Issue with linking Test Plans in the Test Coverage section of a Story changes all other stories

Question

Hello,

My company is using Jira Enterprise with Xray and I assume something is not configured correctly but I cannot seem to figure out what it is.  I thought it might be a setting in Requirement Coverage Strategy but that didn't fix it.

My issue is that every time I link a new Test Plan to a story in the Test Coverage area it changes all other stories with linked Test Plans to this new Test Plan. For example: I have Test Plan 1 linked to Story A through the Test Coverage area.  Then I create a new Test Plan called Test Plan 2 for Story B. When I link it in the Test Coverage section on Story B, Story A's Test Plan changes from Test Plan 1 to Test Plan 2 along with ever other Story with a linked Test Plan.

I hope this makes sense.  I worked in Jira with Xray at a previous company and never had an issue linking Test Plans to Stories.

Humashankar VJ · Answer

Hi @Kim Richards

Thank you for the update! It sounds like you’re on the right track by linking the Test Plans to the Stories using the "Tested By" link type. This should indeed create individual associations at the Story level.

The quarterly increment setup for Fix Versions may have unintended implications for Test Plans across Stories, particularly when multiple Stories are encompassed within a single version. It's possible that Test Plans linked to a specific Fix Version may inadvertently impact all Stories associated with that version. To avoid this issue, it's essential to review your Test Plans and verify that they are not inadvertently linked to a Fix Version that spans multiple Stories, ensuring that your Test Plans are accurately aligned with the relevant Stories.

To determine whether Test Plans are being applied globally, it's essential to conduct a thorough review of your project's configuration and settings in Jira.

* Begin by examining the linking configuration settings, where you can identify any global link types or rules that may be applied across multiple issues.
* Next, inspect each Test Plan individually, paying close attention to the linked Stories. If you notice multiple Stories associated with a single Test Plan, it's a clear indication that they are linked together.
* Additionally, research into Xray's documentation, specifically the sections on managing Test Plans and their relationships with Stories, to gain a deeper understanding of link types and associations, and to uncover potential insights that may help in resolving the issue.

While you mentioned trying labels without success, consider using them strategically to filter and identify specific Tests or Stories more easily. This can help clarify which Tests belong to which Stories and may assist in organizing your coverage.

Best Regards

You're welcome! I'm glad I could help. Have a fantastic Xmas week and feel free to reach out if you need anything else.

Kim Richards · Answer

Hi @Humashankar VJ

Thank you so much for replying.  I have linked the Test Plans to the stories using Tested By so I assume this being linked at a story level but not sure.  I just tried using labels in both the Test Plan and the story but that didn't help.  The company setup the Fix Versions as a quarterly increment, instead of a Sprint iteration, so I am not sure if this is the reason the Test Plans keep changing.

I am going through all the documentation in Xray and I am not sure how to check if Test Plans if they are globally applied across all stories but will keep searching.

Thanks again for information and have a wonderful week!

Humashankar VJ · Answer

Hi @Kim Richards

Ensure that the link type used to connect the Test Plan to the Story is distinct for each story. This guarantees that the link is specific to that story and doesn't inadvertently impact others, and also Verify that Test Plans are being linked specifically at the story level. Ensure that they are not being globally applied across all stories in a version or component. Check if Test Plans are associated with Versions or Components, which might be affecting all stories within those categories. Adjust the association strategy as needed to ensure accurate linking.

Hope this helps - Happy to help further!!
Thank you very much and have a great one!
Warm regards