Philips selected AscentialTest because they recognized the potential for designing a solution that could be used across platforms. Using AscentialTest’s drag and drop interface, the team uses snapshots to create object definitions that are recognized across all three platforms. They benefit from an array of options for defining objects that were difficult to recognize with other testing tools that they evaluated. Philips heavily relies on the ‘RenderText’ and ‘RenderImage’ capabilities of AscentialTest. ‘RenderText’ allows them to validate text that is drawn on scanned images. In the past, tests that require verification of that text had to be completed by manual testers. Vinay estimates that the team can automate 15% more tests because of this text recognition feature. Likewise, ‘RenderImage’ has allowed for the recognition of images for both navigation and verification of tests.

Because of the image-centric domain of PACS, Philips requires very sophisticated image ‘capture and compare’ capability. Zeenyx worked closely with Philips to enhance the existing image verification capabilities of AscentialTest. Several features were added to provide the ability to more specifically focus on the ‘area of interest’, apply masks, and tolerate for pixel and color differences.

Philips also cites AscentialTest data options as a critical component to allow the tests to be shared across platforms. By making use of ‘Project Data’, ‘Plan Data’, and ‘Attributes’, Philips is able to easily change key pieces of test configuration data in a single location to launch tests against different versions of PACS in the various test environments.

Vinay explains that the team creates two files for each page in the target application, one with the object definitions and a second with a meta-layer of steps for driving and verifying the application. Test developers use those components to build the automated tests via drag and drop.

Vinay says that the pace of automation has increased because of the reusable nature of the test components. As the more objects and steps are created, the time required to build new tests continues to decrease.

The bulk of the tests that the team has created to date are used for their ‘Smoke’ and ‘Regression’ tests runs. Recently they created a ‘Sanity’ test comprised of a handful of tests that were ‘ported’ to test six localized versions of PACS, created for different language markets. The team was surprised that it took only two days to port a test to all six languages using AscentialTest’s ‘Translate’ feature.