TestComplete Extensions and SDK

One of TestComplete’s benefits is its open COM-based architecture, which is the framework of its entire functionality. In fact, everything visible in TestComplete — panels, project items, specific scripting objects, and others — are implemented as plug-ins. These plug-ins are included into the product and installed on your computer along with other TestComplete modules.

You can create your own plug-ins that will extend TestComplete and provide specific functionality for your own needs. For example, you can create plug-ins that add —

• Support for custom controls
• Custom keyword test operations
• New scripting objects
• Custom checkpoints
• Useful commands for test result processing
• New panels
• New project items
• New menu and toolbar items
• And much more

There are two types of TestComplete extensions:

• Plug-ins that are compiled as DLLs or .NET assemblies and created with full-fledged programming languages like Visual C++, C# or Delphi.
• Light-weight script extensions that are created with VBScript or JScript.

Compiled plug-ins are based off of TestComplete’s SDK, which includes samples and documentation that demonstrate the creation of custom panels, program objects and project items.

Script extensions do not require SDK files and modules. They can be created directly in TestComplete. You can find detailed information and tutorials on creating script extensions in TestComplete’s help file or by watching our Creating and Deploying Script Extensions video. TestComplete’s installation package includes several examples of script extensions.

Plug-ins developed with TestComplete SDK let you extend almost any subsystem of TestComplete. However, creating a plug-in requires you to have Visual Studio or Delphi programming experience. The functionality that can be extended with script extensions is limited to the object model and the toolbar commands set, although, these extensions are much easier to create than plug-ins and do not require a programming background.