# How to access methods from object after it is saved in a variable **URL:** \ **Category:** Robot Framework\ **Created:** [8 March 2023 04:59 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411 "2023-03-08T04:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [8 March 2023 04:59 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/1 "2023-03-08T04:59:42Z")
I have created a Python library with a method that returns the object self. I saved this object into a robot variable. But I am unable to access the method present in this object by using syntax `${var}.method_name` or `${var.name}` Python library: ```python class sing(): def __init__ (self): pass def init(self): return self def name(self): return "hi" ``` Robot code: ```python Test ${val}= Init Log To Console \n${val} ${word}= Run Keyword ${val}.name Log To Console ${word} ``` Result: ```python ============================================================================== Test . Test | FAIL | No keyword with name '.name' found. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``` Trying to access as ${var.name} ```python Test ${val}= Init Log To Console \n${val} ${word}= Run Keyword ${val.name} Log To Console ${word} ``` Result: ```python Test . Test | FAIL | Keyword name must be a string. ``` ---
**Author:** ![damies13](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/damies13/32/623_2.png) [@damies13](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/damies13)\ **Post date:** [8 March 2023 07:32 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/2 "2023-03-08T07:32:53Z")
Hi Anusha, You were nearly there, change this line ```python ${word}= Run Keyword ${val.name} ``` to ```python ${word}= Set Variable ${val.name()} ``` Dave. FYI - here’s a full working example: _sing.py_ ```python class sing(): def __init__ (self): pass def init(self): return self def name(self): return "hi" ``` _Anusha.robot_ ```python ***Settings*** Library sing.py ***Test Cases*** Test ${val}= Init Log To Console \n${val} ${word}= Set Variable ${val.name()} Log To Console ${word} ``` Console Log: ```python $ robot Anusha.robot ============================================================================== Anusha ============================================================================== Test . ..hi Test | PASS | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Anusha | PASS | 1 test, 1 passed, 0 failed ============================================================================== Output: /home/dave/Documents/tmp/Anusha/output.xml Log: /home/dave/Documents/tmp/Anusha/log.html Report: /home/dave/Documents/tmp/Anusha/report.html ``` HTML Log: ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/robotframework1/original/2X/3/38f2d6d657c2f1b8cd212372a071c14a8a81da79.png) ---
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [8 March 2023 08:39 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/3 "2023-03-08T08:39:35Z")
Works like a charm… Thank you so much… ---
**Author:** ![pekkaklarck](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/pekkaklarck/32/1019_2.png) [@pekkaklarck](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/pekkaklarck)\ **Post date:** [8 March 2023 15:36 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/4 "2023-03-08T15:36:37Z")
Notice that simply using ```python ***Settings*** Library sing.py ***Test Cases*** Test ${word}= Name Log To Console ${word} ``` ought to work the same way. Unless you have some specific reason for your approach, this is a lot simpler. ---
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2023 12:59 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/5 "2023-03-24T12:59:47Z")
I don’t get the same behaviour when I execute the below code. I get Keyword name cannot be empty error. I basically want to execute any method from the obj stored in variable val. ``` ***Settings*** Library sing.py ***Test Cases*** Test ${val}= Init Log To Console \n${val} ${word}= ${val.name()} Log To Console ${word} ``` ---
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2023 13:01 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/6 "2023-03-24T13:01:30Z")
Thanks… I have a python file that returns more than 1 object at a time. So I’m finding ways to save the returned object into a variable in robot and then call the methods in that object. ---
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [27 March 2023 14:55 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/7 "2023-03-27T14:55:22Z")
Can someone please help me with this code? ``` ***Settings*** ``` Library sing.py \*\*\* Test Cases \*\*\* Test ${val}= Init Log To Console \n${val} ${word}= ${val.name()} Log To Console ${word} ---
**Author:** ![damies13](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/damies13/32/623_2.png) [@damies13](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/damies13)\ **Post date:** [28 March 2023 04:14 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/8 "2023-03-28T04:14:49Z")
Hi Anusha, It’s usually a good idea to show all the relevant code as well as any error messages when asking for help, but I’ll try. Q1. is sing.py still the same? Q2. does the name() function in sing.py still return “`hi`”? Q3. Assuming the answer to Q2 is yes, then do you have a keyword called hi somewhere ? If the answer to Q3 is No, then your problem is probably in this line: ```python ${word}= ${val.name()} ``` And you probably got a message something about not being able to find a keyword called “Hi” That’s my best guess, Dave. ---
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [28 March 2023 05:31 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/9 "2023-03-28T05:31:22Z")
Here is my code: cat sing.py #!/usr/bin/env python ``` class sing(): def __init__ (self): pass def init(self): return self def name(self): return "hi" ``` cat anusha.robot ``` ***Settings*** Library sing.py ***Test Cases*** Test ${val}= Init Log To Console \n${val} ${word}= ${val.name()} Log To Console ${word} ``` So I am trying to execute method - `name` from the object ${val} so that the variable ${word} gets the value “hi”. The error that I see when I execute anusha.robot is “Keyword name cannot be empty.” ``` bash-4.2$ python -m robot anusha.robot ============================================================================== Anusha ============================================================================== Test . Test | FAIL | Keyword name cannot be empty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``` ---
**Author:** ![damies13](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/damies13/32/623_2.png) [@damies13](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/damies13)\ **Post date:** [28 March 2023 05:47 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/10 "2023-03-28T05:47:16Z")
Hi Anusha, > [@damies13](#): > > `${word}= Set Variable ${val.name()}` > [@adathatri](#): > > `${word}= ${val.name()}` `Keyword name cannot be empty.` Ah ok, I guess that makes sense, because the keyword hi doesn’t exist there’s no value to assign to to `${word}`, In my example from a while back I used the keyword `Set Variable` to set the value of `${word}` to hi. Robot Framework evaluates `${val.name()}` first and then tries to process the line with robot interpreter so this: ```python ${word}= ${val.name()} ``` is the same to robot framework as this: ```python ${word}= hi ``` The python function call (`val.name()`) is processed first → it’s value (hi) is passed into the variable `${val.name()}` → then robot framework tries to work out what to do with `${word}= hi`, and obviously this is not valid. The question is what were you wanting it to do? what was the reason to remove `Set Variable`? Dave. ---
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [28 March 2023 06:44 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/11 "2023-03-28T06:44:51Z")
My primary intention is to be able to run the object methods. The methods themselves may or may not return any value. . For example like this: ``` bash-4.2$ cat sing.py #!/usr/bin/env python class sing(): def __init__ (self): pass def init(self): return self def name(self): print("hi") bash-4.2$ cat anusha.robot ***Settings*** Library sing.py ***Test Cases*** Test ${val}= Init Log To Console \n${val} ${val.name()} ``` But I get the same error `Keyword name cannot be empty.` I understand why this behaves so. Can you please provide me a solution for my code to work ie being able to run keywords from the object created. ---
**Author:** ![damies13](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/damies13/32/623_2.png) [@damies13](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/damies13)\ **Post date:** [28 March 2023 08:15 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/12 "2023-03-28T08:15:05Z")
Hi Anusha, > [@adathatri](#): > > Can you please provide me a solution for my code to work ie being able to run keywords from the object created. Pekka (@pekkaklarck) already did that, see his post: > [@How to access methods from object after it is saved in a variable](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/4): > > Notice that simply using \*\*\* Settings \*\*\* Library sing.py \*\*\* Test Cases \*\*\* Test ${word}= Name Log To Console ${word} ought to work the same way. Unless you have some specific reason for your approach, this is a lot simpler. Dave. ---
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [28 March 2023 12:48 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/13 "2023-03-28T12:48:38Z")
I do not want to import it right at the beginning. I want the object to get initialised only on certain conditions and will need multiple instances of the class sing(). ---
**Author:** ![damies13](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/damies13/32/623_2.png) [@damies13](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/damies13)\ **Post date:** [28 March 2023 14:40 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/14 "2023-03-28T14:40:30Z")
Hi Anusha, Consider the example below where the python file does nothing until one of it’s functions are called. You can do something like this, there’s no need to have an ` __init__ ` function in your py file (it’'s optional), but if you have a some initialisation that needs to happen before the other keyword functions, just put it in a normal function and call it as a keyword before the keyword that needs it inside your if statement. Dave. _singa.py_ ```python class singa(): def Sound_Music(self): return "Doe a Deer" def Song_ABBA(self): return "I am the Dancing Queen" ``` _singb.py_ ```python class singb(): def DanceA(self): return "Bharatanatyam" def DanceB(self): return "Kathakali" def DanceC(self): return "Kathak" def DanceD(self): return "Kuchipudi" def DanceE(self): return "Odissi" def DanceF(self): return "Sattriya" def DanceG(self): return "Manipuri" def DanceH(self): return "Mohiniyattam" ``` _singc.py_ ```python class singc(): def Song_CA(self): return "brrrr" def Song_CB(self): return "pt pt pt pt" def Song_CE(self): return "whrrrrr" ``` _Anusha2.robot_ ```plaintext ***Settings*** Library singa.py Library singb.py Library singc.py ***Test Cases*** Test ${condion}= Evaluate random.randint(0, 13) IF ${condion} == 0 ${word}= Sound Music Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 1 ${word}= Song Abba Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 2 ${word}= Dancea Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 3 ${word}= Danceb Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 4 ${word}= Dancec Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 5 ${word}= Danced Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 6 ${word}= Dancee Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 7 ${word}= Dancef Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 8 ${word}= Danceg Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 9 ${word}= Danceh Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 10 ${word}= Song Ca Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} == 11 ${word}= Song Cb Log To Console ${word} END IF ${condion} > 11 ${word}= Song Ce Log To Console ${word} END ``` When I ran this I got (condition 10): ```python ============================================================================== Anusha2 ============================================================================== Test ...brrrr Test | PASS | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Anusha2 | PASS | 1 test, 1 passed, 0 failed ============================================================================== ``` ---
**Author:** ![adathatri](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.robotframework.org/adathatri/32/2417_2.png) [@adathatri](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/adathatri)\ **Post date:** [4 April 2023 14:23 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/how-to-access-methods-from-object-after-it-is-saved-in-a-variable/5411/15 "2023-04-04T14:23:10Z")
Thanks for your response. I’ll try this solution.