| Summary: | Although there has been research into ways to design spreadsheet systems to
improve the processes of creating new spreadsheets and of understanding
existing ones, little attention has been given to helping users of these
environments test their spreadsheets. To help address this need, we introduce
two visual approaches to testing large grids in spreadsheet systems. The first
approach is a straightforward extension of a visual testing methodology we
previously developed for individual cells (and hence is termed the Straightforward
approach), and serves as a useful baseline with which to compare the second
approach. The second approach, termed the Region Representative approach,
contributes scalability by overcoming the inefficiency of the Straightforward
approach.
Prototypes of both approaches have been tightly integrated into Forms/3,
a research spreadsheet language, and communication with the user happens
solely through the use of checkbox devices and coloring mechanisms. The intent
of this work is to bring to end users at least some of the benefits of formalized
notions of testing, without requiring knowledge of testing beyond a naive level. === Graduation date: 2000
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