27 research outputs found
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An integrated testing and fault localization methodology for spreadsheet languages
Spreadsheet languages, which include commercial spreadsheets and various research systems, have proven to be flexible tools in many settings. Research shows, however, that spreadsheets often contain faults. This thesis presents an integrated testing and fault localization methodology for spreadsheets. This methodology allows spreadsheet developers to engage in modeless development,
testing and debugging activities. Furthermore, we provide an interface to our methodology that does not require an understanding of testing and debugging theory. To accomplish this, we introduce the notion of fault likelihood: the likelihood
that a given cell contains a fault that contributes to an known failure in the spreadsheet. To estimate fault likelihood we present five properties that we feel should govern its behavior. We then discuss our implementation of this methodology and illustrate its use
Evaluation of an Intelligent Assistive Technology for Voice Navigation of Spreadsheets
An integral part of spreadsheet auditing is navigation. For sufferers of
Repetitive Strain Injury who need to use voice recognition technology this
navigation can be highly problematic. To counter this the authors have
developed an intelligent voice navigation system, iVoice, which replicates
common spreadsheet auditing behaviours through simple voice commands. This
paper outlines the iVoice system and summarizes the results of a study to
evaluate iVoice when compared to a leading voice recognition technology.Comment: 10 Pages, 2 Colour Figures, 4 Table
Automatic verification and validation wizard in web-centred end-user software engineering
This paper addresses one of the major web end-user software engineering (WEUSE) challenges, namely, how to
verify and validate software products built using a life cycle enacted by end-user programmers. Few end-user
development support tools implement an engineering life cycle adapted to the needs of
end users. End users do not have the programming knowledge, training or experience to perform devel- opment
tasks requiring creativity. Elsewhere we published a life cycle adapted to this challenge. With
the support of a wizard, end-user programmers follow this life cycle and develop rich internet applica- tions (RIA)
to meet specific end-user requirements. However, end-user programmers regard verification and validation activities
as being secondary or unnecessary for opportunistic programming tasks. Hence, although the solutions that they
develop may satisfy specific requirements, it is impossible to guarantee the quality or the reusability of this
software either for this user or for other developments by future end-user programmers. The challenge, then, is to
find means of adopting a verification and validation workflow and adding verification and validation activities to the
existing WEUSE life cycle. This should
not involve users having to make substantial changes to the type of work that they do or to their priori- ties. In
this paper, we set out a verification and validation life cycle supported by a wizard that walks the user through test
case-based component, integration and acceptance testing. This wizard is well-aligned with WEUSE’s characteristic
informality, ambiguity and opportunisticity. Users applying this verification and validation process manage to find
bugs and errors that they would otherwise be unable to identify. They also receive instructions for error correction.
This assures that their composite applications are of
better quality and can be reliably reused. We also report a user study in which users develop web soft- ware with
and without a wizard to drive verification and validation. The aim of this user study is to confirm the applicability
and effectiveness of our wizard in the verification and validation of a RIAEuropean Union (UE) GA FP7-216048European Union (UE) GA FP7-285248European Union (UE) GA FP7-258862Ministerio de EconomÃa y Competitividad TIN2016-76956-C3-2-R (POLOLAS)Ministerio de EconomÃa y Competitividad TIN2015-71938-RED
The Role of Visualization Tools in Spreadsheet Error Correction from a Cognitive Fit Perspective
Errors in spreadsheets pose a serious problem for organizations and academics. This has resulted in ongoing efforts to devise measures for reducing errors or efficient ways of correcting them. Visualization tools are often advertised as means for improving spreadsheet error correction performance. This study investigates the role of visualization tools in spreadsheet error correction. For this purpose, this study proposes a framework for classifying activities associated with spreadsheet error correction. The framework is to highlight the activities that are important for correcting different types of spreadsheet errors, and to show how different visualization tools can aid error correction by effectively supporting these activities. By identifying chaining as one of the most important activities from the framework, this study uses cognitive fit theory to examine the effects of a visualization tool that supports chaining on spreadsheet error correction performance. Experimental methodology is used to test the outcome of cognitive fit between the error correction task and the visualization tool. The results of the experiment highlight the importance of cognitive fit between the type of task and the visualization tool for attaining better performance. This study also provides guidelines for designing and developing tools for spreadsheet error correction