eValid™ -- Automated Web Quality Solution Browser-Based, Client-Side, Functional Testing & Validation, Load & Performance Tuning, Page Timing, Website Analysis, and Rich Internet Application Monitoring. © Copyright 2000-2008 by Software Research, Inc.

Getting Started

System Requirements
Architecture
Installation
GUI Basics
Preferences
Files
User Manual
Getting Help
License Key Issues
eValid Usage Issues

Basic Concepts
Preferences
Filters
Reports
3D-SiteMaps

Getting Started

System Requirements

What are the System Requirements for eValid?

Windows 2000/XP.

Latest Microsoft Service Packs (Windows & I.E.).

Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.

At least 256 MB Available RAM; 512 MB recommended.

JRE 1.5 or higher.

Do I need to have I.E. installed?

Yes, eValid requires the presence of at least Internet Explorer 5.5 as eValid makes use of the libraries contained within I.E.

Architecture

What is a important about eValid?

The advantages of using eValid are:

• Testing the web page from a browser.
• Point and Click Recording. All user interaction is recorded in the script.
• Script Language. eValid scripts are recorded in a simple command based format and is easily viewable in a text editor.
• eValid is a Full Featured Suite, which covers the entire spectrum of web appllications testing and analysis including:
1. Functional Testing.
2. Load Testing.
3. Performance Testing.
4. Site Analysis.

Installation

How do I install eValid?

Follow the steps outlined below in order to successfully install eValid:

Double Click on the eValid installer (eValid6.exe) if you have downloaded the program from our website or insert the eValid CD in your CD ROM drive and double click the eValid install icon.

The "Welcome to the Install Shield Wizard for eValid" page is displayed. Click "Next" to proceed.

Carefully review the eValid "SOFTWARE PRODUCT LICENSE AGREEMENT". Click on "Yes" if you agree to the terms and conditions of the license.

Select a directory where eValid will be installed. The default setting will install eValid in "C:\Program Files\Software Research". Click "Browse" to install in another location.

Choose the appropriate options for your eValid installation. Click "Next".

As soon as eValid completes the installation, review the installation results. Click "Next".

Click "Finish".

GUI Basics

How do I start recording a test?

To start recording a test, follow these simple steps:

1. Click on the red button on the upper right hand side of eValid -or- Access the eValid menu (Record > Start Recording) -or- By pressing F4 to start recording.
2. You will be prompted to enter a name for the test you are about to create.
3. Perform a series of actions in the site you are testing.
4. Stop recording by pressing the Stop button on the upper right hand side of eValid
   -or-
   Press F4 to stop recording.

How do I play back my script?

To start playing back a test, follow these simple steps:

1. Press the play button on the upper right hand side of eValid
   -or-
   Access the eValid Menu (Playback > Start Playback)
   -or-
   Press the F6 key.

Preferences

How do I access the eValid Preferences?

Use one of two ways to open the eValid Preferences:

1. Press Ctrl + F2.
2. Click on the eValid menu, select "Settings", choose the appropriate preferences desired.

How do I access and control the cache manager?

Use one of two ways to open the eValid Preferences:

1. Press F2.
2. Click on the eValid menu, select "Settings", and choose the Cache Manager.

Can I save different sets of preferences?

You can save a specific set of option from the eValid Profile Manager. Follow the steps below in order to save your settings to a profile.

1. Select the options that you want to be included in the profile.
2. Click on Profiles.
3. Check Save Profile.
4. Enter a unique name for the profile you are creating.
5. Click on "OK"
6. Click on "Save" to apply the changes.

Files

What are evs/evl files?

An evs file is the test that is produced from the recording.

An evl file is a Load Test that is created to include the original script file (*.evs).

Where did I save the script I recorded?

By default, the script is saved under the eValid Project/Group directory unless otherwise specified in the preferences.

What other files are produced by eValid?

Other files produced by eValid are the Event Log, Error Log, Performance Log, the Timing Log, and LoadTest Log.

User Manual

Where do I find the eValid User Manual?

The eValid User Manual can be accessed through eValid by clicking (Help > Documentation > User Manual).

Is there a local copy of the eValid User Manual?

As eValid continually evolves, we are also continually updating the user manual to reflect changes made in the product making it unsuitable to include local copies.

Is there a hardcopy version of the manual?

A PDF Document of the Online User Manual is available for downloading.

Getting Help

Do I have to pay for Technical Support?

Users doing an EVAL of eValid are entitled to limited free product related Technical Support. However, users who use REVENUE keys must be subscribed to maintenance support to access Technical Support.

How do I reach Technical Support?

You can reach eValid Technical Support by sending us email using the eValid menu (Help > E-mail Tech Support) or by giving us a call at 1-800-942-SOFT. If you're having trouble with a script or a recording simply send us a copy of the script and our Technical Support Staff will be glad to help you out.

License Key Issues

I get an error saying "Unable to locate evalid.lic. Identify license file to process?" How do I resolve this?

Make sure that your license key is in the proper directory as well as the eValid executable.

I get an invalid, corrupted, or expired license message. How can I resolve this?

Make sure that your license is still valid by opening it in a text editor and checking the expiration date. Do not alter anything in the license file as the key is encrypted.

For support with you current license, send us your details using the eValid menu (Help > E-mail Tech Support).

My license file seems to be valid but I still keep on getting the invalid, corrupted or expired message. What else can I do?

If you had a previous installation of eValid and had it installed in a different location other than the default location, follow these simple steps to correct this issue (or have your System's Administrator perform the equivalent changes):

1. Using "regedit" the Registry Editor.
2. Open "My Computer > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > ...
3. Continue to Open "Software Research > eValid > eV_Section_Zero".
4. Look for the eValid entry:
   LicenseFile=%PATH%
5. Modify and remove the current path and any related values of the eValid license file properties accordingly.
6. Click "OK" and exit the Registry Editor.
7. Run eValid again.

eValid Usage Issues

Can I use eValid as a regular browser?

Yes, eValid can be used normally as a browser.

Can I use eValid with other versions of Windows?

As a full featured test enabled web browser, we have only tested eValid with Windows 2000/XP. We cannot guarantee accurate results or proper operation from running eValid in operating systems not mentioned above.

Site Analysis

Basic Concepts

How does eValid perform Site Mapping?

eValid performs site analysis through use of a built-in Website "spider" that starts at a given page and systematically visits all of the links reachable from there, applying various filters to every page along the way and generates the users desired reports.

Preferences

How do I access the Site Analysis Preferences?

To access the eValid Site Analysis Preferences, follow these simple steps:

1. Click on eValid menu (Settings > Site Analysis Preferences)

-or-

2. Press Ctrl + F3.

What is available in the Site Analysis Preferences?

Various options, which can affect the way eValid performs a Site Analysis, can be found in the preferences. Controls for Link Type, Domains, Search Limitation, Cache Management, Report Management, Search Mode, and Filters can all be found in the preferences. You can also save your individual settings by the use of profiles, which can save up to 32 unique combinations of your settings.

Filters

What are the different filters available in Site Analysis?

The different filters that are available in Site Analysis are:

• Broken or Unavailable Pages Report Filters.
• OOPs Pages Report Filters.
• Off-Site Pages Filters.
• Pages Matching Complexity Filters.
• Pages Loading Slower Than / Faster Than... Filters.
• Pages Older Than / Younger Than ... Filters.
• Pages Larger Than / Smaller Than ... Filters.
• Pages Matching Metrics Criteria Filters.
• Pages Matching String Search Criteria Filters.

How do I specify which filter is used in Site Analysis?

You can access the filters menu and specify which filters to use by:

1. Click eValid menu (Settings > Site Analysis Filters)
   -or-
   Press Ctrl + Alt + F3.
2. Select appropriate filters to be used.

Can I block specific files during Site Analysis?

Yes, you can block specific files and URLs by adding the name of the file in the exclude URLs file. You can add keywords for eValid to skip checking when the Site Analysis is being performed. This is usually used when user wants to skip large files from being checked or exclude a log-out link when mapping a secure site.

Reports

What kind of Reports are available when I perform a Site Analysis?

The reports, which are available from Site Analysis, are:

• Off-Site Pages Report.
• Excluded Pages Report.
• Visited Pages Report.
• Broken Links(Unavailable Pages) Report.
• OOPs Pages Report.
• Speed - Slow Loading Pages Report.
• Age - Older than Loading Pages Report.
• Size -Large Pages Report.
• Page Metrics Criteria Report.
• Pages that match Strings Search Criteria Report.
• Status Report.
• Complete and/or Unique List/Map Reports.
• Page Links Report.
• 3D-SiteMap Report.

Can I customize the reports that are generated by the Site Analysis?

Yes, the reports generated can configured to display only reports specified by the user.

3D-SiteMaps

What are 3D-SiteMaps?

3D-SiteMap are charts that make it very easy to gain a deep understanding of how a Website is constructed. Viewing a Website structure in 3D is a remarkably easy way to learn about its structure and about the interdependence of the URLs (each Website page is a single URL).

What are the advantages of 3D-SiteMaps?

• Find which URLs are the focus of dependence (have a lot of parents).
• Find which URLs are sources of dependence (have a lot of children).
• Find all URLs that are related to any particular URL.
• Locate unwanted or unnecessary dependencies.
• Help decide URLs to focus detailed testing attention on next.

How can I generate a 3D-SiteMap of the site I just analyzed?

To generate a 3D-SiteMap, follow these simple steps:

1. Perform a Site Analysis on the website of your choice.
2. Click on the "3D-SiteMap" tab in the "Site Analysis Consolidated Report Selection" page.

How can I distinguish between a parent and a child page?

• Children of the base URL are BLUE. The shade is lighter the further away from (below) the base URL.
• Parents of the base URL are RED. The shade is lighter the further away from (above) the base URL.

How do I distinguish which pages are unavailable?

Unavailable links (with a return code of 400 or greater) are shown in YELLOW.

Can I run view the 3D-SiteMap in other browsers?

Yes, the 3D-SiteMaps are viewable in Internet Explorer 5.5 or later and require the SUN JAVA JRE 1.5 environment.

Are there size limitations to the 3D-SiteMap?

There are no size limitations to the 3D-SiteMap.

How can I get the complete URL of a page in the 3D-SiteMap?

Follow these simple steps to obtain the complete URLs of a page:

1. Right Click on any void area in the 3D-SiteMap screen.
2. Select (Sticky Notes > URLs > Complete).
3. The complete URL is then displayed on top of each page represented by a box.

Can I specify the number of URL's mapped?

Yes, you can specify the number of URLs mapped by changing the limit in the preferences. The value range allowed is 1-10,000 URLs.