What a trace is
A trace records how a journey actually happens on the site: each click, entry and page, with a screenshot of each step. Scenarios reference traces rather than copy them, so the same recording can back several scenarios.
Traces are recorded with the TagPipes Trace browser extension and pushed to a property. They cannot be created or edited in the app. Once a scenario uses a trace, its steps stay fixed so a signed-off requirement cannot change underneath it.
The library
Click Traces in the Blueprint sidebar. The library is per property.
| Part | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Tiles | Traces held for the property, Matching your filters, Pages (25 traces per page) |
| Search | Title, description or who recorded it |
| Sort | Newest first, Oldest first, Title A-Z, Most steps, Most referenced |
| Tag chips | Filter to one tag; All clears it |
| Row | Thumbnail, title, tags or description, step count, duration and date |
| Badges | N used (referenced by N scenarios, steps frozen) or unused (can still be replaced or deleted). A warning count means steps without a screenshot |
The viewer
Click a trace to open it. The left panel lists every step; click one to jump to it. Click any screenshot to enlarge it, and use Full width or Narrower to size them.
| Section | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Stats | Steps, duration, screenshots, data captured |
| Facts | Recorded (UTC), By, Source (start page), Viewport, Used by |
| Flags | Steps without a screenshot, the share of non-CSS selectors (likelier to break when the page changes), and Field values not masked |
| Referenced by | Each requirement and scenario that uses the trace |
Where links open
If the recording uses relative paths, Open links on lets you pick which of the property's environments the step links open on. When you open a trace from a QA plan, that plan's environment is preselected as QA plan. Your last choice is remembered. If the property has no environment URL, paths show as plain text; add one in Property Settings.
Share a trace
The viewer shows a Public link with Copy and Open. No sign-in is required: anyone with the link can read the walkthrough and see every screenshot, and the link does not expire. Screenshots show whatever was on screen while recording, so check them before sharing.
The public page leaves out internal details: who recorded it, capture-quality flags, the masking flag and where the trace is used. See Public Links.