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                     Tester for Windows Acceptance Tests 0.10b

                         (c) Simulation Systems Ltd. 2006
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This README file contains the latest information about Tester Acceptance Tests 0.10 beta. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
 - Introduction
 - Important Notices
 - Installation 
 - Acceptance Test Structure
 - Future Developments
 - Known Issues
 - Support & Feedback

--------------
 INTRODUCTION
--------------

Acceptance testing enables Maintenance contractors to use Tester to ensure that a device does not respond to illegal or corrupt messages or to packets addressed to other devices.

Tester is designed to use acceptance test package files rather then having the functions hard coded into the application. This allows the tests to be easily updated and re-distributed.

-------------------
 IMPORTANT NOTICES
-------------------

IMPORTANT: Although Tester supports Windows 95/98/Me we do NOT recommend running acceptance tests under these operating systems due to their timing limitations which can have an effect on the results of certain acceptance tests.  We will be developing Windows 95/98/Me compatible acceptance tests
in the next release.

We are currently still in the process of finalising the first release version of the acceptance tests.  The current beta release provides all the functionality that is expected in version 1.00 but will not provide any report generation features.  We have also limited the beta acceptance tests to EMI, EMS and VMS sign types (not VMS CIE).

To view the progress of an executing acceptance test please use the Event Viewer by hitting the "F12" key or selecting "View | Event Viewer".  Select the "Test Mode" branch and you should be presented with the results of the acceptance tests that have already completed.

--------------
 INSTALLATION
--------------

IMPORTANT: Tester 2.10 has to be installed on the target system before proceeding.

The acceptance test package installs automatically from the SSL NMCS2 products CD.  To install the package, insert the SSL NMCS2 Products CD into the drive and the setup program should launch automatically.  If Auto-Run has been disabled, run the CDROM.EXE from your CD-ROM drive (e.g. D:\CDROM.EXE). 

To access the acceptance test, simply run Tester and click "F4" to enter Test Mode. This should automatically display a test package selection dialog. Once you have selected the acceptance test package, execute one of the tests that have been made available for your selected device type.

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 ACCEPTANCE TEST STRUCTURE
---------------------------

-EMI
  -Data Field Errors
    -Sign Address Test
    -Control Field Test
    -Request Test Results Test
    -CMI Luminance Test (CMI Only)
  -Lantern Operation
    -Lantern Operation Test
    -Display Brightness Test
  -All Aspects
  -Device Modification
  -Protocol & Parameters
    -Parity Test
    -Inter Character Delay Test
    -Invalid Length Message Test
    -Data & Stop Bits Test
  -Self Test & Status Request
    -EMI Self Test
    -Status Request Test
  -Full Acceptance Test
    -Data Field Errors Tests
    -Lantern Operation Tests
    -All Aspects Test
    -Device Modification Test
    -Protocol & Parameters Tests
    -Self Test & Status Request Tests

-EMS
  -Data Field Errors
    -Sign Address Test
    -Control Field Test
    -Request Test Results Test
    -Device Modification Test
    -Message CRC Test
  -Lantern Operation
    -Lantern Synchronisation Test
    -Flasher Test
    -Display Brightness Test
  -Variable Messages
    -Multiple EMS Display Test
  -Device Modification
  -Protocol & Parameters
    -Parity Test
    -Inter Character Delay Test
    -Invalid Length Message Test
    -Data & Stop Bits Test
  -Self Test 1 & 2, Status Request  
    -MS Self Tests
    -Status Request Test
  -Full Acceptance Test
    -Data Field Errors Tests
    -Lantern Operation Tests
    -Variable Message Tests
    -Protocol & Parameters Tests
    -Self Test 1 & 2, Status Request Tests
    -Status Response Speed Test

-VMS
  -Data Field Errors
    -Sign Address Test
    -Control Field Test
    -Request Test Results Test
    -Device Modification Test
    -Message CRC Test
  -Lantern Operation
    -Lantern Synchronisation Test
    -Flasher Test
    -Display Brightness Test
  -Variable Messages
    -Multiple VMS Display Test
  -Device Modification
  -Protocol & Parameters
    -Parity Test
    -Inter Character Delay Test
    -Invalid Length Message Test
    -Data & Stop Bits Test
  -Full Acceptance Test
    -Data Field Errors Tests
    -Lantern Operation Tests
    -Variable Message Tests
    -Protocol & Parameters Tests


NOTE: A full description of each test will be provided with version 1.00.

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 FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
---------------------

* Comprehensive statistics.
* Detailed and summarised acceptance test reports.
* Support for VMS CIE signs.

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 KNOWN ISSUES
--------------

* Invalid Length Message Test reports error on a valid response to a six byte packet.  This  problem will be resolved in the next issue of the acceptance tests.
* MS Self Tests do not clear the sign before proceeding.  This causes the test to fail as the sign ignores the transmitted test commands.
* Occasional event detail warnings are not reflected in the final status of the event.

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 SUPPORT & FEEDBACK
--------------------

We must point out that a lot of changes are expected to go into version 1.00 of the acceptance tests, however if you experience any problems, have usability issues or have any comments for future developments please let us know by contacting us:

  Simulation Systems Ltd
  Unit 12, Market Industrial Estate
  Yatton,
  Bristol,
  BS49 4RF

  Tel:       (01934) 838803
  Fax:       (01934) 876202
  Web:       http://www.simulation-systems.co.uk/wintester			
  E-mail:    wintester.support@simulation-systems.co.uk