Can I perform assert with the free edition?

[jamescollett]

I am using SoapUI 5.1.2.

I am testing the behaviour of a RESTful web service that I have developed. I have a set of test steps, each firing a request at the service. I know what the values should be in the response (which is XML).

I shoud like to define some assertions so that I can run the test and get green/red lights against the steps. The Getting Started pages and video I found on the soapui.org website give instructions on how to achieve this but they also seem to suggest the feature is available only in the NG version of the product.

Is the feature just not available in the free edition?

Thanks.

[rupert_anderson]

Hi James,

If I'm understanding you right, are you asking whether open-source SoapUI can perform Assertions as part of TestSteps or wether this is limted to the commercial version? If you are, then its probably fair to say that the open source version can do most of the same Assertions as the commercial version, and can can use Script Assertions to cover any gaps. Sorry if you knew this already.

Is it more that you were wondering what the best way to do XML content Assertions on a REST Request Test Step is?

If so, depending on exactly what you want to assert, I would say XPath Assertions and Script Assertions (I tend to prefer these as I like Groovy scripts!) are what I tend to go for - do you have a particular XML response that you need help asserting stuff for? 

Cheers,

Rupert

[jamescollett]

Rupert,

Thanks for your response. You have referred to a bunch of features I know nothing about, so I have more to learn....

However, my question came from watching one of the How-To videos on the SoapUI website. The video advised to do some actions but the features were not available in the free version of SoapUI that I am running, so I was stuck. I noticed a caveat which essentially said the instructons related to the Pro version.

I wanted to test that I was getting certain errors back from my RESTful web service in response to certain calls. 

In response to others, I wanted to validate the XML content.

I could achieve neither of these tests.

Thanks,

-James.

[rupert_anderson]

Hi James,

No, problem, I'll try to help you where I can, so is it that you just need a basic guide on how to test (in particular assert content/status codes) for RESTful webservices with SoapUI?

If so, there are plenty of other options in addition to that video in the SoapUI doumentation?

I found these (haven't whatched the videos, but the blog looked like it might help):

http://www.joecolantonio.com/2012/09/05/soapui-how-to-test-a-rest-service/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV7WW0bDy9c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvrpjqPJDUU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YpJS--BqiI

Of course there are books too and other great blogs!

I haven't looked at the official SoapUI documentation for a little while, did have a quick look at http://www.soapui.org/getting-started/rest-testing.html (was that the one you mean't?). Without commenting too much, I did notice a fair few references to the pro / NG version, which is understandable given Smartbear look after the open source versions... but, fear not, there is no obstacle to do what you need with the open source version, millions do!

In your case, can't give you much more detail unless you provide a sample response, but to check for error messages for Rest Request TestSteps I would suggest:

Valid / Invalid Status Code Assertions (under Compliance, Status & Standards assertions)

XPath Match (under Property Content assertions)

Also, if you're confortable with Groovy script:

Script Assertions - you can do pretty much most things with these!

See also http://www.soapui.org/functional-testing/validating-messages/getting-started-with-assertions.html

Cheers,

Rupert

[jamescollett]

Thanks, but most of this is over my head, I am afraid.

I have tried followingthe various suggestions. There seem to be good guidelines and principles but nothing concrete that I can follow. As soon as an example gets to the "Click this icon and choose Assertion" type of step, the icon or button or context menu option described inconveniently is not available in my edition of SoapUI.

I wish a SmartBear person could just provide some concrete instructions or simply put me out of my misery and confusion by confirming tat this feature is not available in the free product.

[nmrao]

Going thru this thread. 

soapui.org has both free version and commertial version documentation, usually it is mentioned if the perticular info is specific to commercial version.

On the community questions, we often see users saying, they are new, need help. Otherwise, some provide information for specific case and seeking help to proceed. Generally when people start using a tool, most of the stuff not clearly understand, but people keep trying in order to be able to achieve what they are looking for or tasks to be finished. I am no exception when started with sopaui, some times wait for solutions or do more search on the net. But never lose hope.

Just I was watching video after reading this thread, there are two feature from pro version. But both can be achieved in the free version as Rup had suggested already which requires some programming skills and which is a bit difficult for testers and fortunately, you seemed to be a developer (from description).

Find this page on how to add assertions 

http://www.soapui.org/functional-testing/validating-messages/getting-started-with-assertions.html

and how to structure tests

http://www.soapui.org/functional-testing/structuring-and-running-tests.html (this is more important for automation)

Data driven tests with free edition

https://learnsoapui.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/groovy-datasource-teststep-dataloop-teststep-using-groo...

Hope this is useful and if you have specific questions feel free to create a topic.

And I wanted to let you know that there are large number of users for free version too

http://sourceforge.net/projects/soapui/files/soapui/