Data Driven Testing With Excel And Selenium Java

Hey there, testing enthusiasts! In any software quality assurance, Quality assurance is as important as the scale of the product. And in most teams, it works inversely proportional.

As we increase the complexities and scale of the software products, it becomes harder and harder to catch the bugs and ship faster. Data driven testing helps with that exact problem statement and helps you not only test better but ship the product faster than ever before.

In this blog, we?ll explore data driven testing methodologies and best practices. How you can work with Excel and Selenium Java for automation testing needs. This blog is for all ranges of QA professionals from novice to experts.

Hope it helps you solve the problems you face with Data Driven testing along with Selenium Tests.

Setting the Stage

Before we dive into the data driven testing universe, let’s make sure our testing gear is all set and ready.

Here are all 3 things you need to get started with.

1. Selenium WebDriver: Selenium is like the Swiss army knife of web automation, so you’ll need it in your toolkit. If you haven’t already, set up Selenium WebDriver in your development environment.
2. Apache POI: Apache POI is your Excel buddy. It’s a Java library that can read and write Microsoft Office files, including Excel. You’ll want to get cozy with Apache POI for Excel handling.
3. Test Script: Don’t forget your trusty test script! Have one prepared for automation?it’s the star of the show.

With these essentials in place, you’re ready to explore the wonders of data driven testing.

Preparing the Excel Data

The first step in data driven testing is all about setting up your test data. And what better place to do it than in Excel? Here’s the lowdown on getting your Excel data prepped and ready.

Organizing Your Excel Sheets

Excel spreadsheets are like the blueprint for your data driven tests. How you structure them matters. Here’s a simple example of how to organize your test data in Excel:

Each row represents a test case, and the columns contain parameters like Username, Password, and Expected Result. This organized format is your ticket to data driven success.

Tips for Clean Excel Files

1. Headers Matter: Keep your Excel sheet headers consistent and crystal clear. It makes data mapping a breeze.
2. No Empty Rows or Columns: Keep your Excel files tidy. Empty rows or columns can lead to testing confusion.
3. Data Validation: Implement data validation rules to ensure the data you enter is accurate and within bounds.
4. Named Ranges: Use named ranges to make data retrieval in Excel a walk in the park.

With your Excel data looking sharp, you’re ready for the next step.

Reading Excel Data with Apache POI

Now that you’re an Excel pro, let’s see how Apache POI comes into play.

Get Apache POI on Board

Add Apache POI Dependency: Start by adding Apache POI to your project. You can do this by including the required JAR files in your project’s build path or by using tools like Maven or Gradle.

Create Excel File Object: In your Java code, create an instance of the Excel file you want to read from. Something like this:
FileInputStream file = new FileInputStream(new File(“testData.xlsx”));

XSSFWorkbook workbook = new XSSFWorkbook(file);

XSSFSheet sheet = workbook.getSheet(“Sheet1”); // Replace “Sheet1” with your sheet name

Read Data from Excel Cells: Now you can access and read data from specific cells in your Excel sheet, like so:
String username = sheet.getRow(1).getCell(1).getStringCellValue(); // Row 1, Column

String password = sheet.getRow(1).getCell(2).getStringCellValue(); // Row 1, Column

Handle Exceptions: Be sure to catch exceptions that might pop up when dealing with Excel files, like FileNotFoundException and IOException.

With these steps, you’ve got the keys to the Excel kingdom.

Implementing Data Driven Testing

Okay, we’ve got the data from Excel in our hands. Now, let’s put it to good use in our Selenium Java test scripts.

Fetching Data from Excel

To get the data from Excel into your Selenium test scripts, you’ve got to do a little fetching. Here’s how:

String username = sheet.getRow(testCaseRow).getCell(usernameColumn).getStringCellValue();

String password = sheet.getRow(testCaseRow).getCell(passwordColumn).getStringCellValue();

In this code, testCaseRow is your current test case’s row, and usernameColumn and passwordColumn are the column indices.

Using Data in Test Scripts

Now that you’ve got your hands on the data, it’s time to put it to work. Let’s say you want to use the data to perform a login test:

// Fire up the browser

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

driver.get(“https://example.com”);

// Find the username as well as password fields and fill them in

driver.findElement(By.id(“username”)).sendKeys(username);

driver.findElement(By.id(“password”)).sendKeys(password);

// Click that login button

driver.findElement(By.id(“login-button”)).click();

// Check the expected result

String actualResult = driver.findElement(By.id(“result”)).getText();

Assert.assertEquals(actualResult, expectedResult);

// Close the browser

driver.quit();

In this example, you?re using the username and password values from Excel to fill in the login form. After that, you perform the login action and verify the expected result. Simple, right?

Running Data Driven Tests

Now that you’ve got your data-driven test scripts in place, it’s showtime! But how do you run these tests efficiently? Let’s dive into some strategies.

Test Execution Strategies

1. Batch Testing: With batch testing, you go through each row of your Excel sheet and run the same test script with different data sets. It’s great for testing multiple flavors of the same functionality.
2. Parameterized Testing: Parameterized testing frameworks (like TestNG or JUnit) let you run the same test script multiple times with different parameters. Perfect for comprehensive testing.
3. Data Driven Frameworks: For complex apps, consider building data-driven frameworks that handle data fetching, test execution, and reporting. It’s the pro-level stuff.

Generating Test Reports

To keep tabs on your test results, you’ll want to generate some reports. Popular test frameworks like TestNG and JUnit have built-in reporting features. You can also integrate third-party reporting tools for customized reports.

By embracing these strategies, you can efficiently run and manage your data-driven tests, ensuring thorough testing of your application.

Maintaining Data Driven Test Suites

As your application evolves, so do your test data and test cases. It’s crucial to establish practices for maintaining your data-driven test suites.

Keep It Updated

Regularly update your Excel sheets with new test data and tweak your test scripts as necessary to keep pace with changes in the application. Maintenance should be an ongoing thing to keep your tests sharp.

Version Control

Implement version control for your test scripts and test data. This way, you can track changes and roll back to previous versions if things go south.

Document, Document, Document

Maintain documentation for your data-driven test suites. Note down the purpose of each test case, the data used, and any special quirks. This documentation is gold for new team members joining the testing crew.

Related: How Has Coding Changed Over the Past 35 Years?

Benefits of Data Driven Testing

Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the awesomeness of data-driven testing.

More Test Coverage

Data driven testing lets you run the same test script with different data sets, giving your application a thorough workout. You’re like a superhero with extra powers!

Less Maintenance Hustle

Centralizing test data in Excel makes updating and maintaining test cases a breeze. No more digging through code to make small changes.

Reusable Test Scripts

With data-driven testing, your test scripts become versatile workhorses. You can reuse the same script for multiple test cases, making your testing efforts super efficient.

Easy Bug Hunting

Troubleshooting becomes a piece of cake with data-driven testing. If a test fails, you can pinpoint the exact data set causing trouble, making debugging a walk in the park.

A Quick Peek at LambdaTest

Before we wrap things up, let’s give a shout-out to LambdaTest. It’s a cloud-based cross-browser and cross-device testing platform that can complement your data-driven testing works.

LambdaTest comes armed with some cool features:

• Parallel Testing: Run your Selenium test scripts concurrently on different browsers and operating systems. Say goodbye to waiting!
• Integration with Selenium: It plays nice with Selenium, expanding your test coverage to various browser and OS combos.
• Real-Time Testing: Get real-time access to different browsers, so you can interact with your app as if it’s right in front of you.
• Test Logs and Screenshots: LambdaTest captures detailed test logs and screenshots during test runs, making bug hunting a breeze.
• CI/CD Integration: LambdaTest buddies up with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, and CircleCI, ensuring your tests stay in sync with your development pipeline.

Integrating LambdaTest into your data-driven testing strategy can supercharge your testing efforts and make your life easier.

Conclusion

Data-driven testing with Excel and Selenium Java is your ticket to test automation success. It boosts test coverage, reduces maintenance hassles, and makes your test scripts super reusable. Just remember to keep your tests updated, use version control, and document everything.

With the right tools and practices in your testing toolbox, you’re all set to conquer even the most complex testing challenges. So, roll up your sleeves, dive into the world of data-driven testing, and take your testing game to the next level. Happy testing, folks!

Read Also:

• Important Questions To Ask When Choosing Field Service Management Software
• Supplier Performance Management: How It Works
• Digital Marketing For Product-Based Businesses