Data driven testing in C# using arrays

Question

I have a test method which takes two XML files as input and compares them. I am using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting framework on .NET 4.5. I want to modify the test method such that it takes multiple XML files (two at a time in pair), runs the test and gives the results separately.

I tried the following code but it only gives one single output and stops when any pair of input files fails the test.

 string[] source = {file1, file2, file3, file4....};
 string[] target = {fileA, fileB, fileC, fileD....};

 [Test Method]
 public void TestCase01()
 {
      TestLogic testObj = new TestLogic(); //class containing the comparison method
      for (int i = 0; i < source.Length; i++)
      {
            Assert.IsTrue (testObj.VerifyFiles(source[i], target[i]));
      }
 }

Upon doing some research I found out that DataSource attribute can be used. But I do not know how to pass two arrays (or a single two dimensional array) to the DataSource attribute. I would prefer to use Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting for testing and other 3rd party frameworks like NUnit only as a last resort.

Edit: I do not know the number of input files. I used 4 files just as an example. Before passing the files to the TestMethod, I pair them using their IDs. So I first read two set of files from two different folders, pair them based on their ID and then pass the paired files to the test case for testing. The way I am doing it now is that I save the paired file names (source and target) in an array or list and then pass them to the test case. Obviously this method is not working and I am experiencing the problem as mentioned above.

chaliasos · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-23 08:50:34Z

8

You can use as DataSource a csv file that will have tow columns (one for source and one for target). Then in your test use it as follow:

[TestClass]
public class TestCase
{
    [TestMethod]
    [DataSource("Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.DataSource.CSV", "files.csv", "files#csv", DataAccessMethod.Sequential)]
    public void TestCase()
    {
        TestLogic testObj = new TestLogic();

        string source = (string) TestContext.DataRow["source"]; // get the value from the 'source' column
        string target = (string) TestContext.DataRow["target"]; // get the value from the 'target' column

        Assert.IsTrue(testObj.VerifyFiles(source, target));
    }

   public TestContext TestContext{ get; set; }
}

The test will iterate through the rows of the DataSource and will run one time for each row.

Check here for more details.

answered Jul 23, 2013 at 8:50

chaliasos

9,8137 gold badges54 silver badges90 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

7 Comments

Vijay Over a year ago

So with this method I will have to read the files from two folder, pair them on basis of their IDs and then save the paired file names in a CSV file which I read by the test case. Is there a more direct method to do it? Like directly passing array to the DataSource?

chaliasos Over a year ago

In your question you didn't mention anything about paring. They seem to be already paired. Just arrays of strings (I suggest the paths), so my solution was to put these arrays (the paired paths) in a scv and read them from there. That way you don't need to duplicate the test case and adding more paired paths without changing the code. If you have extra functionality in your test edit your question.

chaliasos Over a year ago

Btw, my answer is not restricted on just 4 files. If at any time you want to add a new pair you simply edit the csv and add a new row. That's all. The test case will also execute this row

Vijay Over a year ago

I have updated the question with the details. Sorry for not being clear enough.

Vijay Over a year ago

@Schaliasos Yes I think your solution will definitely work. Just wondering if there is a more direct method since as the project progresses there will be more added complexity with different type of files for which I have to write different TestClasses.

|

oldbam · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-20 14:27:18Z

2

I had a similar problem and at the very end followed the recommendation from this blog post,

We used an array of Anonymous Types to store our set of conditions, and then used LINQ's ForEach() method to loop through the array and run the test for each element.

answered Jan 20, 2016 at 14:27

oldbam

2,4871 gold badge21 silver badges24 bronze badges

1 Comment

Kevin Holt Over a year ago

That looks the same as the OP's original solution that he's trying to avoid, e.g. "it only gives one single output and stops when any pair of input files fails the test"

Zeshan Khan · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-23 05:48:29Z

0

Simply equate could work Datasource instance=Array. Data source rows in loop and row value as array instance.

answered Jul 23, 2013 at 5:48

Zeshan Khan

2942 silver badges15 bronze badges

1 Comment

Vijay Over a year ago

Can you please elaborate a little bit? Maybe give some demo code for it.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Data driven testing in C# using arrays

3 Answers 3

7 Comments

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

7 Comments

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related