There are times, when you would notice QMetry prompts you to create a new version of a test case while trying to update the test case steps. Simple answer - your test case has been linked to a test suite and its execution is created.
When a test case or a shareable test case is linked to a test suite, you cannot update the linked version of the test case, instead a new version must be created.
When a Test Case version (Shareable/Non-Shareable) is associated with any executions you will be forced to create a new version of the Test Case and if your Test Case version is not associated with any execution you will be able to update the Test Case without the need to create a New Version.
Definition of Update: Adding New Steps, Deleting Steps, or Reordering the steps will force you to create a new version if the Test Case version is executed. Any other edits in steps are allowed.
The below table will help you to understand the scenarios:
Type | Execution Linkage | Editing Steps (no steps are new, removed, or re-ordered) | Changing Steps (new, removed, re-ordered steps) |
|---|---|---|---|
Test Case version | Linked to Test Suite | Will not force new version creation | The new version will be created |
Test Case version | Not linked to Test Suite | Will not force new version creation | Will not force new Version creation |
Shareable Test Case version | Part of Test Case version linked to Test Suite | Will not force new version creation | The new version will be created |
Shareable Test Case version | Not part of Test Case version linked to Test Suite | Will not force new version creation | Will not force new version creation |