DataShark ASQ Tool Generates Test Data For Oracle-Based Applications by Reverse Engineering the Source Database

Business Wire, Sept 22, 1998

BELINGTON, W. Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1998-- HardBall's DataShark For Oracle Now Generates Referentially Correct

Test Data in Two Ways: Using a Schema or the Production Database

Structures and Relationships

HardBall Software, Inc. (www.hardballsw.com), developer of tools that speed the delivery of Oracle-based applications, today announced that it is shipping a new version of its ASQ tool that can automatically create test databases by reverse engineering the structure of the production database. With the addition of a new schema option, DataShark 2.6 for Oracle now offers two distinct methods for developers to easily produce referentially correct test data.

Prior to DataShark's availability, developers have had no practical way to test their applications against a realistic model of the database. They faced a choice of creating data manually, from scratch, or utilizing a production database. Both alternatives result in a less-than-adequate quality assurance check.

Manual data creation is time-consuming, expensive, and unlikely to provide a comprehensive sample reflective of real-world data, and, similarly, the sheer volume of a full-scale production database causes testing problems. A large, production-size database produces ambiguous results, and consequently it is difficult to pinpoint the cause of any errors.

The new version of DataShark for Oracle also expands the range of data types supported to include multimedia data. Because version 2.6 of DataShark supports Oracle's LONG RAW data type, graphics images and digitized sound can now be included in the test data.

"More often than not, developers have inherited their database environment and are therefore limited in their ability to easily understand its structure," said Barbara Bouldin, president and CEO of HardBall Software. "This limitation, in turn, hinders the creation of complete and accurate test data required for even minimal quality assurance efforts. Providing a top-notch test database solves a problem that application developers commonly face in real-world situations."

DataShark for Oracle runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT (versions 3.51 or 4.0). The product is priced at $4,995 per copy and is available immediately in a variety of project packs with group pricing for 5, 10, and 20 users. A free 30-day trial is available for download from the company web site at www.hardballsw.com. Developers can order DataShark directly from HardBall Software by calling 1-888-DATASHARK.

HardBall Software, Inc. develops and markets Automated Software Quality (ASQ) products that accelerate delivery of dependable Oracle database applications by automating test data creation and database slice extraction. The company is an active member of both On Oracle and Oracle's Technical Developer's Program. HardBall Software, Inc. is headquartered in Belington, West Virginia, and operates an office in Los Angeles. HardBall was founded in 1996 and is privately held.