Visual Navigator: Test Steps Pane
The Test Steps pane is the central area used for viewing and maintaining visual tests and the results of visual tests and scripts. The Test Steps pane displays a line-by-line representation of the recorded or inserted actions that make up a visual test. Each action is represented in a separate line called a step. Steps describe the actions taken to test a test application in clear non-technical language. Each step corresponds to an action performed against the test application or actions used to manage the test.
Steps that interact with a test application are represented by images of the corresponding application screen elements in the Screen Preview. Each step is grouped to also correspond to a thumbnail in the Storyboard.
Each step contains properties that determine specifics for the action of the step. A step's properties display in the Properties pane.
From the Test Steps pane of a visual test, you can review a recorded visual test and add actions to improve test reliability, flexibility, validation, function and flow, including:
- Add test logic
- Specify how the visual test is played back
- Execute other visual tests and scripts
- Debug visual tests
- Provide error handling
You can customize the Test Steps pane to display only the steps within a visual test that you want to view.
The Test Steps pane appearing in the Result window offers additional information pertaining specifically to test results. With the exception of the Summary tab (which does not display the Test Steps pane), this information is displayed in a Basic View and an Advanced View.
The standard view of the Test Steps pane contains the following columns:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
 (Number)*
|
Represents the sequential order in which steps are recorded and played back. Steps display in this sequential order by default. Any steps that have breakpoints added for debugging display a breakpoint in the column next to this column. If you change the view from the default view (Steps and Screens) to the Screens only or the Steps only view, the numbering scheme sequentially skips the steps or screens to indicate the gap in the recording sequence. |
 (Logic)*
|
Displays icons representing the type of logic for the step, if the step contains logic. |
 (Step Type)*
|
Displays icons representing the type of action being executed in the step. |
| Steps | Describes the action being taken for the step. |
 (Flag)*
|
Displays the Assigned Flag icon. The Assigned Flag icon indicates that the associated step is flagged to appear in the Test Steps pane and optionally on the Start Screen of the assigned user. Additionally, you can move your pointer over the icon to display a ToolTip containing the flag description, modified date, and assigned date. |
 (Step Description)*
|
Displays a user-defined step description. This column does not display in the default view, but can be shown by clicking Actions from the Test Steps pane title bar and then . To create a step description, select a step. In the Properties pane, update the Step description property. A Step Description icon appears in this column indicating that the step has a description. Either move your pointer over the icon to display a ToolTip containing the description or select the step and read the description in the Properties pane. |
* This column is not resizable.
Basic View of the Result Window
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Result | Displays the execution status of a step in a visual test or code line in a script. |
| Result Detail | Displays the details of the execution status of a step in a visual test or code line in a script. |
Advanced View of the Result Window
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Line Number | Provides the line number of the code line in a script or step number in a visual test. Use in conjunction with the Command Details to locate the specific code line or step number. |
| Command Details | Displays the actual code line text. Use in conjunction with the Line Number to locate the specific code line in the script or step number in a visual test. |
| Date/Time | Displays the time-stamp of when the test step or code line was run. |
| Milliseconds | Displays the duration of the test step or code line during the run. |
| Name | Displays the name of the visual test or script. |
| User Name | Lists the logon identifier of the person who ran the test. |
| Machine Name | Lists the unique identifier of the device used to run the test. |