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In addition to providing functions to fully automate normal regression testing, TALC2000 has been richly enhanced to support the creation, management and execution of tests to check the effectiveness of Year 2000 changes.
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Summary
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TALC2000 provides extensive facilities to reduce the
testing workload in Year 2000 compliance projects. These
features allow a single test case, or a complete test script, to
be automatically run and validated across multiple
processing time horizons with no change to the test data.
Note that conventional regression testing tools use identical
test input data each time the test is run, and validate the
results against "constant" control data. Whereas this
approach is ideal for normal regression testing, it's lack of
flexibility results in a high degree of test case
"maintenance" in Year 2000 testing. This additional test
maintenance workload offsets to a considerable degree
the advantages you gain from test
automation.
By providing the features outlined here, TALC2000 allows
you to automate the testing process without introducing yet
another level of maintenance work. With TALC2000 your
testing will be easier, far less costly, and much faster. As an
added bonus, much of the work can be carried out by non
technical personnel, freeing scarce technical resources.
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Introduction
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In conventional regression testing, application software
functionality is exercised by running a series of test cases,
each containing sample test data, and producing a result.
After changes to the application software (either for bug
fixes or to add new functionality), the tests are re run,
producing (if the changes are error free) either an identical
result or an expected variation.
TALC2000 can perform the above regression testing completely automatically,
and also automatically validate the test results. In addition...
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Date handling
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TALC2000 can automatically manipulate dates in the range
1/1/1880 to 31/12/2055. TALC2000 provides a library of
date routines which are fully user configurable, and can be
used to automatically input date information into test input,
and to automatically update the "control" information used in
test validation.
The date routines use information from table files set up by
your organisation, providing total flexibility in how the dates
are derived and formatted. The following examples show
just a few of the formatting possibilities:
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| Sat 02/10/96 |
| Saturday 2/10/96 |
| Saturday 2nd October 96 |
| Saturday October 2nd 1996 |
| 02/10/96 |
| 10/02/96 |
| 10/02/1996 |
| 10-2-96 |
| 100296 |
| etc. |
In addition to providing completely flexible date formatting,
TALC2000 also supports automatic date calculation for test
transaction input, and to update test verification "control"
data. Any type of date calculation can be set up by the user,
and subsequently selected when required from a "list box"
within TALC2000. Examples of date calculation include:
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| Today |
| Today + 7 days (14 days, etc) |
| End of Month |
| Next working day |
| Second Thursday in month |
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Test creation
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As a test case is being created (by manually performing the
test on the existing software and recording all input and
system responses) date fields can be input in the normal way,
or automatically by selection of a calculated date. If the
calculated date is selected, each time the test is re run, the
date to be input to the test is calculated based on the current
value of the a Reference Date which you set.
This facility allows you to create test cases now, and re run them using
different processing time horizons, just by a single change to the
Referance Date.
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Test validation
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During test creation, application software responses are captured (using images of the
PC screen) to be used in subsequent test run validation. Where calculated dates have
been used in the test transactions, TALC2000 can identify where these dates appear,
and adjust them (using the same date calculation) each time the control data is used
for test validation. This feature supports automatic validation of test results where
calculated dates have been used.
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Before/After testing
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As each test case is created, "control" data is captured for the way
the software works now. This data is saved unchanged, and a modified
copy, automatically edited to "Year 2000" formats which you
define, is saved separately. (This is done automatically by TALC2000).
When you want to re run a test, a single menu selection allows you to
choose to run against current software, or against software modified
for Year 2000 compliance.
This facility allows you to create a complete set of test cases, link
them into a "script", and check that your test environment works
properly before the application software is changed. When the changes
have been made, a single menu selection then allows your complete test
suite to be run against the modified software.
Complete Before/After comparison displays are also provided.
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 TALC2000 Showcase List
TALC2000 Test Creation
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