In Test It! mode, you are guided through a task while you perform it in the live application. This unique mode makes it possible for you to test the steps of an application. In addition, you can enter comments, mark steps passed or failed, and create a bug report with the steps to recreate the problem.
When a topic is played in Test It! mode, the Test It! window opens on top of the target application. A frame appears before the Introduction frame for the topic. This frame contains the estimated time for the test and any setup instructions that should be done before starting the test. When you advance past this first frame and the Introduction frame of the topic, the top section of the window includes the instructions for completing the step. The Expected Results section appears below the instructions and displays any text that the test author entered about what should happen.
You can mark each step as passed, failed, or skipped. Restarting Test It! mode clears the step markings as well as the history of the steps. The following options appear at the bottom of the window:
Go to previous frame: Returns to the previous frame. If you mark a step passed, failed, or skipped, this mark is not reset if you move to the previous step.
Mark this step as passed: Mark the step as passed and moves to the next step.
This step passed: Indicates that the step passed.
Mark this step as failed: Mark the step as failed and moves to the next step.
This step failed: Indicates that the step failed.
Skip this step: Skips the frame without marking it either pass or fail. If the step has already been marked as passed or failed, it does not change the mark.
This step was skipped: Indicates that the step was skipped.
Add notes to this step: Opens the Test Step Notes window in which you can enter comments about the step. Note: After you save a note and close the Test Step Note window, if you go back to the previous step and reopen the Test Step Note window, the note that you previously added appears with the option to edit it.
Opens steps to recreate web page: Opens the Steps to recreate window in which the steps up to and including this step appear. These steps can then easily be copied and pasted into a bug report. Only steps marked passed or failed appear in the web page.
Go to Results summary: Skips to the Results summary page without having to click through to the end of the Test It! mode. Remaining unrecorded steps are left blank in the report and the test case is marked as failed. This option is useful when the application you are recording crashes.
Note: Decision and Explanation frames cannot be marked pass or fail. For frames which have alternative actions or paths, only the action that you execute can be marked. You can test alternative actions or paths by moving back to the previous step and choosing a different path.
The bottom section of the Test It! window displays a graphic that illustrates how the screen should appear in the live application for the step. On the graphic, a marquee surrounds the area in which you should perform the action in the live application. You can drag the graphic to reposition it within the Test It! window, if necessary. You can also drag the lower right corner of the Test It! window to resize it and display more of the graphic or you can use the Show/Hide Graphic button to toggle the display of the graphic in the Test It! window. You can also move the Test It! window to another area of the screen by dragging the title bar to the desired location on the screen.
The last frame in the playback is the Result summary page. It displays the total number of steps that were passed, failed, and skipped; the total number of steps in the test; and the overall test result (passed or failed). It also contains a link to view a full test case report. This report is a modified version of the Test Document publishing style. It has a title page with the purpose of the test, the test history, the time for the test, and the test setup. The detailed part of the report contains columns with the action, the expected results, the test step notes, and the results (pass or fail).
Control the topic playback using the following Actions link that appears in the bubble:
Show next alternative action: Display other ways to perform the current step. This link appears only when other ways to perform the current step are defined in the authoring process.
Next Step: Advance to the next step.
Previous Step: Return to the previous step.
Restart Playback: Return to the first step in the topic and restart the task.
Display Concept: Display the conceptual information for the task. This link appears only if conceptual task information exists.
Attachments: Display individual links that launch additional information related to the current screen. This link appears only if additional information exists for the current screen.
Play: Display links to launch the topic in See It! or Try It! mode or print the topic with Print It! mode (if Print It! mode is enabled). After viewing the step in See It! or Try It! mode, you can continue in that mode or press ESC to return to Do It! mode.
Preferences: Display the current preference settings for the Player. If this link does not appear, your administrator has preset all of the preferences and has prevented them from being changed.
Help: Display the Player help.
View Outline: This link only appears if the topic was launched in a context-sensitive manner from a target or web-based application. Close the topic and return to the outline in the Player.
Log Out: Log out of the Player. This action appears only if the content you are viewing is tracked via the Knowledge Center.
Close Topic: Close the topic in current play mode and return to the topic launch point.
To play a topic in Test It! mode:
Start the target application.
Launch Test It! mode for the topic you want to test.
Click Next Step to start, if necessary.
Perform the currently displayed step as indicated.
Mark the step pass, fail, or skip.
Click Next Step.
Repeat to complete all steps for the task.
Click the View detailed report link, if desired.
Note: You can print this report to an XPS file. If you do, and some of the icons do not appear in the file, open the Page Setup dialog box for printing in your browser and select the option to print background colors and images.
Go to previous frame: Returns to the previous frame. If you mark a step passed, failed, or skipped, this mark is not reset if you move to the previous step.
Mark this step as passed: Mark the step as passed and moves to the next step.
This step passed: Indicates that the step passed.
Mark this step as failed: Mark the step as failed and moves to the next step.
This step failed: Indicates that the step failed.
Skip this step: Skips the frame without marking it either pass or fail. If the step has already been marked as passed or failed, it does not change the mark.
This step was skipped: Indicates that the step was skipped.
Add notes to this step: Opens the Test Step Notes window in which you can enter comments about the step.
Opens steps to recreate web page: Opens the Steps to recreate window in which the steps up to and including this step appear. These steps can then easily be copied and pasted into a bug report. Only steps marked passed or failed appear in the web page.
Go to Results summary: Skips to the Results summary page without having to click through to the end of the Test It! mode. Remaining unrecorded steps are left blank in the report and the test case is marked as failed. This option is useful when the application you are recording crashes.
To play a topic in Test It! mode: