how to prepare test data

Hi Guys,

This is logi from chennai. I have doubt about how to prepare test data for test case execution. What is the procedure to prepare test data?

Thanks Logi....

Hi logi,

Generally test data comes from 2 sources - Developers or Business end user.

While carrying out integration testing or module level testing, we could utilize test data supplied by developers or generate our own data based on guidelines provided by srs (if any). We could do this in consultation with developers.

While system testing or trying to replicate actual production environment, test data would be provided by business user. Sometimes they could hesistate to part with sensitive data, so we could be provided with some replica.

While generating test data, we could categorize test date as -
1) Environment related data
2) Input data

A key solution is that good data content can help reduce the workload of data maintenance. Also data related errors could be avoided. We have a number of data generator tools available in market.

It is always better that data generation is done keeping developers as well end users in the loop.

Cheers...

[QUOTE=bizzzzzare;22763]Hi logi,

Generally test data comes from 2 sources - Developers or Business end user.

Cheers...[/QUOTE]

And what's about, if you are working in a product based company and developer provide no test data?Then how you will choose the test data?

hi logi ,
couple of things you need to consider while preparing your test data for a real time applications. i totally agree you need to keep developers and users in loop but dont forget to collect information from the call centers who will be handling the customers compliants. and also the third party users .

hi jain,
in that case the approach i think would be talking to both internal users and external users of the product. based on their feedback we can create the test data for that particular product

Thank you Geeks

Logesh,

The type of data that has to be prepared depends on the functionality of the application under test. The data set tobe prepared also depends on the domain, ie., the data for the Banking Application differs from the data for the Insurance Application.

The data set will mainly depends on the Business rules. Business rule is the one in which a certain operation should be carried out. For example, a interest should be calculated for an account then there will be a Business rule which states how the interest rates are calculated. In this case the test data will be to test different type of interest rates.

There are two types of data as stated by Umesh viz., Environment related data and Input data

[QUOTE=sridharrganesan;22785]Logesh,

The type of data that has to be prepared depends on the functionality of the application under test. The data set tobe prepared also depends on the domain, ie., the data for the Banking Application differs from the data for the Insurance Application.

The data set will mainly depends on the Business rules. Business rule is the one in which a certain operation should be carried out. For example, a interest should be calculated for an account then there will be a Business rule which states how the interest rates are calculated. In this case the test data will be to test different type of interest rates.

There are two types of data as stated by Umesh viz., Environment related data and Input data[/QUOTE]

Hi Sridhar,

Thanks for your reply. I have one doubt, I am testing one product but the product doesnt complete version. Only 70% product only we are testing, we dont have srs doc for that product. In this case how will u prepare testcase and test data.

THanks
Logi

Hi Logesh,

When you are testing a Product in which only 70% of the development is done, then in this case SDLC followed is Iterative Model. In the Iterative model approach the skeleton of the software is developed and then tested. Then in a scheduled way the requirements will be added to the system in a iterative way and then tested. In this approach, the system is tested for its new requirements added and also how the system reacts along with the new requirements as a whole.

If SRC document is not provided for the Product (usually if the product is developed SRC is provided well ahead) then in this case you have do Adhoc testing or User Acceptance Testing. In the Adhoc and UAT testing the test cases and test cases are not prepared, but the product is tested based on the users experience and how the user reacts with the system. But once after the testing is done the test data are recorded, to show case how the testing is done with which type of data.

Regards,
Ganesan

[quote=logesh;22820]hi sridhar, thanks for your reply. I have one doubt, i am testing one product but the product doesnt complete version. Only 70% product only we are testing, we dont have srs doc for that product. In this case how will u prepare testcase and test data. Thanks logi[/quote] hi sir am very impressed with your explanation. Here am able to understand about input data type. Ie for banking application to calculate interest in input type of data we follow the business rules like %,time ,type of lone ........etc. But am unable to identify clearly about the environmental related data type like input data type . So could you please explain it in detail sir . :)always have +ve approach in life : ther is something +ve in every person & every situation. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day:)

Hi Sooriya,

In this case for caculating the Interest rate for the Loan product the time, Loan type will falls into the Input data type, where the Input is given by the users or if the time period and Loan type is given by the user the % is the enriornment data where the % depends on the time period and Loan Type. Environement data is static type where it depends on the Input data.

Hi all,
what is the difference between the below mentioned category?
1)Environment related data
2) Input data