The DP4 redirect tool is a utility designed to help you construct test sequences and demonstrations for your database application. Redirect records your keystrokes as you execute a DP4 program. The record of keystrokes stored in a file can be played back to perform the same set of actions. DP4 responds as if you had typed the commands on the keyboard.
To record a set of keystrokes, you load redirect into memory, and specify the DP4 program that you wish to run. You can select any DP4 program, such as a QA Build program or a DP4 menu. As you select options and enter text, redirect will write the keystrokes to a file.
To create a demonstration, you run your application program and record the keystrokes in a redirect file. You can enter messages that are displayed when your keystrokes are played back, and you can select points at which the playback pauses. Pauses and messages can be used to slow down the playback, and draw the user's attention to what is happening on the screen.
You run the demonstration by telling DP4 to apply your redirect file to the named program. During playback, the <+> and <−> keys can be used to control the speed of the demonstration.
You create a redirect test by running your application program and recording the keystrokes. Redirect files can be used for specific tests:
You can set up a redirect test to achieve an expected result. The test can be used to determine whether the changes made to an application have affected the functionality of a program
You can set up a batch file to repeat a set of actions on a system. The test will reveal if any different responses occur over a period of time. This type of test is important for resilient systems, where non-stop working must be maintained