Running tests with DataTable scenarios

When you run a test with a DataTable, you can validate the reliability of your application across a range of different scenarios. Whether you want to test out one scenario locally or run multiple scenarios in parallel in a plan run, mabl offers several options to suit your needs.

This article explains how to run tests with DataTable scenarios ad hoc and in a plan run.

Ad hoc runs

mabl supports ad-hoc runs with DataTable scenarios both locally and in the cloud.

Local runs

In the mabl CLI, you can trigger local runs with DataTable scenarios using the mabl tests run command:

• To run one scenario, use the --scenario-id option with the appropriate scenario ID
• To run all scenarios sequentially, use the --data-table-id option with the appropriate DataTable ID

In the mabl Desktop App, you can only trigger a local run for one DataTable scenario at a time:

1. Navigate to the test you wish to run.
2. Click on the Run test button.
3. In the Local run tab, toggle on “Run DataTable scenarios” and select the DataTable and the scenario.
4. Click on the Start run button.

Cloud runs

You can trigger ad hoc cloud runs with one or all DataTable scenarios from the mabl Desktop App:

1. Navigate to the test you wish to run.
2. Click on the Run test button.
3. In the Cloud run tab, toggle on “Run DataTable scenarios” and select the DataTable. You may run all scenarios or select a specific scenario for a cloud run.
4. Click on the Start run button.

When a DataTable is selected, the Start run button updates to reflect the number of runs (scenarios) that will be triggered. When running all scenarios in the cloud, tests run in parallel.

Plan runs

When DataTable scenarios run in a plan, the plan stage settings determine how the scenarios run:

• Parallel: scenarios run at the same time
• Sequential: scenarios run one at a time

By default, plan executions run all of the DataTable scenarios associated with a test.

To limit the number of scenarios that run during a plan execution, use one of the following methods:

• Use specific DataTable scenarios
• Ignore all DataTable scenarios

Use specific DataTable scenarios

To only run specific DataTables or DataTable scenarios in a plan run, open the Edit plan page. In the Tests section, click on Show tests, and click on the Test variables pencil for the test you want to edit.

In the Test variables panel, click on + Add parameter and set the Type field to “DataTable”. You may configure the plan to run all scenarios from an associated DataTable or only specific scenarios.

Ignoring DataTables

To prevent a test from using a DataTable for a specific plan, navigate to the plan you wish to edit, and click on the pencil icon to open the Edit plan page. In the Tests section, click on Show tests, and then click on the Test variables pencil for a specific test.

In the Test variables panel, click on + Add parameter and set the Type field to “Ignore DataTables”. This parameter ensures that the test does not use any associated DataTables. Instead, the test will run just once with its default data-driven variables.