Updating test script steps during execution

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You can update manual test script steps during the execution of a manual test case. For example, you can update the description and expected results of the test script steps. You can also add a new step to the test script during execution. If you no longer require a test script step, you can delete it.

Before you begin

You must enable the preference to update the steps during manual step execution in the Execution Preferences section of the Manage Project Properties page. For more information, see Project properties.

You must also have permissions to add, edit, or delete test script steps. You can view the list of available permissions from the Manage Project Properties page under the Administration menu. You can enable the permissions in the Permissions section.

About this task

When you execute a test case, you might want to make some changes during the execution. For example, you might want to correct a typo in the expected result, or the system being tested might have changed.

In version 6.0.5 and later, you can make updates directly to the test script steps during execution and view the test result.

Note: You cannot update steps during execution in the following scenarios:
  • A test script is associated with the test data
  • The step is an execution variable step
  • The step is a keyword step
  • Columns contain execution variables
  • During mobile testing
  • During offline execution

Procedure

  1. Open a test plan and go to the Test Case Execution Record section. Select a test case execution record that is associated with a manual test script, and run that test case execution record.
  2. In the Run Test Case dialog box, select values.
  3. To run the test case, click OK or Finish.
    The script execution window opens and an arrow points to the first statement.
  4. Edit the steps by completing any of these tasks:
    • To edit the step, click the row-level menu (Action menu drop down), and select Edit Step. Edit the details in the Description or Expected Results column. Assign a verdict to the step.
      You can also use a keyboard shortcut to perform this function. For more information, see Keyboard shortcuts for Engineering Test Management.
      Note: After you provide a verdict for the step, you cannot edit, add, or delete a step between the steps that are executed.
    • To delete a step, click the row-level menu, and select Delete Step. In the Confirmation window, click OK.
    • To insert a new step, click the row-level menu, and select either Insert New Step Before or Insert New Step After. Create an empty step by clicking Create Empty Step. Provide the details for the new step and assign a verdict to the step. Click the row-level menu and select Save Step. Assign a verdict to the step.
    Tip: To insert a new step by using the current custom attributes, select Copy Current Custom Attributes. Click the row-level menu and select Save Step. Assign a verdict to the step.
  5. Execute the remaining steps and complete the test execution.
  6. To view the test case result, click Show Result.
    In the Result Details section of the test case result, you can view the result status in the Step Modification Status field as Modified.
    Note: The modifications that you make during execution are not saved in the test script. The updates are saved in the test case result. After you execute the test case, you can merge the test script steps with the updated test case result.

What to do next

You can compare and merge the test script steps with the updated test case result to update the test script. For more information, see Merging test script steps with updated test case results