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# Manual test syntax

Use markdown to add steps and to format text.

In this topic:

## Test syntax

When working in text view, use the following syntax to add steps.

Item | Details
--- | ---
Setup or regular steps | Each step starts with a hyphen and a space. Example: `- Open the Web site.`
Validation steps | Each step begins with a hyphen, space, and question mark: Example: `- ? Validate that the page loaded correctly.`
Call to step | Each step begins with a hyphen, space, and the @ character with the ID number of the test to call: Example:`- @1102 Search by user`
Parameter | Syntax: <parameter name> Example: `Use port number <port>` For details, see Use parameters in tests.

A step can span more than one line. You do not need to put a hyphen and space on other lines if a step continues.

Tip: When working in text view, an error symbol (X) is displayed in lines that contain syntax or logic errors. For example, a call step cannot call its own test.

Examples

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Basic example:

    - Enter user name.
    - Enter password.
    - Press <ENTER>.
    - ? Was login successful?

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Example that calls another test:

    - @1005 Call <Log into shopping cart>
    - Scroll up and down to review the cart.
    - Select the item(s) to delete from the cart.
    - Click <DELETE>.
    - Confirm the deletion.
    - ? Is the display of the cart empty?

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## Format text in the test script

Use markdown in your test script to emphasize text and display it in bold, italics, underline, or colors (either red, green, or blue).

Aside from the text view of the steps, all other displays of the test script will include the formatted text. For example, list view and grid view of the steps, Manual Runner, and Run report.

To format text:

Use the following syntax to format your test script.

Format | Syntax
--- | ---
Bold | **text**
Italics | *text*
Underline | __text__
Red | {text}red
Green | {text}green
Blue | {text}blue

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Example:

    - Display the following in bold: **bold**
    - Display the following in italics: *italics*
    - Display the following underlined: __underline__
    - Display the following in red: {This text should be red}red
    - Display the following in green: {This text should be green}green
    - Display the following in blue: {This text should be blue}blue

The list view displays the formatted test script:

Note:

- HTML tags are not supported in scripts. Using HTML tags as part of the script can lead to unexpected behavior.

- You can combine formatting.

  Example: `*You can **combine** formatting*` is displayed as `You can combine formatting`

- If the test script includes an asterisk or double-underscore in the middle of a word or followed by a space, the character is displayed as-is in the script.

- To force an asterisk or double-underscore at the beginning or end of a word to display literally in the test script, and not behave as a special character, add a backslash before the character.

  Example: `\*word\*` is displayed as `*word*`

- Another way to force special characters to display literally is by surrounding the text with backticks.

  Example: ``__underline__`` is displayed as `__underline__`

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See also:

- Automated testing
- Test suites
- Analyze product quality

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