Using the Test Scenario Palette Elements

In this section we will learn how to use the test scenario editor and the different palette elements available to orchestrate and build a sequence of steps in the test scenario. You can think of a test scenario and the test scenario editor as a high level visual programming language where you can do things on the mainframe very simple. For instance, you can execute a load module with a Functional Test element and evaluate its returned data as we did earlier. Other palette possibilities include selecting data from Db2 tables, submit a job by writing JCL, compare datasets record by record, etc.. You can use the test scenario to setup a simple non-virtualized test case as described earlier, and with all the palette elements you have great flexibility in creating all kinds of functional and integration test scenarios. All palette elements that produce data will make the data available through an Id so other elements can consume the data.

An example is to use the SQL Select element to select data from a Db2 table, and then use the data for input to the linkage section of a program in a non-virtualized test. Another example is to verify that a program updated Db2 correctly. There are endless possibilities, and in this section you will get a better understanding of these possibilities.

For each palette element, we will describe how you as a user can use the user interface. For a deeper understanding of how the elements work and understand the XML syntax, read Test-Scenario-Elements-Source-Reference. This section contains valuable information about how the "programming" language behind the editor works, and it includes details on how you can reference data across elements.

Be aware that the naming of the elements you see in the palette and in the XML syntax might differ. The XML syntax is like a programming language that cannot easily be changed, while the graphical editor has the possibility to show better understandable labels and tooltips, etc.

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