1. What is HP ALM (Quality Center) used for?

Or What are the benefits and features of Quality

Center?

HP ALM/ Quality Center is a comprehensive test management tool. It is a web-based tool and supports
high level of communication and association among various stakeholders (Business Analyst,
Developers , Testers etc. ) , driving a more effective and efficient global application-testing process.
Automation Tools like QTP , WinRunner & Loadrunner can be integrated with Quality Center. One can
also create reports and graphs for Analysis and Tracking for Test processes.
2. What is the difference between TestDirector and Quality Center?
Quality Center is upgraded version of Test Director built by the same vendor Mercury (Now acquired
by HP).Test Director Version 8.2 onwards is know as Quality Center. Quality Center is has enhanced
Security/Test management /Defect management features when compared to Test Director.
3. What is the difference between Quality Center and Bugzilla?
Quality Center is a test management tool which can also manage Defects apart from other features.
BugZilla is Defect Management tool only.
4. What is the Purpose of Creating Child Requirement in TD /QC?
By Creating Child requirements to the main requirement you can evaluate the sub requirements related
to the main requirements.
You can link test sets and defects to the sub-requirements. This helps in 100% test coverage and its
analysis.
Learn More About Requirements in the Tutorial here
5. What is Test Lab?
In order to execute a Test Case (Developed in the Test Plan Module) either manual or automated it
needs to imported into Test Lab Module. In sum, Test Cases are created in Test Plan Module while they
are executed in Test Lab Module.
6. What is meant by Instance?
A Test Case imported from Test Plan module to Test Lab module is called an Instance of that test case.
It is possible to have multiple instances of the same Test Case in the Test Lab Module.

7. Is it possible to maintain test data in Quality Center?

Yes. One can attach the test data to the corresponding test cases or create a separate folder in test plan
to store them.

8. How to ensure that there is no duplication of bugs in Quality Center?

In the defect tracking window of QC, there is a “find similar defect” icon. When this icon is clicked
after writing the defect, if anybody else has entered the same defect then it points it out.

9. What will be the status in Quality Center if you give "Suggestion" to the Developer?
This is a trick question.
You can give "Suggestion" to the developer using the Comments sections provided in QC. This is will
not change the current status of Defect in QC. In sum, the status of the defect remains the same, as that
before giving suggestion to the developer.
10. How will you generate the defect ID in Quality Center?
The Defect ID is automatically generated after clicking Submit button.
Learn More about Defect Creation in Quality Center in here

11. Is 'Not covered' and 'Not run' status the same?

Not Covered status means all those requirements for which the test cases are not written whereas Not
Run status means all those requirements for which test cases are written but are not run.

12.How to import test cases from Excel / Word to Quality Center?

1.Install and Configure the Microsoft Excel / Word Add-In for Quality Center.
2. Map the Columns in Word / Excel spreadsheet with Columns available in Quality Center
3.Export the data from Word/Excel to Quality Center Using Tools >Export to Quality Center Option in
Word/Excel.
4. Rectify errors if Any.

13. Can we export the file from Quality Centre to Excel / Word. If yes then how?
Yes.
Requirement tab– Right click on main Req/click on export/save as word, excel or other template. This
would save all the child requirements

Test plan tab: Only individual test can be exported. No parent child export is possible. Select a test
script, click on the design steps tab, right click anywhere on the open window. Click on export and save
as.

Test lab tab: Select a child group. Click on execution grid if it is not selected. Right click anywhere.
Default save option is excel. But can be saved in documents and other formats
Defects Tab: Right click anywhere on the window, export all or selected defects and save excel sheet or
document.

14. What is Business Component ?

Quality Center provides Business Component for Business Process Testing (BPT).
Many Enterprise Applications are a) complex and b) require extensive test scripts/case.
A Test /Automation Engineer can not handle both complexity of Application Under Test as well as
extensive test script/test case creation.
Using Business Component, Subject Matter Experts ( who are experts on the Application Under
Test ) can create tests in a script free environment without involving in the Nitty-gritty of test
case/script designing. It helps increase test coverage and creates re-usable business components used
for testing essential Business Processes.
Development of Test Script / Cases is done by Automation / Test Engineer.
15.How can we save the tests Executed in test lab?
The tests executed, are automatically saved when the user clicks on "END RUN" in the Test Lab
Learn More About Running a Test Case in QC in the Tutorial here
16. How to export test cases from QTP into QC?
To export test cases from QTP to QC, you first need to establish QTP-QC connection
1) In QTP , Go to File > Quality Center Connection.
2) Enter QC URL project name/domain/username/password and click on Login. QTP is now
connected to QC.
Next you can select the save the QTP Script in QC.
3) In QTP, Select File Menu > Save As > Save in QC
4 ) Select the Folder in QC where you wan to save the QTP Script
6) Click OK to Save.
17. How to use QTP as an automation tool in Quality Center ?
You need to install QTP add-in in Quality Center (Usually done by Quality Center Administrator) . You
then create and store QTP scripts in QC.
Learn more about using QTP in Quality Center in Tutorial here
18. How to switch between two projects in Quality Center ?
In QC 9.0 and above you can switch between two projects by select Tools>Change Projects>Select
Project.
In other version , you will need to log-off and log-in again.

19. What is the main purpose to storing requirement in Quality Center?

You store requirements in Quality Center for following reasons
a) To ensure 100% coverage : You can create and track test plan / sets for the requirements stored in
Quality Center to ensure all the requirements are tested.
b) Easy Change Management : If any requirement changes during course of test case creation , the
underlying test case is automatically highlighted and Test Engineer can change the test case to suite the
new requirement.
e) Ease of Tracking : Using Advanced Reporting & Graphs provided by QC , Managers can determine
various metrics useful in project tracking and monitoring.

20. What is Coverage status, what does it do?

Coverage status is percentage of testing covered at a given time.
For Example, If you have 100 test cases in a project and you have executed 35 test cases than your
coverage status of the project is 35%
Coverage status is helps keep track of project deadline.

21. Explain the architecture of Hp-ALM the new version of Quality Center?
• HP ALM client
• ALM server/Application server
• Database servers- Site administration schema, Lab project and Project schema

22. Mention what are the different edition for HP ALM?

The different edition of HP ALM includes
• HP ALM essentials: It is for the corporates that need the basic features for supporting their
entire software life cycle
• HP QC enterprise edition: This version is used by corporates more commonly who use ALM
more testing purposes. It also provides integration with UFT
 • HP ALM performance center edition: This license is best suitable for organizations who
would like to use HP ALM to drive HP-Load runner scripts. It helps the users to manage,
maintain, execute, schedule and monitor performance tests.
23. Mention what is ALM workflow?
ALM workflow includes
• Release Specification
• Requirement Specification
• Test Planning
• Test Execution
• Defect Tracking

24. Explain why do we need management of release and cycles in ALM?

• There are many releases for a specific product
• Each release is segregated into a number of cycles
• Each release has also have a pre-defined scope and milestone associated with it
• There is a specific number of test cases and requirements associated with it
• Upon executing tests, the defects are mapped and logged to the corresponding tests after which
we can trace requirements and defects
Hence we need release and cycle Management

25. Explain how you can customize the defect management cycle in Quality Center?

One should gather all the features or attributes that have to be part of the defect management like defect
origin, version, defect details, etc. Later in QC using the modify options, one can change the defect
modules accordingly.

26. Mention what is the advantage of Quality Center?

• Quality Center is referred as a complete test management tool
• It is a web-based tool and backs up high level of communication among various stake-holders
(Developers, Business Analyst, Testers and so on) driving a more efficient and effective global
application-testing process
• With Quality Center automation tools like QTP, WinRunner and LoadRunner it can be
integrated. For analysis and tracking for test processes, it can also create reports and graphs
27. Mention what is Test Lab module in Quality Center?
Test Lab module helps the tester to execute the created tests. Using this module one can schedule, run
and analyze and post defects.

28. Mention how many types of tabs are there in Quality Center and explain them?

Requirement: To track the customer requirements

Test Plan: To store the test scripts and design the test cases
Test Lab: To track the results and execute the test cases
Defect: Totrack down the logged defects and log a defect

29. Mention what does Dashboard Analysis consist of?

The dashboard analysis consists of two views

• Analysis View: It consists of the analysis tree using which project managers/QA can arrange
all of their analysis items like-graphs, excel reports and project reports
• Dashboard View: It consists of the dashboard tree in which managers or testers arrange
dashboard pages that can arrange multiple graphs that was formed in the analysis tree and
manifest them in a single view

30. Mention what is Sprinter in HP-Alm?

Sprinter offers advanced functionality and tools to make manual testing more effective and efficiently.
It allows you to accomplish these tasks without disrupting your test flow. With the help of sprinter, you
can execute many of the repetitive and tedious tasks of manual testing automatically. It includes many
tools that can help you to detect and submit defects.

31. Mention what is sprinter-data injection?

• Using sprinter you can enter test data into the application by matching column names with the
field names with the application
 • We can insert multi-set of data directly into the application with respective matching fields at
one go
• Choose the row that you want to insert and tap on the inject icon which directly inject the data
into the corresponding fields

32. Mention how sprinter tools are helpful?

Sprinter tools are helpful in many ways like
• Smart Defect:
• New Defect:
• Add Defect Reminder:

33. Explain how one can map a single defect to more than one test script?
Using the “associate defect” option in TestDirector one can assign the same defect to a number of test
cases.

34. Explain how you can add requirements to test cases in Quality Centre?
There are two types of requirements available in Quality Center
• Parent Requirements
• Child Requirements

35. What are the predefined groups and permissions in HP ALM?

1. Developer
2. Project Manager
3. QA Tester
4. TD Admin
5. Viewe

1) What is ALM?

HP ALM (Application Life Cycle Management) is a test management tool under a

proprietary license.
We can access ALM/ Quality Center over the internet or intranet, via a Web
browser. It involves interrelated steps such as defining release, developing
requirement, designing and execution of tests, monitoring and reporting defects.
QC 8.0 is the starting version and currently QC or ALM 12.0 is the latest version.

2) What are the benefits of using ALM / Quality Center?

• Quality center is one of the best test management tools in the market. It has
a lot of features and can be accessed through an IE browser.
• It has a different set of modules and we can create releases, requirement and
its traceability, test plan, test lab, logging defects in defect modules.
• Different groups can be created like the BA’s, Developers and testers and it
acts as a centralized point of control.
• Defect assignment can be easily done in QC and in turn QC itself can generate
emails to intimate the responsible person assigned to a particular activity.
• QC provides various customization filters which can be used for creating
reports and graphs.
• QC can be integrated with QTP and HP Load Runner and HP Performance
Center
• QC supports virtual environments like Citrix XenApp 6.0, VMware ESX 5.0 and
ESXi 5.0 (SP3).

3) What are the modules of Quality Center?

The Quality Center modules are:

• Management Module: This module includes following sub modules:
• Release module: Enable us to define release and cycles for the application
management process.
• Libraries module: Enables us to define libraries to track changes in project,
reuse entities in project, or share entities across multiple projects.
• Requirement Module: Helps us to manage requirements. This includes
defining what we are testing, defining requirement topics and items, also
analyzing requirements.
• Test Plan: Enable us to develop and manage test in a hierarchical tree-
structure. Tests can be linked to requirement and defects.
• Test Resources: Enables us to manage test resources in a hierarchical tree
structure. Tests resources can be associated with tests.
• Test lab: Enables us to run tests and analyze the results.
• Defect Module: Helps us to report defects, determine, repair priorities and
reopen defects.
• Dashboard: Helps to create graphs, reports and excel reports.

4) What is the difference between TestDirector and Quality Center?

Quality Center is upgraded version of TestDirector built by the same vendor

Mercury (Now acquired by HP).
TestDierector Version 8.2 onwards is known as Quality Center. Quality Center is
has enhanced Security/Test management /Defect management features when
compared to TestDierector.

5) What is meant by test lab in Quality Center?

Test lab is a part of Quality Centre where we can execute our test on different
cycles creating test tree for each one of them. We need to add test to these test
trees from the tests, which are placed under test plan in the project. Internally
Quality Centre will refer to this test while running then in the test lab.

6) What is meant by Instance?

A Test Case imported from Test Plan module to Test Lab module is called an
Instance of that test case. It is possible to have multiple instances of the same
Test Case in the Test Lab Module.

7) What are the types of graphs and reports in QC?

• Progress graphs are available for all tables.

• Summary graphs are available for all tables.
• Test lab has additional graphs
-cross test set progress
-cross test set summary
• Defects table also has Age graphs
Reports:
• standard reports
• Document generator
• snapshots
• full reports

8) What data sources (databases) does QC use to store and manage

data?

A QC project can be stored and managed using the following data sources.
• Microsoft SQL
• Oracle
Note: Default database is Microsoft SQL.

9) What is the Purpose of Creating Child Requirement in TD /QC?

By Creating Child requirements to the main requirement you can evaluate the sub
requirements related to the main requirements.
You can link test sets and defects to the sub-requirements. This helps in 100%
test coverage and its analysis.

10) What is a Table in QC project?

A table in QC project stores records of information about your test plan. It is part
of a database.

11) How many built-in tables does QC have? What are they?
There are 6 tables accessible to the user via QC's Customize Project interface.
They are as follows:
• Test Table
• Test Step Table
• Run Table
• Test Set Table
• Defect Table
• Requirement Table

12) What is a Test Plan Tree?

The Test Plan tree is a branching structure that allows you to organize
Your entire test plan visually.

13) What are the benefits of a test plan tree?

• Visually organize your tests

• Use different criteria for groups of tests
-object controls
-business tasks
-regression
• Insert Placeholders where needed
• Testing can start before all tests are created while keeping the plan orderly.

14) Why limit access to a Quality Center project?

You can enhance project security by assigning access privileges to all users.

15) What are Test Requirements?

Test Requirements refer to objectives or conditions that must be satisfied during

testing

16) What are the categories of test requirements?

• Business Requirements: High-Level objectives of the customer requesting the

product
• User requirements: Describe tasks the user must be able to accomplish with
the product. Tasks captured in use cases or scenario descriptions.
• Functional requirements: documented in a software requirements
specification (SRS). Define the application's software functionality to enable users
to accomplish their tasks.

17) How do you check which tests are linked to a specific requirement?
Coverage View is used to check which tests are linked to a specific requirement.
Use this view to find untested requirements.

18) What does document view show?

Document view displays columns for all requirements.

19) How do you customize requirements tree?

Open the "select columns" dialog to customize the requirements tree

20) What are Progress Graphs?

Progress Graphs display specified information over a period of time.

Each testing phase has a progress graph
• Requirements Phase: Data grouped by fields in the REQUIREMENT table.
• Planning Phase: Data from TEST table
• Execution Phase: Data from RUN table
• Defects Phase: Data from DEFECT table

21) What are Summary Graphs?

Summary graphs show the accumulated value of specified data in the Quality
Center project. Each testing phase has a summary graph. User may select 2 fields
for grouping- graph for each field, grouped by field

22) Why to use a filter?

Filters allow you to restrict the scope of data displayed in the graph, report or grid
according to criteria that you specify. When a filter is applied, only those records
that meet the filter conditions are displayed. Filters are available for Graphs,
Reports and Grids.

23) When would you generate project documents using the standard
Reports feature and when would you use the Document Generator?

We use standard Reports,

• To view quick reports,
• To filter/sort and customize the fields,
• And to save it to a Web page file (.html)
We use Document Generator
• For high customization involving index, tables & attachments
• To save and edit in MS Word format (.doc)
• To choose between snapshot and Full report.

24) What icon indicates whether a test has steps?

A footprint next to the manual and automated icons indicates whether a test has
steps.

25) How will you generate the defect ID in Quality Center?

The Defect ID is automatically generated after clicking Submit button.

26) What is a User-Defined field? How many can you create?

A User-Defined field is a column in a QC table activated by the user to hold

project specific information. You can create unto 99 user-defined fields in a QC
project

27) What are the benefits of User-defined fields?

• Store project-specific information that may be inappropriate for built-in fields

• More ways to filter and sort project information
• More ways to customize graphs and reports.

28) What are the currently supported user defined field types?

• Number
• Date
• String
• User List
• Lookup List

29) Where are the user-defined fields added?

The user-defined fields are added to the Test Plan tab under "Other Information"

31) How do you link requirements with a test?

We link requirements to a particular test using Requirements coverage tab.

32) What is an automated test?

An automated test is a recorded script of user actions that is played back on an

application to verify correct functionality.

33) Can you use QC for automation?

Yes. QC integrates with UFT (Formerly QTP), which is a testing tool that enables
you to create and playback automated tests.
34) What are the 2 ways of adding automated tests?

• Save UFT test to a Quality Center project.

• Convert a manual test to an automated one.

35) What is the importance of connecting a test case to test

requirements?

• To see if all the requirements are covered.

• To map a test case associated with its requirements.

36) What types of database are used in QC?

When we create a QC project. We need to store and manage the data generated
and collected by Quality Center. Each project is supported by a database that
stores project information.
The following database application could be used to store and manage Quality
Center information:
• Oracle 9.2.0.6 Standard/Enterprise Edition
• Oracle 10.2.0.3
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (SP2).

37) Mention what does Dashboard Analysis consist of?

The dashboard analysis consists of two views

• Analysis View: It consists of the analysis tree using which project
managers/QA can arrange all of their analysis items like-graphs, excel reports
and project reports
• Dashboard View: It consists of the dashboard tree in which managers or
testers arrange dashboard pages that can arrange multiple graphs that was
formed in the analysis tree and manifest them in a single view

38) What is the main purpose to storing requirement in Quality Center?

You store requirements in Quality Center for following reasons

• To ensure 100% coverage: You can create and track test plan / sets for the
requirements stored in Quality Center to ensure all the requirements are tested.
• Easy Change Management: If any requirement changes during course of test
case creation, the underlying test case is automatically highlighted and Test
Engineer can change the test case to suite the new requirement.
• Ease of Tracking: Using Advanced Reporting & Graphs provided by QC,
Managers can determine various metrics useful in project tracking and
monitoring.

39) How to use Quality Center in real time project?

After completing the test cases, we do:
• Export the test cases into Quality Center.
• The test cases will be loaded in the test plan module.
• When execution is started. We move the test cases from test plan tab to the
test lab module
• In test lab, we execute the test cases and put as pass or fail or incomplete.
We generate the graph in the test lab for daily report and sent to the specific
user.
• If we got any defects and raise the defects in the defect module. When raising
the defects, attach the defects with the screen shot.

40) How to map the requirements with test cases in Quality Center?

For mapping the requirement with test cases we do:

• In requirements tab select coverage view
• Select requirement by clicking on parent/child or grandchild
• On right hand side (In coverage view window) another window will appear. It
has two tabs:
-Tests coverage
-Details
• Test coverage tab will be selected by default or you click on it.
• Click on select tests button a new window will appear on right hand side and
you will see a list of all tests. You cans elect any test case you want to map with
your requirements.

41) What is a Scheduler?

The Scheduler is a QC feature that allows timed execution of automated tests.

You can specify the date and time when a test will be run. This is useful for
running large no. of tests unattended, such as overnight.

42) How do you open a Scheduler?

Go to-> Execution Flow tab. Right click a test to be scheduled and select "Test
Run Schedule" from the pop-up menu.

43) Why we use QC to track defects?

• Maintains a centralized database

• Standardize defect reporting
• Prevent duplicate defects
• Attach supporting information easily
• Analyze defect data using reports and graphs.

44) How can we add requirements to test cases in Quality Center?

Just you can use the option of add requirements.
Two kinds of requirements are available in TD.
• Parent Requirement
• Child requirements.

45) What is Business Component?

• Quality Center provides Business Component for Business Process Testing

(BPT).
• Many Enterprise Applications are a) complex and b) require extensive test
scripts/case.
• A Test /Automation Engineer cannot handle both complexity of Application
under Test as well as extensive test script/test case creation.
• Using Business Component, Subject Matter Experts (who are experts on the
Application underTest) can create tests in a script free environment without
involving in the Nitty-gritty of test case/script designing. It helps increase test
coverage and creates re-usable business components used for testing essential
Business Processes.
• Development of Test Script / Cases is done by Automation / Test Engineer.

46) What are the phases of Quality Center process?

• Setting up the QC project

• Requirements Management
• Create Test Cases
• Run Tests and Analyze Results
• Report and Track Defects

47) What are the features of Quality Center?

• Entirely browser based

• Project customization now a separate module
• Test requirements management
• Execution Flow tab
• "Drill Down" in graphs
• save graph, report and grid settings for reuse
• Attach screen snapshots to any object that accepts attachments
• Web Defect Manager Functionality built into Defects tab.

48) What is the Purpose of Creating Child Requirement in TD /QC?

By Creating Child requirements to the main requirement you can evaluate the sub
requirements related to the main requirements.You can link test sets and defects
to the sub-requirements. This helps in 100% test coverage and its analysis.

49) What is a Quality Center Project?

A QC project is a customizable repository for the testing effort. It contains tests,
test sets, execution records, defect reports and other test documentation.

50) What are the predefined groups and permissions in HP ALM?

• Developer
• Project Manager
• QA Tester
• TD Admin
• View

51) Explain the architecture of Hp-ALM the new version of Quality

Center?

• HP ALM client
• ALM server/Application server
• Database servers- Site administration schema, Lab project and Project
schema

52) Mention what are the different editions for HP ALM?

The different edition of HP ALM includes,

• HP ALM essentials: It is for the corporates that need the basic features for
supporting their entire software life cycle
• HP QC enterprise edition: This version is used by corporates more commonly
who use ALM more testing purposes. It also provides integration with UFT
• HP ALM performance center edition: This license is best suitable for
organizations who would like to use HP ALM to drive HP-Load runner scripts. It
helps the users to manage, maintain, execute, schedule and monitor performance
tests.

53) Mention what is ALM workflow?

ALM workflow includes:

• Release Specification
• Requirement Specification
• Test Planning
• Test Execution
• Defect Tracking

54) Explain why do we need management of release and cycles in ALM?

• There are many releases for a specific product

• Each release is segregated into a number of cycles
• Each release has also have a pre-defined scope and milestone associated with
it
• There is a specific number of test cases and requirements associated with it
• Upon executing tests, the defects are mapped and logged to the
corresponding tests after which we can trace requirements and defects. Hence we
need release and cycle Management

55) Mention what is Sprinter in HP-Alm?

Sprinter offers advanced functionality and tools to make manual testing more
effective and efficiently. It allows you to accomplish these tasks without
disrupting your test flow. With the help of sprinter, you can execute many of the
repetitive and tedious tasks of manual testing automatically. It includes many
tools that can help you to detect and submit defects.

56) Mention what is sprinter-data injection?

• Using sprinter you can enter test data into the application by matching column
names with the field names with the application
• We can insert multi-set of data directly into the application with respective
matching fields at one go
• Choose the row that you want to insert and tap on the inject icon which
directly inject the data into the corresponding fields

57) Mention how sprinter tools are helpful?

Sprinter tools are helpful in many ways like

• Smart Defect
• New Defect
• Add Defect Reminder

58) Mention what is the advantage of Quality Center?

• Quality Center is referred as a complete test management tool

• It is a web-based tool and backs up high level of communication among
various stake-holders (Developers, Business Analyst, Testers and so on) driving a
more efficient and effective global application-testing process
• With Quality Center automation tools like UFT and LoadRunner it can be
integrated. For analysis and tracking for test processes, it can also create reports
and graphs.

Q#1. What is Quality Center?

Ans. Quality Center is a product of HP known as HP QC or Quality Center or HP ALM (application
Lifecycle Management) tool. It is a web based test management tool which supports various phases of
software development life cycle. It helps in improving application quality with more effective
implementation of a project and it is cost efficient too.
Q#2. What are the benefits of using Quality Center?
Ans. Quality Center is simple and one of the best test management tool. Its benefits are:
1. It can be accessed through an IE browser.
2. Project database of a test can be maintained by QC.
3. It can be integrated with HP testing tools like QTP and Load Runner. It is also compatible with
third party tools.
4. It helps in effectively executing test sets, collecting results and analyzing data.
5. It helps in monitoring defects closely.
6. QC can be linked to an email system which provides an easy way to share defect tracking
information.
7. It can be used for creating reports and graphs which helps in analyzing test data.
8. It supports virtual environments like Citrix XenApp 6.0 and VMware ESX 5.0.
Q#3. What is the first & latest version of Quality Center?
Ans. Quality Center 8.0 is the first version and Quality Center or ALM 12.0 is the latest version.
Q#4. Explain the modules of Quality Center?
Ans. The Quality Center modules are:
1. Release Module: Allows us creating a project release. Each release can have multiple cycles.
2. Requirement Module: Allows us in managing requirements like what we are testing, what are
the requirement topics and items and what are the analyzing requirements.
3. Test Plan: Allows us to write test cases for the requirements in a hierarchical tree-structure.
4. Test Resources: Allows us in managing test resources. Tests resources can be associated with
tests.
5. Test lab: Allows us to run tests and analyze the results.
6. Defect Module: Allows us to log all the failed test cases results.
7. Dashboard: Allows us to create graphs and reports.
Q#5. How many built in tables does Quality Center have?
Ans. There are six built in tables:
1. Test Table
2. Test Step Table
3. Test Set Table
4. Run Table
5. Defect Table
6. Requirement Table
Q#6. How many types of reports and graphs are there in Quality Center?
Ans. Reports and graphs can be generated any time and in each and every phase with QC module
during the testing process by using default or customize settings like requirement, test plan, test lab or
defect module. We can also get summary and progress reports.
Q#7. Which types of database are used in Quality Center?
Ans. When a Quality Center Project is created we have to store and manage the data generated and
collected by Quality Center. Each and every project is supported by a database that is used to store
project information. The following database applications are used to store and manage Quality Center
information:
• Oracle 9.2.0.6 Standard/Enterprise Edition
• Oracle 10.2.0.3
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (SP2).

Q#8. How does u control the access to a QC project?

Ans. We need to specify the users and the privileges for each user.
Q#9. How many types of tabs are there in Quality Center?
Ans. Following types of tabs are available:
1. Requirement: Helps in tracking the customer requirements.
2. Test plan: Helps in designing the test cases and to store the test scripts.
3. Test lab: Helps in executing the test cases and track the results.
4. Defect: Helps in logging a defect and to track the logged defects.
Q#10. What are the different edition for HP QC or HP ALM?
Ans. The different edition of HP QC/ALM includes:
• HP ALM essentials:It is used by the corporates that need the basic features for supporting their
entire software life cycle.
• HP QC enterprise edition:It is used by corporates more commonly who use ALM more testing
purposes, also provides integration with UFT
• HP ALM performance center edition:It is best suitable for organizations who would like to
use HP ALM to drive HP-Loadrunner scripts. It helps the users to manage, maintain, execute,
schedule and monitor performance tests.
Q#11. What is the difference between Test Director and Quality Center?
Ans. Quality center is the advanced version of Test Director. It has more features than Test Director.
Q#12. Do we have programming interface in Quality Center?
Ans. No, we don’t have programming interface in Quality Center.
Q#13. What is the difference between Quality Center and Bugzilla?
Ans. Quality Center is a test management tool which supports various phases of software development
life cycle whereas BugZilla is Defect Management tool only.
Q#14. What is meant by test lab in Quality Center?
Ans. Test lab is a functionality of Quality center using which we execute tests. We create test trees and
add tests to those trees and placed them under test plan in a project. These tests then needs to imported
in the Test lab module where Quality center executes them.
Q#15. How can we import test cases from Excel to Quality Center?
Ans. To import test cases from Excel to Quality Center:
1. We need to Install and Configure the Microsoft Excel Add-In for Quality Center.
2. Need to Map the Columns present in the Excel with Columns in Quality Center.
3. Export the data from Excel using “Export to Quality Center option” in Excel.
4. Check for the errors if any.
Q#16. How can we export the file from Quality Center to Excel/Word?
Ans. A file can be exported from any of the following tab in excel or word format.
1. Requirement tab:
1. Right click on main Requirement
2. Click on export
3. Save as word, excel or other template.
2. Test plan tab:
1. Select a test script.
2. Click on the design steps tab.
3. Right click anywhere in the window
4. Click on export and save as.Note: Only individual test can be exported. No parent
child export is possible.
3. Test lab tab:
1. Select a child group.
2. Click on execution grid.
3. Right click and save in excel or other format.
4. Defects Tab:
1. Right click anywhere in the window.
2. Export all or selected defects.
3. Save them in excel sheet or any other format.
Q#17. What is Business Component?
Ans. Business component is used for Business Process testing known as BPT. Business component
provide script free environment for creating tests.
Q#18. How to use QTP as an automation tool in Quality Center?
Ans. Using QTP add-in in Quality Center we can use QTP as an automation tool.
Q#19. How to switch between two projects in Quality Center?
Ans. There is difference in switching between two projects in Quality Center 9.0 and above and in
other versions.
QC 9.0:- Select Tools then Change Projects and Select Project.
Other versions: Log-off and log-in again.
Q#20. What is Coverage status?
Ans. Percentage of testing covered at a given time is known as Coverage status. It helps in tracking
project status.
Q#21. Explain the architecture of HP-ALM?
Ans. HP ALM has following components:
1. HP ALM client.
2. ALM server/Application server.
3. Database servers.
Q#22. What are the components of Dashboard Analysis?
Ans. The dashboard analysis has two components.
• Analysis View which contain analysis tree.
• Dashboard View which contains dashboard tree.

Q#23. What types of requirements can be added to test cases in Quality Center?
Ans. There are two types of requirements can be added to test cases in Quality Center:
Parent Requirements which covers high level functions of the requirements
Child Requirements which covers low level functions of the requirements.
Q#24. What is Sprinter in HP-ALM?
Ans. Sprinter provides automated environment to execute various manual testing tasks. It offers
advanced tools which helps in easy execution of testing tasks.
Q#25. How to use Quality Center in real time project?
Ans. Following are the steps to use Quality Center in real time project.
1. Complete the preparation of test cases.
2. Export the test cases into Quality Center and Load them in the test plan module
3. Move the test cases from test plan tab to the test lab module.
4. Execute the test cases and check for the results
5. If we got any defects and raise the defects in the defect module.
Q#26. How to map the requirements with test cases in Quality Center?
Ans. We can map the requirements with test cases in QC:
1. In the requirements tab select coverage view.
2. Select requirement by clicking on parent/child or grandchild.
3. On right hand side another window will appear. It has two tabs:
(a) Tests coverage
(b) Details
Test coverage tab will be selected by default or you click on it.
4. Click on select tests button a new window will appear on right hand side and you will see a list of all
tests. You can select any test case you want to map with your requirements.
Q#27. What is a Table in QC project?
Ans. A table is a part of database which stores records of information about the test plan.
Q#28. What does a live analyses graph displays in Quality Center?
Ans. Quality Center live analyses graph provides a visual overview of all tests within a folder in test
plan tree.
Q#29. What are the phases of test management with Quality Center in order?
Ans. There are 5 phases: Specify releases, Specify requirements, Plan tests, Execute tests, Track
defects.
Q#30. What are the interfaces of Quality center?
Ans. The interfaces of QC are:
• Site Admin
• Quality Center

Q#31. How does the records appear in Quality Center?

Ans. By default in the order in which they were added.
Q#32. How can we save the tests executed in Test Lab?
Ans. They saved automatically when the users clicks on “END RUN” in the Test Lab.
Q#33. How do you run reports from Quality Center?
Ans. To run reports from QC:
1. Open the Quality Center project
2. It displays the requirements modules
3. Choose report: Analysis > reports > standard requirements report
Q#34. What is use of Test Instance?
Ans. Test instance is required to run the test case in the lab. We can’t directly test case in the lab,
instead we need to run test instance of that test case.
Q#35. What is Risk Category?
Ans. We determine the risk category for each assessment requirement under the analysis requirement,
It has two factors:
1. Business Criticality
2. Failure Probability.
Q#36.What is assessment requirement?
Ans. Assessment requirement represents requirements that are children of analysis requirement and at
lower level in tree hierarchy.
Q#37. What are roles and responsibilities of QC admin?
Ans. Roles & responsibilities of QC Admin are:
1. Project Creation
 2. Managing users and their authentication.
3. Performance monitoring.
4. Data backup etc.
Q#38. How do you find duplicates bugs in the Quality Center?
Ans. We can find duplicate bugs in the defect manager tab using “Find Similar Defects” button. We
need to enter defect description in brief and it shows similar defects.
Q#39. Does Quality Center supports UNIX Operating environment?
Ans. Yes, Quality center comes with two kinds of licenses:
1. Quality Center for Windows.
2. Quality Center for UNIX.
Q#40. Why to use Filters? How you define it?
Ans. To see the records that meet the specific criteria that we define we use filters. We can define
multiple items as Filter.
Q#41. What the Users group determines?
Ans. The users group determines the privileges that the user has within a project.
Q#42. What is Unattached Folder in Test Plan?
Ans. When we delete a folder or test from the test plan tree there are two ways. We can delete only
folder or we can delete that folder, its sub folder and test also. When we delete only folder, all the tests
under it moved to the unattached folder in the test plan tree.
Q#43. What is Matching Defects?
Ans. Matching Defects helps us to find and eliminate duplicate or similar defects in project. There are
two methods to search of similar defects.
• Finding similar Defects which compare a selected defect with all other existing defects in
project.
• Finding similar Text which compares a specific test string against all other existing defects in
project.
Q#44. What is Defect Tracking?
Ans. Defect Tracking is a method of finding and removing application defects. We can add or detect
defects to project in any stage of application management process.
Q#45. Is ‘Not covered’ and ‘Not run’ status are same?
Ans. No, there is difference between ‘Not Covered’ and ‘Not Run’ status.
Not Covered status means all those requirements for which the test cases are not written and Not Run
status means all those requirements for which test cases are written but are not run.
Q#46. Explain Version Control?
Ans. To keep track of changes made to entities in the project we use version control. We can create QC
entities and also keep previous version of those entities in requirements to track the changes.
Q#47. What is test set notification, and when we need it?
Ans. To inform any specific user we use test set notification if case of any failure.
Q#48. What is the need of Host Manager?
Ans. Host manager helps to run test on a host connected to our network. It shows the list of available
host for test execution and also organizes them into groups for a specific project.
Q#49. Explain Linking Defect to test in Quality Control?
Ans. Defects can be linked to test in the defect grid. It helps to run the tests based on the status of the
defect. Defects can be linked to other entities as well such as requirements. Linking can be direct or
indirect. If the defect link is with entity then QC adds a direct link and if the link is with run step then
QC adds an indirect link to its run, test instance, test set and test.
Q#50. What is the default database in Quality Center?
Ans. SQL Server is the default database in Quality Center.
That’s all about HP Quality Center Interview Questions and Answers. Prepare these questions multiple
times and I am sure you will find it easy to learn this tool as well as clear the interview easily.

What is Quality Center?

HP Quality Center is Web based Test Management tool. We can access Quality Center over the internet
or intranet, via a Web browser. It involves interrelated steps such as defining release, developing
requirement, designing and execution of tests, monitoring and reporting defects. Quality Center
simplifies and organizes application management by giving us systematic control over the process. It
helps in creating framework and foundation for application management workflow. Quality center
features a system for organizing and tracking application release, enabling us to align business
priorities and quality expectation with our project’s requirement, test and defects.

What are the modules of Quality Center?

The Quality Center modules are:

Management Module: This module includes following sub modules:

1. Release module: Enable us to define release and cycles for the application management process.
2. Libraries module: Enables us to define libraries to track changes in project, reuse entities in project,
or share entities across multiple projects.

Requirement Module: Helps us to manage requirements. This includes defining what we are testing,
defining requirement topics and items, also analyzing requirements.

Test Plan: Enable us to develop and manage test in a hierarchical tree-structure. Tests can be linked to
requirement and defects.

Test Resources: Enables us to manage test resources in a hierarchical tree structure. Tests resources
can be associated with tests.

Test lab: Enables us to run tests and analyze the results.

Defect Module: Helps us to report defects, determine, repair priorities and reopen defects.

Dashboard: Helps to create graphs, reports and excel reports.

How many built in tables does Quality Center have?

There are six tables accessible to user via QC’s customized project interface:

- Test Table
- Test Step Table
- Test Set Table
- Run Table
- Defect Table
- Requirement Table

What are the benefits of Requirement Traceability?

Requirement Traceability defines a relationship between two or more requirements. When analyzing
the impact of a change proposed in specific requirements, the traceability links indicate the other
requirements in the requirements tree; we can establish traceability between the requirements. Using
this tab in the Requirement Details view, you can add traceability link to and from selected
requirement. Trace from links indicates requirements that affect a selected requirement. Trace to links
indicates requirements that are affected by a selected requirement. When a requirement change QC
alerts the affected requirements this can be seen by all users. QC sends email notification to the authors
of the affected requirements.

Can We Convert or Generate Test from the requirements?

Yes, we can convert and also generate test case from the requirements.

There are two methods we can use to generate tests from the requirements:

- Convert Requirement to test: Convert requirement to test in a specified subject in the test plan tree.
We can convert selected requirement or all requirements in the requirements tree.

- Generate a test from requirements: Convert requirement to a test in a specified subject in the test
plan tree and a specified test set in the Test Lab modules. This method enables us to quickly run a test
when analyzing our requirements.

Explain Version Control.

Version Control helps us to keep track of changes made to entities in our project including
requirements. In this we can create and manage QC entities while maintaining previous version of
those entities in requirements. To make changes in an entity in a version control enabled project, first
we have to check out the entity. When we check out an entity, QC locks the entity, preventing other
users from overwriting any changes we make. The checked out version of the entity is not visible to the
other user.

We can check out an entity in the following ways:

- Checking Out Entities Automatically

- Checking Out Entities Manually

Can we create a QTP test from QC?

Yes, we can create QTP test from QC but we must first make sure QTP has the ability to execute tests
from Quality Center. Please ensure the following option in QTP Run Settings is enabled:

When QTP is enabled, follow the below steps to schedule and execute tests from Quality Center:

1. Login to Quality Center and Navigate to Test Lab Module.

2. After selecting the correct Test Set, Click the Execution Flow Tab.
3. Right-click on the test that requires configuration of Time Dependency and click Test Run Schedule.
4. In the Run Schedule window, select the Time Dependency tab. The time and date of execution can be
configured.
5. Time dependency will be added to the relevant test.
6. After time dependency has been added, navigate back to the Execution Grid pane. From the
Execution Grid, select the tests to be run at the designated date and time.
7. From the Automatic Runner dialog, click Run All.
8. Once Run All is clicked from the Automatic Runner dialog, the test status will change to Waiting and
QC will fire the tests to be run at the scheduled date and time.
9. QC will fire the tests in the sequence configured in the Execution Flow pane. The Test Run
Scheduler will show all the tests that were selected and are executing and are to be executed.

What is Purge Run?

Purge Run is used to delete old test run result in project. By default Purge Run delete all the run result
in the selected test sets. Purge run can be used to:

- Delete only Test Runs: In this we can select a period of time before which we want to delete test run
result.
- Delete only Run Steps: In this we can select a period of time before which we want to delete run steps

What is test set notification, and when we need it?

Test set notification is used to inform specified user. We can instruct QC to send email to a specified
user if any of the following events occurs for a test set:

- Any test is the test set fails.

- Test in the test set fails due to reason other than the test logic itself, Environmental failure could
include. Ex. Functional call not returning access violations, version incompatibility between application
components, a missing DLL.
- All tests in the test set that were run have been finished running. But this does not include tests that
are not executed.

What is the need of Host Manager?

Using host Manager we can run test on a host connected to our network. Using the Host Manager
Dialog box we can create a list of available host for test execution and also organize hosts into groups
to be used for a specific project.

Following condition must be kept in mind before executing test on remote host:

1. QTP must be installed on each machine where you wish to execute the tests.
2. QTP must be configured to allow other HP products to run
3. QTP Connectivity add-in installed on both the Host (QTP) machines as well as the QC machine.
4. Define your host machines in the Host Manager of QC.
5. Ensure that Object Repositories and/or Function Libraries which are used by all scripts are 'shared'
and accessible from all machines.

Explain Linking Defect to test in Quality Control.

We can link a test in our test plan to a specific defect in the Defect Grid. This is useful, for example,
when a new test is created specifically for a known defect. By creating a linking, we can determine if
the test should be run based on the status of the defect. We can also link the defect to other entities,
such as requirements. A defect can be linked directly or indirectly to an entity. When we add a defect
link to an entity, QC adds a direct link to this entity and indirect link to other related entities. When we
link a defect to run step, it adds an indirect link to its run, test instance, test set and test. If the same test
is covered by a requirement, an indirect link is also added to the requirement, but indirect linkage is one
directional flow.

What is Matching Defects?

Matching Defects enables us to eliminate duplicate or similar defects in project. When we add a new
defect, QC stores list of keywords from the Summary and Description Fields. When we search for
similar defects, keywords in these fields are matched against other defects. Keywords are more than
two characters and they are not case sensitive. We have two methods to conduct search of similar
defects.

- Finding similar Defects: compare a selected defect with all other existing defects in project.
- Finding similar Text: compare a specific test string against all other existing defects in project.

What is Defect Tracking?

Defect Tracking means locating and repairing application defect efficiently. Defects can be added or
detected to project by the users during all stages of application management process. The defect
tracking workflow consists of following:

- Adding Defects: After finding new defect we submit to QC project. The project stores defect
information that can be accessed by authorized users.
- Reviewing New Defects: Reviewing all new defects and decide which one to fix.

- Repairing Open Defects: Fix the Open defects.

- Testing a New Application Build: Run test on the new build of the application.

- Analyzing Defect Data: View Defect Report to see how many defects were resolved, and how many
still remain open.

How many types of report are there in QC?

We can generate reports any time during the testing process from each QC module, using default or
customized setting. We can apply filters and sort conditions, and display information according to our
specification. Following types are reports are available to us in QC:

- Requirement Module Reports: Standard Requirements, Tabular, Requirement with coverage test,
requirement with Coverage test and Steps, requirement with linked Defects, requirements with
Traceability, report selected.

- Test Plan Module Reports: standard test planning, subject tree, tests with design steps, tests with
covered Requirements, tests with linked Defect, report Selected.

- Test Lab Module Reports: current test set, cross test set, test set Hierarchy with tests, cross test set
with tests, execution notification.

- Defects Module Reports: standard Defects, Tabular defects, fixed or rejected Defects, report
selected.

How many types of Graphs are there in QC?

Following types are reports are available to us in QC:

- Requirement Module Graphs: requirements summary graph, requirements progress graph,

requirements coverage graph, requirements- trend graph, graph wizard.

- Test Plan Module Graphs: test planning summary graph, test planning progress graph, test plan
trend graph, graph wizard.

- Test Lab Module Graph: test execution summary graph( current test set), test execution progress
graph(current test set), test execution summary graph(cross test set), test execution progress
graph(cross test set) , graph wizard.

- Defect Module Graph: defect summary graph, defect progress graph, defect age graph, defect trend
graph, graph wizard.

What are the features of Quality Center?

Features of QC are listed below:

- QC helps to maintain project database of test that covers all functionality of application.
- QC offers integration with HP testing tools (WinRunner, QTP and Load Runner) as well as third party
tools.

- QC provides an intuitive and efficient method for scheduling and executing test sets, collecting test
results, and analyzing the data.

- QC helps in defect tracking, enabling to monitor defects closely from initial detection to resolution.

- By linking QC to email system, defect tracking information can be shared by all application
development, quality assurance and customer support.

How to use Quality Centre in real time project?

After completing the test cases, we do:

1. Export the test cases into Quality Centre.

2. The test cases will be loaded in the test plan module.

3. When execution is started. We move the test cases from test plan tab to the test lab module

4. In test lab, we execute the test cases and put as pass or fail or incomplete. We generate the graph in
the test lab for daily report and
sent to the specific user.

5. If we got any defects and raise the defects in the defect module. When raising the defects, attach the
defects with the screen shot.

How to map the requirements with test cases in Quality Centre?

For mapping the requirement with test cases we do:

1. In requirements tab select coverage view.

2. Select requirement by clicking on parent/child or grandchild.

3. On right hand side (In coverage view window) another window will appear. It has two tabs:

-Tests coverage
-Details

Test coverage tab will be selected by default or you click on it.

4. Click on select tests button a new window will appear on right hand side and you will see a list of all
tests. You cans elect any test case you want to map with your requirements.

How can we use Filter in QC?

We can use Filter on Quality Center data to display only those record that meets the criteria that we
define. We can assign a single item (such as failed) or logical expression (such as Passed or Failed) to a
filter. Only record meeting all the criteria of the filter appear in the grid or tree. In addition, we can
define multiple filters.

For example, we can define the Status filter as Failed and the tester as “Rohit or Mayank”. Only test
runs performed by Rohit and Mayank are displayed.

What is Unattached Folder in Test Plan?

We delete a folder or test from the test plan tree. When we delete a folder, we can choose to delete the
folder only, or the folder, its subfolders, and test. If we choose to delete the folder only, all the tests are
moved to unattached folder in the test plan tree. If we choose to delete a folder and test, all subfolder
and test under the selected folder are deleted permanently. If we delete a test, the test and test script are
deleted permanently.

What is difference between Generate Test from the requirements

and Convert requirements to test?
When we convert the requirements to test in a specified subject in the test plan tree where as in
generating test case, the test case generates from requirements are stored in a specified subject in a test
plan tree and a specific test set in Test Lab module. And by default we cannot generate a test for the
following, which do not enable to coverage:

- Business
- Folder
- Groups

Is 'Not covered' and 'Not run' status same?

No, Not Covered status means all those requirements for which the test cases are not written where as
Not Run status means all those requirements for which test cases are written but are not run.

What is the advantage of libraries in Quality center?

A library represents a collection of entities in a QC, including their relationship to each other. When
dealing with many similar projects, it offers the advantage of not having repeatedly created entities.
Libraries can be imported form Project A into Project B, compare against each other, or even
synchronized. A library also allows one to collect the same entities as in versioning. With Quality
Center Premier Edition, defects are not included, but they can be shared with the new HP Quality
Center Synchronizer manually among several QC project.

What types of database are used in QC?

When we create a QC project. We need to store and manage the data generated and collected by
Quality Center. Each project is supported by a database that stores project information.

The following database application could be used to store and manage Quality Center information:

- Oracle 9.2.0.6 Standard/Enterprise Edition

- Oracle 10.2.0.3
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (SP2)