# Retelling "Test Case loses its code when moved over another with the same name"

**URL:** <https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898>\
**Category:** Bug Report\
**Tags:** katalon-studio\
**Created:** [October 22, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898 "2025-10-22T13:53:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kazurayam](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/kazurayam/32/333_2.png) [@kazurayam](https://forum.katalon.com/u/kazurayam)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898/1 "2025-10-22T13:53:56Z")

</div>

I am going to retell my [previous post](http://forum.katalon.com/t/test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-test-case-with-the-same-name/183734) with more details.

I used Katalon Studio v10.3.2 Free on macOS 15.6.1

## Problem to solve

In my Katalon Studio projects, I often make sub folders in the Test Cases tree to locate my test cases. I do change the name of my testcases. I do change the name of sub folders. I even move my testcases from a folder to another. I repeat such “refactoring” to seak for the best state of the Test Cases tree. During such refactoring, I encountered serious defects of Katalon Studio.

## Description of the issue

### step1

Initially, I had a testcase `Test Cases/main/TC1`. The code was as follows:

```
import com.kms.katalon.core.util.KeywordUtil

def v = new Date().getTime()
if (v % 2 != 0) {
    KeywordUtil.markFailed("${v} is not even")
} else {s
    KeywordUtil.logInfo("${v} is even")
}

Random rand = new Random()
Thread.sleep(rand.nextInt(999))

```

The script itself is not important here. What matters is that the Test Case `Test Cases/main/TC1` had some Groovy Script code.

 ![step1](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/7/b/7b4c150e5564b470007704fe64b3a7fdfa26e953.jpeg)

Here’s a fact you might not know: Katalon Studio’s GUI gives the illusion that a test case is a single object containing a Groovy script and metadata like “descriptions,” “tags,” and “variables.” However, on the filesystem, test cases are implemented as a combination of two folders (`Test Cases` and `Scripts`) and the files they contain. I inspected the file/folder tree of the project using the [tree](https://linux.die.net/man/1/tree) command:

```
$ tree Scripts Test\ Cases
Scripts
└── main
    └── TC1
        └── Script1761087607376.groovy
Test Cases
└── main
    └── TC1.tc

5 directories, 2 files

```

Here you can clearly see that the Test Case `Test Cases/main/TC1` is represented by two files: `Test Cases/main/TC1.tc` and `Scripts/main/TC1/Script1761087607376.groovy`.

> What is `1761087607376` as a part of the file name? It is a timestamp representing the moment when the script file was created. Katalon Studio uses this timestamp to uniquely identify each script file.

Also, please note that a folder that represents a folder under the `Scripts` folder should contain only a single Groovy script file. If there are multiple Groovy script files in a folder under the `Scripts`, Katalon Studio will only recognize one of them, and the others will be ignored. Which one is recognized?I don’t know the rule. Only the Katalon developers would know.

### step2

I copied the `Test Cases/main/TC1` to make another test case `Test Cases/TC1`.

 ![step2](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/1/4/1469e3c40a2163f1870de30af08c71d3eb3b4605.jpeg)

I copied manually on the Katalon Studio GUI. I right-clicked over the `Test Cases/main/TC`, selected the “Copy” menu. Then I left-clicked the `Test Cases` foldr, right-click it, chose the “Paste” menu. Then I got a new test case `Test Cases/TC1`. It contained the same Groovy script code as the original `Test Cases/main/TC1`.

Now, how the filesystem looks like?

```
$ tree Scripts Test\ Cases
Scripts
├── main
│ └── TC1
│ └── Script1761087607376.groovy
└── TC1
    └── Script1761087607376.groovy
Test Cases
├── main
│ └── TC1.tc
└── TC1.tc

6 directories, 4 files

```

OK. There is no surprise.

### step3

I moved the `Test Cases/TC1` into the `Test Cases/main` folder. I did it by drag-and-drop on the Katalon Studio GUI. I dragged the `Test Cases/main/TC1` and dropped it onto the `Test Cases` folder. This operation caused a name collision. The `Test Case` folder can not hold two test cases with the same name `TC1`. Katalon Studio created a new test case named `Test Cases/TC1 (1)`, which corresponds to the previous `Test Cases/main/TC1`. Now the `Test Cases/main` folder contains no test cases.

I did not open the new `Test Cases/TC1 (1)` with the Test Case Editor yet.

I checked the filesystem. **I expected to find the Groovy script file `Scripts/TC1 (1)/Script1761087607376.groovy`. Surprisingly, it was missing!**

```
$ tree Scripts Test\ Cases
Scripts
├── main
└── TC1
    └── Script1761087607376.groovy
Test Cases
├── main
├── TC1 (1).tc
└── TC1.tc

5 directories, 3 files

```

I double-clicked the `Test Cases/TC1_(1)` to open it with the Test Case Editor. The editor showed an empty script area. The Groovy script code was lost!

 ![step3](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/2/d/2d4da48ccf43cd74d65d6cf92e542470a1746956.jpeg)

I checked the filesystem again.

```
$ tree Scripts Test\ Cases
Scripts
├── main
├── TC1
│ └── Script1761087607376.groovy
└── TC1 (1)
    └── Script1761132105250.groovy
Test Cases
├── main
├── TC1 (1).tc
└── TC1.tc

6 directories, 4 files

```

Ah, now I found a new Groovy script file `Scripts/TC1_(1)/Script1761132105250.groovy`. Its content was something like this:

```
import static com.kms.katalon.core.checkpoint.CheckpointFactory.findCheckpoint
import static com.kms.katalon.core.testcase.TestCaseFactory.findTestCase
import static com.kms.katalon.core.testdata.TestDataFactory.findTestData
import static com.kms.katalon.core.testobject.ObjectRepository.findTestObject
import static com.kms.katalon.core.testobject.ObjectRepository.findWindowsObject
import com.kms.katalon.core.checkpoint.Checkpoint as Checkpoint
import com.kms.katalon.core.cucumber.keyword.CucumberBuiltinKeywords as CucumberKW
import com.kms.katalon.core.mobile.keyword.MobileBuiltInKeywords as Mobile
import com.kms.katalon.core.model.FailureHandling as FailureHandling
import com.kms.katalon.core.testcase.TestCase as TestCase
import com.kms.katalon.core.testdata.TestData as TestData
import com.kms.katalon.core.testng.keyword.TestNGBuiltinKeywords as TestNGKW
import com.kms.katalon.core.testobject.TestObject as TestObject
import com.kms.katalon.core.webservice.keyword.WSBuiltInKeywords as WS
import com.kms.katalon.core.webui.keyword.WebUiBuiltInKeywords as WebUI
import com.kms.katalon.core.windows.keyword.WindowsBuiltinKeywords as Windows
import internal.GlobalVariable as GlobalVariable
import org.openqa.selenium.Keys as Keys

```

Obviously this was completely different from the `Script1761087607376.groovy` file. This means, I lost the code contained in the `Test Cases/main/TC1`. This is too bad. Katalon Studio threw my valuable code away.

### step4

I did a few more steps. I moved the `Test Cases/TC1 (1)` back to the `Test Cases/main` folder by drag-and-drop.

 ![step4](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/2/e/2ef1422b6718c1c57e0c981c4bbfd59d94b2e233.jpeg)

I checked the filesystem again.

```
$ tree Scripts Test\ Cases
Scripts
├── main
│ └── TC1 (1)
│ └── Script1761132105250.groovy
└── TC1
    └── Script1761087607376.groovy
Test Cases
├── main
│ └── TC1 (1).tc
└── TC1.tc

6 directories, 4 files

```

The Groovy script file `Script1761132105250.groovy` was moved into the folder `Scripts/main/TC1 (1)`. This is OK. No surprise.

### step5

I renamed the `Test Cases/main/TC1 (1)` to the `Test Cases/main/TC1` by a manual operation on the Katalon Studio.

 ![step5](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/0/f/0fab33ebffb35644c035c0f136fc607f0e4b3b8b.jpeg)

I checked the filesystem again.

```
$ tree Scripts Test\ Cases
Scripts
├── main
│ └── TC1
│ └── Script1761132105250.groovy
└── TC1
    └── Script1761087607376.groovy
Test Cases
├── main
│ └── TC1.tc
└── TC1.tc

6 directories, 4 files

```

This is OK. No surprise.

### step6

I clicked the `Test Cases/TC1` and drag-and-drop it into the `Test Cases/main` folder. I expected that Katalon Studio would create a new `Test Cases/main/TC1 (1)` as it did in the step3.

Yes, Katalon Studio created the `Test Cases/main/TC1 (1)`. The `Test Cases/TC1` disappered.

 ![step6](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/8/5/85630c1bc0279c2e39e6d9fbb80c8c4d8924beb8.jpeg)

I checked the filesystem.

```
$ tree Scripts Test\ Cases
Scripts
└── main
    └── TC1
        ├── Script1761087607376.groovy
        └── Script1761132105250.groovy
Test Cases
└── main
    ├── TC1 (1).tc
    └── TC1.tc

5 directories, 4 files

```

What is this! I am totally confused. I found **the `Scripts/main/TC1` folder contained 2 Groovy script files!** I believe that this situation must not be possible!

### step7

The final question: if I open the `Test Cases/main/TC1` and the `Test Cases/main/TC1 (1)` with the Test Case Editor, which Groovy script will be shown?

See the following screenshot where I opened 2 test cases `Test Cases/main/TC1` and `Test Cases/main/TC1 (1)` side by side.

 ![step7](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/4/2/421e83d306e002e81edc7b8cd03ade6fa4f0ef84.jpeg)

As you see, both test cases shows the empty scripts. I lost my state-of-the-art script completely.

### step8

I edited and saved the `Test Cases/main/TC1 (1)` to add a line of code:

 ![step8](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/f/5/f546bc27dbe6186bc9975e9e01dd797620ad7ebd.jpeg)

I checked the filesystem again.

```
$ tree Scripts Test\ Cases
Scripts
└── main
    ├── TC1
    │ ├── Script1761087607376.groovy
    │ └── Script1761132105250.groovy
    └── TC1 (1)
        └── Script1761135512422.groovy
Test Cases
└── main
    ├── TC1 (1).tc
    └── TC1.tc

6 directories, 5 files

```

Katalon Studio newly created the `Test Cases/main/TC1 (1)/Script1761135512422.groovy`.

### step9

I checked the timestamp of the files in the `Test Cases/main/TC1` folder:

```
$ ls -la Scripts/main/TC1
total 16
drwxr-xr-x@ 4 kazuakiurayama staff 128 10 22 17:16 .
drwxr-xr-x@ 4 kazuakiurayama staff 128 10 22 21:18 ..
-rw-r--r--@ 1 kazuakiurayama staff 245 10 22 08:01 Script1761087607376.groovy
-rw-r--r--@ 1 kazuakiurayama staff 1243 10 22 20:21 Script1761132105250.groovy

```

I edited and saved the `Test Cases/main/TC1 (1)` to add a few lines of code:

 ![step9](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/d/6/d62ae771433163c9eef8aacaf1d33f2749f15539.jpeg)

And I checked the timestamp of the files in the `Test Cases/main/TC1` folder again:

```
$ ls -la Scripts/main/TC1
total 16
drwxr-xr-x@ 4 kazuakiurayama staff 128 10 22 17:16 .
drwxr-xr-x@ 4 kazuakiurayama staff 128 10 22 21:18 ..
-rw-r--r--@ 1 kazuakiurayama staff 245 10 22 08:01 Script1761087607376.groovy
-rw-r--r--@ 1 kazuakiurayama staff 1410 10 23 08:41 Script1761132105250.groovy

```

I could clearly see that the `Script1761132105250.groovy` file was updated, while the `Script1761087607376.groovy` file remained unchanged. This means that the `Test Cases/main/TC1` is linked to the `Script1761132105250.groovy` file. The `Script1761087607376.groovy` will be left there as an orphaned file.

### step10

I looked into the orphaned `Test Cases/main/TC1/Script1761087607376.groovy` file using a text editor outside Katalon Studio.

 ![step10](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/6/4/64cdeec3a1a4853247a6d3173c237537b35bab13.png)

Ah! My script was still there in the filesystem! But Katalon Studio will never recognize this file again. This is really sad.

## Conclusion

Katalon,

Please fix these bugs. Review the step3 and the step6. These bugs have been left unresolved long for years (see [http://forum.katalon.com/t/bug-failed-renaming-test-case-deletes-content/9835](http://forum.katalon.com/t/bug-failed-renaming-test-case-deletes-content/9835)). I hope you will take this issue seriously and fix it as soon as possible. Many Katalon Studio users may have lost their valuable test case codes unknowingly because of these bugs.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kazurayam](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/kazurayam/32/333_2.png) [@kazurayam](https://forum.katalon.com/u/kazurayam)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898/2 "2025-10-22T14:10:44Z")

</div>

I have published a GitHub repository which contains the project described above:

> **[GitHub - kazurayam/KS\_TestCase\_loses\_its\_code\_when\_moved\_over\_another\_with\_the\_same\_name](https://github.com/kazurayam/KS_TestCase_loses_its_code_when_moved_over_another_with_the_same_name)**
>
> Contribute to kazurayam/KS\_TestCase\_loses\_its\_code\_when\_moved\_over\_another\_with\_the\_same\_name development by creating an account on GitHub.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nghi.phan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/nghi.phan/32/30970_2.png) [@nghi.phan](https://forum.katalon.com/u/nghi.phan)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 8:05am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898/3 "2025-10-23T08:05:27Z")

</div>

Dear Mr Kazu,

Appreciate you bringing this up. I’ve routed it to the Product Team, work is in progress. I’ll drop an update here as soon as I have one. 🚀

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![barry.reid](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/barry.reid/32/20483_2.png) [@barry.reid](https://forum.katalon.com/u/barry.reid)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 9:55am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898/4 "2025-10-27T09:55:23Z")

</div>

Luckily I back my laptop up every hour on schedule as I have had to revert to restoring from a backup several times because Katalon has deleted my test steps when I have renamed or moved a Test Case. It is a very data destructive bug and I’m amazed Katalon have been aware of it for years, yet not thought it important enough to fix.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kazurayam](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/kazurayam/32/333_2.png) [@kazurayam](https://forum.katalon.com/u/kazurayam)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 9:59am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898/5 "2025-10-27T09:59:04Z")

</div>

> [@barry.reid](#):
>
> Luckily I back my laptop up every hour on schedule as I have had to revert to restoring from a backup several times

Why not you use [Git](https://git-scm.com/)? Git can be a way of very light-weight backup.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kazurayam](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/kazurayam/32/333_2.png) [@kazurayam](https://forum.katalon.com/u/kazurayam)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898/6 "2025-10-27T12:25:53Z")

</div>

> [@barry.reid](#):
>
> I’m amazed Katalon have been aware of it for years, yet not thought it important enough to fix.

See the following post:

> [@BUG - Failed renaming test case deletes content](http://forum.katalon.com/t/bug-failed-renaming-test-case-deletes-content/9835/9):
>
> Hi @kazurayam, We tried to reproduce the issue on both Windows 10 and MacOS 12.0.1. But the results are all the same: Renaming has no issue and the test case name is trimmed. Could you please record and send us the video of the error and the error log? Nam Nguyen.

They couldn’t reproduce the issue for themselves. Perhaps, Katalon developers don’t use their product for their own work. Therefore they didn’t mind this issue very much. They are busy developing something new.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Elly\_Tran](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/elly_tran/32/21874_2.png) [@Elly\_Tran](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Elly_Tran)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 10:10am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/retelling-test-case-loses-its-code-when-moved-over-another-with-the-same-name/184898/7 "2025-10-28T10:10:19Z")

</div>

Hi @kazurayam,

Sorry for any inconvenience. I have already created the ticket for this issue and our team can reproduce this problem on v10.2.4 and also 10.4.0-rc but working well on 9.7.6, 10.1.1. We will involve our PM and plan for this fix soon. I’ll keep you update. Thank you