Original Software has announced availability of the latest version of TestDrive, its visual-layer software test automation solution. This major release-TestDrive V6--provides full out-of-the-box automation support for more complex architectures and adds enhanced support for Java, Oracle Forms, and 3270 mainframe applications to its list of supported technologies that also include .Net, Ajax, Web 2.0, and Lotus Notes.

Bola Rotibi, principal analyst at IT advisory firm Macehiter Ward-Dutton, says, "Heterogeneous application architectures and infrastructures that support a mix of core technologies such as Java, SOA, Web and Packaged application forms, create a complex environment that requires more sophisticated testing and QM facilities.

"Add to this the need to also test across applications that continue to reside on mainframes and you begin to understand why many organizations faced with this challenging background are forced to implement manual testing workaround strategies," Rotibi says. "Testing solutions that support this diversity and can automate testing right across these complex environments could potentially generate a healthy ROI and speed up time-to-market by freeing up both time and resources."

Many business-critical packages are built in Oracle Forms, including Oracle Financials. Oracle Financials is a popular tool that allows development to create user-interface applications that access an Oracle database in a very efficient and tightly coupled way. Due to the way they combine browser and stand-alone Java technologies, Oracle applications can create some very particular testing challenges. The advanced technology behind TestDrive meets these challenges by intelligently understanding and monitoring the application's activity, resulting in consistent testing regardless of application performance.

Java is one of today's most popular open application environments. Due to the modular, service-oriented nature of Java applications, they are instrumental in IT modernization and SOA projects. This has been the motivation for significant enhancements to Java support in TestDrive V6.

Earlier this year, Original Software announced support for 3270 mainframe applications in its manual testing solution, TestDrive-Assist. "The response astonished us," said Colin Armitage, CEO of Original Software. "Perhaps we shouldn't have been so skeptical because, although the media focus mainly on the latest buzzwords, the fact of the matter is that many line-of-business applications on which our major corporations rely, are built over indestructible green screen technology. This stuff isn't going out of fashion, and people recognize their importance to the business and thus the need to ensure quality. As a consequence, this new release sees us adding 3270 automation support to our repertoire as well as further improving the functionality of our IBM i5 5250 solution."

Armitage continued, "As our recent survey¹ suggests, quality has become a boardroom issue and as such, rather than taking the traditional piecemeal approach, application testing is moving from a short-term project focus, to a wider strategic goal. Astute CIOs recognize that quality is imperative across all business applications and in these credit-crunch constrained times, rather than buying new solutions for each application development or having to do manual work-arounds with their incumbent solution, that both time and money can be saved by investing in a quality solution that works across the board."

 About Original Software

Original Software offers automated software testing and quality assurance solutions that deliver tangible benefits across a wide range of IT and application environments.  As a recognized innovator, Original Software's goal is to reduce business risk and improve application time to market for IT departments through the development of class leading automated solutions.

Over the last ten years, more than 400 organizations operating in 25 countries have come to depend on Original Software for their software testing solutions.  Current users range from small software development shops to major multinationals, including Cargill Global Financial Solutions, JPMorgan Chase, Debenhams Plc, Barnes & Noble Bookstores, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Ireland), DHL, Coca-Cola, Skandia and hundreds of others.

Original Software operates central offices near Chicago and London. Their solutions can be obtained through these offices or through a network of qualified and knowledgeable business partners throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australasia and the Americas.

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¹A recent independent CIO survey commissioned by Original Software uncovered that issues of software quality were making it to the boardroom with more than 80 percent of CIOs directly involved with forming SQA policies.