Testing versions of applications

1. A computer-implemented method for testing a computer program application, the method comprising:

obtaining in a test control program running on a test computer information identifying a target system, the target system being distinct from the test computer;

obtaining in the test control program application information identifying the actual version of the application as installed on the target system;

selecting by the test control program a test script from multiple test script versions based on the actual version of the application;

using the selected test script by the test control program to test the application as installed on the target system;

obtaining a set of input parameter values for a function call in the test script, the function call invoking a function of the application;

determining whether the set of input parameter values provides a complete set of input parameters for the function call;

obtaining default parameter values for input parameters for the function call if the set of input parameter values does not provide a complete set of input parameters; and

executing the function call only if the set of input parameter values and the default parameter values do provide a complete set of input parameters and terminating the test script with an error otherwise.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining the application information from meta data installed on the target system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the meta data was generated by a build process building the application.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the meta data was installed on the target system by an install process installing the application on the target system.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising;

obtaining the application information from the application on the target system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple test script versions have a common associated parameter interface defining import and export parameters available for each of the multiple test script versions.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple test script versions has associated with it information specifying with which application versions the test script version is suitable for use.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining a set of input parameter values for a function call in the test script, the function call invoking a function of the application;

determining whether the set of input parameter values provides a complete set of input parameters for the function call; and

executing the function call with the set of input parameter values.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

executing the function call only if the set of input parameter values does provide a complete set of input parameters and terminating the test script with an error otherwise.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test script has an associated parameter interface defining input parameters available for use in the test script, the method further comprising:

accessing parameter values according to the parameter interface to obtain the set of input parameter values for the function call in the test script.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test script has an associated parameter interface defining input parameters available for use in the test script, the method further comprising:

accessing parameter values according to the parameter interface to obtain the set of input parameter values for the function call in the test script.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test script has an associated parameter interface defining input parameters available for use in the test script, the method further comprising:

using the parameter interface to obtain import and export parameters for the test script.

13. A computer program product, tangibly embodided in a machine readable storage device, for storing instructions for testing a feature of a target version of a software application, the computer program product being operable to cause a test computer to:

obtain information identifying a target system, the target system being distinct from the test computer;

obtain application information identifying the actual version of the application as installed on the target system;

select a test script from multiple test script versions based on the actual version of the application;

use the selected test script to test the application as installed on the target system;

obtaining a set of input parameter values for a function call in the test script, the function call invoking a function of the application;

determining whether the set of input parameter values provides a complete set of input parameters for the function call;

obtaining default parameter values for input parameters for the function call if the set of input parameter values does not provide a complete set of input parameters; and

executing the function call only if the set of input parameter values and the default parameter values do provide a complete set of input parameters and terminate the test script with an error otherwise.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising instructions to:

obtain the application information from meta data installed on the target system.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the meta data was generated by a build process building the application.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the meta data was installed on the target system by an install process installing the application on the target system.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising instructions to:

obtain the application information from the application on the target system.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the multiple test script versions have a common associated parameter interface defining import and export parameters available for each of the multiple test script versions.

19. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein each of the multiple test script versions has associated with it information specifying with which application versions the test script version is suitable for use.

20. The computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising instructions to:

obtain a set of input parameter values for a function call in the test script, the function call invoking a function of the application;

determine whether the set of input parameter values provides a complete set of input parameters for the function call; and

execute the function call with the set of input parameter values.

21. The computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising instructions to:

execute the function call only if the set of input parameter values does provide a complete set of input parameters and terminating the test script with an error otherwise.

22. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the test script has an associated parameter interface defining input parameters available for use in the test script, the method further comprising instructions to:

access parameter values according to the parameter interface to obtain the set of input parameter values for the function call in the test script.

23. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the test script has an associated parameter interface defining input parameters available for use in the test script, the computer program product further comprising instructions to:

access parameter values according to the parameter interface to obtain the set of input parameter values for the function call in the test script.

24. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the test script has an associated parameter interface defining input parameters available for use in the test script, the computer program product further comprising instructions to:

use the parameter interface to obtain import and export parameters for the test script.