The Data Management assets include the items needed to gather data for actions and asserts.
Comparison Manifest
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Description
The Comparison Manifest asset is used in the grid comparison assert. This asset defines how the two grids in the assert compare to each other. First the you need to gather the left side of the comparison, then the right. Once both sides of the comparison have been gathered, you may set which columns to compare and how to compare them.
Gather Left Columns / Gather Right Columns
Function
Description
Expected Results Grid
Select the grid you wish to be the left side of the comparison.
Actual Results Grid
Select the grid you wish to be the right side of the comparison.
Gather Columns
Select Gather Columns to proceed through the Comparison Manifest.
Connection
The location of the data you want to compare. The connection can be set from an existing connection asset or typed into the connection string box.
Query
The query you want to use to gather the data you want to compare. This can be typed in the editor box, or pulled from an existing query asset.
Comparisons
Function
Description
Image
Key Columns
Add, edit, or delete the key columns from each side of the comparison. Select the left and right column that match as the key column, and specify if the key is descending.
Comparison Columns
Set the columns you want to compare. Columns with the same name and data type automatically populate to compare. In the key columns, choose a comparison type based on the type of the column. Integers have fixed tolerance options, and strings have an exact value option or a string match option with additional parameters.
Aggregate Comparisons
Set aggregate comparison of columns. There are several aggregation types to choose from depending on the types being compared, as well as standard choices for comparison types.
ADO.NET Connection
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Description
The ADO.NETConnection asset creates and stores a connection string to a data source. If you know the connection string, you can simply type it into the Connection string field, otherwise you can use the connection string builder.
Connection Editor
Function
Description
Provider
The provider type for the connection string.
The following providers are available:
Odbc
OracleClient
Microsoft SQL Server Compact 4.0
OleDb
SqlClient
MySQL
Connection String
The connection string for the data source.
Configure
Launches the connection string builder, and walks the you through creating the connection string that's stored in the asset.
Connection Properties Window
Function
Description
Data Source
This is the provider type specified in the element's editor.
Server Name
The name of the server where the data source is located.
Log on to the server
Use window's authentication or provide a specific user name and password.
Connect to a database
Select a database located on the server specified, or attach a database file.
Note: Once all items are populated you can select Test Connection to ensure that everything connects as expected. The connection populates the connection string based on the properties provided in the element's editor.
Data Generation Solution
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Description
The Data Generation Solution asset picks an existing data generation solution that was created in Pragmatic Workbench, and is later executed with the Data Generation action.
Data Generation Solution Editor
Function
Description
Load Solution
Select Load solution to open the file picker window. Browse for an existing .dgsln file and load it into the asset. Once loaded, the editor informs you about the number of tables affected.
Delimited Content
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Description
The Delimited Content asset stores some delimited data that becomes part of the test assembly. This enables, for example, an easy set up for static data as a data driven testing source.
Initial view
Function
Description
File content
Type the data that you would like to store in the test assembly. This data stores in asset files and can be in any delimited format.
Delimiter / Quote
These are the delimiter and quote that the file has. The asset's format detection routine always checks tab, pipe and comma for delimiters and both single and double quotes for the quote. If your file uses a different delimiter or quote, you can enter them here.
Detect format
Begins the process of detecting the format of the file and columns.
After scan view
Function
Description
Format
This lists the formats that have been evaluated, along with their scores. A higher score indicates better compliance (consistent number of columns across rows and a higher number of columns in total). The format with the highest score is pre-selected; unless a custom delimiter or quote was specified, in which case the custom format is pre-selected. Note: The format selection is only available immediately after running the format detection process. When coming back to edit the asset later, this option disappears.
Delimiter / Quote
Shows the currently selected delimiter and quote.
Lines to skip
The number of lines of pre-amble to skip.
Has header row
Select this if the file has a header row containing column names. The header row comes after any pre-amble.
Treat empty as NULL
Select this if empty values should be rendered as <NULL> values.
Encoding
the encoding that's used to read the file. If your file contains special characters that are represented incorrectly on preview, it's likely that the encoding needs changing.
Culture
This is the culture that's used to interpret the source data as typed values. Decimal points and date formats are those where the culture requires particular attention.
Preview Data
Displays the preview of the data using the selected option in a grid view.
Delimited File Reference
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Description
The Delimited File Reference asset selects a delimited file and gathers information about both its format and the data it contains.
Initial view
Function
Description
File name
Paste the file name here or use the ellipsis button to select a file. A parameterized value may be used in the form %parameterName% or.
Delimiter / Quote
These are the delimiter and quote that the file has. The asset's format detection routine always checks tab, pipe and comma for delimiters and both single and double quotes for the quote. If your file uses a different delimiter or quote, you can enter them here.
Lines to skip
This is the number of rows of pre-amble to skip. Auto automatically finds out how much pre-amble there is. Note: Header rows are automatically detected.
Lines to scan
This is the number of lines of data to scan while detecting column formats.
Detect format
Begins the process of detecting the format of the file and columns.
After scan view
Function
Description
File name
Paste the file name here or use the ellipsis button to select a file. A parameterized value may be used in the form %parameterName% or.
Format
This lists the formats that have been evaluated, along with their scores. A higher score indicates better compliance (consistent number of columns across rows and a higher number of columns in total). The format with the highest score is pre-selected unless a custom delimiter or quote was specified, in which case the custom format is pre-selected. Note: The format selection is only available immediately after running the format detection process. When coming back to edit the asset later, this option disappears.
Delimiter / Quote
Shows the currently selected delimiter and quote.
Lines to skip
The number of lines of pre-amble to skip.
Has header row
Select this is the file has a header row containing column names. The header row comes after any pre-amble.
Treat empty as NULL
Select this if empty values should be rendered as <NULL> values.
Encoding
The encoding that's used to read the file. If your file contains special characters that are represented incorrectly on preview, it's likely that the encoding needs changing.
Culture
The culture that's used to interpret the source data as typed values. Decimal points and date formats are those where the culture requires particular attention.
Preview Data
Displays the preview of the data using the selected option in a grid view.
Change delimiters
Change the custom delimiters and run the format detection again.
Column list
Each column is presented along with a list of types. This list is derived by attempting format conversion on a variety of formats. You can change the resulting type to any of the allowable formats.
Excel File Reference
Description
Stores an excel file as a connection asset.
Function
Description
File Name
The name of the excel file that's used for the asset connection.
Sheet name, range reference, or named range name
The name of the excel sheet that's used for the asset connection.
Start from row
Select the row where the asset starts the count.
Has Header row
Select whether the first row is recognized as the header row.
Detect Format
Begins the process of detecting the format of the columns.
Function
Description
File Name
The name of the excel file that's used for the asset connection.
Sheet name, range reference, or named range name
The name of the excel sheet that's used for the asset connection.
Start from row
Select the row where the asset starts the count.
Has header row
Select whether the first row is recognized as the header row.
Preview Data
Preview the selected data in the asset.
Fixed Width File Reference
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Description
The Fixed Width File Reference asset references a fixed width file and, after specifying the column widths, determines the format data each column represents.
Initial view
Function
Description
File name
Paste the file name here or use the ellipsis button to select a file. A parameterized value may be used in the form %parameterName% or.
Lines to scan
The number of lines of data to scan while detecting column formats.
File type
The type of flat file that's being referenced. Three file types are available:
Type
Description
Ragged right
This is a file where the last column is not fixed width, with each line terminated by a carriage return and/or line feed. A line is parsed if it's at least as long as the sum of the widths of all but the last column.
Fixed width with line breaks
This is a file where lines terminated by a carriage return and/or line feed. A line is parsed if it's at least as long as the sum of the widths of all columns.
Fixed width without line breaks
This is a file where there are no line breaks, and the data comes in a continuous stream. Every x characters are parsed where x is the sum of the widths of all columns.
Columns
This is the list of column widths that is parsed from the file. You can use the + and - buttons to add or remove columns to/from the end of the list. Alternatively, you can place the caret in the first column width box, type the width and then press enter. This adds a new column where you can repeat the same process. Note: Pressing enter in a width box only adds a new column if you are currently in the last box. Pressing enter on any other boxes moves focus to the next box.
Detect format
Begins the process of detecting the format of the columns.
After scan view
Function
Description
File name
Paste the file name here or use the ellipsis button to select a file. A parameterized value may be used in the form %parameterName% or.
Has header row
Select this if the file has a header row containing column names. The header row comes after any pre-amble.
Treat empty as NULL
Select this if empty values should be rendered as <NULL> values.
Encoding
The encoding that's used to read the file. If your file contains special characters that are represented incorrectly on preview, it's likely that the encoding needs changing.
Culture
The culture that's used to interpret the source data as typed values. Decimal points and date formats are those where the culture requires particular attention.
Preview Data
Displays the preview of the data using the selected option in a grid view.
Change delimiters
Change the custom delimiters and run the format detection again.
Column list
Each column is presented along with a list of types. This list is derived by attempting format conversion on a variety of formats. You can change the resulting type to any of the allowable formats.
Grid Collection
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Description
The Grid Collection asset stores the details of a grid that can be used over and over using the Load Grid from Asset action. Supply a connection string and a query that pulls the information for the grid. Both the connection and the query can be typed or pulled from another asset.
Grid Collection Editor
Function
Description
Connection
Connection string to the data source, can either be typed manually or pulled from an existing connection asset.
Copy From Asset
Copy the connection string data from the connection asset.
Connection String
Connection string to the data source, can either be typed manually or pulled from an existing connection asset.
Low memory mode
Toggles whether the grid is stored on disk or in memory.
Is Disk Based
Store the query restuls within a temporary file instead of in memory. This option is best used for larger data sets.
Query
The query responsible for gathering the data for the grid.
Query
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Description
The Query asset stores queries.
When connecting to a SQL Server or Azure SQL instance, the query editor includes an advanced editing experience. You can select the connection from the drop-down at the top of the editor, which loads information about the schema of the database where the query runs. The selection is remembered for the duration of the session.
When connecting to a SQL Server or Azure SQL instance, the query editor provides the following features:
Feature
Description
Code completion
Suggestion lists after . or when Ctrl+Space is pressed.
Quick info
Hover over an object name for information about that object.
Refactoring
Tracked renaming of variables and temporary objects, query formatting, object qualification.
Parameter information
Shows the parameters expected for procedure and function calls.
Column choosers
Select table that you want to resolve an ambiguous column.
Synonym resolution
Work with synonyms with the full IntelliSense experience.
Shortcuts
e.g. 'ssf' -> 'SELECT * FROM', st100 -> 'SELECT TOP 100 * FROM'.
Tab expansion
Select tab when the caret is to the right of a * to specify all columns.
Note: A summary of the available functions can be found by selecting the ? icon in the bottom right hand corner of the editor.
Validation Manifest
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Description
The Validation Manifest selects a grid, and then add rules to validate the content of the grid. There are different available rules for any given type available in the grid.
Validation Manifest Editor
Function
Description
Select Grid
When the editor first opens, the only available option is the Select Grid button which displays all available grids in the test to validate. Once a grid is selected, then the ability to add validation columns will be available.
Note: If you want to validate the fact that the grid is empty (for example, because your query only returns rows that fail) you can select the Only pass validation if no rows are present option.
Remove
Deletes the selected rule from the manifest.
New
Expands the editor to show the column selector and comparison type picker.
Function
Description
Column
Selects a column from the grid to apply the comparison.
Comparison Type
The available comparison types vary depending on the type of the selected column. The comparison type uses the Comparison Value field to execute the validation.
Is Aggregated
If selected, and the column's type allows for aggregation, then another field allows you to select the type of aggregation.
Comparison Value
The comparison value is compared to the row of each column using the previoulsy selected Comparison Type.
Cancel
Cancels out of the new comparison without saving.
Add
Enables once all fields are populated for the new rule and saves the rule to the Validation Manifest.
