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Unit 6: Compatibility Testing

on the equivalence partition method and are then checked whether the importing codes convert to
the new format.
3. Cut, Copy, and Paste: Cut, copy, and paste are the most common methods used for sharing data
between programs without having to transfer the data to a disk. The process of transfer takes
place through an intermediate program known as clipboard. Figure 6.4 provides a better
understanding about data sharing.

Figure 6.4: Data Sharing for Cut, Copy, and Paste

A clipboard is designed to hold several data types. The most common ones are texts, pictures,
and sounds. The data types can be in different formats -- for example, texts can be plain texts,
pictures can be bitmaps, and so on.
Each time a user performs a cut or copy, the selected data is placed on the clipboard. When the
paste operation is performed, the data gets copied on the destination software on the clipboard.
Some of the applications accept only certain data types or formats to be pasted on them. This is
illustrated in the following example.

A paint application accepting only pictures and not any kind of text.

While performing compatibility testing, you must ensure that data is properly copied in
and out of the clipboard to other programs.

4. DDE, COM, OLE: Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE – pronounced as D-D-E), Component Object
Model (COM—pronounced as oh-lay) and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) are the various
methods used in Windows to transfer data between two applications The main difference
between the clipboard method and the DDE and OLE data method is that the clipboard method
allows data flow from one application to another on a real time basis, whereas with the DDE and
OLE, data transfers can be achieved automatically.

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