Test Partners specialise in testing web-based applications; from e-commerce, on-line banking and trading portals to e-learning, learning management systems and social networks. Our Test Centre in London services clients in the UK, USA and throughout the world.
For a web-based application the inventories typically include: • Internal page inventory - a list of the page URLs within the application. • External page inventory - a list of the external page URLs that the application links to. • File inventory - a list of other file types such as images, stylesheets, scripts, XML files. An inventory is then created for each type of file. • Functional inventory - a list of the top-level functional areas. • Technology inventory - a list of the technologies that have been used, such as JavaScript, Flash, multimedia, RSS. An inventory is then created for each technology, showing where it is used. • State-based inventory - a list of the states the system can be in, such as anonymous visitor, first-time registered visitor, returning visitor, unsubscribed visitor. • Input inventory - a list of the ways it is possible to input data to the application, such as a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, screen readers, voice recognition software, APIs and other programmatic means. • Output inventory - a list of the ways it is possible to output data from the application, such as a monitor, printer, file export, email, RSS, screen readers, APIs and other programmatic means.
1. Input constraint and data validation tests . These are applied to individual form controls to identify what validation rules are being applied. If there is a functional specification or data dictionary we can compare the actual behaviour with the intended behaviour. 2. Input combination tests . If inputs interact, we test relevant combinations. 3. Control flow tests . These tests verify the business logic in a structured manner. 4. Data flow tests . We push data in through the front-end and identify where it goes as users perform the various functions on the website. We usually enter unique data in every field, and the data is constructed in such a manner that we can easily tell if it is corrupted, missing or it is in the wrong place. 5. Stress tests . Once we have identified where all the data goes, we push the maximum possible amount through each field and look for truncation or other forms of corruption. We also stress any functions such as search facilities or report generators by causing extremes of input and generating the maximum possible output. 6. Basic scenario tests . Individual functions are executed in sequences that replicate basic user behaviour. 7. Extended scenario tests . The basic scenarios are mutated and executed in larger numbers to simulate user behaviour over a longer period. 8. Exploratory tests . A series of 'what if...' tests that investigate things that the user can do, even if they are not supposed to or the developer never considered the possibility of them doing.
Recording results There is a column for the results of testing in each browser (only one such column is shown for clarity). The results are colour coded for Pass, Fail and Comment. The tester records whether the tests pass or fail and includes any other pertinent information derived from the exploratory tests. At any point during the project it is easy to see at a glance what has and has not been tested, and which functional areas contain the highest concentration of bugs. In the event that the system is updated during testing, the results for each build are entered in different columns so it is possible to clearly see which tests were conducted on which build.
Turnkey Test Lab Service If a client is planning to build a test lab for functionality, compatibility and accessibility testing, we can save them a great deal of money and time by setting up the facilities and processes for them. The experience we have gained through ten years of running our own lab means that we can do this in a fraction of the time that anyone else can. It could take as little as a week's work depending on the number of people in the lab and the facilities they need, and the elapsed time would mostly depend on the client's purchasing process and the delivery time of anything we need to buy. The service involves working with the client's software development, procurement and IT teams to identify the requirements for the following and implement them: * Networks * Servers * PC and Mac desktop hardware * Mobile devices * Software library * Testing tools * Processes for building, maintaining and configuring the equipment * Training
Staff Selection This service is designed to work in conjunction with a client's internal recruitment department or an external recruitment agency. The service includes: * Identification of roles * Specification of candidate requirements * Creation of job adverts (if applicable) * Creation of filtering criteria * Creation of screening questionnaires * Interviews and technical tests Ideally all new staff should attend our training course in exploratory testing.
Our Experience Test Partners have considerable experience of testing high-profile, high-risk web-based applications such as the following: • Harrods e-commerce and wedding planner websites. We provided two testers to work for four months testing Harrods new e-commerce system in 2007, and have conducted two further engagements since then. The business rules are exceptionally complex, with each product having more than 100 custom properties. Testing incorporated the SOAP connection to SAP, a full call centre application and links with a dozen third-party web services such as payment systems, loyalty scheme, external search, image library etc. • Online banking for Abbey and Lloyds TSB. We conducted several engagements to test the functionality, compatibility and accessibility of many aspects of their online banking including mortgages, savings, and investments. • National Rail. The developers, Thales, engaged us to conduct a series of functionality and compatibility tests on the Journey Planner for the National Rail website. • Football Pools website. The three largest football pools companies, Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters are now owned by Sportech plc, and in 2010 Sportech engaged Test Partners to conduct the user acceptance testing of their new website, which contains 80 types of game. • TV Licensing website. We have conducted several engagements to test the functionality, compatibility and accessibility of the TV Licensing website as the legacy mainframe was progressively adapted for real-time use, and a web application replaced offline manual data processing. • Hundreds of microsites for brands such as Burger King, Coca Cola, Dell, EDF Energy, Harry Potter, Honda, Garmin, General Electric, Microsoft, O2, Sun Microsystems, Toyota, Tropicana, Volkswagen, Walkers Crisps and many more. • 30 of Procter & Gamble’s brands including Always, Clairol Pro, Cover Girl, Febreze, Fekkai, Gillette, Herbal Essences, Olay, Old Spice, Oral-B, Pantene, Vidal Sassoon, Gillette Venus, Vicks and Wella.