Axe is a test automation platform that greatly increases productivity and drastically reduces maintenance overheads for test automation. It uses simple Microsoft Excel spreadsheets as a means to define and model test scenarios and code generation techniques to rapidly generate robust, self-documented automation code. Axe is unique and proven in enabling automation in an Agile environment.

Axe integrates with tools from the leading commercial suppliers; Microfocus, HP, IBM Rational, t-Plan, open source web testing tool WatiN, Watir, Selenium and Odin's own SOA test tool AxeHarness (now bundled with Axe).

• The SOA test automation product, AxeHarness is now included in the core product and a new API allows seamless integration with UI tools for SOA testing.
• Easier set-up - New project Wizard improved to configure projects.
• Project Explorer - Access to all assets from a single screen.
• New Axe Excel AddIn based on VSTO - More flexibility in creating test tables.
• Revamped User Interface.
• Dynamic selection of tests for Builds, even from previous runs.
• Integrated Documentation of Tests.
• More Build feedback and Cancel button.
• Introduction of Run Configurations - Flexibility of runtime settings without rebuilds.
• Dynamic Run selection - Select and Re-run tests (on lead platforms) without rebuilding.
• Improved Run Monitor and Stop Button (on lead platforms).
• Improved results - merging of results, summary level results and Suite view.
• Vista support, and updates to tool integrations.
• New MS HTML Help system.

This release also sees the introduction of the Axe C# scripting framework, a standalone framework for building test automation solutions using .NET and other third party libraries, including WatiN. Again the highlights:

• Tool independent - C# Based scripting framework from Odin.
• WatiN - Open source tool integration (supports IE & Firefox testing).
• AxeHarness functionality as .NET assembly (integrated into lead platforms).
• Fully Extensible and Customisable using C#/VS.