WinRunner vs.

QuickTest Pro
Quick Comparison
Table of Contents

Overview..............................................................................................................................3
WinRunner Compared to QuickTest Pro.............................................................................4
What We Recommend.........................................................................................................6
WinRunner...........................................................................................................................8
Summary:.........................................................................................................................8
Pros:.................................................................................................................................9
Cons:................................................................................................................................9
QuickTest Pro....................................................................................................................10
Summary:.......................................................................................................................10
Pros:...............................................................................................................................11
Cons:..............................................................................................................................11

Overview
Today Mercury has two functional testing tools – WinRunner (WR) and QuickTest
Professional (QTP). WinRunner has been around since about 1995 while QuickTest Pro
has been available since about 2002. We have lots of companies asking us “What’s the
difference between WinRunner and QuickTest Pro?” and “If they are both functional
testing tools from the same company, then which one of the tools should we use?” This
document was developed as a short simple reference in helping to understand the basics
about the tools in order to answer these two questions.

Mercury’s position on the two tools is this:

•1 The strategic direction for Mercury and its customers for Functional Testing
is product integration. The new releases of QTP and WR improve already
existing integration where customers can leverage complete WinRunner assets
(scripts/functions) from QuickTest Pro without any modification to these assets.
•2 QuickTest Pro 8 has recently been released and WinRunner version 8.0 is
planned for November 2004. There are no plans to phase out WinRunner.
•3 QuickTest Pro remains Mercury’s prime product for best customer
satisfaction and experience. For customers who need both products, Mercury
continues to offer Mercury Functional Testing as a combined package of both
product offerings. The Business Process Testing system will be extended to
incorporate components designed in WinRunner for the WinRunner 8.0 release in
November.

WinRunner Compared to QuickTest Pro

Environment Coverage Comparison:

•1 Common environments shared by both WinRunner and QuickTest Pro:

Web-Related Environments IE, Netscape, AOL
JDK, Java Foundation Classes, AWT
Symantec Visual Café
ActiveX Controls
ERP/CRM Oracle: Jinitiator, 11i, NCA
Custom Client Server Windows
C++/C
Visual Basic
Operating Systems Windows 98, 2000, NT, ME, XP
Legacy 3270, 5250 Emulators
VT100

•2 WinRunner Only Environments:

Custom Client/Server PowerBuilder
Forte
Delphi
Centura
Stingray
SmallTalk
ERP/CRM Baan
PeopleSoft Windows
Siebel 5, 6 GUI Clients
Oracle GUI Forms

•3 QuickTest Pro Only Environments:

ERP/CRM SAP
Siebel 7.x
PeopleSoft 8.x
.Net WinForms
WebForms
.Net controls
Web Services XML, HTTP
WSDL, SOAP
J2EE, .Net
Multimedia RealAudio/Video
Flash
Feature Comparison:
•4 Common features found in both WinRunner and QuickTest Pro:
Record/Replay ODBC & Excel Connectivity
Code Editor & Debugger Recovery Manager
Shared Object Repository Rapid Object Import
Numerous Checkpoints Analog
Script & Function Libraries

•5 WinRunner Only Environments:

Function Generator Database Integration
Run Wizard TSL
MDI

•6 QuickTest Pro Only Environments:

ActiveScreen TestGuard
Tree View ScriptFusion
Data Table VBScript
Function Generator* Run Wizard*
(coming in v7.0) (coming in v7.0)

What We Recommend
QuickTest Pro is our functional testing tool of choice!

Most customers are in either of two situations:

•7 Existing WinRunner customers asking “Should we switch to QuickTest Pro?”
•8 New customers asking “Which should we get, WinRunner or QuickTest Pro?”

We have been implementing Mercury’s products since 1992 and have senior level
expertise in WinRunner. We have been implementing WinRunner since the very first
version of it. So like many existing WinRunner customers we have a huge knowledge
investment in WinRunner ourselves. However we have worked on the Mercury
development team on the QuickTest Pro 6.0 and 6.5 releases, and have solid real-world
experience in implementing QuickTest Pro since the 6.0 release. We have found it to be a
great tool to use and recommend it to all customers! Overall, we recommend using
QuickTest Pro unless for some reason you have to use WinRunner due to an unsupported
environment not existing in QuickTest Pro.

Overall, QuickTest Pro is easier to use and implement for both technical and non-
technical testers in comparison to WinRunner. QTP offers many features that are found
in WinRunner, but are easier to use. QTP also offers many features not found in
WinRunner that make test script creation, enhancement and maintenance easier.
Let’s quickly discuss some key issues:
•1 The WinRunner interface forces the user to look directly at TSL code. TSL is
the WinRunner programming language developed by Mercury. It is based on the
“C” programming language and therefore looks very similar. For testers who do
not have a technical background, they are not always comfortable with having to
always look at code. However QuickTest Pro offers a “Tree View” which is an
icon-based view of the script. This is very easy to get used to and non-technical
people adapt to it quicker and feel more comfortable working with it. For the
technical user, they can always switch over to the “Expert View” in QuickTest and
look directly at code, and program away using VBScript.

•2 WinRunner uses TSL which is a proprietary language of Mercury. These

types of languages can be very restrictive and you are limited on available
resources. QuickTest Pro use the Microsoft programming language VBScript
which is very powerful, has lots of capabilities and there are lots of resources
available.

•3 We feel that there are many more “point and click” features in QuickTest Pro
than WinRunner. This makes its use easier.

•4 All the same features found in WinRunner are found in QuickTest Pro plus
more.

•5 Data Table integration is much easier and simpler with QuickTest Pro.

•6 Data Driven Testing is easier with more options in QuickTest Pro.

•7 Script enhancements are typically easier with QuickTest Pro because it has
the Active Screen where the windows and objects in your application are captured
for later use. Using a “point and click” capability you can easily interface with
objects, their definitions and create checkpoints after having recorded a script –
without having to navigate back to that location in your application like you have
to with WinRunner. This greatly speeds up script development.

•8 QuickTest Pro currently has built in integration with WinRunner in order to

be able to call existing scripts, which is great for customers who already have a
large test script investment with WinRunner. Likewise WinRunner 8.0 is to have
the ability to also call QuickTest Pro scripts. This eases the transition from
WinRunner to QuickTest Pro for existing customers.
 •9 Parameterization is much easier in QuickTest Pro and basically anything in
QuickTest Pro can be parameterized (statements, checkpoints and the Object
Repository).

•10 Capturing various output values is easier and simpler with QuickTest Pro.
Using this capability with parameterization enables you to easily develop scripts
that can do more in regards to testing.

•11 We have been implementing QuickTest Pro in real-world environments and

have found it much easier to use, advance features are easier to implement and the
script development is quicker. We really enjoy using QuickTest Pro and highly
recommend it as the functional testing tool to use.

QuickTest Pro is our functional testing tool of choice!

WinRunner
Summary:

This product is a mature tool that has been around since approximately 1995. It
interfaces with most of the leading development toolkits using the WindowsAPI and
toolkit DLLs to interface with the “Application Under Test”.

WinRunner offers a recording feature that will watch the individual tester and generate a
test script to simulate the same actions just performed. The script is displayed as a
program which can be enhanced with checkpoints, logic and special
coding/programming.

WinRunner also has integration with Excel spreadsheets for data driven testing and the
ability to write data out in Excel format or in simple text files.

Here is the description from the Mercury “Features and Benefits” section of the
WinRunner web page:
Significantly increase power and flexibility of tests without any programming: The
Function Generator presents a quick and error-free way to design tests and enhance
scripts without any programming knowledge. Testers can simply point at a GUI object,
and WinRunner will examine it, determine its class and suggest an appropriate function to
be used.
Use multiple verification types to ensure sound functionality: WinRunner provides
checkpoints for text, GUI, bitmaps, URL links and the database, allowing testers to
 compare expected and actual outcomes and identify potential problems with numerous
GUI objects and their functionality.
Verify data integrity in your back-end database: Built-in Database Verification
confirms values stored in the database and ensures transaction accuracy and the data
integrity of records that have been updated, deleted and added.
View, store and verify at a glance every attribute of tested objects: WinRunner's GUI
Spy automatically identifies, records and displays the properties of standard GUI objects,
ActiveX controls, as well as Java objects and methods. This ensures that every object in
the user interface is recognized by the script and can be tested.
Maintain tests and build reusable scripts: The GUI map provides a centralized object
repository, allowing testers to verify and modify any tested object. These changes are
then automatically propagated to all appropriate scripts, eliminating the need to build new
scripts each time the application is modified.
Test multiple environments with a single application: WinRunner supports more than
30 environments, including Web, Java, Visual Basic, etc. In addition, it provides targeted
solutions for such leading ERP/CRM applications as SAP, Siebel, PeopleSoft and a
number of others.
Simplify creation of test scripts: WinRunner's DataDriver Wizard greatly simplifies the
process of preparing test data and scripts. This allows for optimal use of QA resources
and results in more thorough testing.
Automatically identify discrepancies in data: WinRunner examines and compares
expected and actual results using multiple verifications for text, GUI, bitmaps, URLs, and
databases. This ensures stable functionality and execution of business transactions when
the application is released into production.
Validate applications across browsers: WinRunner enables the same test to be used to
validate applications in Internet Explorer, Netscape, and AOL. This saves testing time
and reduces the number of scripts that must be developed and maintained.
Automatically recover tested applications from a crash: Unexpected events, errors,
and application crashes during a test run can disrupt the testing process and distort
results. WinRunner's Recovery Manager enables unattended recovery and provides a
wizard that guides the process of defining a recovery scenario.
Leverage investments in other testing products: WinRunner fully integrates with our
other testing solutions, including LoadRunner for load testing and TestDirector for global
test management. Moreover, organizations can reuse WinRunner test scripts with
QuickTest Professional.

- WinRunner “Features and Benefits” webpage from Mercury:

http://www.mercury.com/us/products/quality-center/functional-testing/winrunner/features.html

Pros:
• Mature product that has been around since about 1995.
• Simple interface.
• Many features.
• Many consultants and user group/forums for support.
• Decent built in help.
• Fewer features to have to learn and understand compared to QuickTest Pro.
• Interfaces with the Windows API.
 • Integrates with TestDirector.

Cons:
• Has basically been superceded by QuickTest Pro.
• Looking at “program code” for the test case.
• Coding is done in a proprietary language (TSL).
• Very few resources available on TSL programming (it is based on the C
programming language, but is not C).
• Need to be able to program to a certain extent in order to gain flexibility and
parameterization.
• Need training to implement properly.
• The GUI Map can be difficult to understand and implement.

QuickTest Pro

Summary:
QuickTest Professional provides an interactive, visual environment for test development.

Here is the description from the Mercury Interactive “How it Works” section of the
QuickTest Pro web page:
Mercury QuickTest Professional™ allows even novice testers to be productive in
minutes. You can create a test script by simply pressing a Record button and using an
application to perform a typical business process. Each step in the business process is
automated documented with a plain-English sentence and screen shot. Users can easily
modify, remove, or rearrange test steps in the Keyword View.

QuickTest Professional can automatically introduce checkpoints to verify application

properties and functionality, for example to validate output or check link validity. For
each step in the Keyword View, there is an ActiveScreen showing exactly how the
application under test looked at that step. You can also add several types of checkpoints
for any object to verify that components behave as expected, simply by clicking on that
object in the ActiveScreen.

You can then enter test data into the Data Table, an integrated spreadsheet with the full
functionality of Excel, to manipulate data sets and create multiple test iterations, without
programming, to expand test case coverage. Data can be typed in or imported from
databases, spreadsheets, or text files.

Advanced testers can view and edit their test scripts in the Expert View, which reveals the
underlying industry-standard VBScript that QuickTest Professional automatically
generates. Any changes made in the Expert View are automatically synchronized with the
Keyword View.

Once a tester has run a script, a TestFusion report displays all aspects of the test run: a
 high-level results overview, an expandable Tree View of the test script specifying exactly
where application failures occurred, the test data used, application screen shots for every
step that highlight any discrepancies, and detailed explanations of each checkpoint pass
and failure. By combining TestFusion reports with Mercury Quality Management, you
can share reports across an entire QA and development team.

QuickTest Professional also facilitates the update process. As an application under test
changes, such as when a “Login” button is renamed “Sign In,” you can make one update
to the Shared Object Repository, and the update will propagate to all scripts that reference
this object. You can publish test scripts to Mercury Quality Management, enabling other
QA team members to reuse your test scripts, eliminating duplicative work.

QuickTest Professional supports functional testing of all popular environments, including

Windows, Web, .Net, Visual Basic, ActiveX, Java, SAP, Siebel, Oracle, PeopleSoft,
terminal emulators, and Web services.

- QuickTest Pro “How it Works” webpage from Mercury:

http://www.mercury.com/us/products/quality-center/functional-testing/quicktest-
professional/works.html

We like QuickTest Pro and now prefer implementing it over WinRunner. When you get
into advance testing scenarios, QuickTest Pro has more options and they are easier to
implement compared to WinRunner in our opinion.

Do to the similarities in concept and features, an experienced WinRunner user can easily
convert to QuickTest Pro and quickly become an efficient Test Automation Engineer!

We recommend that existing customers begin all new development with QuickTest Pro
and use the built-in feature of calling WinRunner scripts from QuickTest Pro for all
existing WinRunner scripts that they already have. As older scripts require updates and
time permits, we recommend replacing them with QuickTest Pro scripts. Eventually you
will be able to convert your test script library with all QuickTest Pro scripts.

Pros:
• Will be getting the initial focus on development of all new features and supported
technologies.
• Ease of use.
• Simple interface.
• Presents the test case as a business workflow to the tester (simpler to understand).
• Numerous features.
• Uses a real programming language (Microsoft’s VBScript) with numerous
resources available.
• QuickTest Pro is significantly easier for a non-technical person to adapt to and
create working test cases, compared to WinRunner.
• Data table integration better and easier to use than WinRunner.
• Test Run Iterations/Data driving a test is easier and better implement with
QuickTest.
 • Parameterization easier than WinRunner.
• Can enhance existing QuickTest scripts without the “Application Under Test”
being available; by using the ActiveScreen.
• Can create and implement the Microsoft Object Model (Outlook objects, ADO
objects, FileSystem objects, supports DOM, WSH, etc.).
• Better object identification mechanism.
• Numerous existing functions available for implementation – both from within
QuickTest Pro and VBScript.
• QTP supports .NET development environment (currently WinRunner 7.5 does
not).
• XML support (currently WinRunner 7.5 does not).
• The Test Report is more robust in QuickTest compared to WinRunner.
• Integrates with TestDirector and WinRunner (can kick off WinRunner scripts from
QuickTest).

Cons:
• Currently there are fewer resources (consultants and expertise) available due to
QTP being a newer product on the market and because there is a greater Demand
than Supply, thus fewer employee/consulting resources.
• Must know VBScript in order to program at all.
• Must be able to program in VBScript in order to implement the real advance
testing tasks and to handle very dynamic situations.
• Need training to implement properly.
• The Object Repository (OR) and “testing environment” (paths, folders, function
libraries, OR) can be difficult to understand and implement initially.