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You are here: Mozilla MailNews Functional / UI Tests > 3-Pane Window

Feature Test Spec: Mail and News Component

Mail and News Component: 3-Pane Window

Written by Ninoschka Baca
Updated by: Olga Milenkaya

References:

Mozilla UI Specifications: http://mozilla.org/mailnews/specs/
Mozilla 3-pane Specification: http://mozilla.org/mailnews/specs/threepane/

This test plan is for specific 3-Pane window functionality and layout. Each of the panes, when opened in their own window, will be covered in the Mail and News Windows Test Plan. The Menu items and Toolbar button functionality and layout will be covered in the Mail and News Menus Test Plan and Mail and News Toolbars Test Plan. This test plan will be updated as the UI Specification is updated.

Note: The 3-pane by default means that 4 areas are present (Folder pane, Sidebar, Thread pane and Message pane). The Sidebar is a new concept for this version but for historical reasons the term "3-pane" continues.

Design of the 3-Pane window
1. Title bar
2. Menu bar (placement and basic functionality covered in Mail and News Menus Test Plan)
3. Mail Toolbar (placement and basic functionality covered in Mail and News Toolbar Test Plan)
4. Taskbar (placement and basic functionality covered in Mail and News Toolbar Test Plan)
5. Folder pane
6. Sidebar (details are covered in Sidebar Test Spec)
7. Thread pane
8. Message pane
  1. Start Page
  2. Envelope panel
  3. Message panel
9. Status bar
10. Separators
  1. Sidebar Horizontal separator between the folder pane and the sidebar
  2. Vertical separator between the folder pane/sidebar and the thread pane/message pane
  3. Horizontal separator between the thread pane and the message pane
Functionality specific to the 3-Pane window
1. Entry Points
  1. Verify you can open the 3-Pane window using the following scenarios
    1. clicking on the Mail icon on the Browser Taskbar
    2. clicking on the Tasks|Mail menu item in the Browser window
    3. start the application using the mail flag, "-mail"
    4. press Ctrl+2
2. State of the 3-Pane window
  1. Verify the 3-Pane window state is the default
  2. Verify if the 3-Pane window is changed that the changes are remembered after closing and reopening
    1. Change from 4 to 3 panes
    2. Change to 2 panes
    3. Change to 1 pane
3. Menu bar (placement and basic functionality covered in Mail and News Menu Test Plan)
4. Mail Toolbar (placement and basic functionality covered in Mail and News Toolbar Test Plan)
5. Taskbar (placement and basic functionality covered in Mail and News Toolbar Test Plan)
6. Sidebar (placement and basic functionality covered in Mail and News Sidebar Test Plan)
7. Verify when a news server is selected that the News Account Central page appears in the thread pane.
8. Verify, when Mail opens, that the Account Central page appears when "check for new mail at startup" is not selected for the default account.
  1. Verify the "Read messages" link displays the Inbox for the selected account
    1. Verify a biff icon appears next to the Inbox if new messages are present
    2. Verify for IMAP accounts that the new messages appear in the thread pane
    3. Verify for POP that the new messages do not appear in the thread pane
      1. Verify if the Get Msg button is selected that the new messages then appear in the thread pane for POP account.
  2. Verify the "Compose a new message" link opens a new message/compose window with the current account selected.
  3. Verify the "View settings for this account" link opens the Account Settings dialog with the current account selected.
  4. Verify the "Create a new account" link opens the Account Wizard's New Account Setup dialog
  5. Verify the "Search messages" link opens the Search Messages dialog with the current account selected
  6. Verify the "Create message filters" link opens the Message Filters dialog with the current account selected
  7. Verify 'Offline setting' link opens 'Offline & disk Space' Panel.
9. Panes Focus
  1. Verify, when Mail opens, that the Thread pane has focus by default when "check for new mail at startup" is selected in Mail&Newsgroups Accounts Settings, Server Setting for the default account.
    1. Verify that with focus in the Thread pane, first message on the list is Not selected and toolbar buttons: Reply, Reply All, Forward, File, Print, Stop are disabled.
    2. Verify that with focus in the Thread pane, Message Body pane shows the Start Page - if in Preferences, Mail Start Page option is selected.
    3. Verify that focus is still in the Thread pane - if in Preferences, Mail Start Page option is Not selected.
  2. Verify that focus moves to the Folder pane if a user intentionally selects a folder.
    1. Verify that with initial focus in the Folder pane and pressing 'n', first unread message on the Thread pane is selected, focus moves to Thread pane, and toolbar buttons are enabled.
  3. Verify a focus border appears for the selected pane when a) mouse click b) when Tab move.
  4. Verify a focus border does not include scroll bars.
    1. Folder pane
    2. Thread pane
    3. Message pane
    4. Sidebar
  5. Verify that in the focused pane the selected item is fully highlighted, and for the non focused pane the selected item is less highlighted.
  6. Empty Folder - Focus on Folder
  7. Verify that clicking on keyboard up/down arrow keys in the focused pane does not move focus.
  8. Verify that clicking on Page Up/Page Down works as expected in the focused pane.
  9. Verify that pressing Enter when a message is highlighted and focused brings the message in Stand Alone mode.
  10. Verify that if the focus is on Message Body, then hitting single navigation letters: 'n', 'f', 't', 'b', 'p' does not move focus elsewhere, but shows content in the Message Body pane for the next unread message. (refer to bug 70097, comment 74)
  11. Verify that when focus is on Folder pane, then hitting single navigation letters: 'n', 'f', 't', 'b', 'p' moves focus to Thread pane.
  12. Verify that navigation by keyboard: Tab, Shift+Tab, F6, or Ctrl+Tab,
    1. For Message body pane, which includes links - Tab/Shift+Tab keeps the focus and navigates through links. In this case Ctrl+Tab moves focus to the next pane, following clock wise moving.
    2. For Sidebar tab, which includes links (like News) - Tab/Shift+Tab keeps the focus and navigates through links. In this case Ctrl+Tab moves focus to the next pane, following clock wise moving.
    3. F6 and Ctrl-Tab aren't supposed to include the Advanced button.
    4. F6, or Ctrl+Tab, or Ctrl+F6 navigation is not supposed to move focus to Sidebar.
    or Ctrl+F6 moves focus from pane to pane. (Refer to fixed 78269).
10. Folder pane
  1. Verify all servers, folders, subfolders and newsgroups display as expected
  2. Verify that clicking on server levels brings Account Central page.
  3. Verify the correct icons appear for all servers, folders, subfolders and newsgroups
  4. Verify the correct toolbar buttons are enabled
  5. Verify a single click highlights the folder and displays its messages in the thread pane
  6. Verify a double click opens the folder into a separate window
    1. Verify double clicking on a different folder results in the first window displaying the contents of the first folder and the second window displaying the contents of the second folder.
  7. Verify right mouse click or drag n drop of folders does not open the folder
11. Sidebar
  1. Verify the default tabs appear
    1. Buddy List (closed)
    2. Stocks (closed)
    3. News (open)
  2. Verify selecting a tab displays relevant information and works as expected
    1. Verify in the Buddy List tab that buddies appear and that one IM can be sent and received
    2. Verify in the Stocks tab that submitting a stock quote is successful
    3. Verify in the News tab that news headlines appear and selecting a link is successful
  3. Verify customizing the Sidebar is possible
    1. Verify selecting the My Sidebar "Tabs >" displays a choice of tabs
    2. Verify deselecting a tab removes it from the Sidebar
    3. Verify adding a tab is successful by selecting "Tabs >" and then selecting "Customize My Sidebar
  4. Horizontal separator/hot click functions
    1. Verify there is a "hot click" area located on the separator between the folder pane and the sidebar
    2. Verify a single click on the "hot click" area, minimizes the Sidebar so only the separator is visible. The folder pane should now have more room to display its folders.
    3. Verify a second single click on the "hot click" area, opens the Sidebar so its tabs are displayed
    4. Verify moving the separator up, to hide the folder pane, just expands the the Sidebar with no other effects
    5. Verify moving the separator down, to display the folder pane, displays the folders as expected
    6. Verify the sidebar title remains, "My Sidebar" followed by "Tabs >"
    7. Verify the changes are remembered after a restart
  5. Verify the Sidebar can be closed completely so there is more room to display its folders:
    1. View|My Sidebar
    2. F9 as the accelerator
  6. Verify the Sidebar can be opened so the Sidebar tabs are displayed again:
    1. View|My Sidebar
    2. F9 as the accelerator
12. Thread pane
  1. Verify the default columns appear
  2. Verify the messages headers for the selected folder are displayed.
  3. Verify the correct icons appear for each message (i.e. thread, new message, unread, read, flag etc...)
  4. Verify resizing the columns wider/thinner works as expected
    1. Verify when the Subject column is resized that the message headers are aligned with the new size
    2. Verify when the Sender column is resized that the sender data is aligned with the new size
    3. Verify when other columns are resized that the data associated with that column are also aligned (Read, Date, Priority, Size etc...)
    4. Verify all columns can be removed except one. One must always exist.
  5. Verify customizing the columns displayed works as expected
  6. Verify one set of columns for Mail
  7. Verify a second set of columns for News
  8. Vertical separator/hot click functions
    1. Verify there is a "hot click" area located on the separator between the folder pane/sidebar and the thread pane/message pane.
    2. Verify a single click on the "hot click" area, minimizes the folder pane/sidebar so the width of the thread pane is maximized.
    3. Verify a second single click on the "hot click" are, reopens the folder pane/sidebar to its previous state
    4. Verify moving the separator to the left expands the area for the thread pane
    5. Verify moving the separator to the right expands the area for the folder pane/sidebar
    6. Verify the changes are remembered after a restart
  9. Horizontal separator/hot click functions
    1. Verify there is a "hot click" area located on the separator bar between the thread pane and the message pane
    2. Verify a single click on the "hot click" area, collapses the message pane and the separator is visible at the bottom of the thread pane.
    3. Verify a second single click on the "hot click" area, expands the message pane and the separator is restored to its previous state (i.e. the middle)
    4. Verify click and drag on the "hot click" area, resizes the pane
  10. Vertical scrollbar
    1. Verify a vertical scrollbar appears to the right of the thread pane if the number of messages listed exceeds the window size.
    2. Verify clicking and dragging the scroll widget scrolls the thread pane as expected
    3. Verify clicking just above/below the scroll widget scrolls the thread pane as expected
    4. Verify clicking on the up and down arrow widgets scrolls the thread pane as expected
13. Message pane
  1. Start Page
    1. Verify when an account's Inbox is selected for the first time in a session that the Start Page appears
    2. Verify with multiple accounts that selecting the Inbox for each account displays the Start Page once per application session.
    3. Verify when a message is displayed in the message pane that the Start Page reappears after selecting "View|Start Page"
  2. Horizontal separator/hot click functions (refer to previous section)
  3. Verify the message body for the selected message, in thread pane, is shown in the right/bottom pane
    1. Envelope pane should display:
      1. Subject, From, Date in the top section
      2. To, Cc in its bottom section
    2. Message contents
  4. Verify the expand/collapse widget (to the left) for the Subject, From, Date area works as expected
  5. Verify the expand/collapse widget (to the left) for the To, Cc area works as expected
  6. Verify when there are many To and Cc entries that the expand/collapse widget works as expected. This widget appears as a triangle after the recipient's email addresses.
  7. Verify selecting the links in the Envelope pane display the correct popup menus
  8. Vertical scrollbar
    1. Verify a vertical scrollbar appears to the right, if the body of the message exceeds the window size
    2. Verify clicking and dragging the scroll widget scrolls the message contents as expected
    3. Verify clicking just above/below the scroll widget scrolls the message contents as expected
    4. Verify clicking on the up and down arrow widgets scrolls the message contents as expected
  9. Horizontal scrollbar
    1. Verify a horizontal scrollbar appears below, if the width of the message body exceeds the window size
    2. Verify clicking and dragging the scroll widget scrolls the message contents as expected
    3. Verify clicking to the left/right of the scroll widget scrolls the message contents as expected
    4. Verify clicking on the left/right arrow widgets scrolls the message contents as expected
14. Status bar
  1. Verify the Status bar is visible (functionality of status bar covered in Mail and news Windows Test plan)
15. Drag and Drop and Shift+Drag and Drop
  1. Verify that dragging a message from the thread pane to a folder will move (file) the message into that folder
  2. Verify that dragging on Windows and Unix, holding down the ctrl key while dragging will place a copy of the message in the folder.
  3. Verify that dragging on MacOS, holding down the Option key while dragging should place a copy of the message in the folder.
  4. Verify when dragging and dropping a folder, that the folder is not opened
  5. Verify when dragging and dropping a newsgroup, that the newsgroup is not opened
16. Verify Indicators are correct for the following situations
  1. Title Bar:
    1. Verify when an account level is selected, the title bar displays <Account Name> - Netscape (Mozilla)
    2. Verify when a Mail folder is selected, the title bar displays <Folder> - for <Email Address> - Netscape (Mozilla).
    3. Verify when a mail message is selected, the title bar displays <Subject> - <Folder> - for <Email Address> - Netscape (Mozilla).
    4. Verify when a Mail Stand Alone message window is open, the title bar displays <Subject> - Netscape (Mozilla).
    5. Verify when a News Server is selected, the title bar displays <News Server Name> - Netscape (Mozilla)
    6. Verify when a newsgroup is selected, the title bar displays <Newsgroup> - on <News Server> - Netscape (Mozilla).
    7. Verify when a news message is selected, the title bar displays <Subject> - <Newsgroup> - on <Host> - Netscape (Mozilla).
    8. Verify when a News Stand Alone message window is open, the title bar displays <Subject> - Netscape (Mozilla).
  2. Folder Pane
    1. Verify the Inbox folder is bold when Unread messages are in the Inbox
    2. Verify the Inbox folder is bold with a green down arrow when Unread messages are in the Inbox and the Inbox has not been opened.
    3. Verify all folder names are followed by a number in parenthesis displaying the number of Unread messages
    4. Verify when a folder has no unread messages that only the folder name is displayed, not a number in parenthesis.
  3. Thread Pane
    1. Verify the header is bold with a down arrow for each new Unread message
    2. Verify the header is bold when a message is changed from read to unread
    3. Verify the header is not bold, instead normal, if the message is read
    4. Verify the header has a paper clip when the message includes an attachment.
    5. Verify the header displays a basic icon when a message is read
  4. Message Pane
    1. Verify an attachment icon appears if an attachment is present
    2. Verify an IM Buddy icon appears next to an email addresses for users who have a screen name and are online.
  5. Status Bar
    1. Verify an online/offline icon appears
    2. Verify information displays indication of any send/receive operations for all accounts
    3. Verify when a folder is selected that the number of messages unread and total (#/#) display
    4. Verify a security icon appears locked/unlocked
17. Preferences pertaining to 3-Pane window (these options require an exit/restart to take effect)
  1. Verify the Alternative 3-pane view appears after changing the window layout
  2. Verify deselecting the checkbox to show the Start Page results in a blank message pane
  3. Verify reselecting the checkbox to show the Start Page results in the Start Page appearing in the message pane
  4. Verify changing the Start Page location to another url works as expected
18. Alternate 3-Pane
  1. Verify the default layout
    1. folder pane displays in top left
    2. thread pane displays in top right
    3. message pane displays on the bottom, spanning the entire width of the window
    4. Sidebar is closed
  2. Verify the vertical separator behavior between the folder pane and the thread pane
  3. Verify the horizontal separator behavior between the folder pane/thread pane and the message pane
  4. Verify when the Sidebar opens that it displays in its own pane to the far left spanning the entire length of the window
  5. Verify other 3-pane tests but using the alternate 3-pane