Some notes on Slim (getting started)

To use Slim instead of Fit, you need to define Slim as the test system

• !define TEST_SYSTEM {slim}

Symbols

• $name= sets the symbol
• $name uses the symbol
• $name= also in script tables as first cell$

Decision Tables (aka Slim Column fixture)

• Check/Check not – value test pass/fail
• Ensure/Reject - bool test pass/fail
• Note - comment
• Show – display result
• Start – sets up a different system under test
• Optional constructor arguments after class name
  

Free Icons from 37Signals.com

I found some nice, free to use, icons over at 37signals.com.

Handy for my upcoming website refresh at nathanbain.co.uk

http://37signals.com/svn/posts/1844-open-source-icons

Tool - Flashmob (simulated load testing)

Just came across the site Flashmob, which is an interesting and easy looking load testing tool.

Basically, you can setup a number of virtual users to run scripts which simulate browser usage on a site. Flashmob uses Selenium to drive the user navigation. You can simply record selenium scripts using Selenium IDE then upload the scripts to flashmob, configure the number of users, usage patterns etc. and click Run.

The testing reports are also very detailed, and include usage graphs with failure numbers, and also links screenshots at the point of failure.

Looks very promising, but it's not free - you will get $100 worth of free credit just for signing up though.

TIP - Creating Firefox profile for your Selenium RC tests

Found a nice post which instructs how to setup a Firefox profile for use with Selenium.

Why create a new firefox profile for Selenium?

We create firefox profile for Selenium RC tests, so we can set light configurations to it, which later on we’ll be using to run our Selenium scripts FASTER.

How to create Firefox profile for your Selenium?

1. Make sure all your firefox instance are closed
2. Click Start>Run
3. Type “firefox.exe -ProfileManager -no-remote”
4. Select “Create Profile” (i.e. selenium)
5. Click “Next”
6. Enter new profile name
7. Select a directory folder to store your new profile
8. Click “Finish”
9. Select “Don’t ask at startup”
10. Click “Start Firefox” and configure settings based on suggestion below***
11. Set Profile back to “default” (enable you to use your previous settings on your browser)
12. Add -firefoxProfileTemplate command line option as you start the Selenium Server

java -jar selenium-server.jar -firefoxProfileTemplate “”

*** Suggested settings for your Selenium Profile

1. From “View\Toolbars” tab, uncheck “Bookmarks Toolbar”
2. Right click from toolbar and click “Customize”
3. Remove “Google search” by dragging it to the “Customize Toolbar” window
4. From the “Customize Toolbar” window, click “Use Small Icons” check box then hit “Done”
5. Click “Tools\Options” then set the following:
   a. “Main” tab
   - set Home Page to “about:blank”
   - uncheck “Show the Downloads..” option
   b. “Tabs” tab
   - Select “a new window” for new pages
   - Uncheck all warning options
   c. “Content” tab
   - uncheck “Block pop-up” windows option
   d. “Privacy” tab
   - uncheck all “History” options
   e. “Security” tab
   - uncheck all “Security” options
   - click “Settings” and uncheck all warning options
   f. “Advanced” tab
   - Uncheck “autoscrolling” option from “General” tab
   - uncheck “warn me …” and “Ssearch Engines”option from “Update” tab
6. From “Tools\Add-ons” install the following:
   - Firebug: allows you to edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript on your application under test
   - Selenium IDE: allows you to record, edit, and debug Selenium tests
   - ScreenGrab: saves entire webpages as images.
7. From the address bar type “about:config” and add the following by right-click anywhere on the page and selecting “new”
   - extensions.update.notifyUser (type=boolean; value=false)
   - extensions.newAddons (type=boolean; value=false)

Link to original - http://girliemangalo.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/creating-firefox-profile-for-your-selenium-rc-tests/

TIP - Rename all photos in a folder in one go (Win XP)

A little bit off topic, but I found a great way to rename all the photographs in a single folder when using Windows XP. It's very simple, just carry out the following steps:-

1. Select all the files which need renaming.
2. Right click on the first file, and click "Rename"
3. Give the file a name, which will be repeated in each other file name, and press return.
4. All the files will be renamed, including a numeric increment. For example, if you gave the filename "birthday.jpg", then they will be renamed "birthday(1).jpg", "birthday(2).jpg", etc
   

Nice little time saving tip. Original article here - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/morefun/renamephotos.mspx