Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test batch configurations

1. A method, comprising:

identifying, using a processor, an execution path through a batch configuration of a first version of a process control system;

generating a test plan for the execution path, wherein generating the test plan includes augmenting the batch configuration with an operational command based on the identified execution path;

simulating the first version of the process control system and a second version of the process control system to execute the test plan; and

determining a difference between the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system by comparing a first result from the execution path of the test plan through the first version of the process control system and a second result from the execution path of the test plan through the second version of the process control system.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a second execution path through the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system;

presenting the execution path and the second execution path to a user; and

receiving an input selecting the execution path for testing.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein identifying the execution path through the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system comprises:

identifying additional execution paths through the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system between an initial node and a corresponding termination node;

merging portions of execution paths that diverge and converge; and

creating a path description for each of the execution paths.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein generating the test plan comprises:

identifying a sequence of interactions representing the execution path; and

inserting the operational command into the sequence to cause the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system to execute the test plan.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising comparing the first result to at least one of a third result of the test plan executed on a project design objective or a functional test objective.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , further comprising verifying execution of the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system based on the difference between the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein verifying execution of the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system comprises verifying at least one of an execution time, a correction of an error, or a response to a user input by the first version of the process control system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first result is representative of an expected result and the second result is representative of a result after a modification to the process control system.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a path discoverer to identify an execution path through a batch configuration of a first version of a process control system;

a test plan creator to generate a test plan for the execution path, wherein the test plan creator is to augment the batch configuration with an operational command based on the identified execution path; and

a test plan executor to simulate the first version of the process control system and a second version of the process control system to execute the test plan, and to determine a difference between the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system by comparing a first result from the execution path of the test plan through the first version of the process control system and a second result from the execution path of the test plan through the second version of the process control system.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein:

the path discoverer is to identify a second execution path through the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system; and

the test plan creator is to present the execution path and the second execution path to a user, and is to receive an input selecting the execution path for testing.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the path discoverer is to:

identify additional execution paths through the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system between an initial node and a corresponding termination node;

merge portions of execution paths that diverge and converge; and

create a path description for each of the execution paths.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the test plan creator is to:

identify a sequence of interactions representing the execution path; and

insert the operational command into the sequence to cause the test plan executor to simulate the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system to execute the test plan.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , further comprising a comparer to compare the first result to at least one of a third result of the test plan executed on a project design objective or a functional test objective.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , further comprising verifying execution of the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system based on the difference between the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system.

15. A machine readable storage device or storage disc having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

identify an execution path through a batch configuration of a first version of a process control system;

generate a test plan for the execution path, wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to augment the batch configuration with an operational command based on the identified execution path;

simulate the first version of the process control system and a second version of the process control system to execute the test plan; and

determine a difference between the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system by comparing a first result from the execution path of the test plan through the first version of the process control system and a second result from the execution path of the test plan through the second version of the process control system.

16. A machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a processor to:

identify a second execution path through the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system;

present the execution path and the second execution path to a user; and

receive an input selecting the execution path for testing.

17. A machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a processor to identify the execution path by at least:

identifying additional execution paths through the batch configuration of the first version of the process control system between an initial node and a corresponding termination node;

merging portions of execution paths that diverge and converge; and

creating a path description for each of the execution paths.

18. A machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a processor to generate the test plan by at least:

identifying a sequence of interactions representing the execution path; and

inserting the operational command into the sequence to cause the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system to execute the test plan.

19. A machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a processor to compare the first result to at least one of a third result of the test plan executed on a second process control system, a project design objective or a functional test objective.

20. A machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a processor to verify execution of the first version of the process control system based on the difference between the first version of the process control system and the second version of the process control system.