Using Calculation Fragments for Spreadsheet Testing and Debugging

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method that automatically computes manageable spreadsheet fragments to assist users in testing and debugging complex spreadsheets more effectively, reducing reliance on user-provided test cases.

Contribution

It proposes a novel approach to support spreadsheet debugging by automatically generating smaller, verifiable fragments of spreadsheets for easier correctness validation.

Findings

Enables easier validation of spreadsheet formulas

Reduces user effort in debugging complex spreadsheets

Supports more reliable testing process

Abstract

A number of automated techniques and tools were proposed in the research literature over the years which aim to support the spreadsheet developer in the process of testing and debugging a faulty spreadsheet. One underlying assumption of many of these approaches is that the spreadsheet developer is capable of providing test cases or is at least reliably able to determine whether a calculated value in a certain cell is correct given the current set of inputs. Since real-world spreadsheets can be complex, we argue that these assumptions might be too strong in some situations. We therefore propose to support the user during testing and debugging by automatically computing spreadsheet fragments of manageable size. The spreadsheet developer can then verify the correctness of a smaller set of formulas for which the calculated output can be more easily validated.