How to include an Action template in a new action automatically?

by Ankur Jain | Last Updated On Oct 30, 2020 | Tips and Tricks in QTP | 25 comments

In this article, we will learn all about Action Template in UFT. Where are they used? and Why are they used in UFT?

Say you want to include a piece of text every time you insert a new action. This piece of text can be VBScript statements or a part of documentation information like the date when the test was created, variables that are used by the test, history to maintain log of all the changes etc. Something like what is shown in image below:

action-template

UFT One/QTP does not provide any GUI controlled way to include a piece of text in every new action. However there is a roundabout way of doing this. Micro Focus calls it Action Template.

Go to <dat> folder inside UFT One/QTP installation <UFT installation>\dat folder. Normally it can be found under C:\Program Files\Mercury Interactive\QuickTest Professional\dat for versions of QTP below 11 and under C:\Program Files (x86)\Micro Focus\Unified Functional Testing\dat for UFT 11.0 or above.
Inside <dat> folder, create a file by the name ActionTemplate.mst Open it in notepad and include the information you would like to see whenever a new action is created.
Done. Insert a new action in UFT/QTP and see it working!

Do share your comments below if this has helped you increase productivity in UFT One/QTP.

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25 Comments

Shyam on Jan 18, 2013 at 22:14

is there any action template for BTP component? if so how to create that like ActionTemplate.mst
Reply
Dheeraj on Dec 25, 2012 at 13:08

Hi Ankur

I created a mst file with name Automation Summary.mst , kept it in …\dat folder. We did not find any change in QTP new action. Then we changed the name to ActionTemplate.mst and it worked.

Can you please help me to understand why it is mandatory to keep the name as ActionTemplate.mst or it is just QTP convention.

Regards
Dheeraj
Reply
vasanth on Dec 23, 2012 at 19:25

Hi friends,
Open the notepad->Type what ever u want->Go to File in the note pad->Select save as->enter the name with double colon “ActionTemplate”.
Then u paste dat folder..
🙂
Reply
Nilanjan on Dec 3, 2012 at 15:09

Hi,
I created the file with ActionTemplate.mst in the dat folder as mentioned above , but when i opened the new action , i could not able to see the action template commented in qtp.., pls help me in this regard

Thanks
Nilanjan
Reply
vagdha on Nov 29, 2012 at 17:58

hi ankur
am facing problm in saving mt action tempalte in dat folder can u help me?
Reply
srinivas on Nov 29, 2012 at 12:49

While saving the file make sure that

File Name:ActionTemplate.mst
save as type :All Files
Reply
Rajesh on Jan 11, 2012 at 15:21

hi,
i created the file with Action Template.mst in the dat folder, but when i opened the new action , i could not able to see the action template in qtp.., pls help me in this regard

Thanks
Rajesh
Reply
swagat on Apr 26, 2011 at 11:35

hi i have done as per the specifications– created ActionTemplate.mst file inside the dat folder,, still i am not able to see my specific piece of code placed inside the ActionTemplate.mst in action..
I have used “A” and “T” as capital in ActionTemplate.mst.
I have placed that in C:\\ProgramFiles\HP\QuickTestProfessional\dat folder.

Please help me out.
Reply
sharath on Jan 5, 2011 at 11:11

hi,
i created an :ActionTemplate.mst ” file but when i open a new action i dont see any text displayed please help me with this………….

thanks&regards,
sharath chandra
Reply
janani on Apr 1, 2010 at 21:25

When ActionTemplate.mst file is saved in notepad, it is saved as ActionTemplate.mst.txt. So make sure that filename is correctly saved as ActionTemplate.mst.
Reply
Smita on Jul 31, 2009 at 02:17

Good article
Reply
Raj Yaramala on Jun 17, 2009 at 05:25

Its really cool
Reply
Mamatha on Jun 11, 2009 at 18:08

Hi, I want to create new QTP script with multiple actions say 3 actions login, abc, logoff programmatically. Is it possible to do this.
i could create a script with one default action – Action 1 but not able to Rename the Action programatically and not able to add additional actions into it.
i want to do it in a VBS/macro. please help me.

Regards
Mamatha TR
Reply
Kavya on May 18, 2009 at 12:46

Hi,

I created ActionTemplate.mst file in dat folder under C drive. But in QTP, when i click on New Test, i don’t see the default template. Please help me with this. Am i doing anything wrong here?

Thanks.
Reply
suresh on Apr 28, 2009 at 11:10

Hi,

Thanks for the tip.
I have created the mst file but when an action is opened i could not see the format which i have used in the file.
Reply
koki on Apr 28, 2009 at 00:49

hi i’m sorry ok i created ActionTemplate.mst in note pad. But the text is not displayed when i insert a new action. Please help me .
Reply
koki on Apr 27, 2009 at 06:51

encore moi dsl mai ç amarche pas ce truc je vois r1 même si j’ai crée le fichier sous le nom ActionTemplate.mst mai je peux s’avoir s’il il y a d’autres settings à faire au niveau de qtp plz ????
Reply
- Ankur on Apr 27, 2009 at 20:43
  
  @koki: Can you please write that in English?
  Reply
koki on Apr 27, 2009 at 01:51

merci Ankur ,pour la création c’est fait mais il y a pas d’autres “settings” à faire au niveau de QTP car ça marche pas ?! merci d’avance
Reply
Ritesh on Apr 25, 2009 at 05:47

Hi Ankur,
i created ActionTemplate.mst in note pad. But still the text is not displayed when i insert a new action. Please help me regarding this.
Reply
Anees on Apr 19, 2009 at 02:30

Hi Ankur,
Thankyou I am able to create Action Template.mst file.
and its working fine

Thanks
Anees
Reply
Ankur on Apr 16, 2009 at 05:37

@anees – Yes, it gets inserted like comments. Check out the image above.
Reply
anees on Apr 16, 2009 at 05:08

Hi Ankur, i am unable to create ActionTemplate.mst.actualy in dat folder i created ActionTemplate.mst in note pad .there in that file whether interms of comment i have to give or what plz help me regarding this i am unable to do that
Reply
brahma on Apr 13, 2009 at 22:17

hi ankur now iam able to create the ActionTemaplate.mst file so u can ignore my request..

Thanks,
brahma
Reply
brahma on Apr 13, 2009 at 19:44

hi ankur, iam facing problem with creating the ActionTemplate.mst file. will you help me to create the ActionTemplate.mst file
Reply