Test Execution

Test Execution is the heart of the testing process. Each time your application changes, you will want to execute the relevant parts of your test plan in order to locate defects and assess quality.

1.Create Test Cycles
During this stage you decide the subset of tests from your test database you want to execute.
Usually you do not run all the tests at once. At different stages of the quality assurance process, you need to execute different tests in order to address specific goals. A related group of tests is called a test cycle, and can include both manual and automated tests
Example: You can create a cycle containing basic tests that run on each build of the application throughout development. You can run the cycle each time a new build is ready, to determine the application's stability before beginning more rigorous testing.
Example: You can create another set of tests for a particular module in your application. This test cycle includes tests that check that module in depth.
To decide which test cycles to build, refer to the testing goals you defined at the beginning of the process. Also consider issues such as the current state of the application and whether new functions have been added or modified.
Following are examples of some general categories of test cycles to consider:
• sanity cycle checks the entire system at a basic level (breadth, rather than depth) to see that it is functional and stable. This cycle should include basic-level tests containing mostly positive checks.
• normal cycle tests the system a little more in depth than the sanity cycle. This cycle can group medium-level tests, containing both positive and negative checks.
• advanced cycle tests both breadth and depth. This cycle can be run when more time is available for testing. The tests in the cycle cover the entire application (breadth), and also test advanced options in the application (depth).
• regression cycle tests maintenance builds. The goal of this type of cycle is to verify that a change to one part of the software did not break the rest of the application. A regression cycle includes sanity-level tests for testing the entire software, as well as in-depth tests for the specific area of the application that was modified.

2. Run Test Cycles (Automated & Manual Tests)
Once you have created cycles that cover your testing objectives, you begin executing the tests in the cycle. You perform manual tests using the test steps. Testing Tools executes automated tests for you. A test cycle is complete only when all tests-automatic and manual-have been run.
 With Manual Test Execution you follow the instructions in the test steps of each test. You use the application, enter input, compare the application output with the expected output, and log the results. For each test step you assign either pass or fail status.
 During Automated Test Execution you create a batch of tests and launch the entire batch at once. Testing Tools runs the tests one at a time. It then imports results, providing outcome summaries for each test.


3.Analyze Test Results

After every test run one analyze and validate the test results. And have to identify all the failed steps in the tests and to determine whether a bug has been detected, or if the expected result needs to be updated.