Publishing Test Results
[This documentation is for preview only, and is subject to change in later releases. Blank topics are included as placeholders.]
Publishing test results is one way to share results with other team members. After test results are published, they reside in a SQL Server database known as the database for the team project collection. This database stores test-results data of all kinds, including code-coverage information. A project team uses a single database for the team project collection that is shared by all team members.
The following illustration shows the process through which test results are generated, published, and eventually moved into the data warehouse of Team Foundation Server.
.png "Test results are published to Operational Store")
Description of steps in the previous illustration
Step 1a: Run a local test.
A tester runs tests on a local computer, using Visual Studio Team System Test to view the running tests.
Step 1b: Run a remote test.
A tester runs tests remotely, using controller and agents. Here too, the running tests can be viewed by using Team System Test. For more information, see Running Automated Tests Using Microsoft Visual Studio.
Note
Running tests automatically generates test results data, whether you run tests locally or remotely.
Steps 2a and 2b: Store test results.
Test results are automatically stored to disk as they are produced.
The Load Test results store must be explicitly installed.
The Load Test results store uses an extensible schema.
You can access the Spooled results store through the Test Run window of Team System Test.
The controller and the agents do not have to run on separate computers. Similarly, the controller and the agents do not have to run on remote computers.
Step 3: Publish results.
Testers publish results to Team Foundation Server from both local test runs and from tests that were run using agents and controllers. Only data that is stored in Team Foundation Server can be copied to the data warehouse.
Step 4: Pull data.
The data warehouse pulls data from Team Foundation Server on its own schedule. For more information, see Moving Test Data into the Data Warehouse.
After data is in the data warehouse, aggregated test data from numerous test runs is available to the reporting feature of Team Foundation Server.
Note
You can also publish test results by using a command line executable. For more information, see Running Automated Tests from the Command Line.
Requirements for Publishing Test Results
Before you publish test results, note the following requirements:
You can only publish test data if you have Team Explorer installed and your Visual Studio user session is connected to a Team Foundation Server computer. For information about how to connect to Team Foundation Server, see How to: Connect and Access Team Projects in Team Foundation Server.
You can publish only an entire test run or multiple test runs. You cannot publish a subset of a run.
You must specify an existing build to publish against. You must also specify a combination of platform/flavor of that build. Some builds listed in the Publish Test Results dialog box might not offer any corresponding platform/flavor to choose from. This is probably because the build has encountered errors early in the process. Therefore, the platform/flavor have not been determined and cannot be enumerated. You cannot select such a build for publishing.
See Also
Tasks
Concepts
Moving Test Data into the Data Warehouse