Instance variables

Version 1.20 introduces the notion of instance variable. This option offers the opportunity to define a single test and execute it several time with small details changing. These small details are handled by variables.

Instance-settling

To define that a test must be executed several times, you must specify an xml element named instance-settling. This element is expecting a single variable (element local-variable) having a name and a type. The different values that this variable will take can be defined by the means of a sequence. A local-variable is always evaluated at load-time.

<instance-settling>
  <local-variable name="firstDayOfMonth" type="dateTime">
    <loop-sentinel seed="2016-01-01" terminal="2016-03-01" step="1 month"/>
  </local-variable>
</instance-settling>

Derived variables

Once you’ve created a local-variable, it’s possible to derive some variables from this variable. This will offer the opportunity to repeat complex transformations all over your test by providing a new variable. It’s also possible to create derived variables from derived variables. A derived-variable is always evaluated at load-time.

To create a derived variable you must use the element derived-variable and provide the name and type of the new variable in the respective attributes name and type. The attribute based-on let’s you specify the variable on which this derivation will happen. Finally a script let’s you specify how the base variable should be transformed.

<instance-settling>
  <local-variable name="firstDayOfMonth" type="dateTime">
    <loop-sentinel seed="2016-01-01" terminal="2016-03-01" step="1 month"/>
  </local-variable>
  <derived-variable name="secondDayOfMonth" based-on="firstDayOfMonth" type="dateTime">
    <script language="native">
      dateTime-to-next-day
    </script>
  </derived-column>
  <derived-variable name="age" based-on="secondDayOfMonth" type="numeric">
    <script language="native">
      dateTime-to-age
    </script>
  </derived-column>
</instance-settling>

In the example above, two derived variables are created. the second is based on the first when the first is based on the local-variable.

Customize categories, traits and name

Based on the value of the local-variable, you can customize the name of the test but also the categories and traits.

To achieve this add some xml elements in the instance-settling such as category and trait.

<test name="~Instance also defines the test's name and categories and traits for {@firstDayOfMonth:MMMM}" uid="0002">
  <instance-settling>
    <local-variable name="firstDayOfMonth" type="dateTime">
      <loop-sentinel seed="2016-01-01" terminal="2016-03-01" step="1 month"/>
    </local-variable>
    <category>~{@firstDayOfMonth:MMMM}</category>
    <trait name="Year">~{@firstDayOfMonth:yyyy}</trait>
    <trait name="Month">~{@firstDayOfMonth:MM}</trait>
    <trait name="Date">@firstDayOfMonth</trait>
  </instance-settling>
  ...
</test>

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