loading...
 This Article 
   
 Share 
   
 Bibliographic References 
   
 Add to: 
 
Digg
Furl
Spurl
Blink
Simpy
Google
Del.icio.us
Y!MyWeb
 
 Search 
   
A Choice Relation Framework for Supporting Category-Partition Test Case Generation
July 2003 (vol. 29 no. 7)
pp. 577-593

Abstract—We describe in this paper a choice relation framework for supporting category-partition test case generation. We capture the constraints among various values (or ranges of values) of the parameters and environment conditions identified from the specification, known formally as choices. We express these constraints in terms of relations among choices and combinations of choices, known formally as test frames. We propose a theoretical backbone and techniques for consistency checks and automatic deductions of relations. Based on the theory, algorithms have been developed for generating test frames from the relations. These test frames can then be used as the basis for generating test cases. Our algorithms take into consideration the resource constraints specified by software testers, thus maintaining the effectiveness of the test frames (and hence test cases) generated.

[1] N. Amla and P. Ammann, Using Z Specifications in Category-Partition Testing Systems Integrity, Software Safety, and Process Security: Building the Right System Right: Proc. Seventh Ann. IEEE Conf. Computer Assurance (COMPASS '92), pp. 3-10, 1992.
[2] P. Ammann and J. Offutt, Using Formal Methods to Derive Test Frames in Category-Partition Testing Safety, Reliability, Fault Tolerance, Concurrency, and Real Time Security: Proc. Ninth Ann. Conf. Computer Assurance (COMPASS '94), pp. 69-79, 1994.
[3] A. Avritzer and E.J. Weyuker, “The Automatic Generation of Load Test Suites and the Assessment of the Resulting Software,” IEEE Trans. Software Eng., vol. 21, no. 9, pp. 705–716, Sept. 1995.
[4] M. Balcer, W. Hasling, and T. Ostrand, “Automatic Generation of Test Scripts from Formal Test Specifications,” Proc. Third Symp. Software Testing, Analysis, and Verification, pp. 210–218, Dec. 1989.
[5] H.Y. Chen, T.H. Tse, F.T. Chan, and T.Y. Chen, In Black and White: An Integrated Approach to Class-Level Testing of Object-Oriented Programs ACM Trans. Software Eng. and Methodology, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 250-295, 1998.
[6] H.Y. Chen, T.H. Tse, and T.Y. Chen, TACCLE: A Methodology for Object-Oriented Software Testing at the Class and Cluster Levels ACM Trans. Software Eng. and Methodology, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 56-109, 2001.
[7] T.Y. Chen, P.L. Poon, and T.H. Tse, Classification-Tree Restructuring Methodologies: A New Perspective IEE Proc.: Software, vol. 149, no. 2, pp. 65-74, 2002.
[8] T. Chusho, Test Data Selection and Quality Estimation Based on the Concept of Essential Branches for Path Testing IEEE Trans. Software Eng., vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 509-517, May 1987.
[9] S. Elbaum, A. Malishevsky, and G. Rothermel, Test Case Prioritization: A Family of Empirical Studies IEEE Trans. Software Eng., vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 159-182, Feb. 2002.
[10] R. Ferguson and B. Korel, "The Chaining Approach for Software Test Data Generation," ACM Trans. Software Eng. and Methodology, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 63-86, Jan. 1996.
[11] M. Grochtmann and K. Grimm, Classification Trees for Partition Testing Software Testing, Verification and Reliability, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 63-82, 1993.
[12] P. Jorgensen, Software Testing: A Craftsman's Approach. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 2001.
[13] C. Kaner, J. Falk, and H.Q. Nguyen, Testing Computer Software. New York: Wiley, 1999.
[14] B. Korel, “Automated Test Data Generation for Programs with Procedures,” Proc. Int'l Symp. Software Testing and Analysis, pp. 209–215, 1996.
[15] G. Myers,Software Reliability; Principles and Practices. New York: Wiley, 1976.
[16] A.J. Offutt and A. Irvine, Testing Object-Oriented Software Using the Category-Partition Method Proc. 17th Int'l Conf. Technology of Object-Oriented Languages and Systems (TOOLS 17), pp. 293-304, 1995.
[17] T.J. Ostrand and M.J. Balcer, “The Category-Partition Method for Specifying and Generating Functional Tests,” Comm. ACM, vol. 31, no. 6, June 1988.
[18] J. Sanders and E. Curran, Software Quality: A Framework for Success in Software Development and Support, Addison Wesley Longman, New York, 1994.
[19] P. Stocks and D. Carrington, A Framework for Specification-Based Testing IEEE Trans. Software Eng., vol. 22, no. 11, pp. 777-793, 1996.
[20] S.J. Zeil and C. Wild, A Knowledge Base for Software Test Refinement Proc. Eighth Knowledge-Based Software Eng. Conf., pp. 50-57, 1993.

Index Terms:
Category-partition testing, choice relation framework, choice relation table, specification-based testing, test case construction, test frame.
Citation:
T.Y. Chen, Pak-Lok Poon, T.H. Tse, "A Choice Relation Framework for Supporting Category-Partition Test Case Generation," IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, vol. 29, no. 7, pp. 577-593, July 2003, doi:10.1109/TSE.2003.1214323
Usage of this product signifies your acceptance of the Terms of Use.