is Better

Productivity is increased when users can access integration with collaboration features from within AscentialTest.

Video will demonstrate lock and commit with Subversion integration and Mark tests by change in status from Jira integration.

Watch Integrations Quick Demo

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Complex Objects

Let AscentialTest do the heavy-lifting when it comes to tables, grids and trees

Why it’s Important

Complex objects like tables, grids and trees exist in most target applications. Recognizing rows, columns and elements contained in cells is imperative. Likewise the ability to locate a row even when scrolled out of view is a basic requirement.

How We Address It

The AscentialTest class library contains in-built intelligence regarding the structure and behavior of the table family of elements. Whether the target application is DotNet, PowerBuilder, Terminal or Web, AscentialTest recognizes all of the element components. A unique action called a ‘selector’ locates a row by searching the table and finding a specified value.

How Others Do It

Other solutions require some combination of OCR, image recognition or a lot of coding in order to make sense of a complex object and interface with it at the row and column level.

Why Our Approach is Better

The AscentialTest table interface allows users to select, input or edit rows in complex objects using drag & drop as seamlessly as interfacing with a simple edit field without any coding.

Video will include drag and drop definition of PB and DotNet tables and the webtable wizard. It will also demonstrate how selectors are used to locate rows.

Watch Complex Objects in Quick Demo

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Reusable Elements

Reuse promote faster building and maintenance of tests

Why it’s Important

Test maintenance is the most important consideration when evaluating a testing solution.  In our years of consulting work, we discovered that teams were spending as much time keeping tests up to date as it took to build them in the first place. Clearly the return on investment was being lost with every change cycle.

How We Address It

We recognize that tests need to be built on a stable foundation. Our object and step libraries provide a single point of change to maintain tests when there is a change to the business or application logic of the target application.  In AscentialTest objects, steps, tests and test data are all reusable.

How Others Do It

While there is a smattering of reuse employed by many of the competing solutions, we have not seen any other solution that allows a single point of change for objects, steps, tests and test data.

Why Our Approach is Better

Because objects, steps, tests and test data are reusable, there are fewer components to build and maintain. Changes to the target application will result in the fewest possible changes to the testing project so that test are quickly and easily modified and ready to run when you need them.

Watch Reusable Elements Quick Demo

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PowerBuilder Expertise

Extremely Capable Automation Test Tool For PowerBuilder Applications
Very suitable program for automated testing of PowerBuilder applications
Top testing software for PowerBuilder
Excellent product, particularly for PowerBuilder

Why PowerBuilder users choose AscentialTest: AscentialTest provides PowerBuilder automated testing support for applications from PB v6.x right up to the most current version of Appeon PowerBuilder. The Datawindow is recognized regardless of its presentation style: Form, Grid, Group, Tabular. The image below displays a Datawindow in the form of what we call a PbTable. It has rows and columns that can contain any number of control types (checkbox, popuplist, textfield, etc.).

PB Table Support: The image below displays a Datawindow in the form of what we call a PbTable. It has rows and columns that can contain any number of control types (checkbox, popuplist, textfield, etc.). AscentialTest provides a special feature called a ‘selector’, which makes it easy to locate a row in a table based on a target value. In the example below, the selector has located the third row in the table because it contains the test value ‘Table Management”: