9 ways Zephyr Scale brings advanced test management to Jira

Metester
6 min readSep 17, 2021

--

Are your tests getting more and more complex in Jira? Do you feel like you could be more efficient with reusing tests? Does ensuring consistency and standards across projects still feel like a battle with your existing test management tool?

Also read, If you’re interested in DevSecOps acquisitions follow enterprise IT shift

1. Configure it just the way you need it

Step into Zephyr Scale, a structured and highly configurable test management solution for teams looking to drive their tests forward in Jira. Do you have to see it to believe it? Join us on a short tour around the Zephyr Scale app.

What sets Zephyr Scale apart from similar tools is that its test entities are linked, but not based directly on the Jira problem types. This allows you to configure Zephyr Scale exactly to the needs of your team. For example, you can simply add your own custom fields and status at the project level without the need for a Jira administrator.

2. Get granular with permissions control

This means you no longer have to wait for the Jira administrator to add the required fields to expand your workflow. There are many other aspects that you can tweak, such as: B. creating custom labels, records and priorities. You can even assign test cases to different environments. Learn more about configurations in Zephyr Scale.

With Zephyr Scale, you can set the permissions pretty precisely. You can define which users have access to various functions within the application, such as test cases, test cycles, executions and reports. For example, you can specify that only certain testers can create, edit or delete test cases.

3. Keep your library clean and organized

The authorization to carry out such actions can be defined at the individual Jira user level, a Jira role or a group. When you work in a regulated environment, you can narrow it down and make granular decisions. Learn more about setting permissions with Zephyr Scale.

As you increase the number of test cases, cycles, and / or plans in your project, how your content is organized becomes more and more important. Grouping test artifacts into folders and subfolders helps a lot. You can use folders to group tests for specific functions, requirements, or different test types, such as: B. Performance tests, integration tests or tests at system level.

4. Reuse tests across different projects

“Zephyr Scale came at a very good time for us because we were already asking, ‘How are we going to get faster? How can we move faster with quality? ‘And: ‘How do we make sure that we stay organized so that we don’t miss anything? And the last bit really gave us problems.”

Another great way to organize your test library and avoid performance issues is to archive unused test cases. This means that your test data will not be permanently deleted and you can easily move archived test cases back to the active test library at any time.

5. Compare history of changes, side by side

The most valuable test cases are those that are broadly applicable and reusable in your cycles and releases. When it comes to reusability, Zephyr Scale offers you a modular test case design. For example, if you want to invoke a different test case — maybe it is a login test case that you know you will be using in many different areas — you can add that as a step within the test case.

With the call-to-test function, you can not only select a test case from your current Jira project that you are working on, but also a test case from a completely different project. Similarly, with Zephyr Scale, you can easily incorporate a few tests into a specific test cycle from another project.

6. View testing activity in the Jira issue/story view

Version control is enabled by default in Zephyr Scale and allows teams to collaborate and manage multiple versions of test cases at the same time. This way, you can keep track of the full history of changes and establish a single maintenance point. If you want to compare the changes between versions, Zephyr Scale can highlight these differences within the test case. The ability to create new versions can be managed in the project settings, adding another layer of security to teams working in regulated areas with strict audit requirements.

The tight integration between Jira and Zephyr Scale allows you to view test effort without leaving the problem view. That means anyone with access to Jira can get a good idea of ​​what is going on from the testing perspective.

7. Manage and execute tests in the Jira issue/story view

“One thing that surprised me was that when you step into a story and you see which tests are attached. With this type of view, it was really useful to see all the executions in the Jira Issue view. “

At a glance you can see all elements related to traceability / coverage, such as test cases and cycles, as well as all linked test results. If you want to see more details, you can easily jump straight into Zephyr Scale from the problem view.

8. Fine-tune your reports

Zephyr Scale also gives users the flexibility to manage and run tests right from the Jira Issues view. For example, you can quickly generate a new test case or add an existing test case to the currently displayed problem. After you have created a test case or acceptance test and linked it to your user story, you can start a test execution from the Jira Issues view by clicking on the play symbol.

This will start the test player where the actual tests take place and are tracked within Zephyr Scale. As expected, the links are bidirectional, so not only do the test case links appear in the Jira issue, but the link to the Jira issue appears on the Test Case Traceability tab in Zephyr Scale.

9. See detailed traceability of your testing

Some of the hidden talents of Zephyr Scale lie in the ability to refine its built-in reports with custom queries. This enables both technical and non-technical users to cut and dice test results according to their specific needs. For example, if you want to conduct cross-project reviews for a customer or a test effort, you can filter reports by a single project or multiple projects. Zephyr Scale reports can also be filtered by epics, stories, or version so that you can see the full test progress for a specific workspace or version.

Zephyr Scale comes with a wide range of ready-to-use reports. If you want to see your Jira test coverage from a number of helpful perspectives, there is no better place than the traceability reports in Zephyr Scale. It’s a really powerful way to track between Jira issues and coverage-related items, as well as Zephyr Scale-specific test artifacts like test cases and test executions. Similar to other reports, if you want to look at specific problems or test plans, you can refine this report by running a custom query.

Advance your testing in Jira

“Traceability reports are something that we need to provide from a regulatory perspective. This is possible with other tools, but it is very complex. In Zephyr Scale, on the other hand, it’s so easy to get the report with one click. “

There are many more reports in Zephyr Scale (along with a selection of Jira dashboard gadgets) that provide actionable insights into your testing efforts and your team’s progress in Jira.

Zephyr Scale provides a smarter, more structured way to plan, manage, and measure your tests in Jira. It was designed from the ground up to support large test libraries and growing teams struggling to scale their processes.

Fortunately, not much stands in the way of positive change. You can first sign up for a live onboarding webinar to see Zephyr Scale in action.

Or you can jump right in and explore the tool with a free 30-day trial.

Last but not least, the SmartBear Community is a treasure trove of useful information and a great place to learn more about Zephyr Scale directly from its users.

Useful links:

Zephyr Scale provides a smarter, more structured way to plan, manage, and measure your tests in Jira. It was designed from the ground up to support large test libraries and growing teams struggling to scale their processes.

Fortunately, not much stands in the way of positive change. You can first sign up for a live onboarding webinar to see Zephyr Scale in action.

Or you can jump right in and explore the tool with a free 30-day trial.

Last but not least, the SmartBear Community is a treasure trove of useful information and a great place to learn more about Zephyr Scale directly from its users.

Btw, I wanted to talk to you about https://bugasura.io . Its a tool that modern teams use to track bugs. I recommend you take a look at it and see if its suitable for your needs*

--

--