1. WRITING TEST CASES AND TEST DATA FOR IT
Gennadi Jakutin

2. General meaning of test case concept
A test case is a set of actions with the expected results based on requirements for the system
Test cases have to provide full coverage of all technical (system) requirements for the product which is being tested
Test cases should include a description of the functionality to be tested, and the preparation required to ensure that the test can be conducted.
An effective test cases have to be developed from the position of “Constructive demolition”

3. Why do we need to test with strongly formalized but flexible test cases
The key of successful testing lies in efficiency of the selected Test Cases
Better test cases have more reliable results as well as lower cost in three categories:
Productivity
Testability
Scheduling reliability
Certain determination
Aims
Expected results
Prevention of ambiguity
We should be able to easily transform test cases for:
Reusing for maintenance releases
Regression testing

4. Requirements to quality of Test Cases
Accurate
Economical
Repeatable and self standing
Appropriate
Traceable
Self cleaning

5. The beginning of development of test cases The project
Set of documents which describes the plan of test operation.
Test projecting and developing test cases
Improving and debugging test cases

6. Structure of the test case
A test case specification shall have the following structure:
Test case specification identifier
Test items
Input specifications
Output specifications
Environmental needs
Special procedural requirements
Intercase dependencies

7. Types of Test Cases Which one is the best one?
Step-by-step
Scenario goes from screen to screen
Many processing rules
Matrix
Many variations of filling in a form
Same inputs, different configurations or platforms
Automated scripts
Long lifecycle of testing

8. Example Step-by-Step test cases
Action
Expected result
Pass/Fail 1
Click on element “Delivery cost” in Main Menu
Delivery cost Menu displays on the screen
P/F 2
Enter value “101” in the field of weight of cargo delivery
“Weight of delivery is incorrect” error message appears 3
Enter value “0” in the field of weight of cargo
delivery 4
Enter value “100” in the field of weight of cargo
“Weight of delivery is 100 OZ” message appears

9. Example of matrix text case
Suppose that we have 4 Size fields which have same input requirements:
Must be greater than 0, but less than 1000
Must be integer
Value -1
1000
12.3
ABC
%^$ 1
999
Expected Result
Fail
Pass
Length
P/F
Height
Width
Weight

10. Example of Automated script
Case "TXT":
# Edit Text
# Parameters:Text Field Name, Value
report_msg1("Setting the value in the textfield : "&params[1]&" as "&params[2],DEBUG);
if(obj_exists(params[1],10) != E_OK) {
FINAL_RESULT = "FAIL";
INTER_ACTION = "ERROR";
append(REMARKS_STRING,"Object : "&params[1]&" doesnot exist, so terminating the testcase.");
desktop_capture_bitmap(MMName & "-" & TC_NUM ); }
else
ret = edit_set(params[1], params[2]);
if(ret < 0)
examine("edit_set",ret);
append(REMARKS_STRING,“Text was inserted in“ &params[1] &“text field”);
break;

11. Developing data for test cases
Classes of equivalence.
Oriented on lowering overall number of test cases
Dividing input area of program into data classes
Positive
Negative
Boundary values.
Choosing elements on the borders of classes

12. Improving of test cases
Testability
Controlling length
Cumulative cases
Productivity
Templates
Clones
Test management software

13. References
Rapid Testing First Edition Robert Culbertson, Chris Brown, Gary Cobb
How to write better test cases
Dianne Runnels
ieeestd Test_documentation, IEEE