Documenting Test Results

Although you might record problems and bugs in your incident tracking system, you also need a tracking system for recording tests results. A tracking system helps you monitor testing progress and the success rate of tests. This information is useful for management reporting, reviewing trends, and validating staffing levels.

Some organizations use a paper-based system, documenting the test results on the test case sheet. Such a paper-based system, however, makes it more difficult to keep track of what has been tested and to create reports.

One alternative is to purchase a commercial product that tracks and reports test cases. Another is to develop a database application to organize and manage them. With these approaches, you can automate reports to monitor test results and progress. Whatever method you choose, it is important that members of the project team can access the test log easily. For more information about setting up a test tracking system, see "Testing Applications for Compatibility with Windows 2000" in this book.

However you decide to track your tests, it is important to document the results of each one. Include information such as:

• Tester's name and department

• Date and time the test was performed

• Windows 2000 product name (Server or Professional)

• Full description of the results

• Resolution of any problem

• Problem numbers entered into the incident tracking system