Zeta Test Management Online documentation

Working with test variants

Test variants are optional elements that allow you to further subdivide test cases.

Creating test variants

In order to use test variants, follow these steps:

  1. Select menu item "Test variants" from the "Project" main menu item.
  2. Select the "Settings" tab.
  3. Ensure that the "Use test variants" option is set to "Yes".

Then define the test variants:

  1. Select menu item "Test variants" from the "Project" main menu item.
  2. Select the "Test variants" tab.
  3. Use the "New" button to create a new test variant.

A typical test variant would have e.g. the name "Operating System" and contain the values:

  • "Windows XP"
  • Windows Vista"
  • "Mac OS X"

The variant, as an example, therefore defines the different operating systemson which to test the application.

Another test variant could e.g. be named "Language" and define the different languages that are important to test, e.g.:

  • "English"
  • "German"
  • "French"
  • "Italian"

Later, when assigning test variants to test cases, you will be able to add test variants - or combinations of test variants - to a test case.

Please note:
The ability to combine zero or more variants together and add it to a test case results in a very flexible system that can be used in a wide range of scenarios.

Creating test variant presets

Using presets ("predefined combinations of variants") is an optional comfort-function that enables you to predefine frequently-used variant combinations and easily add them to test cases later on.

By using presets you increase the rate at which you work and reduce the number of errors resulting from incorrect assigned test cases.

That said, please note that using presets is completely optional.

To define presets, follow these steps:

  1. Select menu item "Test variants" from the "Project" main menu item.
  2. Select the "Presets" tab.
  3. Use the "New" button to create a new preset.

You can then define your desired combinations In the "Edit test variant preset" dialog window that appears.

Please note:
Use the "Default test variant" field on the "Settings" tab in the global "Test variants" dialog window to define presets that are automatically used when creating new test cases.

Assigning test variants to test cases

To actually use the previously defined test variants, you have to assign them to the desired test cases.

To do this, you will need to start by creating a test case.

To assign variants follow these steps:

  1. Open the "Edit test case" dialog window and click on the "▼" button in the "Variant" field. → A context menu will open.
  2. Either use the "Apply preset" sub menu to directly apply the variants of a test case, or use the menu item "Edit list" to define test variant combinations for the test case currently being edited