Authors
Robin Abraham & Martin Erwig
Abstract
In this paper we present a system that helps users test their spreadsheets using automatically generated test cases. The system generates the test cases by backward propagation and solution of constraints on cell values. These constraints are obtained from the formula of the cell that is being tested when we try to execute all feasible DU associations within the formula.
AutoTest generates test cases that execute all feasible DU pairs. If infeasible DU associations are present in the spreadsheet, the system is capable of detecting and reporting all of these to the user.
We also present a comparative evaluation of our approach against the "Help Me Test" mechanism in Forms/3 and show that our approach is faster and produces test suites that give better DU coverage.
Sample
The system generates a set of candidate test cases for the formula in the cell B9 and presents it as shown in the figure.
A candidate test case is defined as the set of inputs generated by the system, together with the corresponding output computed by the formula that is to be tested.
Publication
2006, IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, September, pages 43-50
Full article
AutoTest: A tool for automatic test case generation in spreadsheets
