share-steps-between-test-cases.md

title	titleSuffix	description	ms.technology	ms.topic	ms.author	author	monikerRange	ms.date
Share steps between test cases	Azure Test Plans	Learn how to share steps between test cases when you want to test web applications in Azure Test.	devops-test	how-to	sdanie	steved0x	>= tfs-2015	12/06/2021

Share steps between test cases

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Many manual tests require performing an identical sequence of steps and test data. For example, logging in to a web app or saving form data are common steps performed in several test sequences. With the use of Shared Steps and Shared Parameters work items, you can minimize the creation of test steps and data that you need to enter and manage. Shared Steps define a sequence of steps that can be referenced by many different test cases. Similarly, Shared Parameters define a set of test data that can be referenced by many different test cases. These work item types are explicitly linked with the Test Cases/Shared Steps and Reference By/References link types as shown in the following image.

This article describes how to define and use Shared Steps. To learn how to define and reference Shared Parameters, see Repeat a test with different data.

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Create shared steps

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To create shared steps, follow these steps:

1. Select Test Plans to view your test plans. Select Mine or All or Filter by title to find a particular test plan. Select the plan to see test cases.

2. Double click a test case to edit it. Under Steps, select several steps and then select the Create shared steps icon.

3. In the Create shared steps dialog box, type a name for these shared step, and then select Create.

   

   Your title appears in place of the selected steps:

   

4. Select Save & Close to save the work item.

If you reopen the work item, you can select the shared step to open a new shared steps work item you created.

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While you're editing a test case, select a sequence of steps that you want to share:

The steps you selected are replaced with a link to the new shared steps work item:

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You can edit shared steps at any time. Any changes you make appear in every test case where you use the shared steps.

You can use parameters in shared steps. For more information about parameters, see parameters.

You provide values for the parameters in the test cases that use the shared steps. You don't have to provide values in the shared steps definition. However, you can provide one default row of values. These values are used when you create an action recording of a standalone shared step.

Insert shared steps into other test cases

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You can add shared steps to other test cases.

1. Double-click test case to edit it. Under Steps, select the Insert shared steps icon.

   

2. The Insert shared steps dialog box opens. Select Run query to find the steps you want to insert.

   

3. Select shared steps and insert them.

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Now you can use the shared steps in another test case:

A query opens. Run it to find the steps you want to insert:

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Mark shared steps when running a test

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When you run a test, you can either mark the whole shared sequence as passed or failed, or mark each step separately:

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When you run a test, you can either mark the whole shared sequence as passed or failed, or mark each step separately:

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Related articles

• Test objects and terms
• Create a test case
• Repeat a test with different data
• Copy or clone test plans, test suites, and test cases
• FAQs for manual testing