1. Excel Macros: Automation for FREE!
Sindhuja Kumar & Senior Software Engineer
Capgemini

2. Abstract
An offer no Project Manager can neglect when accuracy, repeatability and speed can be delivered for almost... FREE!
The testing industry is struggling to find innovative ways to optimize testing efforts and reduce costs. One of the best ways is usage of tools and accelerators. This typically involves investments in terms of infrastructure, licenses and expensive resources. A simple answer to most ever increasing automation need is Excel macros if one doesn’t want the maintenance hassle and costs involved
 Excel macros can be used to interact with applications, extract data from heterogeneous sources, generate reports which can be followed globally across testing landscape
This white paper looks at applying Excel macros for automating critical, complex, repeatable process across the software testing life cycle and also attempts to explain why Testing industry needs Excel macro to attain accuracy, repeatability and speed at presumably no cost!

3. An Excel Macro is simply Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code saved inside a document. Macros are incredibly powerful and can do pretty much anything beyond ones imaginations
Typical Test Delivery Approach

4. Excel Macro Automation
Excel Macros benefits over Manual Process
Feature
Manual Process
Excel Macro Automation
Reliability
Less reliable
Most reliable
Time
More time consuming
Time saver
Investment
Utmost required
A lesser amount required
Frequency
One time or based on the plan
Repeatable
Productivity
Depends on complexities
Increases productivity and Helps to do more work
Reusability
One time effort and provides reusability where monotonous task is involved
Accuracy & Quality
Depends on experience
Excel macro ensures that every action is accomplished identically - ensures high quality, reliable results
“Excel macro provides the space to be intuitive and allows focus on more rigorous assessments”

5. References

6. Author Biography
Sindhuja Kumar works as Senior Software Engineer at Capgemini Technologies India ltd., She has worked on various excel based tools and created knowledge management assets for Core Banking Applications. She constantly looks into ways of enhancing Test Execution productivity with simple and easy to maintain solutions.

7. Thank You!!!