Data-Driven Testing

Data-driven testing is a technique in test automation where the same set of tests is executed multiple times with different sets of input data. This approach allows for more comprehensive test coverage and validation of automation processes under varying conditions. In the context of UiPath Studio, data-driven testing is essential for validating RPA workflows, ensuring that they handle multiple input scenarios effectively without manual intervention. It streamlines the testing process by leveraging data from various sources, making the automation scalable and robust.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of data-driven testing and examine the different data sources in UiPath Studio, such as files, Data Service, Test Data Queue, and Auto Generate along with practical scenarios for each use case.

Key Benefits of Data-Driven Testing in UiPath Studio

Data-driven testing offers several key advantages, making it a valuable strategy for RPA developers and test engineers:

1. Increased Test Coverage

By using multiple data sets, you can validate a wide range of input conditions, ensuring that your automation workflow can handle various edge cases and unexpected inputs.

Example:

• Testing a login workflow with different sets of valid and invalid credentials from a data source.

2. Improved Efficiency

Automated workflows can be tested repeatedly with different inputs without modifying the test cases manually. This saves time and reduces human errors, especially when working with large data sets.

Example:

• Processing hundreds of customer orders with different parameters (order ID, quantity, product type) without modifying the workflow logic each time.

3. Enhanced Maintainability

By separating test logic from test data, you can update the data without changing the test case itself. This promotes maintainability, as modifications to the data source don't require changes to the workflow.

Example:

• Updating the test data for an invoice approval process (like adding new vendor IDs) without modifying the automation logic.

Data Sources for Data-Driven Testing in UiPath Studio

UiPath Studio supports various data sources to manage and execute data-driven tests. These include files like Excel and CSV, UiPath’s Data Service, Test Data Queues, and auto-generated data.

Steps to Add Various Data Sources to Your Test Case in UiPath Studio

1. In UiPath Studio, navigate to the Project pane and right-click on the test case for which you want to import a test data source. Once the Context Menu appears, select the "Add Test Data" option.
2. After clicking on the "Add Test Data" option, the Test Data Editor will open, allowing you to choose the source of your test data. Click on the source dropdown and select the appropriate test data source as per your requirements.

Refer to the images below for reference:

1. Using Files for Test Data in UiPath Studio (Excel, CSV)

Files, particularly Excel and CSV, are the most common sources of test data in UiPath Studio. Excel files are highly favored because of their flexibility and ease of use, allowing developers to store multiple test cases in a structured format.

Technical Explanation:

Excel files are imported into the test case, and each row can be treated as a separate test scenario. The values from each row are passed as input to the workflow, and the workflow is executed iteratively for each data set.

Scenario:

You are automating an invoice validation process where different invoices need to be checked. Each row in an Excel file contains details like invoice number, amount, and vendor name. Using a data-driven test, you can validate that the workflow processes each invoice correctly, regardless of the variation in input data.

Data Source (File) Implementation Step in Studio:

1. Select the file and sheet; all rows will be displayed on a table. Based on your requirements, you can choose to select either all rows or specific ones for automation testing.
2. After importing the test data, a message will appear in the studio indicating that the test data has been added for the test case, and all column headers will be included as arguments in the studio for use in the test case.
3. Additionally, in the 'Test Explorer' pane, all the test data rows will be displayed, allowing you to select the rows for which you want to conduct the test case.

2. Leveraging UiPath Data Service for Test Data

UiPath Data Service provides a centralized data storage system that can be used for data-driven testing. Data Service allows for secure and scalable storage of structured data within UiPath Orchestrator, offering an easy-to-manage source of test data.

Technical Explanation:

Data Service tables can be queried to fetch input values for tests. This approach provides better integration with UiPath Orchestrator and offers a more dynamic way to manage large data sets compared to flat files like Excel or CSV.

Generalized Example:

A customer service automation that handles support tickets can leverage Data Service to fetch ticket details such as customer name, issue description, and priority. Each test run processes a unique ticket fetched from the Data Service table.

Scenario:

When automating a product return process, Data Service can store different return cases such as defective items, incorrect orders, and customer preferences. The automation workflow fetches each case dynamically and processes it, validating different return conditions.

Data Source (Data Service) Implementation Steps in Studio:

Retrieving data service entities

1. Create a Test Automation project.
2. In the Design ribbon, click Manage Entities.
   1. Deselect all entities and select only the ones that you want to retrieve in your test case. In this example, we only selected the Billings entity.
   2. Click Save to add the selected entities to your project.
3. Create a new test case.
4. In the Test Data tab, choose the Source as Data Service.
   1. Select the entities that you want to use in your test case.
   2. In this example, we selected the Billings entity again.
   3. Click Create.
      With the test case, an argument is also created automatically in the Arguments panel, carrying the name of the entity. The type of the argument represents the namespace of the project and the name of the entity you selected as data source.
5. To retrieve the fields from the entity, input the generated argument, and then access the fields that you want to retrieve. You can use the following format for retrieving the fields and records in the entity: ..toString. In this example, we added a Log Message activity, and in the Message field we input billings.Data.toString.

3. Using Test Data Queues for Large-Scale Data Processing

In UiPath, queues are often used to store data for background processing. Queues can also be leveraged in data-driven testing to manage larger data sets and distributed testing, especially for scenarios involving multiple parallel processes.

Technical Explanation:

Test Data Queues allow test cases to retrieve items from a queue in UiPath Orchestrator. Each item in the queue can represent a different test scenario, providing flexibility in handling large volumes of data. After processing, test results can be updated back to the queue, making the system highly scalable for performance testing.

Generalized Example:

An order processing workflow can pull test data from a Test Data Queue. Each queue item might represent an individual order with details like order ID, customer name, and product details. The automation processes each queue item and validates order fulfillment.

Scenario:

For an automated claims processing system, you can add claims data (claim ID, claim amount, and customer information) to a queue. The test automation workflow retrieves each claim from the queue and processes it, ensuring that all claims are handled properly under different conditions.

Data Source (Test Data Queue) Implementation Steps in Studio and Orchestrator:

Steps to perform in Orchestrator:

1. To use a Test Data Queue as the data source, create the test data queue in the Orchestrator project folder. Navigate to the Testing tab within the project folder and click on "Test Data Queues."
2. In the Test Data Queues pane, click the "Add Test Data Queue" button, which will open a window to enter queue details.
3. Provide a name and description for the queue. Upload a JSON file containing the field details and their data types (Content JSON Schema).
4. After uploading the schema, the field details and their data types will be displayed on the right side for verification. Click "Add" to finalize the creation of the test data queue.

Content Schema image for reference:

Steps to perform in Studio:

1. After creating the test data queue in Orchestrator, to use it for a test case, right-click on the test case and select 'Add Test Data.'
2. Choose 'Test Data Queue' as the source, and all available test data queues will be displayed. Select the one needed for the current test case.

   A filter can be applied to retrieve a specific range of queue items for testing purposes.

   
3. Once imported, a message will appear indicating the test data queue has been added, and an argument of type ‘IDictionary(of String, Object)’ will be created. These dictionary values to be used as input for the test case.
4. Another method to retrieve items from the test data queue is by using test data queue-related activities from the Activities pane.

Important Note: The name of the test data queue argument must stay the same. If you change the name of the argument, you won't be able to access the data anymore. For example, if you change the name of the argument from workforce to Work_Force_Queue, you won't be able to access the corresponding data.

4. Auto Generate Test Data Dynamically

Auto-generated data is useful for creating test data dynamically without relying on external data sources. This approach is helpful when you need random or unique data for testing, especially for scenarios requiring a wide range of input variations.

Technical Explanation:

UiPath allows you to create random or pre-configured test data during test execution. This data can be generated on-the-fly based on predefined patterns or ranges. It's often used to test scenarios where input values must be varied for stress or performance testing.

Generalized Example:

A financial transaction workflow can use auto-generated data to simulate various transaction amounts, dates, and customer IDs. This helps test the system's ability to handle different transactions without needing a predefined data set.

Scenario:

In a credit card validation workflow, you can auto-generate card numbers, expiration dates, and CVVs to test different validation scenarios. This is especially useful for performance testing, where you want to simulate thousands of transactions without manually inputting the data.

Data Source (Auto Generate) Implementation Steps in Studio:

1. When you choose 'Auto Generate' as the data source for your test data, a data table is automatically generated with default values based on your arguments. Each argument is assigned its own column, and the first data row displays the default values.
2. In the Test Data tab, click on 'Source' and choose 'Auto Generate' from the dropdown menu.
3. Select the columns you wish to include.
   (Optional) Modify the data table values or delete any rows and columns as needed.
   (Optional) Click 'Add Row' to generate an additional row with default values, which can be edited.
4. Click 'OK' to confirm.

The data is generated and added to the test case, and you can access it through the arguments.

Scale Your Processes with Data-Driven Testing in UiPath Studio by Accelirate

Data-driven testing in UiPath Studio is a powerful method for ensuring that automation workflows are thoroughly validated across a wide range of input data. By using various data sources—like files, Data Service, queues, and auto-generated data—you can scale and maintain your test cases more efficiently while achieving greater test coverage.

For RPA developers and test engineers, the ability to leverage these data sources enables flexibility and ensures robust workflow behavior across different scenarios, making UiPath Studio an effective tool for building scalable and reliable test automation. As a platinum UiPath partner and leading experts in Agentic AI and Automation, our dedicated team can help you leverage the full capabilities of UiPath Test Suite to maximize ROI and efficiency. Connect with us today!