Hi,
We are testing a POS middleware tool. A major part of our testing is to physically swipe a card (gift cards, credit cards, etc) into our hand held devices. We test our software with the Verifone VX810. More info about this device, please Google vx-820.
We find that automating the card swipe to be perplexing, in addition to sending any message to the Verifone device because all the data is encrypted, and there is no UI available. We can automate manual entry into our generic card readers because this can be done straight from the UI with buttons.
I'm just curious, does anyone have any experience or suggestions about how we can automate swiping the card to the Verifone device? Specifically, how can this be done with Ranorex without using the UI (i.e., with no buttons).
Any help is much appreciated!
Automating Credit Card Swipe w/ POS device
Re: Automating Credit Card Swipe w/ POS device
I think you are going to find that it cannot be done. This is one area that software test automation cannot help. And Ranorex cannot manipulate what is not there, unless you have an API that you can code a fixture for in .NET.
First, if you are just testing the card reader as a black box, then you will have to assume that you cannot do anything to/with it internally. This means you will just have to manually test that piece of your system.
Second, if you have a piece of software (like we do) that simulates the card reader, you could use that with automation, but you must do so with the understanding that it is not the "real thing". This is how we do it. We use our simulator to test everything except the actual reader, which we do manually.
There are just some things that you will have to test with a real person using their real hands on a real device in real-time. If you can automate everything else, then you are already ahead of the game.
First, if you are just testing the card reader as a black box, then you will have to assume that you cannot do anything to/with it internally. This means you will just have to manually test that piece of your system.
Second, if you have a piece of software (like we do) that simulates the card reader, you could use that with automation, but you must do so with the understanding that it is not the "real thing". This is how we do it. We use our simulator to test everything except the actual reader, which we do manually.
There are just some things that you will have to test with a real person using their real hands on a real device in real-time. If you can automate everything else, then you are already ahead of the game.
Shortcuts usually aren't...
Re: Automating Credit Card Swipe w/ POS device
Krstcs, you seem to be pretty informed. Do you know where the industry is heading regarding this? Do you think there may be a solution for it anytime soon?
Cheerio!
Brad
Cheerio!
Brad
Professional website: Workforce Management
Re: Automating Credit Card Swipe w/ POS device
Well, I'm not sure where the industry is going, but my devs are in-house so they are a bit more reponsive.
For our POS, which is in Java, they created a "no-devices" panel. There are buttons on that panel for different cards, and that panel then sends the information in the same format that the SigCap/Reader system sends. I can then automate that with Ranorex just like the POS.
You might be able to get your devs to create a small app like that for yours that emulates the SigCap/Reader.
For our POS, which is in Java, they created a "no-devices" panel. There are buttons on that panel for different cards, and that panel then sends the information in the same format that the SigCap/Reader system sends. I can then automate that with Ranorex just like the POS.
You might be able to get your devs to create a small app like that for yours that emulates the SigCap/Reader.
Shortcuts usually aren't...
Re: Automating Credit Card Swipe w/ POS device
Hi,
As krstsc said an emulator of your POS device isn't the real thing, the behaviour might change (or not).
In our test we need to automate the interaction with physical token devices (like ones you can use with banking transactions) and we solve it using a robotic arm that receives a petition from Ranorex and interact physically with real devices returning the screen value.
I think you cannot connect to the real think unless Verifone gives you the software to connect to the device and operate remotely (simulate card swipe).
As krstsc said an emulator of your POS device isn't the real thing, the behaviour might change (or not).
In our test we need to automate the interaction with physical token devices (like ones you can use with banking transactions) and we solve it using a robotic arm that receives a petition from Ranorex and interact physically with real devices returning the screen value.
I think you cannot connect to the real think unless Verifone gives you the software to connect to the device and operate remotely (simulate card swipe).
