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Subject: Re: Handling of "multi-target" TAs


I guess maybe that should be

 "[the distances between the blue and red and between the black and
red buttons] are equal"

(unless the buttons are arranged in a triangle, which doesn't appear to be the
case from the original predicate)



2010/1/25 Stephen Green <stephen.green@documentengineeringservices.com>:
> One last try on this.
>
> How about a predicate with three subjects:
>
> "the blue button, the black button and the red button are equidistant"
>
> Here each button is an object which could equally be a target but we
> would say the target is the distances between the buttons
>
> "[the distances between the red, blue and black buttons] are equal"
>
> so the 'relationships' between the objects (distances) become the
> target (and maybe this is not really a combination target as such)
>
>
> Best regards
>
> Steve
> ---
> Stephen D Green
>
>
>
>
> 2010/1/25 Stephen Green <stephen.green@documentengineeringservices.com>:
>> OK, thanks
>>
>> Steve
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 2010/1/25 Jacques R. Durand <JDurand@us.fujitsu.com>:
>>>  Stephen:
>>> inline
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: stephengreenubl@gmail.com [
>>> mailto:stephengreenubl@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Green
>>> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 4:59 AM
>>> To: Jacques R. Durand
>>> Cc: TAG TC
>>> Subject: Re: Handling of "multi-target" TAs
>>>
>>> Looking again at
>>>
>>>> "In cases where the predicate of a test assertion needs to use more
>>>> than one object (part of an implementation), it is possible to
>>>> consider their composition as the target. However in many cases, one
>>>> of them must be selected as the target, while the other objects are
>>>> accessory to the test. Such objects can be referenced in the predicate
>>>> or prerequisite using variables."
>>>
>>> Is there a way we can improve these statements as normative statements,
>>> appropriate for the model spec?
>>>
>>> Firstly, as before we may need to tighten our semantics for 'target',
>>> 'object' and 'accessory object'. Maybe we do not need to state these
>>> semantics, just to be clear about them as background to the statements we
>>> make (?).
>>>
>>> <JD> How about:
>>>
>>> "The predicate may express a condition over more than one object. These
>>> objects are either parts of an implementation or external resources. A
>>> unique target object is still required by this model. In such a case, either
>>> the target is defined as the combination of objects that are expected to
>>> satisfy the predicate, or one of these objects may be selected as the target
>>> while the other objects are just considered as accessory to the test. Such
>>> objects may be referenced in the predicate or prerequisite using variables."
>>>
>>> Secondly we are presenting a choice for how a target relates to a test
>>> assertion and to a predicate in particular: Can we improve the two normative
>>> statements to this effect? In the second case/choice of approach we offer we
>>> have the word 'can' which maybe we need to replace with a normative term
>>> such as 'may':
>>>
>>> <JD> Right.
>>>
>>> "However in many cases, one of them must be selected as the target, while
>>> the other objects are accessory to the test. When there is a requirement to
>>> select a single object as a target from several objects, the other,
>>> accessory objects <b>may</b> be referenced in the predicate or prerequisite
>>> using variables."
>>>
>>> Likewise for the first statement
>>>
>>> "In cases where the predicate of a test assertion needs to use more than one
>>> object (part of an implementation), their composition <b>may</b> be treated
>>> as the target."
>>>
>>> Then the second statement would follow as:
>>>
>>> "However in many cases, just one of several objects must be selected as the
>>> target, while the other objects are accessory to the test. When there is a
>>> requirement to select a single object as a target from several objects, the
>>> other, accessory objects <b>may</b> be referenced in the predicate or
>>> prerequisite using variables."
>>>
>>> I would tend to add:
>>>
>>> "Alternatively, the relationship between the objects <b>may</b> itself be
>>> treated as a single target."
>>>
>>> <JD> I am afraid that this could be confusing: a "relationship" is often
>>> understood as just the link between two objects, or the property that
>>> relates them together: here, the "widget ID" can be seen as this link - yet
>>> the predicate looks at more data than the link data. Isn't a "combination of
>>> objects" more intuitive, even if less formal?.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Best regards
>>>
>>> Steve
>>> ---
>>> Stephen D Green
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 2010/1/24 Stephen Green <stephen.green@documentengineeringservices.com>:
>>>>>
>>>>> "In cases where the predicate of a test assertion needs to use more
>>>>> than one object (part of an implementation), it is possible to
>>>>> consider their composition as the target. However in many cases, one
>>>>> of them must be selected as the target, while the other objects are
>>>>> accessory to the test. Such objects can be referenced in the
>>>>> predicate or prerequisite using variables."
>>>>
>>>> I agree, provided the 'must' in "one of them must be" is not a
>>>> normative MUST since there are alternatives (as considering "the
>>>> composition as the target" or, in my example just posted, considering
>>>> the relationship between two or more objects as the target).
>>>>
>>>> I do wonder whether we have defined clearly what a 'target'
>>>> actually is - the rationale / reason for having one object in a
>>>> predicate distinguished and called a 'target'. We have done so
>>>> implicitly (something in an implementation which is a focus for
>>>> testing and/or subject of the assertion, though I'm not sure we are
>>>> clear whether test target or assertion subject is the primary focus).
>>>> Should/could this be more explicit. Why, exactly, explicitly, does a
>>>> particular object in a predicate/assertion need to be (and qualify for
>>>> being) denoted a 'target'?
>>>>
>>>> Best regards
>>>>
>>>> Steve
>>>> ---
>>>> Stephen D Green
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 2010/1/23 Jacques R. Durand <JDurand@us.fujitsu.com>:
>>>>> Stephen:
>>>>>
>>>>> Looks good to me except for the handling of "multi-target" Tas:
>>>>>
>>>>> In TA model you add:
>>>>>
>>>>> "In cases where more than one target is relevant to a test assertion,
>>>>> additional targets may be treated as accessory objects and reference
>>>>> to these made using variables (see variables section below) and
>>>>> combined to form a compound target expression."
>>>>>
>>>>> I think the following updates are needed:
>>>>> - we need to be more assertive  on what is to be done (may -> must :
>>>>> the user does not have the choice !)
>>>>> - also explain a bit more the "multi-target" situation, while
>>>>> avoiding to call the additional objects "targets"
>>>>> - and finally, the target of such a TA is in general NOT the compound
>>>>> of these objects (though it may):
>>>>>
>>>>> "In cases where the predicate of a test assertion needs to use more
>>>>> than one object (part of an implementation), it is possible to
>>>>> consider their composition as the target. However in many cases, one
>>>>> of them must be selected as the target, while the other objects are
>>>>> accessory to the test. Such objects can be referenced in the
>>>>> predicate or prerequisite using variables."
>>>>>
>>>>> I suggest we add a similar note in the Guidelines, a little more
>>>>> verbose with a little inline example, say at the end of 4.1 "Complex
>>>>> Predicates", since this issue is normally coming up when people have
>>>>> to define a predicate using several obejcts:
>>>>>
>>>>> "Another case where a predicate is more complex is when its
>>>>> conditional expression involves more than one part of an
>>>>> implementation(s). In some cases it is clear which one of these
>>>>> objects must be considered as the target, while others are just accessory
>>>>> objects.
>>>>> Consider the following predicate: "the [widget price tag] is matching
>>>>> the price assigned to this widget in its [catalog entry]", where
>>>>> price tags and catalog entries are both items that must follow the
>>>>> store policy (the specification). In that case it may be reasonably
>>>>> assumed that the "catalog" content is authoritative over the price
>>>>> tag. The price tag can then be considered as the test target, while
>>>>> the accessory object may be identified by a variable which is then
>>>>> used in the predicate.
>>>>>
>>>>> Other cases are more ambiguous.
>>>>> Consider the following predicate: "the [widget price tag] is matching
>>>>> the price that is reported on the related [item in promotion list] at
>>>>> the store entrance", where it is not clear at which one of these
>>>>> often-changing labels must be incriminated in case of discrepancy
>>>>> (although whichever is lower will likely prevail should a customer
>>>>> complain).
>>>>>
>>>>> Three approaches are possible:
>>>>>
>>>>> (1) Consider a combined target, here a pair [price tag and promotion
>>>>> item for widget X] that is identified by the widget ref number. This
>>>>> combination will fail or pass the test.
>>>>> (2) Select arbitrarily one object as the target, while the other will
>>>>> be accessory, e.g. identified by a variable. In a derived test case,
>>>>> a predicate failure will inevitably lead to examine both, should the
>>>>> accessory object be causing the failure.
>>>>> (3) Write two similar test assertions using alternately one object
>>>>> and the other as targets."
>>>>>
>>>>> For review...
>>>>>
>>>>> Jacques
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: stephengreenubl@gmail.com [mailto:stephengreenubl@gmail.com] On
>>>>> Behalf Of Stephen Green
>>>>> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 11:56 AM
>>>>> To: TAG TC
>>>>> Subject: [tag] Further iteration (any more changes/discussion?)
>>>>>
>>>>> Now we do seem to be nearing drafts we can vote on:
>>>>>
>>>>> Model:
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/document.php?document_id=36047
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36047/testassertion
>>>>> smo
>>>>> del-draft-1-0-4.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>> Markup:
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/document.php?document_id=36048
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36048/testassertion
>>>>> mar
>>>>> kuplanguage-draft-1-0-5.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>> Guidelines:
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/document.php?document_id=36049
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36049/testassertion
>>>>> sgu
>>>>> idelines-draft-1-0-9-6.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>> If you just want to see the diffs from previous internal review
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36043/testassertion
>>>>> smo
>>>>> del-draft-1-0-4-changes.pdf
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36042/testassertion
>>>>> mar
>>>>> kuplanguage-draft-1-0-5-changes.pdf
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36041/testassertion
>>>>> sgu
>>>>> idelines-draft-1-0-9-6-changes.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there more to discuss? Are there more comments? Can we vote on
>>>>> these drafts?
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm not sure exactly how this works but I think we would have to vote
>>>>> on the editable source (ODT) versions:
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36046/testassertion
>>>>> smo
>>>>> del-draft-1-0-4.odt
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36045/testassertion
>>>>> mar
>>>>> kuplanguage-draft-1-0-5.odt
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/36044/testassertion
>>>>> sgu
>>>>> idelines-draft-1-0-9-6.odt
>>>>>
>>>>> and the schema:
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/document.php?document_id=35840&w
>>>>> g_a
>>>>> bbrev=tag
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/35840/testAssertion
>>>>> Mar
>>>>> kupLanguage-draft-1-0-3.xsd
>>>>>
>>>>> and namespace document:
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/document.php?document_id=35788&w
>>>>> g_a
>>>>> bbrev=tag
>>>>> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/35788/namespace.zip
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Best regards
>>>>>
>>>>> Steve
>>>>> ---
>>>>> Stephen D Green
>>>>>
>>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>> To unsubscribe from this mail list, you must leave the OASIS TC that
>>>>> generates this mail.  Follow this link to all your TCs in OASIS at:
>>>>> https://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/portal/my_workgroups.ph
>>>>> p
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>


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