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Struggle and Enlightenment

Struggle and Enlightenment. A Tale of Clarity in the Midst of Chaos courtesy of Excel. John N. Daughety Team Lead, Development HBK Investments, L.P. jndaughety@yahoo.com. The Scene…. A small, old office building backing up to a car dealership

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Struggle and Enlightenment

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  1. Struggle and Enlightenment A Tale of Clarity in the Midst of Chaos courtesy of Excel John N. Daughety Team Lead, Development HBK Investments, L.P. jndaughety@yahoo.com

  2. The Scene… • A small, old office building backing up to a car dealership • Tight quarters, furnished affordably by other startup failures • Dozens of busy bees dreaming up telecom software and talking idly of retirement • Airplanes carrying banners offering “more than they pay you” to all who pass below • Less than 10% unoccupied office space at Nortel, Alcatel HQ

  3. The Challenges… • Startup company – no money or time (or desire) for formal process • No money for test support software • Requirements not defined, scattered throughout the brains of several • “Hallway design meetings” • Hard to hear near the windows – pages for service techs at the dealership • Very short delivery schedules…in theory

  4. The Hero… • New to the industry • One of two testers in the company • Release testing starts in two weeks • The hero must prepare for testing the GUI…alone! • It is really hard to get on the service road for 75 when he goes home each night

  5. The Villains… • Developers with $$$’s in their eyes • CEO with $$$’s in his eyes • Marketing truly believing they don’t have to do anything to succeed • These offices really are cramped… • “I think I’ll buy one of those new S2000’s when I sell my stock.”

  6. It’s Not All Bad for the Hero • His partner has extensive industry experience • They have no problem communicating – typing at the same time is tough, though • He has his own PC… with MS Office • Much of the GUI has been created • That dealership does great work on his car

  7. Goals Enter Stage Left… • Set of test cases that must cover the GUI • “Document” that people can confirm is correct (an ad hoc design spec) • Something even the villains will review: • easy to read/review • easy to look at specific parts only • easily accessible • Easily updated as the design... er, code, changes

  8. A Ray of Hope Appears… • Excel can organize GUI test cases • It supports a modular design • Easy to read all or specific parts • Easy to change as product changes • It can be shared on the network • Everyone can view it, and it is always current

  9. A New Hero Emerges • Test Cases were completed with Excel • They clarified some potentially harmful misunderstandings • They scared up some good bugs • They defined the application better than any other document (or person) • Excel saved the day!

  10. Now For A Legal Example… • Dialogs are from a test-case management application • User creates, edits test cases • User creates, edits test runs • User creates, edits test scripts and manages test cases in script • Three artifacts: • Test Case: a description of a test and the expected results • Test Run: details for execution of a test case on a specific software release or build • Test Script: a collection of test cases performed in a specific order • Only Test Cases and Test Scripts will be used in the example

  11. Overview Worksheet • First worksheet in workbook is overview • Screenshot of dialog • Basic information • Type • How to open • How to close • List of menu items – hyperlinks to detail • List of controls – hyperlinks to detail

  12. Overview Worksheet

  13. Control Details • Each control has its own worksheet in the workbook • Typical characteristics noted: • Default state when applicable (e.g., checked/unchecked for a checkbox control) • Contents when applicable (e.g., for a textbox control) • Behavior in response to specified actions • Characteristics broken down by state • States applicable to a control enumerated

  14. Control Detail Worksheet

  15. A Word on Menu Items • Top-level menu choices listed on Overview page • Two ways to handle details • Link to other sheets in workbook • Link to other workbook with menu only • Worksheets organize menu choices nicely • Menu selections can link to dialogs they open or functionality they drive

  16. Menu Workbook – Main Menu

  17. Menu Workbook - SubMenu

  18. Navigation Paths Dialog Overview Menu – 1st Level Menu – 1st Level Hyperlink in Dialog Link column Hyperlink in Command Name Hyperlink in list of controls Control Detail Menu – 2nd Level Dialog Overview Hyperlink in Command Name Hyperlink in list of controls Menu – 3rd Level Hyperlink in description of action Control Detail Hyperlink in description of action Hyperlink in Functional Link column Functional Description Functional Description

  19. Back to Our Story… • The hero has a nice testing guide • Linking files allow users to “see” navigation • Files that define functional design can be added to provide a complete picture • He has free time to walk over and ogle that S2000…

  20. The Hero Believes in Evolution • First, got something on paper • Excel spreadsheet with lots of text • Improved it as he worked • Better organization • Add screenshots • Discovered additional uses/benefits • Links to other dialogs • “Functional Design” spreadsheets • Adapted for greater purpose • The only single source of application information • A great guide for Tech Docs team

  21. Requirements for the Role of Hero • Design for portability • Ideally, keep all workbooks in a single file folder • Use relative address when creating hyperlinks (select link files from Current Folder list choice) • Use File/Page Setup for good printed version • Titles include sheet names • Time-stamped for “freshness rating” • If sharing, make sure to allow read-only access • Get Edits/comments via email • Other tools could be the hero as well • Use what you know well when possible

  22. The Rest of the Story… • The Hero did lots of testing • The CEO did lots of thinking about $$ (no longer $$$) • Marketing never started thinking… • The developers really believed whatever they built would sell • The Hero is now in another building with another company • The S2000 is still in the showroom… • His car runs great! • As soon as the company is gone, his resume will reflect a new job title - President, maybe…

  23. The Materials Presented • I am happy to email copies of Excel files used in the presentation • Send me a request at: jndaughety@yahoo.com

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