"Arguments" defined : Is it really usefull?

Robot Framework
1

Hello,

My question is surely stupid but I need to understand the real utility.
I often see the tag “Argument” before using the corresponding keyword
Ex :
My Keyword
[Arguments] ${my_variable1} ${my_variable2}

All my keyword are done without arguments. It works fine but I think I haven’t understand something lol…

Thanks

2

Hi John

Consider the following:

*** Test Cases ***
Check XYZ Page as Standard User
    Open Login Page
    Input Text    id:username    usr0001
    Input Password    id:password    mysecret01
    Navigate to xyz page

Check XYZ Page as Admin User
    Open Login Page
    Input Text    id:username    Admin
    Input Password    id:password    Super01Secret
    Navigate to xyz page

*** Keywords ***
Open Login Page
    Open Browser    ${applicationurl}    chrome
    Wait Until Page Contains Element    id:username

Navigate to xyz page
    Click Link    abc
    Click Link    xyz
    Wait Until Page Contains    X,Y & Z

Here is effectively the same tests with a keyword with arguments:

*** Test Cases ***
Check XYZ Page as Standard User
    Login To Application    usr0001    mysecret01
    Navigate to xyz page

Check XYZ Page as Admin User
    Login To Application    Admin    Super01Secret
    Navigate to xyz page

*** Keywords ***
Login To Application
    [Arguments] ${username} ${password}
    Open Login Page
    Input Text    id:username    username
    Input Password    id:password    password

Open Login Page
    Open Browser    ${applicationurl}    chrome
    Wait Until Page Contains Element    id:username

Navigate to xyz page
    Click Link    abc
    Click Link    xyz
    Wait Until Page Contains    X,Y & Z

Now if you have 20 different user roles and you need to test all 20 roles with this page, plus the combinations of users having 2, 3, 4, 5 of these roles at the same time, the test cases will add up quickly and this is just for one page test.

This becomes even more useful when you put these keywords in a library that can be imported into many test cases.

Hope that helps,

Dave.

3

Hi dave,

Thanks for your explanation. It’s clearer :slight_smile:

4

Hi Centaure,
If you want you can also use Embedded keywords in RF. Derivated from BDD (Behavior Driven Development) Gherkin syntax.
In such case Dave’s scenario would look like:

*** Test Cases ***
Standard user login
    When User with name Standard is logged in
    Then User can navigate to XYZ page

Admin user login
    When User with name Admin is logged in
    Then User can navigate to ZYX page

*** Keywords ***
User with name ${user_name} is logged in
    Open Browser    ${applicationurl}    chrome
    Wait Until Page Contains Element    id:username
    Input Text    id:username    ${user_name} 
    Input Password    id:password    mysecret01

User can navigate to ${url} page
    Navigate to ${url} page
    Click Link    abc
    Click Link    xyz
    Wait Until Page Contains    ${url}

This could surely be elaborated more and written nicer, but it is enough to give you basic overview how the argument is passed from keyword name to lower keywords.