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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Test-Design Specification

1. Purpose.

To specify refinements of the test approach and to identify the features to be tested by this design and its associated tests.


2. Outline.
A test-design specification shall have the following structure:

(1) Test-design-specification identifier
(2) Features to be tested
(3) Approach refinements
(4) Test identification
(5) Feature pass/fail criteria

The sections shall be ordered in the specified sequence. Additional sections may be included at the end. If some or all of the content of a section is in another document, then a reference to that material may be listed in place of the corresponding content. The referenced material must be attached to the test-design specification or available to users of the design specification.


Details on the content of each section are contained in the following sections.



2.1 Test-Design-Specification Identifier.

Specify the unique identifierassigned to this test-design specification. Supply a reference to the associated test plan, if it exists.


2.2 Features to be Tested.

Identify the test items and describe the features and combinations of features which are the object of this design specification. Other features may be exercised, but need not be identified.
For each feature or feature combination, a reference to its associated requirements in the
item requirement specification or design description should be included.


2.3 Approach Refinements.


Specify refinements to the approach described in the test plan. Include specific test techniques to be used. The method of analyzing test results should be identified (for example, comparator
programs or visual inspection).

Specify the results of any analysis which provides a rationale for test-case selection. For example, one might specify conditions which permit a determination of error tolerance (for example, those conditions which distinguish valid inputs from invalid inputs).

Summarize the common attributes of any test cases. This may include input constraints that must be true for every input in the set of associated test cases, any shared environmental needs, and any shared special procedural requirements, and any shared case dependencies.



2.4 Test Identification.


List the identifier and a brief description of each test case associated with this design. A articular
test case may be identified in more than one test design specification. List the identifier and a brief description of each procedure associated with this test-design specification.



2.5 Feature Pass/Fail Criteria.


Specify the criteria to be used to determine whether the feature or feature combination has passed or failed.