rspec users - Mar 2010 - RSpec and Watir, easy script structure question

Howdy!  I''m relatively new to RSpec, but I''ve worked with
Watir and Ruby for
about 5 years now.  My company is redesigning a web app from the ground up,
so I''m taking the opportunity to leverage RSpec instead of Test/Unit.

I''ve run into a problem with RSpec organization that I just
can''t sort out
on my own, so I''m hoping it''s straightforward enough that
someone can help
me out.

Basically I have a single HTML page with an organized list of links.  Each
link points to a new page with a single verifiable item on it.  The script
collects all the links into an array, then iterates over the array, loading
each link and verifying a single piece of text.  That''s the easy part.

Here''s the relevant code for what I believe to be the closest attempt
right
now:

@links = Array.new
@browser = Watir::Browser.new
@browser.goto(page)

@browser.link.each do |link|
    @links << [link.name, link.href]
end

    @links.each do |name, link|
         describe name do
              it "should contain the word #{name}" do
                    @browser.goto link
                    @browser.div(:id, /example/).text.should include(name)
              end #it
         end #desc
    end #@links

I''ve tried a combination of methods -- putting all of this code inside
a
describe block, etc, but I end up with the variables being unknown because
they''re not inside the same describe or it block (even when set to
$global),
or the describe/it blocks being layered incorrectly.

I''m sure there''s a simple solution to the format, but
unfortunately I
haven''t been able to Google or RDoc my way to an answer.  I appreciate
any
advice you can offer!

Thanks,
Adam
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An update for this issue.  This script works, but only if I explicitly define
the array that I''m iterating over (][countryname, url]].each do, rather
than
@countries.each do).

Can someone help me understand why my array here (@countries) is not
recognized?  I tried to instantiate it as a global variable ($countries) and
it still was not recognized.  If I explicitly describe an array in place of
the variable, the script works.

Is it an issue with my organization format, or something else?

global_page_spec.rb
$LOAD_PATH.unshift File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), ''..'') if
$0 == __FILE__
require ''helpers/example_helper''

describe "The country page for" do
  include ExHelper
  
  before(:all) do
    setup
    collect_global_countries
  end
    
  @countries.each do |name, link|
    describe name do
    it "should contain the word #{name} in the title" do
      @browser.goto link
      @browser.div(:id, /content-content/).text.should include(name)
    end #it
    end #desc
  end #countries
  
  after(:all) do
    teardown
  end #after
end #spec

example_helper.rb
$LOAD_PATH.unshift File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), ''..'') if
$0 == __FILE__
require ''helpers/global_helper''

module ExHelper
  include GlobalHelper
  
  def setup
    @browser = Watir::Browser.new
    @browser.add_checker lambda {|b| b.text.should_not include(''The
requested page could not be found.'')}
  end # setup
  
  def collect_global_countries
    @countries = Array.new
    @countries.should be_empty
    
    @browser.goto "http://www.#{$env}.com/global"
    @browser.table(:class, /global-list/).links.each do |link|    
      @countries << [link.text, link.href]
    end #links
    
    @countries.should_not be_empty
  
  def teardown
    @browser.close
  end # teardown
end #module
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On 2 Mar 2010, at 21:05, Adam R wrote:
>
> An update for this issue.  This script works, but only if I  
> explicitly define
> the array that I''m iterating over (][countryname, url]].each do,  
> rather than
> @countries.each do).
>
> Can someone help me understand why my array here (@countries) is not
> recognized?  I tried to instantiate it as a global variable  
> ($countries) and
> it still was not recognized.  If I explicitly describe an array in  
> place of
> the variable, the script works.
>
> Is it an issue with my organization format, or something else?
>
> global_page_spec.rb
> $LOAD_PATH.unshift File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__),
''..'') if $0 ==
> __FILE__
> require ''helpers/example_helper''
>
> describe "The country page for" do
>  include ExHelper
>
>  before(:all) do
>    setup
>    collect_global_countries
>  end
>
>  @countries.each do |name, link|
>    describe name do
>    it "should contain the word #{name} in the title" do
>      @browser.goto link
>      @browser.div(:id, /content-content/).text.should include(name)
>    end #it
>    end #desc
>  end #countries
>
>  after(:all) do
>    teardown
>  end #after
> end #spec
>
> example_helper.rb
> $LOAD_PATH.unshift File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__),
''..'') if $0 ==
> __FILE__
> require ''helpers/global_helper''
>
> module ExHelper
>  include GlobalHelper
>
>  def setup
>    @browser = Watir::Browser.new
>    @browser.add_checker lambda {|b| b.text.should_not include(''The
> requested page could not be found.'')}
>  end # setup
>
>  def collect_global_countries
>    @countries = Array.new
>    @countries.should be_empty
>
>    @browser.goto "http://www.#{$env}.com/global"
>    @browser.table(:class, /global-list/).links.each do |link|
>      @countries << [link.text, link.href]
>    end #links
>
>    @countries.should_not be_empty
>
>  def teardown
>    @browser.close
>  end # teardown
> end #module
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> View this message in context:
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> Sent from the rspec-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> _______________________________________________
> rspec-users mailing list
> rspec-users at rubyforge.org
> http://rubyforge.org/mailman/listinfo/rspec-users
Briefly, think of two passes over this file: the first ''parse''
pass,
and the second ''execution'' pass. The #before and #it blocks
run during
the ''execution'' pass, but the code in the #describe blocks
runs in the
initial ''parse'' pass. Because @countries is not created until
the
before blocks run, there''s no way for the ''parse''
pass to know what
value it has.

That''s the basic essence of your issue. I''d recommend paring
this back
to a much simpler example, getting that working, then building up from  
there.

I''m also not sure why you''re using the SUT to generate the
tests, but
that''s for another thread...


cheers,
Matt

http://mattwynne.net
+447974 430184

On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 11:24 AM, Adam R <reed.adam at gmail.com>
wrote:
>
> Howdy! ?I''m relatively new to RSpec, but I''ve worked with
Watir and Ruby for
> about 5 years now. ?My company is redesigning a web app from the ground up,
> so I''m taking the opportunity to leverage RSpec instead of
Test/Unit.
>
> I''ve run into a problem with RSpec organization that I just
can''t sort out
> on my own, so I''m hoping it''s straightforward enough that
someone can help
> me out.
>
> Basically I have a single HTML page with an organized list of links. ?Each
> link points to a new page with a single verifiable item on it. ?The script
> collects all the links into an array, then iterates over the array, loading
> each link and verifying a single piece of text. ?That''s the easy
part.
>
> Here''s the relevant code for what I believe to be the closest
attempt right
> now:
>
> @links = Array.new
> @browser = Watir::Browser.new
> @browser.goto(page)
>
> @browser.link.each do |link|
> ? ?@links << [link.name, link.href]
> end
>
> ? ?@links.each do |name, link|
> ? ? ? ? describe name do
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ?it "should contain the word #{name}" do
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?@browser.goto link
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?@browser.div(:id, /example/).text.should include(name)
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ?end #it
> ? ? ? ? end #desc
> ? ?end #@links
>
> I''ve tried a combination of methods -- putting all of this code
inside a
> describe block, etc, but I end up with the variables being unknown because
> they''re not inside the same describe or it block (even when set to
$global),
> or the describe/it blocks being layered incorrectly.
>
> I''m sure there''s a simple solution to the format, but
unfortunately I
> haven''t been able to Google or RDoc my way to an answer. ?I
appreciate any
> advice you can offer!
describe "something" do
  it "does something" do
  end
end

That''s the simplest format - everything should go in the example (it
block), not directly inside the describe block.

HTH,
David
>
> Thanks,
> Adam
> --
> View this message in context:
http://old.nabble.com/RSpec-and-Watir%2C-easy-script-structure-question-tp27758607p27758607.html
> Sent from the rspec-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> _______________________________________________
> rspec-users mailing list
> rspec-users at rubyforge.org
> http://rubyforge.org/mailman/listinfo/rspec-users
>

Thanks David.  I have the basic format working in other scripts, so
that''s a
good sign.  Another user pointed me to this example, which is why I was
exploring a different format:

> ["Los Angeles", "Austin"].each do |location|
>     it "should show #{location}" do
>       @browser.div(:id, /example/).text.should include(location)
>     end
> end
>
Is this not correct/usable?

Thanks again,
Adam

On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 6:11 PM, David Chelimsky <dchelimsky at
gmail.com>wrote:
> On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 11:24 AM, Adam R <reed.adam at gmail.com>
wrote:
> >
> > Howdy!  I''m relatively new to RSpec, but I''ve worked
with Watir and Ruby
> for
> > about 5 years now.  My company is redesigning a web app from the
ground
> up,
> > so I''m taking the opportunity to leverage RSpec instead of
Test/Unit.
> >
> > I''ve run into a problem with RSpec organization that I just
can''t sort
> out
> > on my own, so I''m hoping it''s straightforward enough
that someone can
> help
> > me out.
> >
> > Basically I have a single HTML page with an organized list of links.
>  Each
> > link points to a new page with a single verifiable item on it.  The
> script
> > collects all the links into an array, then iterates over the array,
> loading
> > each link and verifying a single piece of text.  That''s the
easy part.
> >
> > Here''s the relevant code for what I believe to be the closest
attempt
> right
> > now:
> >
> > @links = Array.new
> > @browser = Watir::Browser.new
> > @browser.goto(page)
> >
> > @browser.link.each do |link|
> >    @links << [link.name, link.href]
> > end
> >
> >    @links.each do |name, link|
> >         describe name do
> >              it "should contain the word #{name}" do
> >                    @browser.goto link
> >                    @browser.div(:id, /example/).text.should
include(name)
> >              end #it
> >         end #desc
> >    end #@links
> >
> > I''ve tried a combination of methods -- putting all of this
code inside a
> > describe block, etc, but I end up with the variables being unknown
> because
> > they''re not inside the same describe or it block (even when
set to
> $global),
> > or the describe/it blocks being layered incorrectly.
> >
> > I''m sure there''s a simple solution to the format,
but unfortunately I
> > haven''t been able to Google or RDoc my way to an answer.  I
appreciate
> any
> > advice you can offer!
>
> describe "something" do
>  it "does something" do
>  end
> end
>
> That''s the simplest format - everything should go in the example
(it
> block), not directly inside the describe block.
>
> HTH,
> David
>
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Adam
> > --
> > View this message in context:
>
http://old.nabble.com/RSpec-and-Watir%2C-easy-script-structure-question-tp27758607p27758607.html
> > Sent from the rspec-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > rspec-users mailing list
> > rspec-users at rubyforge.org
> > http://rubyforge.org/mailman/listinfo/rspec-users
> >
> _______________________________________________
> rspec-users mailing list
> rspec-users at rubyforge.org
> http://rubyforge.org/mailman/listinfo/rspec-users
>
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On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 7:40 PM, Adam Reed <reed.adam at gmail.com>
wrote:
> On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 6:11 PM, David Chelimsky <dchelimsky at
gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 11:24 AM, Adam R <reed.adam at gmail.com>
wrote:
>> >
>> > Howdy! ?I''m relatively new to RSpec, but I''ve
worked with Watir and Ruby
>> > for
>> > about 5 years now. ?My company is redesigning a web app from the
ground
>> > up,
>> > so I''m taking the opportunity to leverage RSpec instead
of Test/Unit.
>> >
>> > I''ve run into a problem with RSpec organization that I
just can''t sort
>> > out
>> > on my own, so I''m hoping it''s straightforward
enough that someone can
>> > help
>> > me out.
>> >
>> > Basically I have a single HTML page with an organized list of
links.
>> > ?Each
>> > link points to a new page with a single verifiable item on it.
?The
>> > script
>> > collects all the links into an array, then iterates over the
array,
>> > loading
>> > each link and verifying a single piece of text. ?That''s
the easy part.
>> >
>> > Here''s the relevant code for what I believe to be the
closest attempt
>> > right
>> > now:
>> >
>> > @links = Array.new
>> > @browser = Watir::Browser.new
>> > @browser.goto(page)
>> >
>> > @browser.link.each do |link|
>> > ? ?@links << [link.name, link.href]
>> > end
>> >
>> > ? ?@links.each do |name, link|
>> > ? ? ? ? describe name do
>> > ? ? ? ? ? ? ?it "should contain the word #{name}" do
>> > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?@browser.goto link
>> > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?@browser.div(:id, /example/).text.should
>> > include(name)
>> > ? ? ? ? ? ? ?end #it
>> > ? ? ? ? end #desc
>> > ? ?end #@links
>> >
>> > I''ve tried a combination of methods -- putting all of
this code inside a
>> > describe block, etc, but I end up with the variables being unknown
>> > because
>> > they''re not inside the same describe or it block (even
when set to
>> > $global),
>> > or the describe/it blocks being layered incorrectly.
>> >
>> > I''m sure there''s a simple solution to the
format, but unfortunately I
>> > haven''t been able to Google or RDoc my way to an answer.
?I appreciate
>> > any
>> > advice you can offer!
>>
>> describe "something" do
>> ?it "does something" do
>> ?end
>> end
>>
>> That''s the simplest format - everything should go in the
example (it
>> block), not directly inside the describe block.
> Thanks David.? I have the basic format working in other scripts, so
that''s a
> good sign.? Another user pointed me to this example, which is why I was
> exploring a different format:
>
>>
>> ["Los Angeles", "Austin"].each do |location|
>> ? ? it "should show #{location}" do
>> ? ? ? @browser.div(:id, /example/).text.should include(location)
>> ? ? end
>> end
>
> Is this not correct/usable?
Correct is subjective. What you have here is somewhat harmless, but
I''ve seen simple lists like that grow into nested lists with
conditional logic where members of one list impact what is done with
the values in the other. That makes it very difficult to understand
failures and difficult to change as requirements change.

HTH,
David

Thanks again for the parse/execute perspective Matt, that really sorted me
out.

Solution: Hey dummy, collect the data and create the array before starting
the describe function.

Moral of the story: I was trying to make collecting the data that I wanted
to verify part of the test/spec, partially because I had it stuck in my head
that ''everything'' had to be inside a describe block, and
partially because I
was treating RSpec like some new alien technology instead of a Ruby library.

Code:

@Array = [...] or Method to collect array data

@array.each do |name, stuff|
    describe name do
        it "should put the lotion in the basket" do
          <code>
        end
    end
end
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