Global Test Repository

Global Test Repository Overview

The global test repository feature allows your Zephyr instance to have a centralized location to house all test cases. This provides users the ability to create template/default test cases within the global repository which can then be reused within individual projects and releases.

Users are able to essentially copy the test case from the global test repository and place the copy of the test case to either the project test case repository or the release test case repository. Reusing test cases from the global test repository is easily completed by utilizing the simplicity of Zephyr's drag-and-drop feature.

Best Practices

The global test repository can provide users with a centralized test case folder structure allowing users the ability to reuse test cases that are located in the global test repository across all projects. 

For example: The test manager can go into the global repository and set up some default test cases which can then be used as templates across all testing projects. This is beneficial to be able to allow users with the option to reuse the default test cases which saves a significant amount of time while testing.

Test leads and testers that are working on individual projects can use these centralized test cases to their advantage to essentially reduce the time spent on writing out a similar test case. Your test leads and testers will want to copy or share the test cases that are created from the global test repository to their individual projects. 

  • If your test lead or testers create a test case in their individual project and want to have a copy of it in the global test repository that can be used across other projects, they must have the test manager copy it from the specific project to the global test repository.

When testers need copy or share test cases from the global test repository to their project, it can be done with the simple mouse movement of dragging-and-dropping the desired test cases from the global test repository and allocating them directly to the release or project test case repository. 

Limitation of Global Test Repository

  • The global test repository can be accessed if a user in Zephyr is given the "Manager" role. Managers are the only roles that can utilize the global test repository.
  • A user that is not given the correct permission will not be able to access the global test repository and will not be able to view the project list under within the user setup.
  • Test case mapping is disabled in the global test repository
  • The global test repository will not share test cases from any project/releases but the global test repository can copy test cases. The "Share from Project Releases" is not available directly in the global test repository. Users can "Share from Project Releases" from project and release repository.
  • Any and all project specific custom fields for test cases will not be displayed in the global test repository.
  • Test Planning and Test Execution applicable tasks are not available within the global test repository.

Global Test Repository Configuration

The global test repository provides users the ability to determine which project(s) the global repository can utilize to share, copy, and move ownership of test cases from and to the global repository.

Copy Test Cases from the Global Test Repository


1. Click on the  button on the folder where you want to reuse test cases that are from the global test repository.

2. Click on "Copy from Project Releases".

  • A pop-up will display either the release or project test repository on the left side of the interface and the global test repository for the system on the right side of the interface.
  • Release Test Repository - This tree displays the hierarchy of the test cases for the current release you are in.
  • Project Test Repository - This tree displays the hierarchy of the test cases for the current project you are in.
  • Global Test Repository - This tree displays the hierarchy of all the test cases for the global test repository and all project/releases in the system.

3. Navigated through the global test repository and select which test cases that you want to copy over.

4. Simply drag and drop the selected test cases to the destination folder in the release/project test repository.

Additional Notes

There are two ways to copy test cases from the global test repository.

  • You can copy single or multiple test cases to the project/release test repository 
    • Select which test cases and drag and drop to the project/release test repository.
  • You can copy an entire folder of test cases to the project/release test repository
    • Select which folder and drag and drop to the project/release test repository.


The copied test cases are given new ID's.

  • If the user is editing the copied test case, it will not update the original.
  • If the user is editing the original test case, it will not update the copied test case.

Share Test Cases from the Global Test Repository


1. Click on the  button on the folder where you want to reuse test cases that are from the global test repository.

2. Click on "Share from Project Releases".

  • A pop-up will display either the release or project test repository on the left side of the interface and the global test repository for the system on the right side of the interface.
  • Release Test Repository - This tree displays the hierarchy of the test cases for the current release you are in.
  • Project Test Repository - This tree displays the hierarchy of the test cases for the current project you are in.
  • Global Test Repository - This tree displays the hierarchy of all the test cases for the global test repository and all project/releases in the system.

3. Navigated through the global test repository and select which test cases that you want to share over.

4. Simply drag and drop the selected test cases to the destination folder in the local test repository.

Additional Notes

There are two ways to share test cases from the global test repository.

  • You can share single or multiple test cases to the project/release test repository 
    • Select which test cases and drag and drop to the project/release test repository.
  • You can share an entire folder of test cases to the project/release test repository
    • Select which folder and drag and drop to the project/release test repository.


The IDs for the shared test cases remain the same. Users are able to distinguish shared test cases from the other test cases in the project/release repository by the italicized test case name.



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