--- description: If the usual identidication process fails QTP triggers SMART identification process title: Smart Identification in QTP/UFT with Example image: https://www.guru99.com/images/smart-identification-in-qtp-uft.png --- [Skip to content](#main) **⚡ Smart Summary** Smart Identification is a fallback mechanism in UFT One for locating an object when its learned description no longer matches the application under test, using base and optional filter properties to narrow a list of candidates down to one match. - 🔍 **Definition:** The mechanism activates only when the learned description fails to find one unique object match. - 🧩 **Two property types:** Base Filter Properties define what the object is; Optional Filter Properties narrow the match further. - ⚙️ **Elimination process:** UFT rebuilds a candidate list from base properties, then filters it using optional properties one by one. - 🖥️ **Configuration:** Enable and configure the filters per object class from Tools > Object Identification. - ⚠️ **Result visibility:** Every invocation logs a warning step in the test results tree. - 🐢 **Performance trade-off:** The extra filtering adds runtime overhead across large test suites. - 🔧 **Manual fix:** Replace a volatile property like name with a stable one like HTML id to avoid the fallback. - 💻 **Script control:** Setting(“DisableReplayUsingAlgorithm”) toggles Smart Identification for an entire run session. Read More ![](https://www.guru99.com/images/smart-identification-in-qtp-uft.png) ## What is Smart Identification in QTP/UFT? **Smart Identification** is a fallback object-recognition mechanism in OpenText UFT One, the tool formerly known as HP QuickTest Professional (QTP). If the normal identification process cannot find a unique match for an object’s learned description, UFT triggers Smart Identification, provided the mechanism is enabled in the Object Identification settings for that object’s class. Unlike the learned description, Smart Identification does not require an exact match on every stored property. It evaluates two categories of properties to narrow a pool of candidate objects down to exactly one: - **Base Filter Properties.** The most fundamental properties of a test object class; those whose values cannot change without changing the essence of the original object. - **Optional Filter Properties.** Supporting properties that help identify an object but are more likely to change over time. When Smart Identification runs, UFT “forgets” the learned description and rebuilds a fresh candidate list containing every object that matches all of the Base Filter Properties. It then narrows that list further, checking the Optional Filter Properties one at a time, until a single object remains. If Smart Identification is invoked during a run session, the test results tree logs a warning message confirming that the mechanism was used, and a Smart Identification step is inserted into the results so the deviation from the learned description stays visible. Smart Identification sits third in UFT’s object identification hierarchy, after the learned description and any Visual Relation Identifier, and before the ordinal identifier used as a last resort. Understanding where it fits explains why disabling it outright, rather than fixing the underlying properties, is rarely the best long-term choice for a script that runs often. ## Base Filter Properties vs Optional Filter Properties Both filters work together, but they play different roles in the elimination process described above. The comparison below clarifies when each one is used and how much elimination power each carries. | Aspect | Base Filter Properties | Optional Filter Properties | | --- | --- | --- | | Role | Build the initial candidate list | Narrow the candidate list to one object | | Stability | Almost never change without changing the object’s identity | Can change periodically without changing the object’s identity | | Matching rule | Every candidate must match all base properties | Checked one property at a time; a property is skipped if it would eliminate every candidate | | Typical example | HTML tag, object class, index | Name, HTML id, alt text, image source | | Where configured | Object Identification > Configure > Base Filter Properties | Object Identification > Configure > Optional Filter Properties | Because the same property cannot sit in both lists, plan the split carefully. Properties that define what an object fundamentally is belong in the base list; properties that merely help distinguish it from similar objects belong in the optional list. **Don't Miss:** - [What is QTP/UFT Automation Testing Tool?](https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-automation-testing.html) - [IF, Else, End IF, Exists in QTP/UFT with Example](https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-if-else.html) - [Reporter.ReportEvent in UFT/QTP with Example](https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-reporter-reportevent.html) - [Descriptive Programming in QTP/UFT: Dynamic & Static](https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-descriptive-programming.html) ## How Smart Identification Works: The Step-by-Step Process Smart Identification only activates after the learned description, and any Visual Relation Identifier, fails to pinpoint a single object. Once triggered, UFT works through a predictable, four-step elimination process: 1. **Rebuild the candidate list.** UFT ignores the learned description and scans the object’s parent for every object that matches all of the Base Filter Properties. 2. **Apply the first optional property.** UFT removes any candidate that does not match the first property in the Optional Filter Properties list. 3. **Evaluate the result.** If more than one candidate remains, UFT repeats the previous step with the next optional property. If a filter would eliminate every remaining candidate, UFT skips that property instead and moves to the next one. 4. **Stop at one match.** UFT repeats the filter-and-evaluate cycle until exactly one object remains, or until it runs out of optional properties to check. If the elimination process still cannot isolate a single object, UFT falls back to the learned description plus an ordinal identifier, such as index, location, or creation time. When even that combination fails to identify the object, the run session pauses and displays a run-time error. ### How to Enable or Disable Smart Identification Smart Identification is configured per test object class from **Tools > Object Identification**. Select the environment and the object class, turn on **Enable Smart Identification**, then click **Configure** to choose the Base and Optional Filter Properties for that class. The same dialog lets you turn the option off for a class that should always use its learned description instead. [![Enable/Disable Smart Identification]()](https://www.guru99.com/images/SmartIdentification.png) ### How Smart Identification Works (Video Walkthrough) The video below walks through the base and optional filter elimination process on a live example. Click [here](https://www.guru99.com/faq#faq1) if the video is not accessible ## Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Smart Identification Smart Identification adds resilience, but that resilience carries a runtime cost. Weigh both sides before leaving it enabled by default across an entire object repository. - **✅ Survives minor UI changes:** A renamed attribute or a shifted position in the page no longer breaks every script that touches the object. - **✅ Reduces object repository maintenance:** Testers spend less time re-recording objects after small front-end releases. - **✅ Stays visible in results:** Every invocation logs a warning, so teams can audit how often the fallback is really needed. - **⚠️ Slower test execution:** Building and filtering a candidate list takes measurably longer than a direct property match, and the cost multiplies across a large suite. - **⚠️ Can mask real defects:** If Smart Identification quietly finds a similar object, a genuine UI regression may pass unnoticed. - **⚠️ Needs periodic review:** Base and Optional Filter Properties still need occasional review as the application evolves. Most teams leave Smart Identification enabled for exploratory and low-frequency scripts, then disable it selectively on performance-critical objects once the object’s identification properties are stable. ## Modify Object Property to Avoid Smart Identification Smart Identification’s flexibility comes at the runtime cost described above, so many teams prefer to fix the object identification properties themselves rather than repeatedly rely on the fallback. Watch for two signals that a property fix beats a runtime fallback: a Smart Identification warning that appears on nearly every run, and a script that has grown noticeably slower since the fallback started firing. Both point to an object whose default identification properties no longer suit the application, rather than a one-off UI glitch. The video below demonstrates the fix on a real login form. Click [here](https://www.guru99.com/faq#faq1) if the video is not accessible ### Video Transcript: Key Takeaways - Smart identification slows down script execution, which is not desirable for large or frequently run suites. - To avoid it entirely, change the default object identification properties instead of relying on the fallback. - In [Object Identification](https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-object-identification.html), remove “name” from the mandatory properties and replace it with “HTML id” to make the test independent of name changes. - Re-record the same steps once the mandatory property list has been updated. - If the name later changes from “Submit” to “Login,” the script now runs without triggering Smart Identification. - Similarly, if any mandatory or assistive property on an object under test changes frequently, replace it with a more stable property to keep script execution fast. - Property tweaking is a skill built through experience; it improves the more you work with the tool. ### Disable Smart Identification Using VBScript Smart Identification can also be switched off for an entire run session without touching the object repository, using the **DisableReplayUsingAlgorithm** run-time setting. This is useful when a script should fail immediately on any property mismatch instead of silently falling back to the elimination process. ``` ' Disable Smart Identification for this run session Setting("DisableReplayUsingAlgorithm") = 1 Browser("Mercury Tours").Page("Find Flights").WebEdit("userName").Set "mercury" ' Re-enable Smart Identification once the strict steps are done Setting("DisableReplayUsingAlgorithm") = 0 ``` Keep the disabled window as short as possible. Steps run inside it must match their learned description exactly, so any legitimate drift in the application under test causes an immediate failure rather than a graceful fallback. **Resources** [Download the Webpages used in the above tutorial for self-practice](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B_vqvT0ovzHcbXh0WGpkUlNpM3M) ## FAQs ⚡ Does Smart Identification work only for web objects? No. Smart Identification applies across most UFT One environments, including Windows, Java, and .NET objects, not only Web. Availability depends on the add-in and test object class rather than the environment type. 🐢 Why does enabling Smart Identification slow down execution? Building a candidate list and filtering it property by property takes longer than a single learned-description match. On large object repositories the extra processing adds up, so many teams disable it on performance-critical objects. 🔧 Can I disable Smart Identification for a single object only? Yes. Open the object in the Object Repository, go to Object Properties > Additional Details, and set Enable Smart Identification to False for just that object, leaving the rest of the repository untouched. 🤖 Can AI-based self-healing replace Smart Identification? They solve a similar problem differently. Self-healing locators in modern [AI testing tools](https://www.guru99.com/best-automation-testing-tools.html) relearn a changed element automatically, while Smart Identification filters a fixed property list. Many teams use both together. 🧠 Is Smart Identification the same as UFT’s AI-powered object identification? No. Smart Identification filters stored text properties, while UFT One’s newer AI-based and Insight identification techniques recognize objects visually. The two act as separate, complementary fallback layers. #### Summarize this post with: ChatGPTPerplexityGrokGoogle AI **Stay Updated on AI** **Get Weekly AI Skills, Trends, Actionable Advice.** ##### Sign up for the newsletter Subscribe for Free You have successfully subscribed. Please check your inbox. ![AI-Newsletter]() Chosen by over **350,000+** professionals [Scroll to top](#wrapper) × Search for: ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/#organization","name":"Guru99","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/Guru99Official","https://twitter.com/guru99com"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/#logo","url":"https://www.guru99.com/images/guru99-logo-v1-150x59.png","contentUrl":"https://www.guru99.com/images/guru99-logo-v1-150x59.png","caption":"Guru99","inLanguage":"en-US"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/#website","url":"https://www.guru99.com","name":"Guru99","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/images/smart-identification-in-qtp-uft.png","url":"https://www.guru99.com/images/smart-identification-in-qtp-uft.png","width":"700","height":"250","caption":"Smart Identification in QTP/UFT","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":"1","item":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":"2","item":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/qtp","name":"UFT"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":"3","item":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html","name":"Smart Identification in QTP/UFT with Example"}}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html#webpage","url":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html","name":"Smart Identification in QTP/UFT with Example","dateModified":"2026-10-10T17:09:59+05:30","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/images/smart-identification-in-qtp-uft.png"},"inLanguage":"en-US","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html#breadcrumb"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/author/editorial","name":"Editorial Team","url":"https://www.guru99.com/author/editorial","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/images/favicon-new-logo.png","url":"https://www.guru99.com/images/favicon-new-logo.png","caption":"Editorial Team","inLanguage":"en-US"},"sameAs":["https://www.guru99.com/editorial-team"],"worksFor":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/#organization"}},{"articleSection":"UFT","headline":"Smart Identification in QTP/UFT with Example","description":"If the usual identidication process fails QTP triggers SMART identification process","keywords":"qtp","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".entry-title",".summary"]},"@type":"Article","author":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/author/editorial","name":"Editorial Team"},"dateModified":"2026-10-10T17:09:59+05:30","image":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/images/smart-identification-in-qtp-uft.png"},"copyrightYear":"2026","name":"Smart Identification in QTP/UFT with Example","subjectOf":[{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Does Smart Identification work only for web objects?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Smart Identification applies across most UFT One environments, including Windows, Java, and .NET objects, not only Web. Availability depends on the add-in and test object class rather than the environment type."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does enabling Smart Identification slow down execution?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Building a candidate list and filtering it property by property takes longer than a single learned-description match. On large object repositories the extra processing adds up, so many teams disable it on performance-critical objects."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I disable Smart Identification for a single object only?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Open the object in the Object Repository, go to Object Properties > Additional Details, and set Enable Smart Identification to False for just that object, leaving the rest of the repository untouched."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can AI-based self-healing replace Smart Identification?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"They solve a similar problem differently. Self-healing locators in modern AI testing tools relearn a changed element automatically, while Smart Identification filters a fixed property list. Many teams use both together."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Smart Identification the same as UFT's AI-powered object identification?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Smart Identification filters stored text properties, while UFT One's newer AI-based and Insight identification techniques recognize objects visually. The two act as separate, complementary fallback layers."}}]}],"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html#schema-595871","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html#webpage"}},{"@type":"VideoObject","embedUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/7gfDiI6ZeIk","name":"Smart Identification in QTP/UFT with Example","description":"If the usual identidication process fails QTP triggers SMART identification process","uploadDate":"2020-01-18T00:00:00+05:30","thumbnailUrl":"https://www.guru99.com/images/2/123120_0603_9BestWebHos4.png","hasPart":[],"width":"640","height":"390","@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html#schema-595873","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/uft-qtp-smart-identification.html#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.guru99.com/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]} ```