Classification Trees

Testing
Testing Constrained Combinations

Vera Pironska
QA Engineer
XAML Team 1
Telerik QA Academy
 Table of Contents
 What is Classification Trees Testing
 Constructing Classification Trees
and Test Cases
 Tool Support
 CTE XL - Graphical Editor For
Classification Trees
 Some Useful Tips

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What Is Classification
Trees Testing
Main Concepts
 Constrained Options
 In some cases separate factors in a
system are constrained
 Certain options for one factor won't
coexist with certain options for
another factor

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 Classification Tree
Method
 Classification Tree Method:
 A black-box test design technique
 Test cases are designed to execute
combinations of representatives of
input and/or output domains
 Test cases are described by means
of a classification tree
 Based on the functional
specification of the test object

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 What Is a Classification
Tree?
 Classification tree:
A tree showing equivalence
partitions hierarchically ordered.
Used to design test cases in the
classification tree method.

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 When Do We Use
Classification Trees?
 Classification trees are used as a
way to test constrained
combinations of factors
 They also allow us to test some
factors more heavily than others

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 Advantages of
Classification Trees
 Help for easy generating and
maintaining test cases
 Classification trees can provide
precise information about coverage
 They help to reduce documentation

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 Benefits & Rewards From
Using CT
 Maintenance of test cases
 Easier & more cost effective
 Visibility of testing scope
 For new projects
 Regression testing
 User buy-in
 Great visual for gaining acceptance
 Exports to other testing techniques
and tools
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Constructing
Classification
Trees
and
Test Cases
Main Steps
of the Process
 A Classification Tree
Example
 This is a simple example of a
classification tree for an Adaptive
cruise control system

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 Aspects of Interest
 Identifying aspects of interest
 The first activity performed for each
testing problem when applying the
technique of classification trees
testing
 Represent a collection of things
that are supposed to interact in
some interesting way
 Things, which combinations the
tester wants to test
 E.g., blocks
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 Identifying
Classifications
 Identifying classifications within
the areas of interest
 The things that are supposed to
interact with each other
 In some cases subclassifications for
one or more classifications will be
identified
 E.g., size, color, form

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 Identifying Classes
 Classes have to be identified for
each classification
 Performed by using standard
equivalence partitioning and
boundary value analysis
 Classifications identification can be
recursively applied to classes

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 Aspects of Interest,
Classifications, Classes -
Example
Aspect of
interest
Classificat
ion

class Another
es classificat
ion level
Another
class level

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 Defining the
Combination Rules
 In order to derive test cases we
need to define rules for combining
the classifications in a tree
 Do we want pairs of all factors?
 Triples of some factors?
 Are there exclusions, i.e., classes
that can't combine?
 Etc.

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 Generating Test Cases
 Once the combination rules are
defined – test cases can be
generated
 Test cases can be defined by
combining classes from different
classifications
 A "leaf" is selected for each base
classification
 Classes that belong to the same
classification are non combinable
 By definition classes are disjunctive
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 Separating
Specification
From Data
 A Classification Tree specifies test
cases, but it does not specify test
data
 Implementation of a test case
specification into concrete test data
is a separate procedure

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 Creating a
Classification Tree
for a
GridView Selection
Properties
Demo
 Tool
Support
For
Classification
Trees Testing
 Tool Support
 Usually classification trees and test
cases are generated using a
special tool
 Supports drawing the classification
trees
 Allows automatic generation of test
cases

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 CTE XL
Graphical Editor For Classification
Trees
 CTE XL
 CTE XL is a graphical editor for
classification trees
 Has a free and a paid version
 Source:
 http://www.berner-mattner.com/en/b
erner-mattner-home/products/cte/ind
ex.html

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 Features of CTE
 CTE XL supports the following
features
 Drawing and editing classification
trees
 Adding description and
commentaries
 Adding, repositioning trees, storing
in libraries
 Automated test case generation
 User-defined dependency rules
 24
 Models Of Test
Generation
 Minimal combination
 Creates a test suite that uses every
class from each classification at
least once in a test case
 Pairwise combination
 Creates a test suite that uses every
class pair from disjunctive
classifications at least once in a test
case

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 Models Of Test
Generation (2)
 Threewise combination (“triple-
wise”)
 Creates a test suite that uses every
triple of classes from disjunctive
classifications at least once in a test
case
 Complete combination
 Creates a test suite that uses every
possible combination of classes
from disjunctive classification in a
test case
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 Test Coverage
 The objective of the Classification
Tree Method is to determine a
sufficient but minimum number of
test case specifications
 Well designed specifications reduce
the number of tests

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Some Useful Tips
Good Practices for Using CT
 Some Useful Tips
 If your trees become too large
 Break it down with references to
the higher level tree (folding)
 Start off small (high level)
 Give yourself time to apply the
technique

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 Classification Trees
Testing
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Questions
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 Exercises
1.Create a classification tree for a
life insurance program that
calculates insurance premiums
based on the following factors:
 Have the client been smoking (yes /
no)
 Is the client disabled (yes / no)
 Have the client been diagnosed with
life threatening disease (yes / no)

Continue
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 Exercises (2)
 Have the client been hospitalized in
the past (yes / no)
 BMI (Body-Mass Index) (<17 / 18-
33 / 34-36 / 37-39 / >39)
 Age (18-39 / 40-59 / >59)
 Derive test cases by using every
class from each classification at least
once in a test case

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 Exercises (3)
2. Derive test cases for all pairs from
the example bellow:
Suppose you need to test
compatibility of various kiosk
configurations based on three major
factors, each set to one of the options
shown:
 Operating System: Windows XP or Linux
 Browser: Internet Explorer (Windows
only), Netscape, or Opera
 Connection: DSL, dial-up, or cable
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