The typcial usage of the Test Manager system is via the IDE. This provides graphical methods for constructing Testsuites, performing Runs, and other administrative tasks.

However, there may be occasions where it is helpful to perform a Run without using the IDE. The system provides an alternative command-line that will start a Run of a given TestSuite. This command-line may be used for example, within a scheduling tool to allow the test executions to be scheduled overnight. It also provides a convenient way of running tests on a remote machine.

Batch operation allows a single Run to be performed. It does not allow Testsuites to be created, and it also provides no facilities for viewing the results of the Run. These, and all other functions of the system will require the IDE to be used.

Win32 Platforms
The system is started in batch mode by executing the following file (found in the root of the TestManager installation):

TestManagerBatch.bat <arguments>

Alternatively, the system can be started by executing the following command in the root of the TestManager installation:

java -cp TestManager.jar;JavaDiff.jar -Dproperties=testmgr.properties -Dmode=batch com.jj.testmgr.Driver <arguments>

Other Platforms
The system is started by executing the following command in the root of the TestManager installation:

java -cp TestManager.jar:JavaDiff.jar -Dproperties=testmgr.properties -Dmode=batch com.jj.testmgr.Driver <arguments>

Arguments
A number of arguments are required when operating the system in a batch mode:

RunName=name
This required argument gives the name of the Run.

Location=location
This required argument gives the directory on disk where the outputs of the Run should be stored. This directory should not exist beforehand.

TestSuiteLocation=location
This required argument gives the path to the TestSuite file. This should be a file with a .testsuite extension.

[TestElement=element]
This optional argument can be used to specify a subset of the TestSuite to execute. By default, all tests in the TestSuite are executed. However, a path may be specified here, separated by "/" characters, to indicate the root TestGroup or Testcase to execute. For example TestElement="Group1/Test1" indicates that only the Testcase named "Test1" inside the TestGroup "Group1" should be executed.

The following command-line shows a sample set of valid arguments for running the system in batch mode:

TestManagerBatch.bat RunName="MyRun" Location="c:\MyRun" TestSuiteLocation="c:\MyTestSuite\MyTestSuite.testsuite" TestElement="GroupOne"

This example assumes that the directory c:\MyRun does not exist, that the file c:\MyTestSuite\MyTestSuite.testsuite does exist, and that the TestSuite contains a TestGroup (or Testcase) called GroupOne.