is there a way to pass data directly in Step definition without passing in feature file? - selenium

Question

i want to use dataprovider to pass data directly into step definition without passing from feature file, as i want to pass null values as well. here is what i am doing.
Scenario: User should get empty field highlight, when that fields is empty and clicked submit. When Submit is clicked after providing values in nethier or either of Reg Id or PC
#Test(dataProvider = "getData")
#When("^Submit is clicked after providing values in nethier or either of Reg Id or PC$")
public void submit_is_clicked_after_providing_values_in_nethier_or_either_of_reg_id_something_or_pc_something(
String regvalue, String pcvalue) throws Throwable {
//code
}
#DataProvider
public Object[][] getData() {
Object[][] data = new Object[3][2]; // 3 is number of combinations and 2 is number of values
// 1st set
data[0][0] = "Username1";
data[0][1] = null;
// 2nd set
data[1][0] = null;
data[1][1] = "Password1";
// 3nd set
data[2][0] = null;
data[2][1] = null;
return data;
}
Error i am getting is
Step [^Submit is clicked after providing values in nethier or either of Reg Id or PC$] is defined with 2 parameters at 'com.commcard.stepdefinition.StepDef.submit_is_clicked_after_providing_values_in_nethier_or_either_of_reg_id_something_or_pc_something(String,String) in file:/D:/Eclipse-Workspace/CucumberProject.CitiCommCard/target/test-classes/'.
However, the gherkin step has 0 arguments.

Answer 1

You can use a yml file as a data-lookup. For JSON style testing I would advocate this. As you can use a regular fixture or build it up mid-process.
So you could have something like this.
Given I have a valid request to create a user
But the username is invalid
Given I have a valid request to create a user
But the username is too short
# yaml file
user:
create:
issues:
username:
invalid: "Can't Use W3!rd char$"
too_short: "usrnm"
Then your steps just use whatever programming language you use and convert the yml into a data lookup (Hash/List), and alter the keys.