In this release, we focused on new features and functionality in the SOAtest Smart API Test Generator that give you greater control over test creation. You can now teach the test generator how to interact with your APIs, including how to authenticate, which headers to include, how to assert on data responses, and when to track response differences.

Training the Smart API Test Generator

The workflow for training the test generator is supported by the following new tools and interfaces.

• Resource Templates: Define specific test generation behaviors or "rules" in Resource Templates by attaching JSON Assertors, Extension Tools, and other SOAtest outputs to the template. 
• Resource Suites: Use Resource Suites to specify the API paths the rules defined in your Resource Templates should apply to. You can also nest Resource Suites to apply specific test generation rules at different endpoints on the API path.
• Smart Test Template files: Resource Templates and Resource Suites are collected in Smart Test Template (.stt) files. 
• HTT Authentication tools: The HTTP Authentication tool is a special outputs attached to a Resource Template for configuring authentication credentials for your generated tests. When the Smart API Test Generator matches the settings in the Resource Template, credentials configured in the HTTP Authentication tool are applied to the generated tests. 
• HTT Header tools: The HTTP Header tool is a special output attached to a Resource Template for configuring the headers in your generated tests. When the Smart API Test Generator matches the settings in the Resource Template, headers configured in the HTTP Authentication tool are applied to the generated tests. 
• Smart Test View: You can create and configure Smart Test Template files in the new SOAtest Smart Test View. 

Training Options

You have three options for training the Smart API Test Generator:

• Create an empty .stt file and manually add Resource Suites, Resource Templates, and outputs.  
• Automatically set up your .stt file structure based on a definition file, such as OpenAPI (Swagger), RAML, or WADL.   
• Use the Train Smart Test Template feature to automatically create and configure your .stt based on an existing .tst file. 

See Parasoft Recorder for details.

Additional Updates

• The Diff tool now supports the ability to compare comments in XML diff mode. See Diff for additional information.
• Clicking on the SOAtest Smart API Test Generator notification now automatically refreshes the server and opens the test in CTP.
• Updated the ParaBank demo application.
• The database backup API in Continuous Testing Platform is now public. 
• The SOAtest structure report has been updated to improve readability. 
• You can now specify a different character encoding for outgoing messages in clients and responders. You can configure the outgoing message encoding for each Messaging, REST, SOAP, or EDI client individually or configure message encoding at the suite or system level. See the following documentation:

  • Configuring Test Suite Properties - Test Flow Logic, Variables, etc.

  • Messaging Client
  • REST Client

  • EDI Client

• The default value for the includeContentTypes property in SOAtest Smart API Test Generator's tst_configuration.properites file has been updated:
  includeContentTypes=application/json,application/x-www-form-urlencoded

• Parasoft Concerto is no longer supported. Connect SOAtest to Parasoft DTP instead.
  
  

Resolved PRs and FRs