---
name: azure-test-plans
description: Expert knowledge for Azure Test Plans development including limits & quotas, security, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when tuning test retention, configuring access for manual testers, or automating suites via tcm.exe CLI, and other Azure Test Plans related development tasks. Not for Azure DevOps (use azure-devops), Azure Boards (use azure-boards), Azure Pipelines (use azure-pipelines), Azure App Testing (use azure-app-testing).
compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
metadata:
  generated_at: "2026-08-02"
  generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"
---
# Azure Test Plans Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Test Plans. Covers limits & quotas, security, and integrations & coding patterns. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

## How to Use This Skill

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: If `metadata.generated_at` is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If `mcp_microsoftdocs` tools are not available, suggest the user install it: [Installation Guide](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md)

This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.
- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.

## Category Index

| Category | Lines | Description |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Limits & Quotas | L31-L37 | Configuring test data and pipeline retention limits, understanding default quotas, and using custom fields to control how long Azure Test Plans runs and results are stored. |
| Security | L38-L42 | Managing permissions, access levels, and security roles for users and groups in Azure Test Plans manual testing features. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L43-L46 | Using tcm.exe CLI to manage Azure Test Plans: create and run test suites, import/export test cases, manage test configurations, and automate test management tasks |

### Limits & Quotas
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Configure Azure Pipelines retention limits and behavior | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/policies/retention?view=azure-devops |
| Use custom fields for Azure DevOps test runs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/test/custom-fields?view=azure-devops |
| Understand Azure Test Plans data retention limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/test/reference-qa?view=azure-devops |

### Security
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Configure permissions and access for Azure manual testing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/test/manual-test-permissions?view=azure-devops |

### Integrations & Coding Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Use tcm.exe commands for Azure Test Plans management | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/test/test-case-managment-reference?view=azure-devops |