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How to: Create Test Settings for a Test Plan

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Test settings use diagnostic data adapters, which specify various types of data to collect when you run manual tests, automated tests, or both. Diagnostic data adapters can also specify how to affect the test machine. For example, a diagnostic data adapter might create an action recording, an action log, a video recording, or collect system information. Additionally, diagnostic data adapters can be used to simulate potential bottlenecks on the test machine or reduce the available system memory. For example, you can emulate a slow network to impose a bottleneck on the system.

Test settings define the following:

  • The type of tests you will run (manual or automated).

  • The set of roles that are required for your application under test.

  • The role to use to run your tests.

  • The diagnostic data adapters to use for each role.

Manual Tests

You must always run your manual tests on a local machine that is not part of the environment. You can collect data or affect a test machine for your manual tests in the following ways:

  • Collect data on the local machine by using default test settings.

  • Collect data on a local machine by specifying the data to collect.

  • Collect data on local and remote tiers of your application.

Automated Tests

If you plan to run your automated tests by using Microsoft Test Manager, you must use a physical or virtual environment that contains a set of roles to run your tests from your test plan.

For more information, see Setting Up Machines and Collecting Diagnostic Information Using Test Settings.

Creating Test Settings for a Test Plan

To create test settings for a test plan

  1. To create test settings for manual tests, follow the steps in the topic: Create Test Settings for Manual Tests.

  2. To create test settings for automated tests, follow the steps in this topic: Create Test Settings for Automated Tests as Part of a Test Plan.

    Note

    If you have to change your test settings, click Open next to the Test settings drop-down arrow. You can also locate the Lab Center, click Test Settings on the center group menu bar, and then click Open. For more information, see How to: Edit an Existing Test Setting for a Test Plan.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Choose Test Settings and Environments for a Test Plan

Concepts

Defining Your Testing Effort Using Test Plans

Running Manual Tests Using Test Runner

Defining Your Testing Effort Using Test Plans

Running Tests

Creating a Diagnostic Data Adapter to Collect Custom Data or Affect a Test Machine