Set Variable Value

Question

Hi all&nbsp;I used the Operation 'Set variable Value' and created an empty variable at test level for the value to display in 'Default Value' field however my test run successfully but I couldn't see any value in the 'Default Value' field of the variable.Now when I run the same test by setting the variable at project level then it works fine.&nbsp;Can anyone please explain why there is inconsistency in the behaviour of the output displayed at test level compare to project level. Thanks

tristaanogre · Answer

In correct... Default value is not the value that is used in the test... Your expectation is incorrect.&nbsp; When you add a variable, at the time that you add the variable, you have an option to specify the default value.&nbsp; &nbsp;It never changes unless you go in and edit the variable declaration again.&nbsp; The "Default Value" is the value that is used in the test if you NEVER call "Set Variable Value". As soon as you call "Set Variable Value", the memory location storing the variable value contains the value that you assigned with "Set Variable Value" and then, when the test is done, that memory is cleared and reallocated.Here's the way it looks in script code... the concept is the same:
function variableTest(){
    var MyVariable = 'MyTest'; // This declares the variable with a "Default value" of "MyTest"
    Log.Message(MyVariable); //The log will print "MyTest"
    MyVariable = 'A Different Value'; //Now the variable is assigned a different value.  The "Default Value" hasn't changed but you've told the code to use a different value now.
    Log.Message(MyVariable); //The log will print "A Different Value"

}

If you run the above code, it will always print 'MyTest' in the first log entry because the Default value is always the same.&nbsp; The new value is only assigned to the variable at "run time" and is cleared out at the beginning of each test run.&nbsp; This is the same concept in Keyword Tests.&nbsp; Your code will NEVER change the default value.
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You say you leave the "default value" blank... that would be the same as the above code except that the initial variable declation would simply be
&nbsp;
var MyVariable;
The first log entry would be blank because there is no value assigned to the variable.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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tristaanogre · Answer

Variables on the test level are just like writing variables in code.&nbsp; The "default value" is simply what the value of the variable is if you don't set it to something else.&nbsp; So, when you set the variable value in the test, it will assign it whatever you assign it... it will not change the "default value".&nbsp; That's something you need to edit when you add the variable to the keyword test... default value is not affected by the code.
&nbsp;

tristaanogre · Answer

Correct.&nbsp; "Set Variable Value" does not alter the default value of the variable.&nbsp; It sets the run-time value of the variable to whatever you have determined in the "Set Variable Value" operation.&nbsp; That is by design.&nbsp; If you want to alter the default value of a keyword test variable, that is done at design time in the keyword test editor.
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As for Project variables...&nbsp; This depends upon what "kind" of project variable it is.&nbsp; There are actually two kinds: Temporary and Persistent.&nbsp; Temporary variables have a "Default" value much like what is done with the Keyword test variables.&nbsp; It's set at the time the variable is created and is used if the variable value is not updated by any code.&nbsp; However, code itself does not change the default value.
&nbsp;
Persistent project variables, however... their "Default" value is not exactly a default.&nbsp; It is what is set in the "Local" value when the variable is first used.&nbsp; If you set the variable value during code, that local value changes and is persisted from test run to test run.
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gdave · Answer

But my main issue is that no value is being populated in the 'default value' field of the variable upon using set variable operation. Thanks

gdave · Answer

I am not altering the default value here.Here is what I am trying to do:Used operation 'Set Variable' in my keyword testAdded variable 'Var1' to my local testSelect Object Property as 'Text'Now upon executing my test I would expect the Object Text Value to populate in the 'Default Value' field since I've kept this field blank. Thanks

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Set Variable Value

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