Dynamics AX 2012 Integration using AIF: Data Import using Visual Studio Test Framework

<!--[if !mso]><![endif]

Data Import using Visual Studio Test Framework

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to illustrate how to use Visual Studio Test Framework to import data into Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Challenge: For the purposes of POC (Proof of Concept) or testing in you need to import business data into Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 with minimum effort without knowing the specifics of the data model and business logic, you can do it via User Interface with help of Visual Studio Test Framework

Solution: Using Microsoft Visual Studio Test Project you can create a Coded UI Test that tests whether the User Interface for an application functions correctly. Coded UI Test performs actions on the user interface controls for an application and verifies that specified controls display the correct values. However in this scenario we’ll use coded UI test, specifically Data Driven Coded UI Test, to automate tedious manual task of entering the data into the system via User Interface

Diagram

Walkthrough: Data Driven Coded UI Test

Create Test project

TestProject1

Add Coded UI Test

Generate Code for Coded UI Test: Record actions, edit UI map or add assertions

Coded UI Test Builder

Start recording

Now we will go through the usual process of customer creation in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 while recording all the actions

You can pause recording and then resume it if required

Once done we’ll give a name to the method. For example, CustomerImport

You can record actions for more methods if required. For example, for import of vendors, etc

The system will generate all necessary code for you

Source code

public void CustomerImport()

{

#region Variable Declarations

WinMenuItem uICustomerMenuItem = this.UIMicrosoftDynamicsAXDWindow.UIHomeTabWindow.UINewGroup.UICustomerMenuItem;

WinEdit uINameEdit = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow.UINameEdit;

WinClient uICustomergrouplookupbClient = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow1.UICustomergrouplookupbClient;

WinCell uIItem10Cell = this.UIItem1usmfWindow.UIItemWindow.UIGridTable.UIRow1Row.UIItem10Cell;

WinButton uISaveandcloseButton = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow2.UISaveandcloseButton;

#endregion

// Click 'Customer' menu item

Mouse.Click(uICustomerMenuItem, new Point(35, 40));

// Click 'Name' text box

Mouse.Click(uINameEdit, new Point(23, 0));

// Type 'Alex Customer' in 'Name' text box

uINameEdit.Text = this.CustomerImportParams.UINameEditText;

// Click 'Customer group lookup button' client

Mouse.Click(uICustomergrouplookupbClient, new Point(4, 8));

// Click '10' cell

Mouse.Click(uIItem10Cell, new Point(43, 11));

// Click 'Save and close' button

Mouse.Click(uISaveandcloseButton, new Point(66, 10));

}

[GeneratedCode("Coded UITest Builder", "10.0.40219.445")]

public class CustomerImportParams

{

#region Fields

/// <summary>

/// Type 'Alex Customer' in 'Name' text box

/// </summary>

public string UINameEditText = "Alex Customer";

#endregion

}

XML

<?xml version="1.0"?>

…

<IsGlobalHotkey>false</IsGlobalHotkey>

<ActionType>Click</ActionType>

</MouseAction>

<IsGlobalHotkey>false</IsGlobalHotkey>

<ActionType>Click</ActionType>

</MouseAction>

<SetValueAction UIObjectName="UIMap.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow.UINameEdit">

<ParameterName />

<Value Encoded="false">Alex Customer</Value>

<Type>String</Type>

</SetValueAction>

<IsGlobalHotkey>false</IsGlobalHotkey>

<ActionType>Click</ActionType>

</MouseAction>

<MouseAction UIObjectName="UIMap.UIItem1usmfWindow.UIItemWindow.UIGridTable.UIRow1Row.UIItem10Cell">

<ParameterName />

<ModifierKeys>None</ModifierKeys>

<IsGlobalHotkey>false</IsGlobalHotkey>

<Location X="43" Y="11" />

<WheelDirection>0</WheelDirection>

<ActionType>Click</ActionType>

<MouseButton>Left</MouseButton>

</MouseAction>

<IsGlobalHotkey>false</IsGlobalHotkey>

<ActionType>Click</ActionType>

</MouseAction>

<Direction>Start</Direction>

<Disabled>false</Disabled>

<MarkerRegionType>Action</MarkerRegionType>

</TestStepMarkerAction>

</ExecuteActions>

<Maps>

…

</Maps>

</ValueMap>

</UITest>

Please note that XML will be different depending on how I enter a data. Below I describe a difference between using a lookup for data selection versus keying in the data

Option 1 – Lookup

<IsGlobalHotkey>false</IsGlobalHotkey>

<ActionType>Click</ActionType>

</MouseAction>

<MouseAction UIObjectName="UIMap.UIItem1usmfWindow.UIItemWindow.UIGridTable.UIRow1Row.UIItem10Cell">

<ParameterName />

<ModifierKeys>None</ModifierKeys>

<IsGlobalHotkey>false</IsGlobalHotkey>

<Location X="43" Y="11" />

<WheelDirection>0</WheelDirection>

<ActionType>Click</ActionType>

<MouseButton>Left</MouseButton>

</MouseAction>

Option 2 – Key in

<IsGlobalHotkey>false</IsGlobalHotkey>

</SendKeysAction>

<SetValueAction UIObjectName="UIMap.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow1.UICustomergroupEdit">

<ParameterName />

<Value Encoded="false">10</Value>

<Type>String</Type>

</SetValueAction>

Now we can run the test and the system will create a customer for us

Result in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

We can technically create one more customer by changing the code appropriately

Source code

[GeneratedCode("Coded UITest Builder", "10.0.40219.445")]

public class CustomerImportParams

{

#region Fields

/// <summary>

/// Type 'Alex Customer 2' in 'Name' text box

/// </summary>

public string UINameEditText = "Alex Customer 2";

#endregion

}

Result in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

In fact we are interested in creating multiple customers at once

For these purposes we can introduce a loop

Source code

public void CustomerImport()

{

#region Variable Declarations

WinMenuItem uICustomerMenuItem = this.UIMicrosoftDynamicsAXDWindow.UIHomeTabWindow.UINewGroup.UICustomerMenuItem;

WinEdit uINameEdit = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow.UINameEdit;

WinClient uICustomergrouplookupbClient = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow1.UICustomergrouplookupbClient;

WinCell uIItem10Cell = this.UIItem1usmfWindow.UIItemWindow.UIGridTable.UIRow1Row.UIItem10Cell;

WinButton uISaveandcloseButton = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow2.UISaveandcloseButton;

#endregion

int i;

for (i = 2; i <= 10; i++)

{

// Click 'Customer' menu item

Mouse.Click(uICustomerMenuItem, new Point(35, 40));

// Click 'Name' text box

Mouse.Click(uINameEdit, new Point(23, 0));

// Type 'Alex CustomerN' in 'Name' text box

uINameEdit.Text = this.CustomerImportParams.UINameEditText + i.ToString();

// Click 'Customer group lookup button' client

Mouse.Click(uICustomergrouplookupbClient, new Point(4, 8));

// Click '10' cell

Mouse.Click(uIItem10Cell, new Point(43, 11));

// Click 'Save and close' button

Mouse.Click(uISaveandcloseButton, new Point(66, 10));

}

[GeneratedCode("Coded UITest Builder", "10.0.40219.445")]

public class CustomerImportParams

{

#region Fields

/// <summary>

/// Type 'Alex Customer' in 'Name' text box

/// </summary>

public string UINameEditText = "Alex Customer";

#endregion

}

Result in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

This approach will work if all our customers will have uniform/similar name

However when we really want to do is to import customers based on a file. For example, we have CSV (Comma Separated Value) file with a list of customers

For these purposes we will introduce Data Driven Coded UI Test

Please find more info about Data Driven Coded UI Test here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee624082.aspx

CSV File

Name

Alex Customer2

Alex Customer3

Alex Customer4

Alex Customer5

Alex Customer6

Alex Customer7

Alex Customer8

Alex Customer9

Alex Customer10

Source code

[DeploymentItem("Customers.csv"),

DataSource("Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.DataSource.CSV",

"C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Documents\\Visual Studio 2010\\Projects\\TestProject\\TestProject\\Customers.csv", "Customers#csv",

DataAccessMethod.Sequential),

TestMethod]

public void CodedUITestMethod1()

{

// To generate code for this test, select "Generate Code for Coded UI Test" from the shortcut menu and select one of the menu items.

// For more information on generated code, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=179463

string name = TestContext.DataRow[0].ToString();

this.UIMap.CustomerImport(name);

}

public void CustomerImport(string _name)

{

#region Variable Declarations

WinMenuItem uICustomerMenuItem = this.UIMicrosoftDynamicsAXDWindow.UIHomeTabWindow.UINewGroup.UICustomerMenuItem;

WinEdit uINameEdit = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow.UINameEdit;

WinClient uICustomergrouplookupbClient = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow1.UICustomergrouplookupbClient;

WinCell uIItem10Cell = this.UIItem1usmfWindow.UIItemWindow.UIGridTable.UIRow1Row.UIItem10Cell;

WinButton uISaveandcloseButton = this.UICustomer1usmfNewRecoWindow.UIItemWindow2.UISaveandcloseButton;

#endregion

// Click 'Customer' menu item

Mouse.Click(uICustomerMenuItem, new Point(35, 40));

// Click 'Name' text box

Mouse.Click(uINameEdit, new Point(23, 0));

// Type 'Alex Customer' in 'Name' text box

uINameEdit.Text = _name;// this.CustomerImportParams.UINameEditText;

// Click 'Customer group lookup button' client

Mouse.Click(uICustomergrouplookupbClient, new Point(4, 8));

// Click '10' cell

Mouse.Click(uIItem10Cell, new Point(43, 11));

// Click 'Save and close' button

Mouse.Click(uISaveandcloseButton, new Point(66, 10));

}

Note: Please note that all changes to your test to enable it to use a data source for the parameters will be made to your test's source code file (i.e. CodedUITest1.cs). You cannot modify the code in the UIMap.Designer.cs file.

Result in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Remark: Please note that in order for Coded UI Test to interact with desktop the computer running the test should not be locked during test execution time. Otherwise you will see the following error: “Automation engine is unable to playback the test because it is not able to interact with the desktop. This could happen if the computer running the test is locked or its remote session window is minimized.”

Summary: This document describes how to use Visual Studio Test Framework to import data into Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 for the purposes of POC or testing by automation of data entry via User Interface. You can organize parallel import of data by running multiple instances of the test at the same time from different clients or investigate how to potentially make use of Load Test Visual Studio Test Framework. Please note that the recommended tool for data import in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is Data Import Export Framework which provides number of standard templates for main business entities and documents, ability to use various entity types (Entity, Composite Entity, Table) and extend it for custom data.

Author: Alex Anikiev, PhD, MCP

Tags: Microsoft Dynamics ERP, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, Data Migration, Data Import, Data Conversion, Test Automation, Visual Studio Test Framework, Data Driven Coded UI Test.

Note: This document is intended for information purposes only, presented as it is with no warranties from the author. This document may be updated with more content to better outline the concepts and describe the examples.

Dynamics AX 2012 Integration using AIF

Monday, July 15, 2013

Data Import using Visual Studio Test Framework

3 comments: