create-test-cases.md

title	titleSuffix	description	ms.assetid	ms.service	ms.custom	ms.topic	ms.author	author	monikerRange	ms.date
Create manual test cases	Azure Test Plans	Create manual test cases to test your deliverables and assign testers. Use Excel and manage your test cases.	C3C10A82-C7F2-4AB6-9CED-B43DAF722800	azure-devops-test-plans	UpdateFrequency3	quickstart	jeom	rohit-batra	<= azure-devops	11/04/2021

Create manual test cases

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Create manual test cases to check that each deliverable meets your users' needs. Manual test cases define individual steps testers perform, including steps that are shared across test cases. To test different data, you specify parameters for the test steps. For more information, see Share steps between test cases and Repeat a test with different data. For an overview of test artifacts, see Test objects and terms.

Organize your test cases by adding them to test plans and test suites, and then assign testers to run the tests. For more information, see Test objects and terms.

Note

Test iterations are designed to support data-driven scenarios, not workflow-driven scenarios. From a best practice perspective, if you have two test scenarios where the workflows are different, consider creating separate test cases. Also see FAQs for manual testing.

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Create test cases

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1. If you haven't already, create a test plan and requirement-based test suites.

2. Select a requirement-based test suite and select New Test Case.

   

   [!NOTE] The test suite shown here was created from a User Story work item in the team's backlog board. When you add a test case to this kind of suite, the test case automatically links to the backlog item. To create test cases this way, open the context menu for the work item and choose Add test.

3. In the new work item, enter a title and select Click or type here to add a step.

   

4. Add test steps with a description of the action required to carry out the test and the expected results so that any team member can run the test. You can add attachments to a step if you want. Repeat until you add all the steps for the test.

   A test case that you can run gets created.

   For more information, see Share steps and Copy or clone stories, issues and other work items.

Assign configurations to test cases

You can specify configurations, such as different operating systems, web browsers, and other variations for your tests.

• Select the test suite > More options > Assign configurations, and in the dialog box, select your configurations.

You can also assign configurations to individual test cases. Select one or more test cases, select More options > Assign configuration.

• Make your changes and then Save.

For more information, see Test different configurations.

Reorder test cases

You can reorder manual test cases in static suites, requirement-based suites, and query-based suites.

Open a test case, and then use the up and down arrows to change the order.

Add existing test cases to a test suite

Add existing test cases to a test suite with the following actions.

1. Select a test suite. From the New Test Case menu, select Add existing test cases.

   

2. Add search clauses, as needed, and then select Run query.

   

3. When you find the test cases you want, highlight them and select Add test cases.

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1. If you haven't already, create a test plan and requirement-based test suites.

2. Select a requirement-based test suite. In the right-hand pane, choose + (New) and then choose New test case.

   

   The test suite shown here was created from a User Story work item in the team's backlog board. When you add a test case to this kind of suite, the test case is automatically linked to the backlog item. To create test cases this way, open the shortcut menu for the work item and choose Add test.

3. Choose the Click or type here to add a step link and add test steps with a description of the action required to carry out the test and the expected results so that any team member can run the test. You can add attachments to a step if you want. Repeat until you add all the steps for the test.

   You can share steps between test cases. For more information, see Share steps.

   How can I find an existing test case within a test plan?

You can reorder manual test cases in static suites, requirement-based suites, and query-based suites. Choose Order tests on the tool bar, then drag and drop one or more tests. Or open the shortcut menu for a test to move it to the top or to another position. After reordering the tests, you can sort them by the Order field and then run them in that order with the web runner.

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Tip

You can create a test case that automatically links to a requirement—User Story (Agile), Product Backlog Item (Scrum), Requirement (CMMI), or Issue (Basic)—when you create a test from the board. For more information, see Add, run, and update inline tests.

Use the Grid view to edit test cases

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Do the following steps to copy and paste test cases into the Grid view.

1. Select the Grid View icon.

   

2. Select one to several test cases, and then select Edit test case(s) in grid.

   

3. Add, delete, or clear rows.

   

4. Optional. To add multiple test cases to the test suite, select Add test cases using grid.

   

   • In the List view, use the column options to select the fields in the test case work item.

   

   View and edit these fields when you switch to the Grid view. ::: moniker-end

::: moniker range="=azure-devops-2019" Switch between Grid and List views using the View menu at the right of the window.

On the grid shortcut menu, you can add, delete, or clear rows.

You can use the Grid View when you add multiple test cases to the test suite:

Note

Do not use the Teams plugin for Excel to add or update test case work items. Excel cannot parse the format used to store test steps, and in some cases this might affect the formatting of the test case work items.

You can edit other fields in the Grid view. In the List view, use the column options to select the fields in the test case work item.

You can then view and edit these fields when you switch to the Grid view. ::: moniker-end

Use Excel to copy information into a Grid view

::: moniker range=">=azure-devops-2020" You can copy test cases and test steps from an existing Excel worksheet. Copy the columns from Excel that you want to use for the title, action, and expected results fields. Copying doesn't copy column formatting, other than multiline, from the worksheet. Paste these columns into the Grid view, edit if necessary, and save them.

You can copy the data from the Grid view and paste it into your Excel worksheet. Copying doesn't copy test step formatting, other than multiline, into the worksheet.

Note

Don't use the Teams plugin for Excel to add or update test case work items. Excel can't parse the format used to store test steps, and in some cases this may affect the formatting of the test case work items.

::: moniker-end

::: moniker range="=azure-devops-2019" You can copy test cases and test steps from an existing Excel worksheet, which is supported only with Internet Explorer and Chrome browsers.

Copy the columns from Excel that you want to use for the title, action, and expected results fields. Copying doesn't copy column formatting, other than multiline, from the worksheet. Paste these columns into the Grid view, edit if necessary, and save them.

You can copy the data from the Grid view and paste it into your Excel worksheet. Copying doesn't copy test step formatting, other than multiline, into the worksheet. ::: moniker-end

Assign testers

::: moniker range=">=azure-devops-2020" You can reassign test cases so that a different tester can run them. You can assign all the test cases in a test suite to multiple testers, which is useful for acceptance testing.

Testers need Basic access to run tests from Azure Test Plans.

1. In the context menu for a test suite, select Assign testers to run all tests.

   

   The Select testers to run all the tests in suite dialog box opens.

2. Add or remove testers from the list. After you select the testers, select Send email and edit the message as required so they know that tests are ready for them to run.

   

   The email contains a link that testers can open to see the list of assigned tests.

You can assign an individual test case to a tester.

1. In the Execute tab for a test suite, select a test, and then open the context menu.

   

2. Select Assign tester. Search for and select a tester.

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1. You can reassign test cases so that another tester can run them. Select the tests that you want to reassign. Then open the shortcut menu (choose the "..." ellipses or right-click) and select the tester you want to run the tests.

   

   Or, you can assign all the test cases in a test suite to multiple testers, which is useful for acceptance testing. Open the shortcut menu for the test plan and choose Assign testers to run all tests.

   

2. Add or remove testers from the list. After you select the testers, tick the Send email checkbox and edit the message as required so they know that tests are ready for them to run.

   

   The email contains a link that testers can open to see the list of assigned tests. Testers need Basic access to run tests from Azure Test Plans.

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Manage test cases

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You can open a test case to view it or edit it.

1. To open a test case in a test suite, in the Define tab, double-select the name of the test case to open.
2. In the Execute tab, select a test case, open its context menu, and select Edit test case.

A test case can be linked to test suites, requirements, and bugs. To see linked items, in the Define tab, open the context menu for a test case, and select View Linked Items.

In the Linked Items dialog box, you can view Test Suites, Requirements, and Bugs.

Bulk edit test cases

You can edit more than one test case at a time. Select several test cases in a test suite and select Edit test case(s).

Select a Field and enter a Value. Select Add new field to add another field-value pair.

Use tags for test cases

You can tag test cases and view only the ones with specific tags. For example, tag all the tests related to signing in so that you can rerun these tests if a bug is fixed for that page. You can filter on that tag from the Test Plans web portal.

To add new tags to add to work items, you must have Basic access or higher and have the project-level Create new tag definition permissions set to Allow. for more information, see Add work item tags.

You can add and edit tags when you edit a test case, or bulk edit tags in the Grid view. You can also create suites based on queries when you use tags.

Rename or remove test cases

You can rename or remove test cases. Open the test case from its context menu.

Here you can rename the test case.

Or you can remove the test case from the test suite. From the context menu for the test case, select Remove.

To permanently delete test plans and test suites, you must be a member of the Project Administrators group or have the Area Path node-level Manage test plans or Manage test suites permission set to Allow. To manage or delete test artifacts, you must also have your access level set to Basic + Test Plans or Visual Studio Enterprise. For more information, see Delete test artifacts in Azure Boards. ::: moniker-end

::: moniker range="=azure-devops-2019" You can tag test cases and view test cases only with specific tags. For example, tag all the tests related to signing in so that you can rerun these tests if a bug is fixed for that page. Then you can filter on that tag from the Test Plans web portal.

To add new tags to add to work items, you must have Basic access or higher and have the project-level Create new tag definition permissions set to Allow. for more information, see Add work item tags.

You can add and edit tags when you edit a test case, or bulk edit tags in the grid view. You can also create suites based on queries when you use tags.

You can rename or delete test cases. Open the test case from its shortcut menu.

Here you can rename the test case.

Or you can permanently delete the test case.

To delete test plans and test suites, you must be a member of the Project Administrators group or have the Area Path node-level Manage test plans or Manage test suites permission set to Allow. To manage or delete test artifacts, you must also have your access level set to Basic + Test Plans or Visual Studio Enterprise.

To delete test plans and test suites, you must be a member of the Project Administrators group or have the Area Path node-level Manage test plans or Manage test suites permission set to Allow. To manage or delete test artifacts, you must also have your access level set to Basic + Test Plans or Visual Studio Enterprise. For more information, see Delete test artifacts in Azure Boards. ::: moniker-end

Next steps

[!div class="nextstepaction"] Run manual tests

Related articles

• Copy or clone stories, issues and other work items
• Delete test artifacts in Azure Boards
• FAQs for manual testing
• Repeat a test with different data
• Share steps between test cases
• Test different configurations
• Test objects and terms