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+===================================================+
+===================================================+
+======= Testing Techniques Newsletter (TTN) =======+
+======= ON-LINE EDITION =======+
+======= February 1994 =======+
+===================================================+
+===================================================+
TESTING TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER (TTN) is E-mailed on a monthly basis to support
the Software Research, Inc. (SR) community and to provide information of gen-
eral use to the testing community. (c) Copyright Software Research, Inc.
1994.
TRADEMARKS: STW/Regression, STW/Coverage, STW/Advisor, CAPBAK, STW and the SR
logo are trademarks of Software Research, Inc. All other systems are either
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
==============================================================================
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
o CAPBAK/X, Version 4.5
o SR and IDE Sponsored Seminars
o 7th International Software Quality Week (QW '94)
o International Conference on Software Maintenance and Tools Fair
o Current Technical Articles of Interest
o Calendar of Events
o TTN Submittal Policy
o TTN Subscription Information
==============================================================================
------------------------>>> CAPBAK/X, Version 4.5 <<<------------------------
==============================================================================
The latest release of CAPBAK/X, Version 4.5, includes character recognition
capabilities, better function key support, a novel Virtual Display utility,
and enhanced portability.
*----> Optical Character Recognition
SR licensed Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology direct from Xerox
Imaging Systems (XIS) to provide general character recognition capabilities
for CAPBAK/X:
o OCR extends the life of keysave files by tolerating minor application
changes to the graphical user interface (GUI) through character string
synchronization. Properly used, this kind of synchronization makes test
scripts capable of being font, type-size, and location independent.
o OCR allows the user to capture ASCII values from selected areas of the
screen or from entire windows, independent of font or type size. During
recording ASCII character verification assures high-quality tests.
o OCR extracts ASCII characters from either a saved image or the current
screen and locates a specified character string in either a saved image
file or on the current screen.
o OCR requires no user training. The OCR capability is shipped pre-
trained to handle over 250 different fonts.
The OCR capabilities let users generate tolerant and reliable scripts.
*----> Enhanced Function Key Support
The new OCR capabilities are controlled directly with a reserved set of
multiple-keystroke function keys (e.g. CTRL + F3 to save ASCII values from a
window). Multiple-keystroke function keys are now available for all function
key options.
*----> Virtual Displays
SR modified the X11R5 server to simulate a Virtual Display in RAM:
o Virtual Displays provide a user with the capability to simulate multiple
user sessions from the same machine for purposes of load generation,
performance assessment, and multiple-test execution.
o Virtual Displays allow tests to be executed in the background, freeing
the screen to continue executing other processes or commands.
o Virtual Displays can be initialized to represent any size screen,
regardless of the dimension of the screen it is being executed on.
*----> Increased Portability
CAPBAK/X, Ver. 4.5, now automatically adapts itself to these available X11
server extensions (previously SR supported separate executables for each dif-
ferent kind of server or OS):
o OpenWindows (OW2 or OW3) (only on SPARCs).
o X11 running Xtrap, XtestExtension1 or Xtest.
This feature allows a single copy of CAPBAK/X to run on heterogeneous
environments.
*----> Available Platforms
The OCR capabilities is available on all Sun SPARC, HP-9000/7xx & 8xx, and
IBM RS/6000 platforms.
The Virtual Display utility is available on Sun SPARC running X11, HP-
9000/7xx & 8xx and SGI.
==============================================================================
-------------------->>> SR and IDE Sponsored Seminars <<<-------------------
==============================================================================
Software Research (SR) and Interactive Development Environments (IDE) are
sponsoring a series of free half-day technology seminars that provide infor-
mation on an emerging new testing methodology called specification-based
testing.
In specification-based testing, the designing, coding and testing phases are
based on the requirements specification. Test cases are automatically gen-
erated directly from the requirements during the designing and coding stages,
rather than after the coding stage. Programmers can use the test cases as
references against which to create specification-consistent designs and code.
The seminars include demonstration of the integration between IDE's and SR's
tools to automate the specification-based methodology testing. IDE's Soft-
ware through Pictures (StP) and ``T'' products are involved in the initial
stages of the specification-based testing process: the ``T'' product gen-
erates test cases based on design information recorded in a data dictionary
by StP. SR's STW/Regression tool suite then automates the execution, func-
tional validation, and overall management of the test cases. Once
STW/Regression has determined that the test cases exercise the requirements,
STW/Coverage and STW/Advisor are used to measure and assess the quality and
completeness of the test cases relative to the code.
SEMINAR DATES and LOCATIONS:
Week of April 11, 1994 in:
-- Raleigh, NC
-- Washington, D.C.
-- Boston, MA
Week of April 27, 1994 in:
-- Atlanta, GA
-- Dallas, TX
-- Phoenix, AZ
E-mail or call for further information on seminar dates and locations.
SR has a report detailing the StP-T-STW integration. Please contact your SR
sales representative for a copy.
==============================================================================
7 t h I N T E R N A T I O N A L S O F T W A R E Q U A L I T Y W E E K
Conference Theme: Maintaining Competitiveness
May 17-20, 1994
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
==============================================================================
LOCATION: The Sheraton Palace Hotel, San Francisco, California
Software Research Institute (a not-for-profit subsidiary of SR) is sponsor-
ings the Seventh International Software Quality Week (QW '94). In today's
marketplace, organizations are faced with the difficult challenge of develop-
ing and delivering complex software systems while continually improving pred-
ictability and reducing the cycle time between releases. Those companies that
can master quality and productivity issues will dominate their markets into
the next century.
CONFERENCE THEME: The QW'94 theme, "Maintaining Competitiveness", focuses on
advances in software test technology, quality control, risk management, soft-
ware safety, and test automation.
QW'94 is expected to include the foremost industry practitioners in
QA/QC/Testing to provide the methodologies and advanced automated software
test methods that promise major advances in system quality and reliability.
This event features a full day of tutorial seminars, a complete three-day,
three-track technical conference, and a two day vendor show, featuring top
suppliers of Computer Aided Software Test (CAST) products.
Quality Week has one goal: To create an on-going publicly accessible platform
where researchers and Quality Assurance professionals, as well as users at
every level, can communicate and exchange experience and technology.
To receive information on the conference or to register your company for the
exposition, e-mail your request to qw@soft.com
==============================================================================
----- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND TOOLS FAIR ------
----- September 19-23, 1994 ------
----- CALL FOR PARTICIPATION ------
==============================================================================
LOCATION: Victoria, British Columbia, CANADA
CONFERENCE THEME: "Build for Evolution". The primary business of the soft-
ware industry has historically been new development; now it is maintenance
and evolution. Today more software professionals are employed to maintain
and evolve existing applications than to develop new systems from scratch.
Software engineers need a variety of analytical skills, tools, and methodolo-
gies to cope with the challenges of maintaining large, aging software sys-
tems. The software industry critically depends on enhancing the maintenance
processes of legacy or heritage systems which potentially constitute immense
corporate advantages if managed effectively.
SCOPE: Software maintenance includes enhancing, adapting, and correcting
software. Software evolution includes capturing, preserving, and extending
knowledge about software systems evolving over long periods of time. ICSM '94
will provide a forum for discussing software maintenance and evolution
through refereed papers, experience reports, panel sessions, exhibits and
informal meetings. ICSM '94 will present the most important practical,
experimental, and theoretical work currently conducted to support software
maintenance and evolution. The participants will include practitioners and
researchers from industry, academia, and government. Contact Program Co-
Chairs for a list of suggested topics.
SUBMISSIONS: Submit 5 copies of papers, experience reports, or panel propo-
sals in English to one of the Program Co-Chairs. Authors of accepted papers
are expected to present their work at ICSM '94. Submissions will be
evaluated by an international program committee for their applicability and
relevance to the software maintenance community.
PAPERS: Submit 2000-5000 words, which have not been previously published and
are not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Please include on the
first page the title, all authors' names, complete contract information of
the lead author (address, phone/fax numbers, e-mail), a short abstract of no
more than 250 words, a list of descriptive keywords, and a specification of
the type of submission (Research/Experience).
RESEARCH PAPERS: Submissions will be evaluated for originality, significance,
soundness, and clarity. Methodological papers should show how the results
presented contribute to maintenance practice. Papers on systems should con-
centrate on technical and architectural issues. Experimental papers should
describe the experimental methods used and interpret the results in terms of
practice.
EXPERIENCE REPORTS: Submissions might include experiences with software
maintenance technologies or processes (e.g., using a tool or a method, apply-
ing a metric, following a project management or software process discipline).
Emphasize outcomes, insights gained, and lessons learned.
PANELS: Proposals should include a title, the proposed chair, the tentative
panelists, a brief description of the panel session subject, and a supporting
rationale. Panelists should have agreed to participate before the submission
of the proposal.
TUTORIALS: ICSM tutorials should address maintenance topics that are of par-
ticular interest to practitioners. Proposals for full-day or half-day
tutorials should include a detailed outline of the material, a description of
past experience with the tutorial, an assessment of the material's maturity,
and credentials of the instructor. Submit 5 copies to the Tutorials Chair.
TOOLS FAIR EXHIBITORS: A tools fair proposal should include a 1-2 page
description of the tool or environment, its applicability to software mainte-
nance, and outline of the proposed demonstration, the amount of exhibit space
required, hardware platform required, and any other requirements. Clearly
identify the submission as "Research Prototype" or "Vendor Tool". Submit 3
copies by May 31, 1994 to the Tools Fair Chair.
IMPORTANT DATES:
o Submission deadline March 25, 1994
o Tools Fair proposals May 13, 1994
o Acceptance notification June 10, 1994
o Final version due July 29, 1994
GENERAL CHAIR
Lee J. White
Dept. of Computer Engineering & Science
CASE Western Reserve University
511 Crawford Hall
Cleveland, Ohio 44106 USA
Voice: 216-368-2802
FAX: 216-368-2801
E-mail: leew@alpha.ces.cwru.edu
PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS
Hausi A. Muller Mari Georges
Dept. of Computer Sciences Cap Gemini Innovation
University of Victoria 86/90, rue Thiers
P.O. Box 3055 92513 - Boulogne-Billancourt
Victoria, B.C. V8@ 3P6 Canada France
Voice: 604-721-7630 Voice: 33-1-49-10-53-93
FAX: 604-721-7292 FAX: 33-1-49-10-06-15
E-mail: hausi@csr.uvic.ca E-mail: mari@capsogeti.fr
TUTORIALS CHAIR TOOLS FAIR CHAIR
Shawn Bohner Daniel Hoffman
The MITRE Corporation Dept. of Computer Science
611 West Poplar Road University of Victoria
Sterling, VA 20164-4733 P.O. Box 3055
USA Victoria, B.C. V8W 3P6 CANADA
Voice: 703-883-7354 Voice: 604-721-7222
FAX: 703-883-6991 FAX: 604-721-7292
E-mail: bohner@mitre.org E-mail: dhorrman@csr.uvic.ca
==============================================================================
------------------------->>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS <<<-------------------------
==============================================================================
The following is a partial list of upcoming events of interest. (``o'' indi-
cates Software Research will lead or participate in these events)
o February 28, 1994: Software World USA, San Francisco, CA.
Contact: Mark Longo (Digital Consulting, Inc.);
TEL: 508-470-3870
o March 23-25, 1994: UniForum at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA.
Contact: Chip Zaborowski
IDG World Expo
111 Speen Street, P.O. Box 9107, Framingham, MA 01701-9107;
TEL: 508-879-6700; FAX: 508-872-8237
+ April 10-15, 1994: 6th Annual Software Technology Conference
Salt Lake City, Utah
Contact: Dallas Holmes
Utah State University, Conference and Institute Division
Logan, UT 84322; TEL: 801-750-1692
o April 26-27, 1994: Automated Software Test Evaluation
Washington, D.C.
Contact: James Heil (Mitre Corp.)
TEL: 908-389-6719
o May 8-12, 1994: Software Testing Analysis & Review (STAR '94)
Alexandria, Virginia
Contact: Carol Staurt
SQE
TEL: 800-423-8378; FAX: 904-268-0733
o May 17-20, 1994: 7th Annual International Software Quality Week
San Francisco, California
Contact: Rita Bral
Software Research Institute (SR/I)
TEL: 415-550-3020; FAX: 415-550-3030;
e-mail: qw@soft.com
==============================================================================
------------------->>> TECHNICAL ARTICLES OF INTEREST <<<-------------------
==============================================================================
The February 1994 issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal contains the following articles
addressing testing software quality and system dependability:
o "Computer-Aided Software Testing" by Birger Baksaas
o "The Black Art of GUI Testing" by Laurence R. Kepple
(includes "Capture/Playback Techiques" article by SR's George J. Symons)
o "Software Testing Cycles" by N. Scott Bradley
==============================================================================
--------------->>> TTN SUBMITTAL POLICY <<<---------------
--------------->>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND CALL FOR PAPERS <<<---------------
==============================================================================
TTN Online Edition is forwarded on the 15th of each month to subscribers via
InterNet. To have your event listed in an upcoming issue please e-mail a
description of your event or Call for Papers or Participation to
"ttn@soft.com".
The TTN submittal policy is as follows:
o Submission deadlines indicated in "Calls for Papers" should
provide at least a 1-month lead time from the TTN issue date.
For example, submission deadlines for "Calls for Papers" in
the January issue of TTN would be for February and beyond.
o Length of submitted items should not exceed 68 lines (one page).
o Publication of submitted items is determined by Software Research,
Inc., and may be edited as necessary.
==============================================================================
-------------------->>> TTN SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION <<<--------------------
==============================================================================
To request a FREE subscription or submit articles, please e-mail
"ttn@soft.com". For subscriptions, please use the keywords "Request-TTN" or
"subscribe" in the Subject line of your e-mail header. To have your name
added to the subscription list for the quarterly hard-copy version of TTN --
which contains additional information beyond the monthly electronic version
-- include your name, company, and postal address.
To cancel your subscription, include the phrase "unsubscribe" or "UNrequest-
TTN" in the Subject line.
Note: For back copies (August 1993 onward) of TTN's Online Edition, please
send e-mail requests to "ttn@soft.com".
TESTING TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER
Software Research, Inc.
901 Minnesota Street
San Francisco, CA 94107 USA
Phone: (415) 550-3020
Toll Free: (800) 942-SOFT
FAX: (415) 550-3030
E-MAIL: ttn@soft.com
## End ##