Hi, back again in learning session!
Not long ago, I registered for a free mini course on Katalon from AfterOffice. I missed the live session, but luckily, the recordings had my back. I learned some new stuff I didn’t know before. Here’s the tea:
✅ Katalon has StudioAssist
Sadly, I can't try this out since I'm using the free version of Katalon Studio. So, I can't review the experience of using it. However, Katalon integrates OpenAI's ChatGPT into StudioAssist. According to Katalon Docs, it provides AI-generated script recommendations.
If you are using StudioAssist to generate a script in a test case, make sure that you capture the test object in the Object Repository, define the variables, and list out the actions in steps with corresponding test objects and variables.
I'm thinking about the best practices for using StudioAssist?
One thing for sure: having detailed test steps in a test case will help save time. Also, since StudioAssist isn't aware of the test object library, global variables, etc., we must first capture all objects and save them before prompting StudioAssist.
✅ There is 'custom keyword' feature: to compile some build-in keywords into one
This is something new to me—or maybe I was just unaware of it and had never used it before. According to ChatGPT, here are some examples of how this feature can be used:
- Login steps are common in test cases. Instead of writing the same steps repeatedly.
- Instead of writing file upload steps in each test case, create a reusable function.
- Fetch user data from a database and verify it in a web test.
I usually create a test case and call it in another test case for login. However, if we have different roles during login, using a custom keyword might be a better approach (though this feature is available only in the Enterprise version 😓).
✅ Different XPath Types in Katalon
I knew about XPath but wasn’t aware of the differences between the types. Here’s a breakdown (thanks chatGPT for explaining more):
xpath:attributes – Finds elements using their attributes (e.g.,
id,name), best for uniquely identifiable elements.-
xpath:idRelative – Locates an element relative to a nearby element with a stable
id, useful for nested elements. -
xpath:position – Identifies an element based on its position in the DOM, but it's unstable if the layout changes.
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xpath:customAttributes – Uses custom attributes (e.g.,
data-test,aria-label), ideal for modern frameworks like React or Angular.
✅ Test Collection Can Run in Parallel
This feature allows multiple test cases to be executed simultaneously, reducing test execution time. It's particularly useful for scenarios like running checkout flows concurrently on different browsers or environments.
✅ Data Files (Internal Data Type)
Instead of reading an external Excel or CSV file, we can create and store test data directly within Katalon. This data can be mapped to local variables using Data Binding, making test management more efficient and reducing dependencies on external files.
✅ Scripting Templates: Looping & Try-Catch
Katalon provides scripting templates for looping and try-catch blocks, making it easier to implement repetitive actions and error handling without writing code from scratch. This feature enhances flexibility and speeds up script development.
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I’d say the mini-course covered quite a lot, especially compared to the other courses I’ve taken before. I’ve been through three different ones—ranging from a six-month course, a one-month course, to a self-learning course. This one just three days. But despite the short duration, the speaker explained everything clearly and in a well-structured way.
Honestly, it’s worth course. But since I don’t plan to dive deeper (again) into Katalon—I’d love to explore other automation tools. Still, I won’t say no to learning new things about Katalon in the future.