Method and apparatus for extending coverage of GUI tests

1. A method of testing a graphical user interface, comprising:

selecting a widget of the graphical user interface;

associating an access mode with the widget;

generating a mode-specific input message based on the widget and the access mode;

sending the mode-specific input message to the graphical user interface;

detecting a mode-specific response from the graphical user interface using a detection tool; and

evaluating the graphical user interface based on the mode-specific response.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the widget of the graphical user interface occurs independently of associating the access mode with the widget.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the widget comprises:

creating a simulated user action associated with the widget; and

reading the simulated user action from a test suite.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the access mode is random.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection tool comprises a widget hierarchy detection tool.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection tool comprises a bitmap detection tool.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the mode-specific input message comprises:

detecting the access mode;

detecting the widget;

selecting a mode-specific library message using the access mode and the widget;

modifying the mode-specific library message into a mode-specific input message; and

sending the mode-specific input message to the graphical user interface.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

storing the mode-specific library message in a tabular data structure.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising

storing the mode-specific library message using a class hierarchy.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the graphical user interface comprises

comparing the mode-specific response to a proper mode-specific response.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the proper mode-specific response is stored in a reference file.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating an output based on evaluating the graphical user interface.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

displaying the output on a display device.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

storing the output on a computer readable medium.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating an alternate user action with the widget.

16. A method of testing a graphical user interface, comprising:

selecting a widget of the graphical user interface;

associating an access mode with the widget;

generating a mode-specific input message based on the widget and the access mode;

sending the mode-specific input message to the graphical user interface;

detecting a mode-specific response from the graphical user interface using a detection tool;

evaluating the graphical user interface based on the mode-specific response;

generating an output based on evaluating the graphical user interface; and

associating an alternate user action with the widget.

17. A computer system for testing a graphical user interface, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a storage device;

a display device; and

software instructions stored in the memory for enabling the computer system under the control of the processor, to perform:

selecting a widget of the graphical user interface;

associating an access mode with the widget;

generating a mode-specific input message based on the widget and the access mode;

sending the mode-specific input message to the graphical user interface;

detecting a mode-specific response from the graphical user interface using a detection tool; and

evaluating the graphical user interface based on the mode-specific response.

18. A computer system for testing a graphical user interface, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a storage device;

a display device; and

software instructions stored in the memory for enabling the computer system under the control of the processor, to perform:

selecting a widget of the graphical user interface;

associating an access mode with the widget;

generating a mode-specific input message based on the widget and the access mode;

sending the mode-specific input message to the graphical user interface;

detecting a mode-specific response from the graphical user interface using a detection tool; and

evaluating the graphical user interface based on the mode-specific response;

generating an output to the display device based on evaluating the graphical user interface; and

associating an alternate user action with the widget.

19. An apparatus for testing a graphical user interface, comprising:

means for selecting a widget of the graphical user interface;

means for associating an access mode with the widget;

means for generating a mode-specific input message based on the widget and the access mode;

means for sending the mode-specific input message to the graphical user interface;

means for detecting a mode-specific response from the graphical user interface using a detection tool;

means for evaluating the graphical user interface based on the mode-specific response;

means for generating an output based on evaluating the graphical user interface; and

means for associating an alternate user action with the widget.