Test Plan Specification Overview

The typical application is too large to test as a whole. The Test Plan module enables you to divide your application according to functionality. You divide your application into units, or subjects, by creating folders in a test plan tree. This is a graphical representation of your test plan, displaying your tests according to the hierarchical relationship of their functions.

After you define subjects in the tree, you decide which tests to create for each subject and add them to the tree. At this stage, you define basic information about the test, such as its name, status, and the designer. You can also attach a file, URL, application snapshot or system information to illustrate a test. Afterwards, you define the test steps. Test steps contain detailed instructions on how to execute a test and evaluate the results.

ALM enables you to use the same test to test different use-cases, each with its own test configuration. Each test configuration uses a different set of data. You define the data by adding test parameter values for each test configuration. A test parameter is a variable that can be assigned a value.

During the application management process, you may need to modify your test plan. You can update the test plan tree at any time.

There are a number of methods for organizing your test plan by subject. For example, you could define subjects according to:

  • Application functionality—such as editing, file operations, and reporting

  • Type of testing—such as functional, user interface, performance, and load

Note: Developing and editing a test plan tree requires appropriate user permissions. For details, refer to the Micro Focus Application Lifecycle Management Administrator Guide: Manage user groups and permissions.

For details on specifying tests, see How to Create Tests.