Function Point WORKBENCH™

OVERVIEW

FEATURES

Online Brochure

Why Spreadsheets are Inadequate!

Frequently Asked Questions

RELEASE INFORMATION

Release 6.0

Release 5.8

Release 5.5

Release 5.0

Release 4.1

Release 4.0

User Manual TOC

PRODUCT TRAINING & SUPPORT

Getting Started Guide

Tutorials

WORKBENCH Help

PURCHASING

Order Online

International Reseller Network

International Price List

Client List

SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS

WORKBENCH 6.0 Evaluation

WORKBENCH - Publisher

Licence Agreement

 

What Was New in Function Point WORKBENCH™ Release 5.5 (Patent Pending)

Faster and Smarter Insertions of New Transactions

Multiple Transactions can now be entered and automatically assigned their Function Type and Default Complexity Rating for the Function Type in a single process. This new interface markedly speeds up counting as well as providing a mechanism for implementing a 'standard' approach to the naming of Transactions.

Four new components enable this functionality:

Verb - Function Type Lexicon

This is a tool which associates a Keyword typically used when naming a Transaction with a Transaction Function Type. For example, Add is typically associated with an External Input, Enquire usually indicates an External Inquiry. The Workbench Lexicon is prepopulated with a number of verbs commonly used in naming Transactions. The User can add new entries as well as modifying and deleting entries already there.

Multiple Insert Dialog

The Insert New Node capability has been expanded to include the ability to insert groups of Transactions in a single process:

  • Transaction Group - to add a group of one or more Transactions.

  • Branch - to add a Component Node and a group of one or more child Transactions.

The names of these Component Nodes and Transactions are built by concatenating the Keywords selected with the Object Name.

In addition, every new Transaction can be automatically assigned its Function Type and the Default Complexity for the Type as it is recorded in the Hierarchy.

Automatically Assign Function Types to A Group of Transactions

The Keyword - Function Type Lexicon is used here by this powerful new function to automatically Assign Function Types to Unclassified Transactions below a Component node in the Transaction Hierarchy. The function searches the name of each unclassified Transaction for a Keyword Match and assigns the Function Type for the Keyword to the Transaction. It then assigns the default complexity for the Function Type.

This capability means, for example, that hierarchies of Transactions imported into the Workbench from external sources can be quickly classified and assigned Function Points for fast assessment of size.

User Defined Default Complexity Ratings for Transactions

User Defined Default Complexity Ratings for Transactions can be set at any time.

User Specified Default Complexity Ratings for Files

The user can now define a default complexity rating for Files. This is used when a File is added to a Count.

Count Details Reports

Hierarchy Outline List

New options have been added to the Hierarchy Outline List to allow the inclusion of counting data in this report.

Exclusion of Value Adjustment Factor and Adjusted Function Points

The Value Adjustment Factor and Adjusted Function Point can be excluded from the Count Details reports.

Count Analysis Reports

There are 5 new Count Analysis Reports:

Transaction and File List - NESMA Enhancement Method

List of Transactions and Files impacted by an Enhancement showing the contribution of each to the count and the NESMA Impact Factor and a Summary of the NESMA Enhancement Function Points and IFPUG Base Function Points.

Effort Estimation

Effort and Cost Estimates based on user-allocated Effort Productivity Sinks where an Effort Productivity Sink is a grouping of functions perceived as having a similar delivery rate.

Cost Estimation

Cost Estimates based on user-allocated Cost Productivity Sinks where a Cost Productivity Sink is a grouping of functions perceived as having a similar unit cost for delivery.

Transaction List with Linked Notes

Cross-reference listing each Transaction and its attached Notes. This report shows that the Sizing is defensible and auditable.

Notes List with Linked Transactions

Cross-reference listing each Note and its associated Transactions. This report supports Requirements Tracking.

Existing Reports have been enhanced:

Count Label Analysis

You can choose to list the actual Transactions and Files for each Option value and their Sizing data.

For Enhancement Project Counts, you can choose the Reporting Scope as Enhancement Project Only or Entire Application.

Relative Complexity of Function Types and Relative Contribution of Function Types

These reports now utilise the latest ISBSG data.

Portfolio Reporting

The Portfolio Reporting has been further enhanced to provide more flexibility in tailoring the reports.

In addition, a new report has been added to allow easy reporting for Projects which impact more than one Application.

 

Paste from Clipboard into Transaction Hierarchy, File List and Value Adjustment Factor

External data can now be pasted directly from the Clipboard into counts. Data can be pasted into the Transaction Hierarchy, the File List and the Value Adjustment Factor.

Direct Interfaces into S.M.A.R.T. PREDICTOR™ and SEER-SEM™ Estimating Tools

There are now direct interfaces between the Function Point Workbench and the Estimating Tools S.M.A.R.T. PREDICTOR™ and SEER-SEM™. Users can pass sizings of counts and count subsets directly into these tools. There is already an interface into KnowledgePLAN™.

User Specified Colours in the Transaction Hierarchy

The User can now customise the colours in the Transaction Hierarchy display.

Other Capabilities for Faster Counting

Hierarchy editing functions continue to improve:

  • Drag and Drop for Move, Copy, Promote and Demote have been introduced.

  • Conventional keyboard shortcuts for Cut, Copy and Paste have been included.

  • Keyboard Shortcuts to commonly used functions - Search and Highlight, Clear Highlighting, Function Point Summary Display, Enable Label Option Colour Display, Reporting, Portfolio Reporting, Display Function Point Details.

Previous Value Adjustment Factor

For Enhancement Project Counts, the previous Value Adjustment Factor can be modified.


Some Function Point WORKBENCH™ Users: IBM, MasterCard International, Dresdner Bank AG, Infosys, AXA, INSIEL, DHL, Austrian Airlines, Kommunedata, Bank of Canada, Deutsche Bank, CSC, National Westminster Bank, EDS, Motorola, AMP, Southern California Edison, AT&T, General Motors, ESCOM, Lloyds of London, DMR, Target, PTT Telecom, Siemens

Home

Function Point WORKBENCH™

Consulting

Training

Library

Site Map

Search

Contact

CHARISMATEK Software Metrics, ABN 47 058 381 990, 175 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne, VIC 3205, Australia
Telephone: +61 (0) 3 9696 1255, Facsimile: +61 (0) 3 9696 1204, Email: info@charismatek.com, Web: www.charismatek.com