What is HP ALM?

HP ALM stands for Application Life Cycle Management. It is a web-based tool that is used to manage the application lifecycle. This lifecycle encompasses all phases from project planning, requirements gathering, to testing and deployment. HP ALM is not just a tool for managing these phases; it also facilitates the management of projects, enables stakeholders to interact and coordinate effectively, and provides tracking, reporting, and project analysis.

Initially developed by Mercury Interactive and now under the purview of HP, HP ALM integrates with other HP products to provide a comprehensive solution for enterprise application life cycle management. It was previously known as Test Director and later as HP Quality Center before adopting its current name.

HP ALM is structured around three main components: the client, the application server, and the database server. The client components are downloaded when users access the ALM URL, allowing interaction with the server using .NET and COM technologies. The application server handles requests and communicates with the database server using the Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) driver. HP ALM is developed using Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) and supports databases like MS SQL Server or Oracle as its back end.

There are four editions of HP ALM—Essentials, QC Enterprise, Performance Center—each offering different features and levels of access to ALM functionalities. It is a commercially licensed enterprise application that provides a secure connection for users to perform various ALM tasks effectively.

HP ALM Plugins for Excel

Installation of HP ALM Excel Plugin

The HP ALM Excel plugin is an essential tool for users looking to leverage the power of Excel for Application Lifecycle Management tasks. It should be installed directly on the ALM client machine. To ensure a smooth installation process, any previous versions of the plugin must be uninstalled before a new version is installed. Installation requires administrator privileges, especially if the plugin is to be installed for all users. This can be done by using the \"Run as administrator\" option.

Two critical components must be present on the machine where the plugin is installed: the Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime and the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015. The Micro Focus Code Signing certificate may also need to be installed if Excel's security settings require add-ins to be signed by a trusted publisher. After installation, refer to the HP ALM Microsoft Excel Add-in Guide for additional instructions and best practices.

Using HP ALM Excel Plugin for Data Management

The HP ALM Excel plugin enables users to populate worksheets without the need to open ALM, utilizing ALM Business Views for data extraction. This allows for the use of Excel's extensive toolset for data analysis and editing within a familiar environment. Users can save their Excel data either locally or directly in the ALM Analysis View tree, providing flexibility in data management. The plugin supports Microsoft Excel versions 2007 through 2016, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of user environments.

Compatibility and Support

Compatibility is key for the HP ALM Excel plugin, which supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Excel. It is available for various ALM versions, ranging from 11.52 to 12.53, and supports Excel iterations from 2007 through 2016, with patch 1 of ALM 12.53 specifically supporting Excel 2016. However, it is important to note that the plugin does not support Microsoft Office 365 Excel Online.

Advanced Features and Analysis

In Excel 2013, the plugin allows users to open multiple Business View Excel reports, enhancing the ability to perform complex analysis. The plugin is documented in the HP Application Lifecycle Management User Guide, providing users with a valuable resource for understanding and maximizing the plugin's capabilities.

Common Use Cases

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  Exporting test plans from Excel to ALM and viewing them in the test plan tree
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  Exporting requirements from Excel to ALM to populate the requirements tree
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  Sending defects from Excel to ALM for visibility in the defects grid
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  Analyzing ALM data in Excel using DQL queries on ALM Business Views
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  Generating and uploading Excel reports to the Analysis View module in HP ALM

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download the HP ALM plugin for Excel?

The plugin can be downloaded by signing in to the AppDelivery Marketplace. If you are not eligible to sign in, a local ALM admin can download and publish the plugin on a local server.

What are the system requirements for installing the HP ALM plugin for Excel?

To install the plugin, you need Microsoft Excel on the ALM client machine, Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime, and Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015.

What should I do if I encounter an 'untrusted publisher' error?

If you encounter this error, ensure you have installed the MicroFocusCodeSigning.cer certificate to the 'Trusted Publishers'. If the error persists, an update is available for download to address this issue.

Can I use the HP ALM plugin with Office 365 Excel Online?

No, the plugin is not compatible with Office 365 Excel Online. It only works with the Office 365 Excel Desktop Application and various other versions of Excel from 2010 SP2 to 2019.

How do I ensure that the plugin functions correctly after installation?

After installing the plugin, make sure to uninstall previous versions of the add-in and install the publisher certificate if required. Additionally, you may need to re-enable the add-in in Excel's options.