Products

RTF

RTF (Regression Test Facility) provides advanced regression testing for TPF. It works in conjunction with CMSTPF.
The below table shows the comparison of RTF Vs zRTF.

CMSTPF/RTF

zRTF

Runs TPF 4.1 Application

Runs z/TPF Application

Dependent on Debugger (CMSTPF)

Independent of Debugger

Sequential run alone Supported

Parallel and Sequential run Supported

No Compare APIs

Compare APIs provided

Applications dependent on external channels cannot be tested (If no CTFS)

All applications can be tested

One single LOG file for RUN or Transaction level LOG file

Transaction level LOG file

Log files are not in compressed format

Log files are in compressed format

No buffering

Buffering to run faster

No Summary Log info

Summary Log info included


Overview
Most of the time, TPF shops use regression tests to ensure that recent changes haven't made quality slip backward. But TPF Software's new Regression Test Facility takes the state of the art in TPF regression testing and pushes it forward.
The engine that makes the RTF go is a version of CMSTPF that has been enhanced to capture data and manage the regression test process.

How the RTF Works?
Capturing Baseline Data
As a first step to using the RTF, testers provide an input message file. This input message file is then run through CMSTPF, and the RTF captures the baseline data that is produced
Among the types of baseline data captured are
  • Tape reads and writes;
  • Message inputs and outputs;
  • Database reads and writes;
  • Trace data (macro and instruction);
  • Program Errors;
  • General Data Sets reads and writes.
Capturing Second-Run Data
After the baseline data is captured, an EXEC is called that allows testers to change the TPF environment (by making planned changes to programs, the database, etc.). Then the input file is run through CMSTPF again, and second-run data is captured.

Comparison
The final step the RTF takes is comparing the second-run data to the baseline data in order to measure the impact of the planned changes on the TPF environment (see Comparisons).

Features & Benefits
Graphical User Interface
Although the RTF can be run in batch mode on the host, TPF Software also plans to develop a GUI front end that will allow users to interactively set up the test process, control the comparions made, and explore the results. This GUI front end may be integrated with TPF Software's TPF/GI test tool.

RTF Comparisons
To find the differences between baseline and second-run data, IBM's Enhanced SuperC program is used.
Enhanced SuperC is a comparison and search tool offered as part of the High Level Assembler and Toolkit.
SuperC runs on MVS, VM/ESA (CMS), or VSE/ESA and can find sets of matching records between two files.

Reduced Noise
CMSTPF has unique qualifications as a testing environment that led to customer interest in using it as the basis of the RTF.

Isolation
CMSTPF provides virtual TPF systems that offer data and program isolation. Isolation means that the tests one programmer runs can't interfere with or corrupt another programmer's testing.

It is this ability to isolate the TPF environment from unintended noise that makes CMSTPF a perfect vehicle for regression testing.

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