Forum Discussion

mgroen2's avatar
mgroen2
Super Contributor
7 years ago

question about dynamically creating variable value

Hi,

 

I have a question:

I have a put request, in the body there is a date value which needs to be entered.

I need the value of this date to be dynamic: it should always be current date, so the test can be repetitive without the need of changing the date.

 

How to implement this dynamic value?

 

  • groovyguy's avatar
    groovyguy
    Community Hero
    7 years ago

    You can make use of inline-groovy-scripting. It's similar to referencing something with Property Expansion. Here's an example below:

     

    ${= Calendar.getInstance(TimeZone.getTimeZone('GMT')).format("yyyy-MM-dd")}

    Property Expansion uses the format ${...}. If you use ${=...} that tells ReadyAPI to evaluate whatever comes after the equal sign as a groovy script and will put the result in there. 

    • mgroen2's avatar
      mgroen2
      Super Contributor
      7 years ago

      Hi,

       

      thanks that worked! Thanks a lot for your code.

       

      Now, is there also a possibility to manipulate the date with -1 day?

       

      So I can run the same test but now with a date = "yesterday" ?

       

      • groovyguy's avatar
        groovyguy
        Community Hero
        7 years ago

        mgroen2: That is possible, but that is going to increase the complexity of the in-line groovy script. Also, if you ever need to re-use this in another request, that will mean copy and pasting the same code over and over. One way I get around this is to put in a groovy script test step that writes to a properties step, and I reference the data I generate from there.

         

        The groovy script you are looking for inline, though, is:

         

        ${= import static java.util.Calendar.*
      def now = Calendar.getInstance(TimeZone.getTimeZone('GMT'))
	String TimeStamp;
	
	now[DAY_OF_WEEK] =  now[DAY_OF_WEEK] - 1;
	
	Timestamp = now.format("yyyy-MM-dd");
	// log.info(Timestamp);
	return Timestamp;}

        As you can see, that can insert a lot of groovy script into the request that you otherwise might not want to see. And if you need to re-use it, changing it later may get out of hand. If you write a groovy script test step and a properties step (using the name of "Properties" for it in this example, you can use this snippet:

         

        import static java.util.Calendar.* 

def datetimeDayFunct(int offset)
{
	// In: Offset, in days
	// Out: Return generated time based off of now + offset in days.
	def now = Calendar.getInstance(TimeZone.getTimeZone('GMT'))
	String TimeStamp;
	
	now[DAY_OF_WEEK] =  now[DAY_OF_WEEK] + offset;
	
	Timestamp = now.format("yyyy-MM-dd");
	return Timestamp;
}

def propertiesStep = context.testCase.testSteps["Properties"];

propertiesStep.setPropertyValue("yesterday", datetimeDayFunct(-1));
propertiesStep.setPropertyValue("tomorrow", datetimeDayFunct(1));

        This will provide you a snippet of code that, if you ever need to generate a new property, you can append and add to it. Your time generation is in one, central place and you can easily maintain it there.