QAT Wizard

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Application Development Acceleration for CA Gen

QAT Global doesn’t do any development projects in Gen without using patterns and QAT Wizard. You will see productivity increase 8-15+ times* where patterns are used in your development activities using QAT Wizard. Imagine the cost savings and benefits you could gain by reducing your new development time from 2 weeks to 20 minutes. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. QAT Wizard will drastically reduce your development time and produce code that precisely meets your coding and view standards.QAT Wizard Control Panel

QAT Wizard is a plug-in for CA Gen that dramatically accelerates the application development process. First, the Wizard plug-in itself is a sophisticated plug-in for CA Gen that expertly copies and customizes Gen code according to a custom interview. The second part is the actual pattern model that gets copied and customized by the Wizard. The newest releases focus on the automation, tools and documentation required for customers to author their own standard patterns and corresponding Wizard Interviews.

The pattern model provided by QAT Global is still definitely the best starting point, but the customer is now able to create entirely new patterns and associated interviews for the Wizard. All code and view standards can be applied to the Pattern model and interviews can be created for existing models with any code and view standard.

Other QAT Wizard Components:

Wizard Interview Manager

The Wizard Interview Manager is a visual design tool used to develop the Interactive Wizard Interview. The designer can choose from several types of options for prompting the developer through the interview. Some options are simple question/answer where the developer is prompted for choices that are defined by the designer. Other options are used to prompt the developer to select model objects, such as entities, attributes and relationships to be supported within the new application being created by the Wizard. These options can be conditional based on previous selections made in the interview. The designer also has the ability to enable and disable features to customize the pattern code it copies according to the choices made in the interview. The interview is interpreted by QAT Wizard so it can be tested as the interview is being developed.

Pattern Test Harness

A pattern developer guide is provided that details how to develop a custom pattern model for QAT Wizard. This guide outlines the action diagram coding rules and techniques required to build a pattern model that will interact with the Wizard Interview to produce a fully customized application.

AT Pattern Model

A new automated Pattern Test Harness was developed into the starter pattern model. This test harness integrates directly to the Wizard Interview in a special mode that allows the tester to make the same choices they will be presented with during the Wizard Interview. This allows for each pattern to be tested with any combination of features defined.

In order to automate the logic to enable the patterns to retrieve these current settings (i.e. Enabled Wizard Features) so the test can execute as if those features were selected during the Wizard, we created a plug-in that generates this specialized Wizard Feature action diagram logic into the pattern procedures and action blocks automatically.

Between the new automated test menu and the new plug-in to generate the Wizard Feature logic, we’ve greatly simplified the task of developing and testing patterns for QAT Wizard. The new pattern test menu and code generator can now be launched directly from the QAT Wizard control panel.

Notes Manager Plug-in

The Notes Manager is a plug-in for CA Gen that allows for common notes to be easily managed across an entire model. It is important to maintain consistent notes within a pattern model so developers have the proper standards documentation to understand and complete the applications after they are created by QAT Wizard. This tool requires that any common notes be tagged using an XML style tag within the note to identify them as “Managed Notes”. This plug-in then allows for the text within these managed notes to be modified across the model. Entirely new Managed Notes can also be created. These changes can be filtered by Clients, Servers and Action Blocks.

QAT ReFactor

We are also including a new tool called QAT ReFactor. The QAT ReFactor is a plug-in for CA Gen that provides sophisticated Action Diagram view substitution between unlike Entities, Work Sets and their Attributes. Individual action diagrams, complete call chains or the entire model can be targeted for the ReFactor operation. The ReFactor operations even allow attributes with unlike domains to be matched and substituted in the Action Diagrams.

WITHOUT QUESTION…Developers are more productive across multiple applications when they are written with QAT’s Wizard.

Full Client Control — That’s the new theme for QAT Wizard

What’s New

The newest release of the Wizards, adds valuable new features to provide Full Client Control. While past releases focused on the features and options within the QAT pattern model, the release focuses on allowing the client to take full control over the pattern model and the associated Wizard Interviews that control the Wizard. The pattern model provided by QAT Global will still be a good starting point, but the client will now be able to create entirely new patterns and associated interviews for the Wizard. All code and view standards can be applied to the QAT Pattern model or interviews can be created for existing models with any code and view standard.

Wizard IllustrationHighlights

  • Reduce development time by at least 50% using this advanced automation tool.
  • Use your own patterns to apply the code and view standards for your shop or customize the QAT Patterns to use your standard views and coding practices.
  • Develop your own interviews that copy and customize any pattern model.
  • Develop custom help for every option in your interviews using Word or PDF so the developer has context sensitive help during the interview.
  • Whether planning a major enhancement to a new development, your projects will quickly realize significant development time and cost savings as well as quality improvements by automating your development process with QAT Wizard.
  • With QAT Wizard Pattern Training, you will learn to create your first custom pattern model that you own when it’s done. You can use this experience and model to create additional new pattern models.

The Quintessential Tool for the Gen Developer

Benefits

  • Reduce CA Gen development time by at least 50% using this advanced automation tool.
  • The most powerful application wizard on the market.
  • Interview-style wizard custom builds applications using your shop standards.
  • Use your own patterns to apply the code and view standards for your shop or customize the QAT Patterns to use your standard views and coding practices. The starter QAT Pattern model offers six robust patterns and multiple customization options.
  • Develop your own interviews that copy and customize any pattern model.
  • Develop Custom help for each option in your interviews using Word or PDF so the developer. has context sensitive help during the interview.
  • Support for all major architectures provided by CA Gen today, including CBD.
  • CBD – 100% generation of mapper action blocks, including SET statements and support for both Component and Application Models.
  • Produce production ready applications within minutes.
  • Reduced training costs …developers learn by example. With QAT Wizard Pattern Training, you will learn to create your first custom pattern model that you own when it’s done. You can use this experience and model to create additional new pattern models.
  • Reduced maintenance costs …standardized quality code facilitates more productive maintenance cycles.
  • Improved performance….QAT’s Wizards are designed around the latest best practices and with attention to network traffic issues.
  • Faster end-user acceptance because of the robust UI features, stability, and overall quality.
  • Satisfied developers enjoy using QAT Wizard because the resultant code is clean and the documentation is effective.
  • Easy to use for business analysts and developers alike.
  • Dynamic help and pattern reference will guide you through the process.
  • Dynamic customization and expert help will have your team building high-quality applications extremely fast… CA Gen fast.
  • A comprehensive and proven coding standard for CA Gen without the standards manual.
  • Achieve immediate results and measurable return on investment. Whether planning a major enhancement to a new development, your projects will quickly realize significant development time and cost savings as well as quality improvements by automating your development process with QAT Wizard.

Details

First, the Wizard plug-in itself is a sophisticated plug-in for CA Gen that expertly copies and customizes Gen code according to a custom interview. The second part is the actual pattern model that gets copied and customized by the Wizard. The newest releases focus on the automation, tools and documentation required for customers to author their own standard patterns and corresponding Wizard Interviews. The pattern model provided by QAT Global is still definitely the best starting point, but the customer is now able to create entirely new patterns and associated interviews for the Wizard. All code and view standards can be applied to the Pattern model and interviews can be created for existing models with any code and view standard.

Wizard Plug-in

Interview Manager

Pattern Test Harness

Pattern Test Harness

A new automated Pattern Test Harness was developed into the starter pattern model. This test harness integrates directly to the Wizard Interview in a special mode that allows the tester to make the same choices they will be presented with during the Wizard Interview. This allows for each pattern to be tested with any combination of features defined.

Pattern Test Harness

Pattern Model

Notes Manager

Notes Manager Plug-in

The Notes Manager is a plug-in for CA Gen that allows for common notes to be easily managed across an entire model. It is important to maintain consistent notes within a pattern model so developers have the proper standards documentation to understand and complete the applications after they are created by QAT Wizard. This tool requires that any common notes be tagged using an XML style tag within the note to identify them as “Managed Notes”. This plug-in then allows for the text within these managed notes to be modified across the model. Entirely new Managed Notes can also be created. These changes can be filtered by Clients, Servers and Action Blocks.

QAT Notes Manager Plug-in

QAT ReFactor

(Click on images to view a larger version.)

FAQ

What is the Wizard Interview Manager?

The Wizard Interview Manager is a visual design tool used to develop the Interactive Wizard Interview. The designer can choose from several types of options for prompting the developer through the interview. Some options are simple question/answer where the developer is prompted for choices that are defined by the designer. Other options are used to prompt the developer to select model objects, such as entities, attributes and relationships to be supported within the new application being created by the Wizard. These options can be conditional based on previous selections made in the interview. The designer also has the ability to enable and disable features to customize the pattern code it copies according to the choices made in the interview. The interview is interpreted by QAT Wizard so it can be tested as the interview is being developed.

What experience is required and how difficult is it to learn to use the new Interview Manager?

Anyone familiar with CA Gen and the features provided by the target pattern model can quickly learn to develop new interviews with the Interview Manager. It is possible to learn the tool from the supplied help alone. A two hour discussion with one of the engineers at QAT Global would be more than enough to learn this simple tool and how to develop Wizard Interviews.

As I develop or customize the interviews, is it possible to develop context sensitive help for each interview question?

Yes, you can develop this context sensitive help with either Word or Adobe PDF. Simply create a document and include bookmarks for the various questions. The Interview Manager allows you to record these file name and corresponding bookmarks for each option. These bookmarks are then interpreted by QAT Wizard so the help can be opened for any option during the interview.

What is the Pattern Test Harness?

A new automated Pattern Test Harness was developed into the starter pattern model. This test harness integrates directly to the Wizard Interview in a special mode that allows the tester to make the same choices they will be presented with during the Wizard Interview. This allows for each pattern to be tested with any combination of features defined. In order to automate the logic to enable the patterns to retrieve these current settings (i.e. Enabled Wizard Features) so the test can execute as if those features were selected during the Wizard, we created a plug-in that generates this specialized Wizard Feature action diagram logic into the pattern procedures and action blocks automatically. Between the new automated test menu and the new plug-in to generate the Wizard Feature logic, we’ve greatly simplified the task of developing and testing patterns for QAT Wizard. The new pattern test menu and code generator can now be launched directly from the QAT Wizard control panel.

What is the Pattern Developer Guide?

A pattern developer guide is provided that details how to develop a custom pattern model for QAT Wizard. This guide outlines the action diagram coding rules and techniques required to build a pattern model that will interact with the Wizard Interview to produce a fully customized application.

What experience is required and how long does it take to become proficient at developing customer pattern models?

Any CA Gen developer can develop custom pattern models. It is recommended that the developer(s) defining the standards to the organization be responsible for developing the pattern model(s) and corresponding interviews. Any developer already proficient with CA Gen development can learn to develop custom patterns for QAT Wizard in less than a day. There are a few rules and techniques to understand and these can be learned from a short training course or directly from the supplied help if necessary.

What is the QAT Pattern Model?

The QAT Pattern model is the pattern model developed by QAT. This pattern model is robust and field tested around the world. These patterns support Web and client/server with support for multiple server styles and architectures, including CBD (Component and Application Models). It currently provides seven pre-defined patterns, including List, Detail, Multiple List, Associative, Batch, Tree and Grid. These patterns will never fully match the standards for all customers, but this is the recommended starting point for all customers. This pattern model is also developed as a runtime test harness so customers can install the patterns as an application that will allow the customer to switch the various optional features on and off to see the behavior provided by each pattern. The QAT Pattern model is optional. For customers that prefer to develop their own pattern models, a Getting Started model is provided with the required entities already defined and some sample applications with corresponding interviews.

What is the Notes Manager Plug-in?

The Notes Manager is a plug-in for CA Gen that allows for common notes to be easily managed across an entire model. It is important to maintain consistent notes within a pattern model so developers have the proper standards documentation to understand and complete the applications after they are created by QAT Wizard. This tool requires that any common notes be tagged using an XML style tag within the note to identify them as “Managed Notes”. This plug-in then allows for the text within these managed notes to be modified across the model. Entirely new Managed Notes can also be created. These changes can be filtered by Clients, Servers and Action Blocks.

What is QAT ReFactor??

QAT ReFactor is a plug-in for CA Gen that provides sophisticated Action Diagram view substitution between unlike Entities, Work Sets and their Attributes. Individual action diagrams, complete call chains or the entire model can be targeted for the ReFactor operation. The ReFactor operations even allow attributes with unlike domains to be matched and substituted in the Action Diagrams.

Here are some of the ReFactor operations provided. All of these ReFactor operations can target a single action block, an entire call chain or the entire model.

You can ReFactor your Action Diagram(s) to:

  • Substitute an Entity View for a Work Set View with all attributes mapped according to a designed match.
  • Substitute an Entity/Work Set View for a different Entity/Work Set View with all attributes mapped according to a designed match.
  • Substitute selected Attributes from an Entity/Work Set View with Attributes from a different Entity/WorkSet View.

Are these types of ReFactoring operations dangerous because they may break existing code?

It is true that the ReFactor operations may break existing code. However, consider that CA Gen has always allowed the domain of Entity or Work Set Attributes to be changed from the Data Model or Work Set diagrams. These operations also break code. It would be too restricting if the tool required all code to be removed before allowing this type of change. The same logic applies to operations provided by QAT ReFactor. The operations should be used with the full understanding of the impact they may have, but the time saved is very significant.

QAT ReFactor is a valuable tool for the Gen developer, but why is it being bundled with QAT Wizard?

QAT Wizard requires that all pattern models (including customer developed pattern models) use the Entities from the QAT Global supplied starter model. If customers wish to convert their own templates or patterns so they can be copied and customized automatically with QAT Wizard, it is necessary to either rename the entities to match and/or change the code to use these supplied Entity Types. In the cases where code needs to be changed to match the supplied entities, the QAT ReFactor tool will make this dramatically faster. In Addition, many customers already have mature standards with standard Work Sets required. These customers may wish to start from the QAT Pattern model, but change the patterns to use their specific Work Sets. Again, the QAT ReFactor tool will make this dramatically faster.

What are the benefits of patterns?

  • Enforce Standards
  • Rapid Application Development
  • Improve Quality and reduce testing time
  • Do the hard and mundane stuff
  • Prototype tool
  • End user involvement early
  • Build robust Clients and Servers

How does the interview-style wizard work?

  • Automatically builds customized GUI and Web applications.
  • Many custom options exist for each pattern.
  • The wizard prompts for each option.
  • Builds fully customized applications according to the selected options.
  • Builds the Web or GUI client along with all corresponding servers and action blocks in a single interview.

What options does QAT Wizard have?

  • User Interface: Windows (GUI) — Web (WCE)
  • Server Architecture: Client/Server — CBD (Component and Application Model Support)
  • Pattern: List— Multiple List— Detail — Associative — Tree (Active X) — Grid (Active X)
  • Server Style: Operation or Hub
  • Customization Options: Join Entity Types — Dropdowns — Related/Unrelated Entities

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