Manual Test Case Creation
Comprehensive guide to creating detailed, well-structured test cases.
When to Use Manual Creation
Precise Control
Exact wording and structure tailored to specific needs.
Custom Scenarios
Unique edge cases and workflows not covered by AI.
Exploratory Tests
Ad-hoc testing scenarios and specialized tests.
Accessing the Editor
From Dashboard
- Navigate to CaseWriter Dashboard
- Click "Write Test Case"
- Editor opens in new view
From Test Repository
- Navigate to Test Repository
- Select target test set
- Click "New Test Case"
From Test Case Detail
- Open existing test case
- Click "Edit" button
- Editor opens with content
Test Case Title
Good Examples
| Example |
|---|
| Login with valid email and password |
| Add product to shopping cart |
| Delete user account with confirmation |
| Search for products by category and price range |
Tip: Use action + object format, be specific and descriptive.
Poor Examples
| Example |
|---|
| Test 1 |
| Login |
| Check if it works |
| Important test case |
Problem: Vague, unclear, no context about what is being tested.
Priority & Complexity
Priority Levels
| Priority | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | System-breaking, must work | Login, Payment processing |
| Very High | Major functionality | Core features |
| High | Important features | Key user flows |
| Medium | Standard functionality | Regular features |
| Low | Nice-to-have | Minor enhancements |
How to Choose: Ask "What happens if this fails in production?"
Complexity Ratings
| Complexity | Steps | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | 1-5 steps | Straightforward, minimal setup |
| Medium | 6-15 steps | Moderate setup, some conditions |
| Complex | 15+ steps | Extensive setup, multiple conditions |
Helps With: Effort estimation, resource allocation, automation prioritization
Labels & Tags
By Feature Area
authenticationcheckoutsearchuser-profile
By Test Type
regressionsmoke-testsanity-checkacceptance-test
By Platform
web-onlymobile-onlycross-platformapi-test
By Release
sprint-12release-2.0hotfix
Preconditions
Good Preconditions
1. User has registered account: [email protected]
2. User is logged out of application
3. Login page is accessible and loaded
4. Test database has user record
5. Browser cache and cookies cleared
6. Internet connection is stable
Characteristics: Specific, measurable, and verifiable
Poor Preconditions
- User exists
- Page loaded
Problems: Vague, incomplete, not verifiable
Best Practices for Preconditions
- Be specific with exact values
- Include data setup requirements
- Specify user permissions/roles
- Mention environment configurations
Test Steps
Step Structure
Each step has two parts: Action (what to do) and Expected Result (what should happen)
Example Steps
Step 1:
- Action: Navigate to https://app.example.com/login
- Expected Result: Login page loads with email and password fields visible
Step 2:
- Action: Enter "[email protected]" in Email Address field
- Expected Result: Email is displayed, field border turns green
Step 3:
- Action: Enter "SecurePass123!" in Password field
- Expected Result: Password is masked with dots, field accepted
Step 4:
- Action: Click "Login" button
- Expected Result: Loading indicator appears, redirected to dashboard, welcome message shown
Writing Guidelines
Effective Actions
| Good | Bad |
|---|---|
| Click "Login" button in top right corner | Login |
| Enter "[email protected]" in Email field | Enter data |
| Select "United States" from Country dropdown | Check the thing |
Good actions are: Specific, clear, actionable - exact locations and values
Poor actions are: Vague, unclear, ambiguous - no specific details
Best Practices Summary
- Use action + object format for titles
- Be specific in all fields
- One action per test step
- Include observable expected results
- Use templates for common patterns
- Apply labels for easy filtering
Next Steps
- Test Repository - Manage your tests
- Best Practices - Quality guidelines