Comparison Study of QTP & RFT or Why to learn multiple automation tool ?

Selection odf automation tool is nothing but attaining same goal with different path. It depends on the project or other certain criteria while choosing an auto mation tool. As a resource level you will be put to work upon certain tool, you have to learn. Briefly we will compare some of the features to illustrate more : 1. Cost - RFT is cheaper than QTP. 2. Additional software requirement - For RFT No extra addin licence required. While for QTP for different environment different add ins are required. 3. Language support - RFT Supports Java and VB .NET as scripting language. For j ava version no additional software is required for RFT installation. For .Net ve rsion Visual studio 2005 require before RFT installation. QTP supprt VB Script as scripting language and here also no additional software is required for QTP installation. Java is more powerful scripting language than VB Script but VB Script is more ea sier to learn. 4. User friendliness -QTP is more user freindly than RFT. QTP has more inbuilt f unctionalities to overcome runtime issues, in RFT we has to use more programming to resolve some runtime issues. 5. Performance - By performance basis QTP is little bit ahead,but both are good for Automation. Multiple values selected using the shift keys often do not work with the Rational Functional Tester. However,multiple select capabilities worked with Mercury Quick Test Professional. Record playback can be better used in QTP and it has more recording feature than RFT , but RFT can do similar job by exce llence by programatically. 6. Reporting - The test results are displayed in the html/text log for the Ratio nal Functional Tester. But the Mercury Quick Test Professional displayed the res ults in the form of a tree in the test result window. When the target object was selected, the tool gives a visual representation of the snapshot (captured duri ng recording) in the screen recorder. Both are good and we can customize the rep orting as per our need. 7. Test Data - RFT by default uses .csv file to maintain test data. The test dat apool can not be edited independently without RFT. But we can use Excel file as well using external jar file. For QTP test data is maintaintained in excel file which van be easily modified. 8. Customer Support and update according to the market (ex - browser compatibili ty etc) - QTP is better than RFT 9. Editor - RFT uses Eclipse as script editor which is very powerful open source and it is better than QTP editor. 10. Active Screen Feature - QTP has active screen feature but RFT do not have th is feature. 11. Keyword view - Both tool is having keyword view or simplified scripting feat ure, but QTP is ahead of RFt in this context. 12. Smart Identification - Both tools supprt smart identification which makes sc ripts more reselient.

13. Descriptive programming - Both tools supprt descriptive programming mechanis m. 14. Framework - Both has support for different type of frameworks. 15. Configurable - Both has support for integration with corresponding Test mana gement tool and configuration management tool. (QC,RTM,CC) Lastly both these tools have their own advantages & shortcomings, while it all d epends upon the users who truly knows how to exploit them to their best advantag e.