How to Use Releases and Cycles in ALM

This task describes how to create and track releases and cycles. To learn more about releases and cycles, see Releases and Cycles Overview.

You can also use Project Planning and Tracking (PPT) to track your application releases. PPT helps you make more informed release decisions using real-time key performance indicators (KPIs). For task details on working with PPT, see How to Work with PPT.

1. Define releases and cycles

   Define releases and cycles in a hierarchical releases tree.

   1. Open the Releases module. On the ALM sidebar, under Management, select Releases.

   2. Create folders. Right-click the Releases root folder and select New Release Folder. To create a sub-folder, right-click a folder and select New Release Folder.

   3. Add releases to folders. Right-click a folder or sub-folder and select New Release. Fill in fields in the New Release dialog box. For user interface details, see New Release/Release Details Dialog Box.

   4. Add cycles to a release. Right-click a release and select New Cycle. Fill in fields in the New Cycle dialog box. For user interface details, see New Cycle/Cycle Details Dialog Box.

2. Assign requirements

   In the Requirements module, assign requirements to releases and cycles.

   • Assign to release. Right-click a requirement and select Assign to Release. For user interface details on the Select Releases dialog box, see Select Releases Dialog Box.

   • Assign to cycle. Right-click a requirement and select Assign to Cycle. For user interface details on the Select Cycles dialog box, see Select Cycles Dialog Box.

3. Assign and run test sets

   In the Test Lab module, assign test sets folders to cycles, and then run the test sets.

   1. Assign to cycles. Right-click a test set folder and select Assign to Cycle. For user interface details on the Select Cycles dialog box, see Select Cycles Dialog Box.

   2. Run tests. For task details on running tests, see How to Run Tests in ALM.

4. Assign defects

   Assign defects to a target release and a target cycle. For task details, see How to Track Defects in ALM.

5. Analyze releases and cycles

   View statistics and graphs to track the progress of your releases and cycles.

   • View assigned requirements and test set folders.

     To view statistics on the requirements and test set folders assigned to your releases and cycles, in the Releases module, select a release or cycle and click the Details tab. In the Statistics area, view statistics on assigned requirements and test set folders. For user interface details on the Releases module window, see Releases Module Window.

   • View coverage progress.

     View statistics and graphs which provide visual indications of the current progress of your release or cycle.

     • For a release: Select a release in the releases tree, click the Status tab, and then click the Progress tab.

     • For a cycle: Expand a release in the releases tree, select a cycle, and click the Progress tab.

   For user interface details, see Progress Tab.

   • View defects.

     View graphs in the Releases module displaying the number of defects submitted over the course of a release or cycle.

     • For a release: Select a release in the releases tree, click the Status tab, and then click the Quality tab.

     • For a cycle: Expand a release in the releases tree, select a cycle, and click the Quality tab.

     For user interface details, see Quality Tab.