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When using and upgrading a the SAP system, an extensive amount of manual testing is required, which consumes time, resources, and manpower. The main advantages of automated testing are:

1. Reduction in time to perform the necessary tests
2. Time saved can be reinvested into higher priority projects
3. Extensive and complete testing

One solution that can provide the automation of testing is our tool Validate. Validate by Datavard is a tool for automated tests in frontend testing based on WebTemplate testing and backend testing for various scenarios.

Frontend Testing can be used for the Web Template regression testing to ensure all basic functionalities remain functional despite the changes in the development.

Backend Testing can be used to ensure that after changes in the systems (i.e. system upgrade, migration) were made the data remains unchanged.

Testing with Validate offers the following functionalities:

• Test query outputs on a large scale – Query testing is based on the idea of using a before image and an after image. These images contain results of all the selected queries/bookmarks, which are then stored for later comparison. The after images and before images are then compared to check if both results are the same. The testing of the same queries between two different systems is also supported by the use of RFC functionality.
• Test InfoProviders content – Involves the Execution of ListCubes with specified characteristics selections. All key figures are always returned while settings for the DB aggregation, Read NLS, MAX Rows, and Number of Hits can also be applied. Results of ListCube execution are stored as before/after images and are compared for similarity. Testing the same queries between two different systems is also supported by the use of RFC functionality.
• Test of transformations – is for the Generation of Data Transfer Processes (DTP) and their execution. From the loaded data, the before and after images are created for comparison. By executing the same load two times you can verify if these were performed correctly or if there were any changes made in the transformation logic (changes in lookups, runtimes, and others). 
• Test table content – Involves the creation of data images for database tables with specified fields. These fields are used either as characteristics or aggregated key figures columns; the images created are stored and compared for similarity. The testing of the same tables between different systems is also supported by the use of RFC functionality.
• Test report outputs – Involves the execution of reports with/without variants and the gathering , doing a snapshot of their outputs that are saved in the spool.

Backend Testing can be used to ensure that after changes in the systems (i.e. system upgrade, migration) were made the data remains unchanged.

Prerequisites and installation

The Validate tool is supplied to the customers in the form of transport requests with all available functionalities included. DataVard’s Reuse Library is also provided together with Validate and is necessary for the customers that did not receive it yet with other DataVard tools.

All users working with Validate should have authorization “DVD_VALIDATE” assigned, which is included in Validate installation transports.

Validate Restrictions

Validate Section

Prerequisites

General

Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 machine

SAP BW 7.0 to 7.5 (Recommended 7.01 or higher)

Dashboard

Internet Explorer 8 or more (9 or more recommended)

Test Case Document, Status Document

MS Word (Office 2007 – Office 2016)

Test Plan Report

MS Word (Office 2007 – Office 2016)

Web Template Test Case

Internet Explorer 8 or more with:

• ActiveX enable
• Scripting enabled
• Disabled "Protected Mode"

MS Excel (Office 2007 – Office 2016, 32-64 bit)

Web Templates newer than 3.5 version

Web Intelligence Test Case

Internet Explorer 8 or more with:

• ActiveX enabled
• Scripting enabled
• Disabled "Protected Mode"

MS Excel (Office 2007 – Office 2016, 32-64 bit)

SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform 4.1 Support Pack 6

ListCube and DrillDown Test Case

For NLS data testing, SAP 7.3 or more needed

DTP Test Case

Transformation with source:

InfoCube, DataSource, and DSO are supported

Transformation with the target:

InfoCube, DSO, and WODS are supported

Frontend Testing

Scripting enabled on the server for the ‘sapgui/user_scripting’ parameter

Activated scripting for SAP GUI without notifications

Disabled SAP GUI security settings on the test execution machine

MS Excel (Office 2010 – Office 2016, 32 bit)

BI AddOn 7.X (based on 7.40)
- for Support Package 9 use patch BI740SP09P_910-20012040.EXE

BI AddOn 7.X (based on 7.50) 
- Support Package 3 or higher needed

Excel add-in BExAnalyzer.xla added to Excel Add-ins

• as before/after images, and finally compared for similarity. Only reports with written list outputs without screens are supported now. Based on the layout complexity of outputs and desired precision of comparison you can choose different types of the comparator.

Validate Terminology

In this section, the basic terminology used in the Validate tool is described for a better understanding of the following chapters.

Test Case – is a basic testing scenario, and the Test Case is a reusable component used in Test Plans, where the Test Cases are executed. See the chapter about Test case types for further information. Each Test Case is a schema of steps, while steps are defined by variant/variants. Example Test Case 1:

• Type: ABAP Test Case
• Schema: Execute program CONVERSION_CHECK

Example Test Case 2:

• Type: ListCube Test Case
• Schema: Create Images for InfoProviders and compare them

Test Case Variant (or more familiar Validate's variant) – is the definition of a Test Case step with values that enable the Test Case execution in a Test Plan.   The Test Case can be defined by one variant or by multiple. 

Example Test Variant 1:

• Variant: Execute program CONVERSION_CHECK with standard program variant ‘ALL’ (selection screen options)

Example Test Variants 2:

• Variants: InfoProvider ZDC_CUBE1, InfoProvider ZDC_DSO1

Test Plan – specifies the combination of Test Cases that can be executed. Test Cases (with variant/variants) assigned to Test Plan have their execution status.

Prerequisites

Each test type in Validate may require specific prerequisites for its proper working. Check the section Validate Prerequisites before using it.