Symptoms
When running an ATF test that sets the value of a reference field, the test fails with an error similar to the following:
FAILURE: Failed to set field 'cmdb_ci' to value '6b10ecc91d2a01800c8e2814a85d4da9' because the reference is NOT valid.
Release
All Supported Releases
Cause
If you are able to select the referenced item on the test step, yet the reference is invalid during the test, this is often due to domain separation. If the test impersonates a user that cannot access the referenced item from its domain, the reference will be invalid.
Resolution
Ensure that the impersonated user on the ATF test will have access to all referenced records and items. Just because you are able to select the record when configuring the test, especially if doing so from the global domain, this does not mean the impersonated user will be able to access the same record.