March 1, 2006

Dear Qute tester,

Qute 1.0.4.0 is now available for downloading at http://www.unit-test.com/download.php. To install or upgrade, simply download the software and run the QuteInstall.exe. If you have previously installed an earlier version of Qute, simply re-install 1.0.4 right on top of that installation and it will be upgraded (please do ignore any "object already exists" errors).

Give me feedback, enter raffle to win a book!

We have been getting lots of very positive feedback on Qute; I hope you are finding it a powerful method for unit testing, as well. I would very much like to hear about your experience with Qute. Please visit http://www.unit-test.com/contact.php and take a few moments to tell me what you like and don't like. You will then be entered into a raffle to win one of five signed copies of my books, including the fourth edition of my Oracle PL/SQL Programming!

Attend a Qute webinar

You are also invited to attend a one-hour webinar introduction to Qute on Tuesday, March 7, at 10 AM Central Time (Chicago) -- it will be a great time to get questions answered if you have already started working with Qute. Here are instructions to attend the webinar:

(a) Ensure that your computer is compatible for the webinar software. From Internet Explorer (and you must use IE), visit this URL http://giles.bcimeeting.com/imtapp/system_check/SystemChecker.exe and run the System Checker software.

(b) About 10 minutes prior start of the webinar, go to this URL (from Internet Explorer) http://giles.bcimeeting.com/imtapp/app/cmn_jm_hub.uix?mID=378501&siteID=0. There is no password for the webinar. You should be able to proceed directly to the webinar, where you will see a greeting page.

(c) For voice, dial 1-319-256-0200 and enter the access code 539976#. You will then enter the webinar. Please press 4 to receive instructions and press 6 to mute/unmute your line. I ask that you mute your line when you do not have a question, to minimize background noise on the webinar.

New/fixed in Qute 1.0.4

We have fixed a number of bugs and made some enhancements in this release, as described below:

• An attempt to import a test definition from a file will verify that you have execute authority on the object tested by that harness.

• You can now ask Qute to recompile an invalid program unit or test package from within the test harness properties form.

• "Hash mismatch" errors have been fixed by improving the hashing algorithm for GUIDs.

• You can now tell Qute to avoid calling the Java classes to parse PL/SQL code, by checking the appropriate box in Preferences. This is necessary in some operating systems, where the lack of a Java runtime environment causes an un-trappable ORA-00600 error.

• Examples are no longer installed with Qute. We are revamping the approach taken with examples.

• You can now choose to continue the installation of Qute even if we detect that you may not have sufficient privileges.

• Press Cancel or Escape on login form will no longer close Qute.

• Default directory and other Preference settings are now saved between Qute sessions.

• Run Test logic to determine when to recommend generation of test package code has now been improved.

• Error handling in test packages has now been improved to display that error information in the Results tab. You can also copy the error text into the clipboard.

• Assertion code for string-indexed collections now works properly.

Next up for Qute: easier outcome definitions

We are now focusing our attention on making it much easier to define outcomes for your tests. The current approach (selecting from assertion types like "EQ" and "EQTABLE") grew out of my experience with utPLSQL, and I have found it to be too limiting.

In our next iteration, you will be able to: construct your outcome in a more intuitive, flexible, powerful way; and review/modify the customization and assertion code that Qute will generate for that outcome.

Finally, please do report any bugs or requested features so that we can incorporate them into our plans:

1. Visit http://www.unit-test.com/contact.php and fill in the form.
2. Register at the Qute forum, http://www.unit-test.com/phpBB2, and then enter your idea there.
3. Send an email to support@....

Warm regards,
Steven Feuerstein
www.unit-test.com