THE ISSUE...

A Software Configuration Management tool must provide an overall structure for application version change. It should also guarantee rigorous structure. To achieve this, we must first define our work environment (development, test, production) and then automate the change cycle for software components.

THE ARCAD SOLUTION...

ARCAD-Skipper allows implementation of 0 to n test environments for automating transfers to test. These environments can be defined on one machine or on separate machines and/or partitions. It ensures transfers in parallel or series in these environments. All processes are defined as macro-commands, which means that they are entirely customizable to client specifications.

Return to Development
This product allows consecutive development/test transfers in and out of integration tests. A return to development does not in any way affect proper functioning of the test environment. You can pursue a test strategy while continuing to consolidate code. If a component has transited into a number of test environments, Skipper will automatically dispatch the modification into all the environments where the component is found--even on remote machines.

Test Database Management
ARCAD-Skipper allows implementation of independent databases in each test environment. The process of transferring to test performs automatic upgrades to file structures, while preserving local data and launching potential retest programs. These retest programs are handled in configuration in the same way as application components. Execution is defined in the development phase as a macro-command specific to the version.
Test data can be refreshed automatically, either by copying the data in production, or by extracting coherent test data] sub-groups using the Extract tool in the ARCAD-Qualifier suite.

Configuration Change Testing
ARCAD-Skipper does not stop at managing inter-environment component transfers. With the DTC (Data Type Components) module, this product handles the problems involved in transferring configuration data. In a transfer to test, like a transfer to production, data updates can be performed automatically at the same time as component transfer.

Transferring to Test in a Multi-Platform Setting
ARCAD-Skipper can deploy any type of heterogeneous component to different servers. You can establish matching files with no need to maintain the same file hierarchy as in development. With the Skipper macro-language and execution agents you can handle all tasks relating to component storage.