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Introduction to Decision Tables
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Today we are going to discuss Decision Tables, a powerful technique used to manage complex business rules in testing. Can anyone tell me what they think a Decision Table is?
Is it a table that lists the options and outcomes of decisions in software?
Exactly! A Decision Table helps us organize various conditions and their respective outcomes clearly. It's like creating a structured cheat sheet for software behavior based on rules. Now, can anyone name the key components of a Decision Table?
I think it includes conditions, rules, actions, and action entries.
Great job, Student_2! The table typically consists of conditions on one side, rules in the columns, the actions in the rows, and then marks which actions apply to each rule. Remember the acronym CRR: Conditions, Rules, Actions. It helps to recall the components of a Decision Table.
Steps to Create a Decision Table
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Now that we know what a Decision Table is, letβs go through the steps to create one. The first step is to identify all conditions that can affect the outcomes. Why is this critical?
If we miss some conditions, the table won't cover all scenarios and could lead to faults in testing.
Exactly, Student_3! The next step is to identify all potential actions based on those conditions. After that, we calculate the maximum number of rules. Does anyone remember how we calculate this?
I think it's 2 raised to the power of the number of conditions, right?
That's correct! For example, if you have three binary conditions, that gives us 2^3, or 8 potential rules. How do we represent these rules in the table?
By creating columns for each rule under the conditions and filling in the actions that apply.
Right, and we can also simplify the table by merging redundant rules later. So far, weβve covered identification, calculation, structuring, and filling the table. Letβs recap: Key steps include identifying conditions, actions, calculating rules, and filling out the table.
Practical Example of Decision Tables
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Letβs consider a practical example of a flight booking system that applies discounts. What conditions do you think we might include?
Registered user status, peak season, and number of seats booked!
Perfect! So, if we create a Decision Table with those conditions, how would we determine the actions?
Based on the combinations of conditions, we would define the applicable discounts and notifications.
Exactly! After filling in the table based on our conditions, we can derive specific test cases. Can someone summarize the outputs we would derive from our example?
Test cases would include scenarios for registered users booking during peak season and how each combination leads to actions like discounts or notifications!
Great job, everyone! The key takeaway here is that Decision Tables allow us to derive all necessary test cases systematically from the defined conditions.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
Creating Decision Tables helps testers systematically address intricate software business rules, ensuring all possible outcomes are accounted for and test scenarios are efficiently derived. This tool clarifies requirements, ensures completeness, and aids communication among stakeholders.
Detailed
Steps to Create a Decision Table
Decision Tables are essential tools in software testing, designed to handle complex business rules by clearly outlining the relationships between various conditions and the expected actions. By using a table to represent potential outcomes of different combinations of conditions, we can ensure comprehensive coverage in our testing process. This method helps clarify requirements, provides a robust structure for generating test cases, and facilitates communication among technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Key Points:
- Identifying Conditions and Actions: Begin by carefully listing all relevant inputs (conditions) that influence system behavior and the corresponding actions or outcomes.
- Calculating Maximum Rules: Evaluate the maximum number of rules based on the conditions. For binary conditions, this is calculated as 2 raised to the power of the number of conditions (2^N).
- Drawing the Table Structure: Create a decision table where conditions are defined in the top rows and actions are listed in the bottom rows, ensuring enough columns to accommodate all potential rules.
- Entry of Condition and Action Values: Systematically fill in each entry for conditions and indicate the applicable actions for each rule, marking them in the action entry section.
- Simplification of Rules: As an optional step, consolidate rules that yield the same outcome, simplifying the table by using 'Don't Care' entries where applicable.
- Generating Test Cases: The finalized decision table allows for systematic derivation of test cases that cater to each defined rule, ensuring every possible combination is covered.
Through these steps, Decision Table Testing not only aids in addressing complex logical expressions but also guarantees thorough testing coverage and highlights any ambiguity in requirements.
Audio Book
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Identify All Conditions
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β Identify All Conditions: List every single condition that affects the outcome.
Detailed Explanation
In this step, you start by comprehensively identifying every condition that influences the decision-making process within your system. Conditions are the factors or criteria that determine how the system behaves under different scenarios. For example, in a loan approval system, conditions might include 'customer's credit score,' 'employment duration,' and 'debt-to-income ratio.' Listing these ensures that you consider all possible influences on the decision.
Examples & Analogies
Think of planning a picnic; conditions could include weather (sunny or rainy), picnic location (park or beach), and whether you have enough food. Each factor affects your decision-making and the success of the picnic.
Identify All Actions
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β Identify All Actions: List every possible action or result that the system can take.
Detailed Explanation
Once you have identified the conditions, the next step is to determine the actions that result from different combinations of those conditions. Actions are the outcomes that occur based on the conditions being met. For instance, in the loan example, actions could include 'approve loan,' 'decline loan,' or 'refer for manual review.' Listing all possible actions ensures you have a clear picture of what the system should do under various circumstances.
Examples & Analogies
Continuing with the picnic analogy, actions might include packing a picnic basket, calling friends, or deciding to stay indoors. Each decision you make regarding weather, location, etc., leads to specific actions.
Calculate Maximum Rules
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β Calculate Maximum Rules: If each condition has two possible values (e.g., true/false), the maximum number of rules (columns) is 2 raised to the power of the number of conditions (2^N).
Detailed Explanation
This step entails calculating how many unique rules or scenarios can be created based on the identified conditions. If you have N conditions and each condition has two possible states (like True/False), the formula 2^N tells you how many combinations there are. For example, if you have three conditions, the maximum number of rules would be 2^3 = 8, meaning you must create eight unique scenarios to cover all possibilities.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a light switch. If you have two switches (A and B), each can be ON or OFF, leading to four possible combinations: both ON, switch A ON & B OFF, switch A OFF & B ON, and both OFF. Counting these helps ensure you understand all the scenarios at play.
Draw the Table Structure
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β Draw the Table Structure: Create a table with conditions in the top rows and actions in the bottom rows. Create enough columns for the calculated maximum number of rules.
Detailed Explanation
Here, you visually represent the decision table. The structure contains conditions listed in the top half and actions in the bottom half. The number of columns should match the maximum rules calculated in the previous step. This structured layout allows for clear visibility of how each combination of conditions corresponds with specific actions, making the information easily digestible.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a menu at a restaurant, where different food items (conditions) are listed on the left and respective prices (actions) are detailed next to them. This layout helps customers see their options and associated costs at a glance.
Fill in Condition Entries
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β Fill in Condition Entries (Systematically):
1. A common way to ensure all combinations are covered is to fill the bottom-most condition column by alternating T/F, T/F...
2. Then the next condition up by alternating TT/FF, TT/FF...
3. And so on, until the top condition alternates half Ts and half Fs.
Detailed Explanation
In this step, you systematically fill in the entries for each condition for each rule (column). You start from the bottom-most condition, alternating true or false in a logical pattern to ensure that all combinations are represented. This methodically guarantees that every scenario is considered without missing any combinations.
Examples & Analogies
Picture organizing books on a shelf by genre and then by author. You would systematically place each genre's books in order, ensuring all are categorized without leaving any out. By doing this, you ensure that every potential setup is accounted for in your table.
Fill in Action Entries
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β Fill in Action Entries: For each column (rule), mark 'X' (or 'β') next to the actions that should occur based on that specific combination of conditions.
Detailed Explanation
After filling in the condition entries, the next step is to denote which actions should occur based on the combinations of conditions each column represents. You do this by placing a mark (an 'X' or a checkmark) next to the appropriate actions. This ties each rule back to the expected outcomes, clearly associating the triggered actions with the respective conditions.
Examples & Analogies
Returning to our picnic planning approach, this step is like checking off what food you will prepare based on the weather conditions. If it's sunny, you might check off sandwiches, but if it's rainy, you might check 'stay indoors' instead.
Consolidate / Simplify
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β Consolidate / Simplify (Optional but Recommended): Look for rules where a condition's value (T or F) doesn't change the resulting actions. In such cases, replace 'T' or 'F' with a "Don't Care" ('-') to merge rules and simplify the table. This reduces the number of test cases.
Detailed Explanation
In this final step, you review the table to identify any conditions that do not affect the outcome's action. If a specific condition remains unchanged but leads to the same action as another scenario, you can simplify the table by marking 'Don't Care' for that condition. This consolidation reduces the complexity of your test cases while still ensuring that all necessary outcomes are covered.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine youβre packing for a picnic but notice that whether you bring a blanket or not doesnβt change your food choices. In such a case, you could simplify your packing list by indicating the blanket is optional (βDon't Careβ), thus streamlining your preparations.
Definitions & Key Concepts
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
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Decision Table: A structured table used for representing complex rules.
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Conditions: Factors that influence the outcomes in a Decision Table.
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Actions: Outputs associated with specific combinations of conditions.
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Rules: Different combinations of truth values for conditions.
Examples & Real-Life Applications
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
Examples
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In a loan approval system, a Decision Table can help determine actions like 'approve loan', 'manual review', or 'decline loan' based on multiple conditions such as credit score and employment history.
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For a flight booking scenario, a Decision Table can clarify conditions regarding discounts for registered users booking during peak seasons.
Memory Aids
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
π΅ Rhymes Time
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A table filled with rules and parts, helps to clarify all the arts. Conditions here and actions there, testing outcomes with great care.
π Fascinating Stories
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Imagine a chef preparing a meal; each ingredient needs to be matched with the right recipe. A Decision Table is like thatβeach condition leads to a specific outcome, ensuring the right dish is served every time.
π§ Other Memory Gems
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To remember the steps: 'CATS': Conditions, Actions, Total rules, Structure - the key areas needed to create a Decision Table.
π― Super Acronyms
CRAFT
- Conditions
- Rules
- Actions
- Finalize
- Test - the journey through creating a Decision Table.
Flash Cards
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Glossary of Terms
Review the Definitions for terms.
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Term: Decision Table
Definition:
A tabular representation used to manage complex business rules and conditions for software testing.
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Term: Conditions
Definition:
The inputs or criteria that influence the behavior of the system.
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Term: Actions
Definition:
The outputs or responses triggered by specific combinations of conditions.
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Term: Rules
Definition:
The specific truth values assigned to each condition, determining the corresponding actions.