How to: Create a Test Project for SQL Server Database Unit Testing

Before you can start to write unit tests that evaluate database objects, you must first create a test project. This project contains SQL Server unit tests, but it could contain other types of tests.

You can place all of your SQL Server unit tests for a given database project within a single test project. However, you might want to create additional test projects based on your answers to the following questions:

Question	Decision
Do different SQL Server unit tests need to access different database connections for test execution or test validation?	If yes, you need more than one test project. You cannot specify more than one database connection for test execution. However, you can specify a different database connection for test validation.
Do you want to deploy different database projects for different unit tests?	If yes, you need more than one test project. A test project can only deploy a single database project.

For more information about each of these questions, see How to: Configure SQL Server Unit Test Execution. As an alternative to creating multiple test projects, you can also provide your own DatabaseTestService Microsoft.Data.Schema.UnitTesting.DatabaseTestService implementation.

You have three options for adding a test project to a solution that contains a database project:

Add a test project to the solution. The test project contains a standard unit test, which you can delete. This project does not contain a SQL Server unit test class, which you must add.
Add a new SQL Server unit test from the Test menu. When you add the unit test, SQL Server Data Tools also creates a test project if you request it. This project contains a SQL Server unit test class. SQL Server unit test classes contain one or more unit tests.
Create a unit test from a stored procedure, function, or trigger from an open project in SQL Server Object Explorer. When you create the unit test, SQL Server Data Tools also creates a test project, if you request it. This project contains a SQL Server unit test class. SQL Server test classes contain one or more unit tests.

Each approach is outlined in the following procedures.

To add a test project to an existing solution

On the File menu, point to New, and click Project. The New Project dialog box appears.
Under Installed Templates, expand the SQL Server node, and then select SQL Server Database Project.
In Name, type a project name.

To create a test project with a SQL Server unit test class

Follow the procedure that is outlined in How to: Create an Empty SQL Server Unit Test or How to: Create SQL Server Unit Tests for Functions, Triggers, and Stored Procedures.