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Frequently used terms and metatypes

Glossary of Terms

Term Definition
AFP GUI The Avaloq Front Platform Graphical User Interface (web interface) that AST can test for expected interaction.
AMI Avaloq Messaging Interface. AST uses this interface to send and process messages, simulating an external system and bypassing the Avaloq MQ Bridge.
Annotations XML elements used to define meta information for test cases, such as categorization and labeling (e.g., "Stage", "Kind", "Domain"). They do not affect execution but are included in reports.
Arguments Placeholders in an XML test script that correspond to column names in an external data sheet (e.g., Excel). They are populated with test data at runtime and behave identically to variables.
AST Core (Testing Module) The test execution engine component of the AST Suite responsible for running test cases, verifying results, and generating reports.
AST Control Panel The user-friendly web interface component of the AST Suite for managing test cases, scheduling executions, viewing analytics, and administering users.
AST Expression (AstExpr) A type that can use a static string or a combination of multiple variables ({$var_name}) and static text. Variables are replaced with their runtime string values and concatenated with the static text.
AST Suite The comprehensive platform consisting of two main components: the AST Core (the execution engine) and the AST Control Panel (the web interface).
Avaloq Open Interface The standard interfaces (DDIC, Report Writer, AMI, etc.) used by AST to connect to and communicate with the Avaloq Banking System.
AvqExpr (Avaloq Expression) An expression used in the AST test XML to define an Avaloq scripting expression. It dynamically substitutes prefixed variables ($var_name) with their runtime values (removing any leading #) before the script is executed by the Avaloq connection.
Control Statements Tags used to manage the flow of a test run or define specific settings, such as <if>, <select>, <wait>, and <session>.
Coverage Analysis An automated process executed and reported for every test run to measure the extent of test coverage.
<debug> An XML tag used to display a customizable text message or the current value of one or more variables ({$variableName}) in the log for troubleshooting, but only if the system setting ast.base.debug is set to true.
DDIC Data Dictionary. It defines the properties and fields of business types, which AST uses to set properties in operations like <new-doc>.
<doc> An XML Operation used to process an existing order by identifying the specific order (by its ID or key) and executing a specified workflow action.
Execution ID A unique identifier generated by the AST Control Panel that tracks a single test run or scheduled execution across its entire lifecycle, particularly when interfacing via REST APIs.
Input Operations A category of functional elements (operations) used to modify the test object (the Avaloq system) by performing actions such as creating an order (new-doc), processing a file, or executing a task.
Input Step A high-level Test Step that logically groups Input Operations (e.g., <new-doc>, <file>) used to modify the state of the Avaloq Banking System or the test object.
Methods Reusable blocks of test script functionality often used to implement common sub-steps. They are stored in separate XML files and can be invoked using the <invoke-method> tag.
<new-doc> An XML Operation used to create a new order in the Avaloq Banking System, supporting all interactions a user would perform in the graphical user interface. It requires an initial workflow action (init-action) and a closing workflow action (close-action).
Operation The basic functional element that corresponds to a base functionality of the Avaloq Banking System. Operations are grouped to form a Test Step.
Query Operations A category of functional elements (operations) used to perform read-only access to retrieve information from the test object, such as checking the status of an object, order, or message.
Query Step A high-level Test Step that logically groups Query Operations (e.g., <obj>, <doc>) used for read-only access to retrieve information from the Avaloq system.
Scenarios XML-based containers that define groups of test cases and their execution dependencies. They enable test flows where one test case utilizes the results of a preceding one.
Scriptlets A parameter within <doc> and <new-doc> operations that allows the direct integration of Avaloq Script code into the order generation process.
Test Case A comprehensive Avaloq business case defined in XML format to be tested automatically. It consists of one or more sequential Test Steps (Input, Query, Verify).
Test Data The business-specific values used to drive a test case. It's rigidly separated from the Test Logic and typically defined by business users in Excel files.
Test Script / Test Logic The implementation of the business case logic, defined by specialists using the XML-based Test Script Syntax. It is rigidly separated from Test Data.
Test Set A logical group or suite used to organize multiple test cases for streamlined execution. They are managed via the Sets menu in the AST Control Panel.
Test Step The fundamental middle layer in the test execution hierarchy, organizing a sequence of Operations. The primary categories are Input, Query, and Verify.
Variables Elements defined using the <variable> tag that allow information (values) to be shared and passed between different operations and steps within a single test case.
Verify Operations A category of functional elements (operations) used to test for specific conditions, such as comparing values, checking financial bookings, and verifying message content. The outcome is reported as either a success or a failure.
XML-based Test Script Syntax The simple, proprietary language used by specialists to define the Test Logic (scripts) for the AST Core.

Frequently used metatypes

Business Categorization INTL_ID USER_ID NAME
Accounting accpay ACCPAY Accounts Payable
Accounting accswit ACCSWIT Account Switch
Accounting bcf BCF Balance Carryforward
Accounting coa COA Cost Accounting
Accounting daccr DACCR Depreciation and Accrual
Accounting hdg HDG Hedge Accounting
Accounting ledger LEDGER Ledger Transfer
Accounting reconcm RECONCM Reconciliation confirmation message
Accounting valadj VALADJ Value Adjust
Assets asset ASSET Asset
Assets bimtn BIMTN Bank Issued Medium Term Note
Assets cpn CPN Coupon
Assets fia FIA Fixed Asset
Assets fra FRA Forward Rate Agreement
Assets fxopt FXOPT Forex OTC Option
Assets fxsw FXSW FX Swap
Assets guarcred GUARCRED Guarantee Credit
Assets irs IRS Interest Rate Swap
Assets md MD Market Data Object
Assets oofx OOFX OTC Option Forex
Assets ooot OOOT OTC Option on Securities
Assets othsec OTHSEC Other Security
Assets otcopt OTCOPT OTC Option
Assets prod PROD Product
Assets prod_set_instn PROD_SET_INSTN Product Set Instantiation
Assets repo REPO Repurchase Agreement
Assets repoc REPOC Repo Contract
Assets sdbc SDBC Safe Deposit Box Contract
Assets trs TRS Total Return Swap
Avaloq User user USER User
Corporate Actions secevt2 SECEVT2 Security Event
Corporate Actions sectrx2 SECTRX2 Security Event Transaction
CRM and Sales salesopp SALESOPP Sales Opportunity
Customer Static Data addr ADDR Address
Customer Static Data bp BP Business Partner
Customer Static Data person PERSON Person
Customer Static Data person_mass PERSON_MASS Person Mass
Discrecionary Contract ips IPS Investment Policy Statement
Discrecionary Contract mpf MPF Model Portfolio
Discrecionary Contract rebalm REBALM Rebalancer Master
Discrecionary Contract rebalp REBALP Rebalancer Investment Proposition
Discrecionary Contract rebals REBALS Rebalancer Order
Fee contracts feecr FEECR Retrocession Fee Contract
Fee contracts feect FEECT Trailer Fee Contract
Fee contracts feep FEEP Fee Profile
Intermediary Static Data imed IMED Intermediary
Loan credappl CREDAPPL Credit Application
Loan homefina HOMEFINA Home Financing
Loan homefina_propos HOMEFINA_PROPOS Home Financing Proposition
Loan loan LOAN Loan
Loan / Credit realsec REALSEC Real Security
Loan / Credit realty REALTY Realty
Output docm DOCM Document
Output letter LETTER Letter
Portfolio aa AA Asset Allocation
Portfolio cont CONT Container
Portfolio contr CONTR Money Market & Fiduciaries
Portfolio dcd DCD Dual Currency Deposit
Portfolio dd DD Direct Debit
Portfolio fidd FIDD Fiduciary Deposit
Portfolio: Assets clta CLTA Collateral Agreement
Portfolio: Assets cmngt CMNGT Collateral Management
Portfolio: Payments card CARD Card
Portfolio: Payments chqbkprf CHQBKPRF Cheque Book Profile
Portfolio: Payments lihi LIHI Limit Hierarchy
Portfolio: Payments limit LIMIT Limit
Portfolio: Payments macc MACC Money Account
Real Estate Appraisal iazi IAZI IAZI
Real Estate Appraisal wup WUP W‘st & Partner
Securities Borrowing and Lending slba SLBA SLB Agreement
Securities Borrowing and Lending slbc SLBC SLB Contract
Securities Borrowing and Lending slbp SLBP SLB Participation
Securities Borrowing and Lending slbx SLBX SLB Commission
Transaction Order adlv ADLV Asset Delivery
Transaction Order bulk BULK Bulk Order
Transaction Order cardtrx CARDTRX Card Transaction
Transaction Order cds CDS Credit Default Swap
Transaction Order chqprc CHQPRC Cheque Processing
Transaction Order cltm CLTM Collateral Movement
Transaction Order cmvt CMVT Collateral Movement
Transaction Order cop COP Cashier Operations
Transaction Order cord CORD Collective Order
Transaction Order fxtr FXTR FX Trade
Transaction Order inpay INPAY Incoming Payment
Transaction Order mass MASS Mass Entry
Transaction Order mass_settle MASS_SETTLE Mass Settlement
Transaction Order pay PAY Payment
Transaction Order settle SETTLE Settlement
Transaction Order stex STEX Stock Exchange
Transaction Order xfer XFER Transfer
Transaction Order xferfee XFERFEE Fee Transfer
Transaction Order xfermon XFERMON Money Transfer