Home
Test Author Guide
This guide describes how to create test assets in Rational® Test Automation Server and publish test assets to the Git repository that you have configured. You can also edit existing test assets that are in the repository added to your project. This guide is intended for testers and test managers.
Datasets overview
A dataset provides tests with variable data during a run. The test that uses a dataset at run time replaces a value in the recorded test with variable test data that is stored in the dataset.
Editing a dataset
You can add, modify, remove, import, or export data from a dataset by using the CSV Editor. The working principle of the CSV Editor is similar to that of a spreadsheet.
Dataset encryption
Encrypted datasets are useful when you want to run tests that contain confidential information such as a set of passwords or account numbers.
Encrypting a dataset column
To secure test data, you must encrypt datasets. You can encrypt data in the columns of a dataset by using an encryption key. When you run a test that utilizes a dataset with encrypted variables, you must enter the encryption key for the encrypted column that the test uses.

Test Author Guide
This guide describes how to create test assets in Rational® Test Automation Server and publish test assets to the Git repository that you have configured. You can also edit existing test assets that are in the repository added to your project. This guide is intended for testers and test managers.
- Datasets overview
  A dataset provides tests with variable data during a run. The test that uses a dataset at run time replaces a value in the recorded test with variable test data that is stored in the dataset.
  - Creating a dataset
    You can create datasets in Rational® Test Automation Server to replace the existing dataset values with new dataset values during a test or schedule run.
  - Editing a dataset
    You can add, modify, remove, import, or export data from a dataset by using the CSV Editor. The working principle of the CSV Editor is similar to that of a spreadsheet.
    - Dataset encryption
      Encrypted datasets are useful when you want to run tests that contain confidential information such as a set of passwords or account numbers.
      - Encrypting a dataset column
        To secure test data, you must encrypt datasets. You can encrypt data in the columns of a dataset by using an encryption key. When you run a test that utilizes a dataset with encrypted variables, you must enter the encryption key for the encrypted column that the test uses.
      - Decrypting a dataset column
        To view the content of an encrypted dataset, you can decrypt the dataset column. Removing encryption from a dataset revokes the protection offered to the test data.
  - Publishing a dataset
    When you create or edit any datasets in Rational® Test Automation Server, you can publish your changes to the Git repository. Therefore, when you publish the dataset, other members in the project can use your dataset in their test run, if required.
  - Viewing a dataset
    When test assets includes datasets, you can view the contents of a dataset from Rational® Test Automation Server. The datasets residing in the Git repository are listed in the Datasets page.
  - Deleting a dataset
    You can delete the dataset when it is not required in your test environment.

Encrypting a dataset column

To secure test data, you must encrypt datasets. You can encrypt data in the columns of a dataset by using an encryption key. When you run a test that utilizes a dataset with encrypted variables, you must enter the encryption key for the encrypted column that the test uses.

Before you begin

You must have created a dataset. See Creating a dataset.

Procedure

Login to Rational® Test Automation Server, if you are not already logged in.
Open a project from the team space.
Go to the Datasets page and find the dataset that you want to encrypt.
Click the Edit icon from the Actions column of the dataset.
The dataset opens in the CSV Editor in a web browser.
Right-click any cell in a column that you want to encrypt and select Encrypt column data.
The Encrypt Column window is displayed.
Enter an encryption key in the Encryption Key field to encrypt the data in the column.
Remember: When you have already encrypted other columns in the dataset, you must enter the same encryption key that you used previously. You can use only one encryption key to encrypt columns in a dataset.
Important:
The encryption keys that you use to encrypt data in a dataset are not stored on the server nor can be retrieved from the server. Therefore, you must remember to store the encryption keys in a secure location. You must use the same encryption keys to perform the following operations:
- View the encrypted values
- Decrypt data
- Enable the use of the encrypted dataset during test runs
Click Encrypt Column.
Asterisks are displayed instead of actual data for the encrypted column.

Results

You have encrypted the dataset column in your project.

What to do next

You can publish the dataset to the Git repository so that other members of the project can use the dataset. See Publishing a dataset.