Using the SDK › Extending Test Steps › Native Test Steps › Create a Native Test Step

Create a Native Test Step

This procedure describes creating a native test step.

Follow these steps:

1. Create a Java class that extends com.itko.lisa.test.TestNode.

   This class implements the runtime logic of the test step. See the JavaDocs in the doc folder of your installation directory for TestNode and the sample code that is provided for FTPTestNode in the samples that accompany this document. The following calls are important for the construction of a test step:

   public void initialize( TestCase test, Element node ) throws TestDefException 
   

   DevTest invokes this call for you to read the parameters you require for the operation from the test case XML DOM. As the test case is constructed, it is passed with the DOM Element of the step that represents this node in the test case XML.

   public void execute( TestExec ts ) throws TestRunException 
   

   This is called when your test step logic is invoked. The workflow and state engines manage most of the control flow and data requirements for you. You can access the TestExec given as a parameter to perform various tasks. See the JavaDocs TestExec and the description of this class in Integrating Components.

2. Create a Java class that extends com.itko.lisa.editor.TestNodeInfo.

   To create and edit your node, provide a controller and viewer in the MVC pattern. The TestNodeInfo class is the base class for all test steps that are developed for DevTest. The authoring framework executes this class to interact with your test step data and logic. See the JavaDocs for TestNodeInfo and review the example class that is provided, named FTPTestNodeController.

3. Create a Java class that extends com.itko.lisa.editor.CustomEditor.

   This class provides DevTest with the actual user interface for viewing and editing your node data. The authoring framework constructs and calls this class to display your parameters, verify their validity, and save your changes back into the TestNodeInfo extension. This CustomEditor extends JPanel in the Java Swing API. See the JavaDocs for CustomEditor and view the sample code for help writing your own editors.

4. Perform the following method overrides if you want to control how the default name of the step is generated.
   • Override the generateName method in the class that extends TestNode. In this method, add the logic to create the default name. The following example is for the FTPTestNode sample class. When the user creates an FTP custom step, the default name consists of FTP followed by the file name.

     public String generateName()
     {
         return "FTP " + getFile();
     }
     

   • Override the generateName method in the class that extends TestNodeInfo. In this method, add a call to the generateName method in the class that extends TestNode. The following example is for the FTPTestNodeController sample class.

     public String generateName()
     {
         FTPTestNode ftp = (FTPTestNode)getAttribute( FTP_KEY );
         return ftp.generateName()
     }