Unable to insert record into MS SQL

I needed to insert several records into MS SQL database and was getting the error message below:
"An explicit value for the identity column in table 'johndoe.dbo.xyz' can only be specified when a column list is used and IDENTITY_INSERT is ON."

After some research came across the solution. You will need to do 2 things

1) Specify column list(s) to which you are inserting the value(s).
2) Turn Identity insert On.

To turn it on:
set IDENTITY_INSERT tablename ON

To turn it off: 

set IDENTITY_INSERT tablename OFF

Hope this will save you some time!

Managing your Test Cases

Managing the test cases and their execution is often a challenge for QA organizations. They either utilize Excel or have to a purchase an expensive software like Quality Center to do maintain and manage the execution of their cases.
Back in April, I started the evaluation of the Test case management software called "Testuff". At this time, we are using it on the daily basis and so far I and member of my team like it.

PROS:
1) Very affordable, web hosting model
2) Integration with most of the of bug tracking tool (very straight forward to configure it).
3) Integration with most of the automation software.(very straight forward to configure it).
4) Ability to create iteration and assign specific test cases to be executed.
5) Time tracking it takes to execute a specific case (great for future estimation).


CONS:
Don't really have much to complain about. We use Youtrack as our bug tracking software, at the time of the purchase Testuff didn't have the support, but I was pleasantly surprised that the company kept the promise and released the newer version recently which now supports Youtrack.

If you would like me to cover a specific area of the tool, please email me.

All Menu items disappear in QTP v11 after running a test which crashed the QTP Q

I came across this issue while running some of mine tests in QTP. While running the test, QTP crashed (surprise , surprise!) and after re-launching the QTP all my menu items were gone! After some research I found a solution, hopefully this will save you time:

If above occurs, perform the following in QTP:
1) Launch QTP
2) Navigate to Tools>Customize
3) Select Toolbars
4) Click on "Restore All"

This should bring all your menu items back. Apparently it is an issue with QTP and HP is promising to fix it in the future release.

Intelligence Is Overrated: What You Really Need To Succeed

I rarely post articles, not directly related to SQA, but I think below is a good exception, agree with Keld Jensen on many points, to read more follow the link below:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/keldjensen/2012/04/12/intelligence-is-overrated-what-you-really-need-to-succeed/?goback=%2Egde_3771878_member_111137349

When Picture does NOT worth 1000 words?

The answer is - when you are an SQA Engineer and I will explain my side of the story.

One of my colleagues, recently opened a bug and just attached a screenshot without any description or explanation, simply thinking that picture will explain everything. Here is why it didn't work:

1) There is no "steps to reproduce", developer might not understand how you got to that point.

2) Also, it doesn't tell the developer what is the expected result.

We currently use "Youtrack" to track all of our bugs/enhancements and it provides an end user with the great ways to attache a screen shot and I believe that it is IMPORTANT to add a screenshot, but picture by itself is not enough, at the same time you should not be writing a bug which has 1000 words :)

QTP v11 and Silverlight

While in the process of creating several automation suites that deal with SL plug in, faced a problem where QTP would not recognize anything.

After some "googling" tried to uninstall Silverlight v4 and installed v3, that did not work. Realized that there is a patch from HP, but had difficult time finding the download site. Came across this resource, just sharing this with you. If you are running QTP v11 and having difficulties with SL plug in, you will need to install QTPNET 00051 and QTPWEB 00090 patches, but you can find other patches there as well.

http://www.joecolantonio.com/downloads/

Thank you Joe Colantonio!!!