Automatically generating information from a Z specification to support the classification tree method

Authors:
Robert M. Hierons;Mark Harman;Harbhajan Singh
Affiliations:
Department of Information Systems and Computing, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK;Department of Information Systems and Computing, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK;DaimlerChrysler AG, Research Information and Communication Software Technology Research Lab, Berlin, Germany
Venue:
ZB'03 Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on Formal specification and development in Z and B
Year:
2003

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Abstract

The Classification Tree Method provides a flexible basis for systematic testing. Traditionally the generation of a classification tree has been entirely manual. This paper introduces a new approach that extracts predicates from the Z specification of an operation and builds a Classification Tree from these predicates. It thus shows how the generation of a Classification Tree may be semi-automated on the basis of a Z specification. The paper also defines the notion of the test context of a predicate that determines when the value of this predicate is relevant. The test context is used to reduce the number of tests produced from the Classification Tree.