Tosca (Software)
Encyclopedia
TOSCA Testsuite is a software tool for the automated execution of functional and regression software testing
. In addition to test automation functions, TOSCA includes integrated test management, a graphical user interface (GUI), a command line interface (CLI) and an application programming interface (API). TOSCA Testsuite is developed by the Austria
n software company TRICENTIS Technology & Consulting GmbH based in Vienna
. In 2011, TOSCA was included in Gartner
Inc.’s "Magic Quadrant
for Integrated Software Quality Suites" report as a “visionary”.
The main features of Tosca Testsuite include the generation of dynamic, synthetic test data, highly automated business dynamic steering of test case generation and the unified handling and executing of manual and automated as well as GUI and non-GUI tests.
In addition, test cases can be weighted according to their importance in the smooth running of the business process. In this way, TOSCA provides detailed reporting, which shows the impact of existing technical weak points on the fulfillment of requirements. Fecher, for example, uses the test tool in new developments and application and database migration projects.
The following two limitations have been identified in comparison with other test automation solutions:
The following databases are supported for multi-user operation:
or EVN (Energieversorgung Niederösterreich or Lower Austrian Energy Supply).
TOSCA is one of the test tools covered in the Business Process Management 2 course of the IT & Business Informatics program of Campus02.
There are the following industry and best practice solutions:
Software testing
Software testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software...
. In addition to test automation functions, TOSCA includes integrated test management, a graphical user interface (GUI), a command line interface (CLI) and an application programming interface (API). TOSCA Testsuite is developed by the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n software company TRICENTIS Technology & Consulting GmbH based in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In 2011, TOSCA was included in Gartner
Gartner
Gartner, Inc. is an information technology research and advisory firm headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. It was known as GartnerGroup until 2001....
Inc.’s "Magic Quadrant
Magic Quadrant
The Gartner Magic Quadrant is a proprietary research tool developed by Gartner Inc., a US based research and advisory firm. According to Gartner, the Magic Quadrant aims to provide a qualitative analysis into a market and its direction, maturity and participants, thus possibly enabling a company...
for Integrated Software Quality Suites" report as a “visionary”.
Architecture
TOSCA is a test management, design, execution and data generation toolset for functional and regression tests. TOSCA Testsuite consists of the following:- TOSCA Commander, the testsuite’s execution tool, is used to create, administer, execute and analyze test cases.
- TOSCA Wizard, builds a model of the application by storing the technical information XML-GUI Maps called modules.
- Once test cases have been created, TOSCA Executor, executes the test cases and displays the results in TOSCA Commander.
- TOSCA Exchange Portal, a portal where customers can use and exchange special modules, extensions and prebuilt TOSCA Commander components (subsets).
- The Test Repository, which includes integrated version control, stores all test assets and can be accessed by multiple users.
Functionality
Business dynamic steering: the concept behind TOSCA Commander is a model-driven approach to make "the entire test, and not just the input data, dynamic". Test cases are built by dragging and dropping modules and entering validation values and actions. The dynamization of the test is supposed to enable a business-based description of manual and automated test cases so test cases can be designed, specified, automated and maintained by non-technical users (SMEs).The main features of Tosca Testsuite include the generation of dynamic, synthetic test data, highly automated business dynamic steering of test case generation and the unified handling and executing of manual and automated as well as GUI and non-GUI tests.
In addition, test cases can be weighted according to their importance in the smooth running of the business process. In this way, TOSCA provides detailed reporting, which shows the impact of existing technical weak points on the fulfillment of requirements. Fecher, for example, uses the test tool in new developments and application and database migration projects.
The following two limitations have been identified in comparison with other test automation solutions:
- No load or stress testing
- No Active-X components
Extensions
In addition to the basic software, there are the following extensions:- Requirements: requirements are imported, exported, edited and administrated. The requirements are risk weighted and then linked to the test cases after test case design.
- TestCase-Design Workbench: defines, on the basis of the requirements, which test cases are needed to cover the specific test object and then generates test cases, employing all combinations: pairwise, orthogonal array and linear expansion.
- Reporting: test results are collected, analyzed and presented. Reports can be created using Crystal Reports or exported as a PDF or XML file.
- TOSCA Easy Entrance: creates reusable entities through drag and drop.
- User management: multi-user concept with integrated check-in and check-out mechanisms and versioning.
- WebAccess: TOSCA Testsuite provides remote access in real time through WebAccess.
- PDF comparison and bidirectional communication with Microsoft WordMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
and Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
. - Certified SAP Solution Manager Ready: integration of TOSCA Testsuite with SAP GUI for Windows and eCATT
Supported technologies
The automation of software tests is supported for the following technologies:- Programming languages and frameworks: DelphiDelphiDelphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
, .NET.NET.NET may refer to:* .NET Framework, a software framework by Microsoft* .net, a top-level domain* .net * .NET Passport, an old name for Windows Live ID* .NET Messenger Service...
including WPFWPFWPF may refer to:* WebSphere Partition Facility, an IBM facility* Western People's Front, a political party in Sri Lanka active in the Western Province...
, Java Swing/SWT/AWT, Visual BasicVisual BasicVisual Basic is the third-generation event-driven programming language and integrated development environment from Microsoft for its COM programming model... - Application development environments: GuptaGuptaGupta is a common surname of Indian origin.According to some academicians, the name Gupta is derived from Sanskrit goptri, meaning military governor. A more direct translation of the Sanskrit word gupta is 'secret' or 'hidden'. According to prominent historian R. C...
, PowerBuilderPowerBuilderPowerBuilder is an integrated development environment owned by Sybase, a division of SAP. It has been in use since 1991, peaking around 1998 with around 100,000 users.... - Web browsers: Internet ExplorerInternet ExplorerWindows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
, Firefox - Host applications in 3270, 5250
- Key application programs: SAP, Siebel
- Single-position application programs: Microsoft OutlookMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
, Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications... - Hardware & protocols: USB execution, Flash, SOAPSOAPSOAP, originally defined as Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks...
( WebServices), ODBC
System environment
TOSCA Testsuite supports the following operating systems:- Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, SP 2 and above - Windows VistaWindows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
SP 2 - Windows 7 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions)
The following databases are supported for multi-user operation:
- Microsoft®SQL Server 2005
- Oracle 10g
- DB2 v.9.1.
User, industry and best practice solutions
As of November 2008, 140 customers were using Tosca, 70 per cent of them in Germany. This includes the German Stock Exchange, where TOSCA is in continuous test operation. In Austria, the program is in use in numerous banks, insurance, telecommunication and industrial companies such as OMVOMV
OMV is Austria's largest oil-producing, refining and gas station operating company with important activities in other Central European countries...
or EVN (Energieversorgung Niederösterreich or Lower Austrian Energy Supply).
TOSCA is one of the test tools covered in the Business Process Management 2 course of the IT & Business Informatics program of Campus02.
There are the following industry and best practice solutions:
- TOSCA@SAP is a best practice solution for using TOSCA Testsuite in SAPSAP ERPThe SAP ERP application is an integrated enterprise resource planning software manufactured by SAP AG that targets business software requirements of midsize and large organizations in all industries and sectors...
environments. - TOSCA@data is a best practice solution for test case design and the automated generation of synthetic test data with TOSCA Testsuite. In contrast to other solutions, real production data is not used.
- TOSCA@energy is a best practice solution for energy suppliers, which uses TOSCA Testsuite to comply with European Union and national regulations.