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Worksoft Takes Software Testing to the Next Level With the Introduction of Worksoft Specify(TM)

An Innovative Data Generation Tool Designed for Software Testing, Specify Solves Two Major Problems Surrounding Test Data -- Accessibility and Privacy

Worksoft, Inc., the leading innovator of automated software testing solutions, today announced the introduction of Worksoft Specify(TM), the first data generation application designed specifically to meet key requirements for software testing, including the ability to automatically extract or generate test data to speed time-to-market and/or scramble production data to comply with rising privacy and security mandates.

Specify enables the quick and easy population of test databases during software development and testing with meaningful, precise data arranged using a systematic rule-based methodology. Better test data ensures companies can thoroughly test software and avoid deploying faulty applications, while achieving faster time-to-market.

"With application development cycles becoming increasingly shorter, data generation is emerging as a challenge for efficient and effective software QA testing," said Linda Hayes, CTO, Worksoft, Inc. "Compressed testing schedules often dictate using only a small sampling of data, and therefore are unable to accurately simulate real-world application usage. With Specify, this issue is resolved through the availability of realistic test data that is quickly and easily generated as needed."

"In today's global marketplace, software applications critical to business profitability and competitive advantage should not be deployed without extensive real-life testing scenarios," said Richard Ptak of Ptak, Noel & Associates. "Data generation is often overlooked as a key component of application testing, yet the ability to rapidly extract and reproduce accurate representative data is critical to the deployment of functional software. Worksoft's Specify is designed to meet the challenge by enabling businesses to quickly and efficiently create test databases that support accurate and thorough application testing while side stepping data privacy issues."

Taking Control of Data

In the past, data required to test applications needed to be derived from production databases, which could only be provided by system administrators.

With a few clicks of the mouse, Specify empowers QA personnel, business analysts and subject matter experts, giving them the capability to:

--  Extract desired data record sets from an organization's existing data
    stored in Oracle®, SQL, Sybase and other existing databases;
--  Scramble sensitive private information for security purposes;
--  Generate meaningful, project-specific test data including names,
    addresses, phone numbers, and more from expansive test databases comprised
    of random numbers, built-in dictionaries, user-defined custom lists, or
    modified business data;
--  Integrate data records with Worksoft Certify or third-party software
    testing products, in order to serve as input or verification for automated
    or manual software tests; and,
--  Automatically detect changes to the metadata and update all affected
    data rules.
    

Protecting Data Privacy

When corporate data is used for testing purposes, the information may be inadvertently exposed. Studies indicate security breaches can take place due to dissatisfied or complacent internal employees; third-party service providers; or, software and hardware errors. Companies engaging offshore resources are particularly vulnerable, and Specify helps to promote compliance with privacy laws and regulations by providing an extra layer of data protection that replaces confidential data including names, addresses, phone numbers, identification numbers and other sensitive information with artificially-generated data that preserves referential integrity.

Worksoft Specify and Certify - A Powerful Team

The combined use of Specify and Certify, Worksoft's flagship automated software testing solution, dramatically reduces the amount of technical skill and effort required by traditional testing tools. Certify provides a pre-built testing framework with a point-and-click interface that guides business analysts, subject matter experts and QA personnel through a structured process with minimal training. Certify supports software documentation and automation in one easy step, eliminating coding and scripting and reducing the time and cost of test automation by more than 60 percent. When used in conjunction with Specify, Certify will execute automated tests that supply data through the user interface of the application instead of directly into the database, removing data integrity concerns and the need for write access to databases.

Support and Pricing

As an enterprise-class application, Specify supports a wide range of databases including Microsoft® Access; Microsoft SQL; Microsoft Visual FoxPro®; Oracle, IBM® DB2® and Informix®; Sybase; and, Microsoft Excel and text file formats.

Worksoft Specify is available now starting at $7,995 per seat. For a limited time, users will receive a credit for one copy of Worksoft Certify for each copy of Specify purchased. For more information on Specify, please contact Worksoft at 1-866-836-1733, or download an evaluation version of Specify at www.worksoft.com.

About Worksoft, Inc.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Worksoft was founded in 1998 and pioneered innovative approaches to software quality testing. Worksoft solutions simplify and accelerate software testing -- slashing time and cost factors by 60 percent or more -- helping businesses deliver applications that meet exacting user requirements in a shorter time frame with higher quality. Worksoft's customers include AFLAC, Charles Schwab, The Hartford, Mary Kay, and other Fortune 500 customers in the financial, insurance, retail and healthcare industries.

Contact Worksoft at 1-866-836-1773 or visit their website at www.worksoft.com.

Worksoft, Worksoft Certify and Worksoft Specify are registered trademarks of Worksoft, Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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