I need to define a 2 dimensional array variable.
I have been able to use a list variable but now the project I'm working on requires an array.
How is this done?
How can I "loop" through the 2 dimensional array?
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2When you say "2 dimensional array", how exactly do you plan on using it? What are the dimensions? Are they integers? A list of lists is a two dimensional array, will that suffice? Does it have to be a literal 2 dimension array, or can you use a dictionary where the keys look two-dimensional? Can you give us an example of the type of data you need to manage?Bryan Oakley– Bryan Oakley2014-07-30 16:18:39 +00:00Commented Jul 30, 2014 at 16:18
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4 Answers
Try using a list of lists. You can use the extended variable syntax to access an item in the inner list.
*** Settings ***
Library Collections
*** Variables ***
@{colors} red green blue
@{animals} cow pig dog
@{things} ${animals} ${colors}
*** Test Cases ***
2-Dimensional List
Log List ${things}
Log The ${things[0][1]} is ${things[1][1]}
List length is 2 and it contains following items: 0: [u'cow', u'pig', u'dog'] 1: [u'red', u'green', u'blue']
The pig is green
2 Comments
Gidil
thanks for the great answer! One more thing, can I loop through the the dimensions: cow, red: cow, green.... pig, red.....?
Almir Campos
I've been using this approach because it seems the only one that creates something close to an actual table. HOWEVER, it becomes a big problem if you have, for example, 256 colors. Either you have a huge line or, if you brake it, the table visualization is gone. IMHO, not having decent data tables is kind of a shame for the Robot Framework team.
Using lists
Robot's term for an array variable is "list". You can use @{...} to designate a variable as a list. Here's an example that shows how to create a list in a variable table, and how to do it within a test using the Create List keyword:
*** Variables ***
| # create a list in a variable table
| @{Colors} | red | orange | green | blue
*** Test Cases ***
| Example of using lists
| | # create an array inside a test
| | @{Names}= | Create list | homer | marge | bart
| | # Verify that the elements are arrays
| | Length should be | ${Colors} | 4
| | Length should be | ${Names} | 3
To create a two dimensional list, you can create a list of lists:
| | ${array}= | Create list | ${Names} | ${Colors}
The extended variable syntax lets you access individual elements:
| | log | element 1,1: ${array[1][1]}
For more information, see the section titled List variables in the Robot Framework User Guide
Using dictionaries
You can use a dictionary to simulate a multi-dimensional array. For example:
*** Settings ***
| Library | Collections
*** Test Cases ***
| Example of using a dictionary to simulate a two dimensional array
| | ${array}= | Create dictionary
| | ... | 0,0 | zero, zero
| | ... | 0,1 | zero, one
| | ... | 1,0 | one, zero
| | ... | 1,1 | one, one
| | Should be equal | ${array["1,0"]} | one, zero
1 Comment
Gidil
Thanks but I'm actually looking for a 2 dimensional array. Sorry I wasn't clearer about it in the post.
I found a way to loop through a list of lists:
*** Settings ***
Library Collections
*** Variables ***
@{colors} red green blue
@{animals} cow pig dog
@{things} ${animals} ${colors}
*** Test Cases ***
Nested for loop example
: FOR ${x} IN @{animals}
\ Keyword with for loop ${x}
*** Keywords ***
Keyword with for loop
[Arguments] ${x}
:FOR ${y} IN @{colors}
\ Log The ${x} is ${y}
The credit goes to ombre42. Thanks!
Comments
Possible way to simulate a two dimensional array is to make a list of strings and split the string as you use it. The advantage over a list of lists is that each row is defined as a single line so you won't make mistakes when adding or deleting rows.
This array uses a space as the delimiter. Depending on your data you might have to use another delimiter.
*** Settings ***
Library String
*** Variables ***
# 3 columns per row
@{DATA} 1.0 2.2 30.0
... 2.0 5.5 1.0
... 32.0 6.1 1.4
*** Keywords ***
Using Line
[Arguments] ${line}
@{data}= Split String ${line}
Log @{data}[0] console=yes
*** Test cases ***
Using All Lines
:FOR ${line} IN @{DATA}
\ Using Line ${line}
