Data Binding Enhancements in 2012 R1 SP2

We’ve added a nice enhancement to our data binding experience in the latest release of Test Studio. We’ve simplified configuring bindings in test steps by providing you menu selections of available data parameters to bind to the step.

Setting up a data source remains the same: from the project menu, select Add from the Data Sources section. Select the type of data source you want – I’m using an Excel file for this example.

You’ll need to browse to your file system and locate the data file you want. (If you’re using a Database source you’ll be prompted to enter connection credentials.) Once you’ve selected the data source file we’ll copy it to the project’s Data directory so we can keep a solid reference to it.

Next you’ll bind the current test to the data source. Again, this part of the experience is unchanged.

1. Select the test to bind
2. Click the Bind Test button
3. In the resulting Bind test to data source dialog, choose the data source (the Excel file, in this case)
4. Select the worksheet from that Excel file
5. If desired, filter to a specific set of rows from the data source

Now we get to the neat enhancements! Inside the test, select the step in which you want to consume bound data. In that step’s properties, click the Data Driven (Bindings) field to pull up the new bindings selection UI:

We’re now supplying you the parameters from the Data source bound to this test! You can easily select from the available list, or you can also use the previous syntax of $(parameter) to work with other coded data variables.

This little step frees you from having to remember the data parameters from your current source, and it’s also a little easier to work with.

It may seem like a small change, but I love these little gems of enhancements. I hope you do too!

About the author

Jim Holmes

Jim Holmes has around 25 years IT experience. He is co-author of "Windows Developer Power Tools" and Chief Cat Herder of the CodeMash Conference. He's a blogger and evangelist for Telerik’s Test Studio, an awesome set of tools to help teams deliver better software. Find him as @aJimHolmes on Twitter.