		Release Notes for Suite Maker Version 2.1

	(C) Copyright Robtica Automation Consultants, Inc., 1993

	This document contains release notes for version 2.1 of 
	Suite Maker.

============================================
Contents
============================================
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Overview
3.0 Components of Suite Maker 
4.0 Installing Suite Maker
5.0 Using Suite Maker
    5.1 Starting and Exiting Suite Maker
    5.2 Setting Suite Maker Options
    5.3 Managing Scripts
    5.4 Running and Halting the Suite
    5.5 Saving the Suite
    5.6 Retrieving a Suite
    5.7 Creating a New Suite
6.0 About Robtica Automation Consultants
7.0 Contacting Robtica Automation Consultants
8.0 Registering Suite Maker


============================================
1.0 Introduction
============================================
Suite Maker is a utility which allows you to manage and execute suites 
of Microsoft Test scripts.  Suite Maker organizes your test suites and 
reduces the frustration normally encountered in running suites in a 
multiple-tester environment.


============================================
2.0 Overview
============================================
Traditionally, Microsoft Test users have used some variation of the 
following method to run multiple scripts:
1. Store the scripts in a predefined directory/directories.
2. Launch a "driver script" which adds the scripts in these director-
   ies to the Microsoft Test file list, and runs each script in turn.
		
This method works, but has the following disadvantages:
1. When a user would like to remove scripts from the execution list, 
   the user must physically remove them from the directory or rename 
   them.
2. Scripts are added to the file list in alphabetical order, so they 
   must be named according to their desired order of execution.
3. Even if the driver script reads its list of directories from a text 
   file, the text file must be modified to reflect changes in the 
   desired execution order or content of the suite.
4. If the driver script reads its list of directories from a text file,
   this filename must be hardcoded into the driver script or passed in 
   as a parameter.  If it is hardcoded into the driver script, multi-
   ple driver scripts are needed if multiple testers will be testing 
   at the same time. And if it is passed in as a parameter, either 
   COMMAND$ or TESTMODE$ must contain the filename, excluding them 
   from being used for other testing purposes.
		
Suite Maker eliminates this headache by allowing the user to specify 
the command line arguments, scripts, and order of execution for a suite
in a user-friendly environment.  The scripts and command line arguments
associated with a suite may be saved for future modification or re-
execution.


============================================
3.0 Components of Suite Maker 
============================================
File Name	Description 
CLEANUP.MST	Microsoft test script that can be used to restore the 
		test computer to desired state following suite execu-
		tion (by executing user-defined cleanup routines).

DECLARES.HDR	Header file which incorporates RAC versions of 
		MSTEST.INC and WINAPI.INC.

HEADER.INC	Include file which is used to include DECLARES.HDR.

LOGGING.INC	Include file which contains functions that may be used 
		to record script results or obtain path for data files 
		used by or created by scripts.

RAC.DLL		Dynamic link library used by Suite Maker.

README.TXT	Text file which explains Suite Maker. 		

SAMPLE*.MST	Sample scripts which comprise a suite that launches,
		maximizes, minimizes, restores, and quits the Windows
		Notepad application.

SETUP.MST	Microsoft test script that can be used to prepare the 
		test computer for suite execution (by executing user-
		defined setup routines).


SUITEMAK.EXE	The Suite Maker program in which you select the scripts 
		and command line arguments that comprise a suite and 
		execute or save the suite.

SUITEMAK.HLP	Suite Maker help file.

SUITEMAK.INI	Suite Maker INI file.


============================================
4.0 Installing Suite Maker
============================================
Before installing Suite Maker, be sure that you have the following 
system configuration:

o Microsoft Test version 2.0 or later
o Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or later
o A computer with an 80286 or higher microprocessor running 
  MS-DOS 3.3 or later
o 1 megabyte of RAM minimum (2 megabytes recommended)
o 1 megabyte of hard disk space
o Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device recommended

To install Suite Maker from a distribution diskette:
1. Insert the disk labeled "Suite Maker Setup" into drive a:.
2. Launch Windows.
3. In the Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu.
4. Type a:\setup
5. Press ENTER.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen.

or
		
To install Suite Maker downloaded from CompuServe or RAC BBS:
1. Unzip the SUITEMAK.ZIP file to a directory entitled "DISK1".
2. Launch Windows.
3. In the Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu.
4. Type c:\disk1\setup
5. Press ENTER.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen.

While the setup procedure is copying information from the disk, fill 
out the registration form at the end of this document and send it to 
us along with a check in the amount of $25.00 (US) made payable to 
Robtica Automation Consultants, Inc..
		

============================================
5.0 Using Suite Maker
============================================
Suite Maker allows you to create, edit, and run suites that consist 
of Microsoft Test scripts.  This section describes the Suite Maker 
user interface.

    ============================================
    5.1 Starting and Exiting Suite Maker
    ============================================
    To start Suite Maker, double-click on the Suite Maker icon in the 
    Suite Maker program group on your Windows desktop.  The Suite 
    Maker main screen appears with the contents of the last suite that 
    was run.

    You can also start Suite Maker from the Program Manager or the Run 
    box in the File Manager.

    To exit Suite Maker, select the Exit Suite Maker command from the 
    File menu.  If you have made any changes to the current suite and 
    have not saved them, you are prompted to save these before the 
    program quits.

    ============================================
    5.2 Setting Suite Maker Options
    ============================================
    Suite Maker allows you to set environment options that define your 
    machine's configuration and execution options that are used when 
    you run your suite.

	============================================
	5.2.1 Environment Options
	============================================
	To set environment options, choose Environment from the Options 
	menu.  The Environment options dialog box appears.  The options 
	in this dialog box are described in the following section.

	o Microsoft Test Executable
	  This section is used to specify the location of the Microsoft 
	  Test program, TESTDRVR.EXE.  
	  
	  To select the MS Test Executable:
	  1. Click the Select button and a standard File/Open dialog 
	     box appears. 
	  2. Type the full path of the Microsoft Test program into the 
	     File Name edit box, or select the program from the file 
	     list box, and click the OK button.  

	  When you have selected the program, the full path is 
	  displayed in the Microsoft Test Executable panel.
 
	o Output Path
	  The Output Path edit box lets you specify the location for 
	  output files created by your scripts. The GetOutputPath 
	  function in LOGGING.INC provides access to this path during 
	  script execution, eliminating the need to hard code an out-
	  put path into your scripts.

	o Input Path
	  The Input Path edit box lets you specify the location for 
	  input files used by your scripts. The GetInputPath function 
	  in LOGGING.INC provides access to this path during script 
	  execution, eliminating the need to hard code an input path 
	  into your scripts.

	When you have finished setting the Environment Options, click 
	the OK button to confirm your selections, or click the Cancel 
	button to discard your changes.

	============================================
	5.2.2 Run-time Options
	============================================
	To set run-time options, choose Run-time from the Options menu. 
	The Run-time options dialog box appears.  The options in this 
	dialog box are described in the following section.

	o Log File
	  This section is used to specify the location of the log file 
	  in which your test results will be stored.  Suite Maker pre-
	  pares this log file with a header that describes the run-time 
	  arguments and execution date/time of the suite, and records 
	  the start of each script.  Your scripts should record test 
	  results to this log file using the StartLog and EndLog func-
	  tions provided in LOGGING.INC.  

	  To select a log file:
	  1. Click the Select button and a standard File/Open dialog 
	     box appears. 
	  2. Type the full path of the log file into the File Name 
	     edit box, or select the file from the file list box, and 
	     click the OK button.  If you select an existing file, you 
	     will be asked to confirm whether to overwrite the exist-
	     ing file.

	  When you have selected the log file, the full path is dis-
	  played in the Log File panel.

	o Alternate Include Path(s)
	  The Alternate Include Path edit box lets you specify the 
	  path or paths that Test Driver should search for include 
          files.  If multiple paths are entered, they must be separa-
          ted by semicolons. You must specify the path to LOGGING.INC 
	  and HEADER.INC in this field, or make sure that these files 
	  reside on the MS Test Include path.

	o '$DEFINE Symbols
	  This section is used to define symbols for Conditional 
	  Compilation. For more information about Conditional Compila-
	  tion, refer to Chapters 4 and 5 of your MS Test 2.0 User's 
	  Guide.  

	  To define a run-time symbol:
	  1. In the text box under the Symbol prompt, type the name of 
	     the symbol you want to define.
	  2. Click the Add button to add the symbol to the list.

	  To remove a run-time symbol:
	  1. Select the symbol in the list.
	  2. Click the Remove button.

	  To remove all run-time symbols:
	  1. Click the Clear all button.

	When you have finished setting the Run-time Options, click the 
	OK button to confirm your selections, or click the Cancel 
	button to discard your changes.

	============================================
	5.2.3 Setting Command Line Arguments
	============================================
	The MS Test Command Line arguments COMMAND$ and TESTMODE$ may 
	be used to run a test suite under varying sets of circum-
	stances.  For example, you might have high, medium, and low 
	stress test cases in a single script. (For more information on 
	using COMMAND$ and TESTMODE$ in your code, refer to Chapter 4 
	of your MS Test 2.0 User's Guide.)  Suite Maker provides access 
	to these two powerful variables in the Command Line Arguments 
	section of the main screen.

	In the edit text boxes for the arguments, enter strings (up 
	to 80 characters).  You can then use these variables anywhere 
	within your scripts, and they will have the values that you 
	assigned to them.

    ============================================
    5.3 Managing Scripts
    ============================================
    Use the Scripts section of the main screen to manage the scripts 
    that comprise your suite.

	============================================	
	5.3.1 Adding Scripts to the Suite
	============================================
	To Add scripts to the suite:
      	1. Click the Add Scripts button and a standard File/Open 
	   dialog box appears. 
      	2. Type the full path of the script into the File Name edit 
	   box, or select the script(s) from the file list box, and 
	   click the OK button.

	The scripts that you selected are added to the Script Names 
	list.

	============================================	
	5.3.2 Changing the Execution Order of the Suite
	============================================	
	To change the execution order of the suite:
	1. Select the script whose position you'd like to change from 
	   the Script Names list.
	2. Click the Move Up button to execute the script sooner in 
	   the suite, or click the Move Down button to execute the 
	   script later in the suite.

	============================================	
	5.3.3 Removing Scripts from the Suite
	============================================	
	To remove scripts from the suite:
	1. Select the script(s) that you'd like to remove from the 
	   Script Names list.
	2. Click the Remove button to delete the scripts from the 
	   suite.

    ============================================
    5.4 Running and Halting the Suite
    ============================================	
    Click the Run button in the tool bar, press F5, or select the 
    Start command from the Run menu to begin suite execution.

    To interrupt suite execution, click the stop button in the tool
    bar, or select the Stop command from the Run menu.  The suite
    halts prior to the execution of the next scheduled script.

    ============================================
    5.5 Saving the Suite
    ============================================
    To save a suite:
    1. Select the Save Suite command from the File menu, click 
       the Save button in the tool bar, or press Ctrl-S.  If your 
       file is currently untitled, a standard File/Save dialog box 
       appears.
    2. Type the name of the suite in the File Name edit box, and 
       click the OK button.
	
	or

    1. Select the Save Suite As command from the File menu, and a 
       standard File/Save dialog box appears.
    2. Type the name of the suite in the File Name edit box, and 
       click the OK button.

    ============================================
    5.6 Retrieving a Suite
    ============================================
    To retrieve a suite:
    1. Select the Open Suite command from the File menu, click the
       Open button on the tool bar, or press Ctrl-O, and a stan-
       dard File/Open dialog box appears. 
    2. Type the full path of the suite into the File Name edit box, 
       or select the suite from the file list box, and click the OK 
       button.

    The scripts, environment, command-line, and run-time options 
    associated with the suite appear in the main screen.

    ============================================
    5.7 Creating a New Suite
    ============================================
    To create a new suite:
    1. Select the New Suite command from the File menu, or click the
       New button on the tool bar.

    The scripts, command-line, and run-time options are cleared to 
    prepare for new selections.

		
============================================
6.0 About Robtica Automation Consultants
============================================
Robotica Automation Consultants was established in 1987 to provide
consulting services to the Massachusetts high-technology community.
Driven by this goal and managed by founder Darryl Robinson and a 
staff of fellow MIT engineers, RAC has since evolved into a bustling
enterprise that regularly provides:

1. Software development for the Windows, Macintosh, and DOS environ-
ments
2. Quality assurance testing for software that is under development
and
3. Hardware and software sales and consulting

to such clients as Polaroid Corporation, Lotus Development Corporation,
OneSource Information Services, Ziff Information Services, and 
MarketPlace Information Corporation.

For more information about our services or our other software products,
please contact us.


============================================
7.0 Contacting Robtica Automation Consultants
============================================
Mail:
Robtica Automation Consultants, Inc.
25 Huntington Avenue, Suite 520
Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Voice: (617) 236-1993  
Fax: (617) 236-1868
CompuServe: 73312,373


============================================
8.0 Registering Suite Maker
============================================
Fill out the registration form below and send it to us along with a 
check or money order in the amount of $25.00 (US) made payable to 
Robtica Automation Consultants, Inc..

In return, you will receive a valid user name and registration number,
plus technical support.		

		Suite Maker Registration Form

Name:
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Street:
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
