Show Test Case steps in Task Work Item

Question

We have create a custom Task type work item specifically for Automation efforts.  We would like to display the Steps in the associated test case that is to be automated.  Is this possible?  I can add the Steps field and then add the control.  But when I create a new Task Work Item, I get the error message:  Work Item Type is not valid.  you must specify a work item type.

I would essentially like to link the Test Case that is being automated and be able to see the steps in the task.

Thanks All!

Answer 1

Hi closl,

Thank you for your post.

Seems you want to create a customize task WIT, want task wotk item could copy the steps of linked test case. If I have misunderstood anything, please free feel to let me know.

First, it is technically difficult to achieve. Task WIT and test cse WIT, all other WIT created base on task and test case are different WIT, i suggest you do not overlap the usage of different WIT. TFS use WIT categories to distinguish different WITs.

Second, in agile, scrum development, we use user story, task, test case to manage customers' need, developers' job, and testers' job. For user story we just need to know what customer want, for task we just need to know what we should do, for test case we just need to know how to test by following the test steps and know customer's need is achieved or not. By default, different WITs play different roles. When a tester need to do test, open a test case to see how to test. When a developer start a jod, he/she just need to know what need to do from a task, not need to know  the information that a tester need.

In general, based on the principle of the development of agile, scrum, your requirement is technically difficult to achieve.

Regards,

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Lily Wu [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 2

In this situation, we are not tracking requirements or developing software from requirements.  We are tracking tasks related to automation of Test Cases on software that has already been implemented.  It's currently a pain to have to open another work item in order to see the steps that are need to be automated. 

Answer 3

closl,

In general, in task WIT you want part field in test case is not make sense. To information about test, we need to open a test case, to knwo what to do, we open a task, this is what scrun/agile told us.

If you still want that I suggest you submit a feedback to Visual Studio UserVoice site (http://visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio).

Answer 4

Hi,

It is not possible out of the box or by simply editing your work item templates. To show a field value from work item A on Work Item B you must create a custom work item control. Further more, the Steps field on test cases is surrounded by some strange rules that might hinder what you want to do. For instance, you can only edit Steps in MTM. In VS Steps are readonly. I wouldnt be suprised if the error message you get is caused by some hidden/unknown rule tied to the Steps field that makes your Task work item template invalid if you add the Steps field to it. You might be able to work around it by adding Task to the "Test Case work item category" but then you start messing up MTM functionality...

Personally I think it will be a bigger pain to achieve what you want (if at all possible) than it is to open the extra work item. 

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JESPER FERNSTRÖM