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Interaction Object Components

Developing and Working with the Application Map

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Interaction Objects and Interaction Object Components

You can provide the Application Mapper with the input it needs to navigate areas of
the AUT by inserting and setting up interaction objects in the application map.
Interaction objects guide TestFactory to specific areas of the AUT that it might not
expose automatically. They do this by supplying specific input for, and defining an
ordered sequence of interactions through, specific controls in the AUT.

You can use interaction objects to map and test multiple alternative paths in a
functional area of the AUT. Without interaction objects, you can only map a single
path in a given area of the AUT.

An interaction object is a container to which you add one or more UI object

components that represent controls in the AUT. An interaction object must contain
components for all of the controls that a user must exercise to take the path that you
want TestFactory to take in the AUT.

When you add a UI object component to an interaction object, you essentially add a
copy of the UI object mapped for a control. Once you add a component to an
interaction object, that component is independent of the UI object on which it is
based. It has its own properties that you can modify to control the way in which
TestFactory exercises the corresponding control during mapping and testing.

Although TestFactory creates just one UI object in the application map for a control
in the AUT, you can add UI object components for the same control to multiple
interaction objects. Because you can modify the properties for each independent
component, you can set up two interaction objects that contain components for the
same controls to guide TestFactory through two different paths in the AUT.

This section describes how to set up interaction objects and provides examples of
how you can use them to develop a complete and accurate application map.

Setting Up an Interaction Object

To set up an interaction object, you must:

Insert an interaction object in the application map.

Add the necessary components for the interaction.

Set the properties for each component.

Set the interaction order for the components.

This section provides instructions on how to insert and set up an interaction object
to control the direction and activity of the Application Mapper as it navigates
the AUT user interface.