10. Function Library – Part 1

Function Library – Part 1

What are Function Libraries?

Apart from UFT test objects, methods and in-built functions we can add user defined functions containing VBScript code for each business functions, sub-routines, statements or scripts which needs to be incorporated in multiple actions or codes.

A function library is a separate VBScript code file which can be saved as a text file and associated with UFT tests.

We cannot use a function library with a test without associating the function library with the test.

How does UFT work with Function Libraries?

1. Create a function library using VBScript and save it as a .qfl or .vbs or text file.
2. Associate the required function libraries with the Test.
3. Only after associating function libraries to the tests we can call the functions, sub-routines by the required actions.
4. During run time UFT loads all the function libraries, it is associated with, to access the functions.
5. UFT searches the function from the Associated Function Library list and if there are functions with the same name the first function is selected.
6. The priority of function libraries are as per the list in the solution explorer.

Using a function library dynamically or without associating

We can do that by using the statement LoadFunctionLibrary statement.

If there is a conflict in the names of a dynamically loaded function library and associated function library then dynamically loaded function library is given priority.

Registering a function as an operation to a test object class

We can register a function as an operation to a test object class using RegisterUserFunc.

By using the keyword RegisterUserFunc in an action or function library to register a function to a test object class. We can use this as a defined operation for that class of object.

Eg -: RegisterUserFunc "WebEdit", "MySet", "MySetFunc", True

WebEdit is the class to which the "MySet"(cannot contain spaces) named operation is getting added with the help of the "MySetFunc" user-defined function.

The True argument at the end of the statement makes the operation its default operation.

Using UnregisterUserFunc

By using UnregisterUserFunc we can unregister a user-defined function that has already been registered with the register function.

Unregistering user-defined methods are important to avoid errors in the normal functioning of built-in UFT methods or test failures.

LoadFunctionLibrary and ExecuteFile statements

For a TEST - In LoadFunctionLibrary the code in the function library is available for the complete run session for the complete test.

For a COMPONENT – The LoadFunctionLibrary the code in the function library is available within the scope of the calling component.

In the case of ExecuteFile statement the code of the file is available only within the calling action or component.

LoadFunctionLibrary enables debugging of code in the function library during run time.

ExecuteFile statement does not allow debugging of code and also while using this statement

and debugging a test or component, the execution marker may not be correctly displayed.