products

Evaluator automated software testing product

An automated software testing product has been released in the UK by QA Training. The product is called Evaluator and was developed by Elverex International Ltd.

Evaluator is an automated tool for software testing and quality assurance and will complement the Atron debugging tool. Evaluator will discover ifa problem exists in any software function, while the Atron tools will locate the cause of the error in the code.

According to QA Training, Evaluator works towards software reliability by carrying out unattended, well structured, exhaustive test sequences. It then reports on these tests. Test procedures are created in one of two ways:

• by using the built-in automatic test recording feature, where no programming knowledge is required

• by using a dedicated, high-level test control language, TCL, in cases of more sophisticated software testing

Regression Test capabilities are available, allowing libraries of tests to be built up. These can be used from one software revision to another.

Evaluator can test nonintrusively software running on any operating system (e.g., DOS, Unix, VMS, and RMX) on both PCs and terminals. It is designed to run specifically on IBM PC/XT and AT computers and compatibles and comprises two plug-in cards, supporting

software and cabling. Evaluator is available for £3250. (QA Training, Cecily Hill House, Cirencester, Gloucs

GL7 2EF, UK. Tel: (0285) 5888)

ADA compilers A EImily of ADA compilers has been announced by Alsys. The compilers, designated Version 4, were developed with reference to thousands of Alsys compiler users and are released after beta site programs and'considerable quality assurance testing of over two million lines of code. According to Alsys, the compilers provide speed and functionality enhancements.

The main enhancement in the Version 4 compilers is support for bit-level representation clauses, allowing users absolute control over data size ,'rod htyout. This ensures more accurate programming and higher quality code.

A low-level optimizer has been added. This reduces code size and program execution time, which is achieved largely by removing common subexpressions.

( Alsys Ltd. Partridge llouse, Newtown Road. llenly- on-Thames. Oxfi~rdshire RG9 IEN, UK. Tel: (0491) 579090. Tx: 846508 ALSHEN-G. Fax: (0491) 571866)

Tool for automatic reengineering of COBOL applications A software tool that automatically reengineers online COBOL applications has been launched by Language Technology. The tool is called CICS/Recorder and, among other features, identifies HANDLE conditions that otherwise would be hidden.

CICS/Recorder was developed in collaboration with three partners-Merril Lynch, Baxter Healthcare, and Canada Trust. With their help, it has been possible to develop a structuring tool for CICS/COBOL programs, overcoming the problem of managing and documenting HANDLE conditions. HANDLE conditions alter pro- gram control flow, diverting it to a special-case routine when a particular condition or error occurs. HANDLEs are not the direct cause of these program branches, but they normally force sequential cIcs commands to branch if an error or abend develops. In cases where CICS/COBOL programs are layered with overlapping HANDLEs because of time maintenance changes, these control flow jumps may produce endless loops and runaway tasks, which are difficult to trace and correct.

CICS/Recorder provides an automated tool that unravels these layers of HANDLEs and control flow changes. This is done by first separating each HANDLE routine from the program's main stream, protecting it to ensure that no program fall-throughs or GO TOs invoke error handling. Then CICS/Recorder structures each error routine, removing any unstructured control flow changes that are hidden in the error paragraphs. This controls the ways into each error handling routine and structures the paths taken once error processing starts.

CICS/Recorder then documents CICS code, giving instream comments that document the relationship between HANDLEs and each cIcs command.

In the final step CICS/Recorder provides a four-part set of HANDLE reports, which is designed to complete the documentation package required to trace and support cICS applications. This set comprises

• HANDLE location report • HANDLE target report

I I0 information and software technology