Once upon a time …
… not so long ago, I came across a plan to replace test case entry in SAP Focused Build with Excel and no, I didn’t make a mistake. It was a day when document-based data capture (almost) triumphed over system-guided data capture.
With today’s knowledge, I would have liked to have contributed the following to the discussion back then.
Focused Build contains various functional enhancements for the SAP Solution Manager Test Suite. One very helpful tool is the “Test Step Designer”, which can be used to record and design test cases and test steps.
There are three ways in which data can be recorded. If you adhere to “SAP Best Practice” and are already in possession of detailed solution documentation for your own business processes to be tested, you can generate test cases and test steps in the Test Step Designer with just one click (!).
If you are only equipped with Excel test cases instead, the import function of the Test Step Designer offers a convenient way to quickly get mass data into the system.
Finally, access via the Fiori app Test Step Designer enables direct access to all existing test cases and the test steps they contain.
Versioning and logging are automatically available and offer traceability (log) and, if required, a fallback (versioning).
Configuration options for the test steps have an influence on the subsequent test execution and are checked accordingly by the system. For example, the obligation to provide evidence prevents testers from completing the test step without providing evidence. Storing an “executable unit” enables testers to automatically navigate to the configured test system and start the respective transaction with a single click.
In addition, test results and defects can be recorded from the test step during test execution and thus automatically linked.
Based on the available test case and test step data, the Test Suite Dashboard is therefore able to create very accurate reports that can provide the Test Manager with a status overview of all test cases, test steps and defects, among other things.
To summarize: All beginnings are difficult and this certainly also applies to the Designer test step. Nonetheless, the long-term benefits and the new comfort clearly outweigh the initial outlay and the tried-and-tested system. In addition, Focused Build, like other software products, is constantly being developed further, so we can look forward to what is yet to come.
