Automated Object Locator Generation for Web Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual generation of object locators for testing web applications is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to errors, often resulting in inaccurate identification of objects, which reduces test performance and requires significant technical skill.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that automatically extract metadata from object sources and selectively generate object locators using a subset of properties, reducing the number of object locators generated and improving their accuracy, thereby conserving computing resources and simplifying the testing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual generation of object locators is used, then test coverage can be achieved, but the process is labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically extracting metadata from object sources and generating object locators without human intervention. The automated system identifies objects, extracts their properties, selects relevant properties according to defined rules, and generates locators autonomously, eliminating the need for manual test script authors to perform these repetitive tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of identifying and locating objects with an automated computational system. Instead of manually navigating DOM trees and extracting properties, the system uses automated metadata extraction and property selection algorithms to generate object locators, substituting human labor with machine-based processing.
2Reliability
If all object properties are extracted and used to generate object locators, then comprehensive test coverage is achieved, but computing resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary subset of properties from object metadata rather than processing all available properties. By applying selection rules that identify which properties are relevant for object identification and location, the system extracts only the essential information needed for test generation, discarding redundant data and thereby conserving computing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different properties differently based on their relevance to object identification. Instead of uniformly processing all properties, the system selectively applies property selection rules to identify which specific properties have local quality (relevance) for locating particular objects, optimizing resource usage by focusing computational effort only on meaningful properties.
3Ease of operation
If manual object locator generation is used, then control over test creation is maintained, but technical expertise is required and errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system performs self-service by independently extracting metadata, selecting properties, and generating object locators without requiring human expertise. The system autonomously navigates object hierarchies, applies selection rules, and produces accurate locators, making the process accessible to users regardless of their technical knowledge while maintaining high accuracy through systematic automated processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may receive a uniform resource identifier that identifies an object source. The object source may include one or more objects organized in a hierarchy of objects. The device may identify an object, of the one or more objects, to permit extraction of one or more properties of the object. The device may extract the one or more properties of the object based on identifying the object. The device may select a subset of properties, of the one or more properties, to use to generate an object locator based on extracting the one or more properties. The object locator may be associated with locating the object in the hierarchy of objects. The device may generate the object locator based on selecting the subset of properties of the object.