Test Steps and Test Data
You add action and validation steps from the Steps tab on the work item form for test cases and shared steps. This topic describes the controls and the data fields that are associated with defining test steps. For more information about how to define test steps, see How to: Share Common Test Case Steps Using Shared Steps.
In this topic
Test Steps Toolbar Controls
Inserting and Using Shared Steps
Adding Parameters to Test Multiple Data Sets
Test Steps Toolbar Buttons
The Steps tab uses the TestStepsControl to implement a form that captures a sequence of steps and test data that is tightly integrated with Microsoft Test Manager. The Steps tab includes the toolbar that the following illustration shows:
.png "Steps toolbar")
Some buttons become available only after you add some test steps or have clicked a test step. Also, the buttons to create and insert shared steps are available only in the work item form for a test case. You cannot insert a shared steps work item into another shared steps work item.
Inserting and Using Shared Steps
You use shared steps to streamline definition and maintenance of test cases by defining a sequence of action and validation steps to run as part of a test case. Tests often require the same sequence of steps to be performed for multiple test cases. You can define a sequence of steps as shared steps once and insert it into many test cases. For example, the test steps to log on to your application might have to be run in several test cases. By sharing the steps, you maintain changes only in the shared steps.
For more information, see How to: Share Common Test Case Steps Using Shared Steps.
Adding Parameters to Test Multiple Sets of Data
To run a manual test case multiple times with different data, you can add parameters to the actions or the expected results for any test step in your test case or shared steps. Each set of values for the parameters is run as an individual iteration of the test when you use Test Runner. You can copy the value of each parameter when you run the test and then paste the value into your input field in your application.
You can insert a parameter into the action or the expected result of a step, as the following illustration shows. You can also rename or delete parameters in your steps. If you no longer require a set of data, you can delete that data iteration from your steps.
.png "Add Parameters to a Test Case")
For more information, see How to: Add Parameters to a Manual Test Case To Run Multiple Times with Different Data.