SpecFlow: Scenario Outline Examples

Question

I just starting to work with SpecFlow and really like the tool. However I am running across some issues in relation to example data inputs into the Scenario Outlines.

Just wondering if what I am facing is normal or whether there is a trick to it.

I am using C# Visual Studio 2013 and writing an MVC App using the underscore style of step definition. I have also tried the regular expression style but still get similar issues.

So the issue is I am providing username, password etc as parameters and including sample data in my Examples. It appears that the following occurs: -

1. I have to put "" around the parameters when 1st generating the scenario, otherwise it does not get picked up as a parameter at all. However when passing data in from the examples I get a "/" at the end of the data passed in. When I go back to the scenario I then remove the "" around the parameter. This is a little frustrating but if that is the best way to handle it I can live with that. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on this point.

2. The next issue is related to the data itself. It appears if I have any characters such as @ or & etc in my data, then it splits that data at that point and feeds it to the next parameter so I get incorrect data being fed through.

I have included my code below - if anyone has any suggestions or resources to look at that would be appreciated.

Feature File Feature: AccountRegistration In order to use Mojito services in my organisation As a guest user I want to create an account with administration privelages

Scenario Outline: Register with valid details
    Given I am on the registration page
        And I have completed the form with <email> <organisation> <password> and <passwordConfirmation>
    When I have clicked on the register button
    Then I will be logged in as <username>
        And my account will be assigned the role of <role>

        Examples: 
        | email     | organisation | password  | passwordConfirmation | username  | role  |
        | usernamea | Bytes        | password1 | password1            | usernamea | Admin |
        | usernameb | Bytes        | password2 | password2            | usernameb | Admin |
        | usernamec | Bytes        | password3 | password3            | usernamec | Admin |
        | usernamed | Bytes        | password4 | password4            | usernamed | Admin |
        | usernamee | Bytes        | password5 | password5            | usernamee | Admin |

Scenario Outline: Register with invalid details
    Given I am on the registration page
        And I have completed the form with <email> <organisation> <password> and <passwordConfirmation>
    When I have clicked on the register button
    Then I will get an error message

        Examples: 
        | email             | organisation    | password   | passwordConfirmation | 
        | [email protected] | Bytes           | 1LTIuta&Sc | wrongpassword      | 
        | [email protected] | Bytes           | 1LTIuta&Sc | 1LTIuta&Sc         | 
        | [email protected] | No Organisation | 1LTIuta&Sc | 1LTIuta&Sc         | 

Steps Generated File

[Binding]
    public class AccountRegistrationSteps
    {
        [Given]
        public void Given_I_am_on_the_registration_page()
        {
            ScenarioContext.Current.Pending();
        }

        [Given]
        public void Given_I_have_completed_the_form_with_usernamea_Bytes_password_P0_and_password_P1(int p0, int p1)
        {
            ScenarioContext.Current.Pending();
        }

        [Given]
        public void Given_I_have_completed_the_form_with_Jonesa_mojito_com_Bytes_P0_LTIuta_Sc_and_wrongpassword(int p0)
        {
            ScenarioContext.Current.Pending();
        }

        [When]
        public void When_I_have_clicked_on_the_register_button()
        {
            ScenarioContext.Current.Pending();
        }

        [Then]
        public void Then_I_will_be_logged_in_as_usernamea()
        {
            ScenarioContext.Current.Pending();
        }

        [Then]
        public void Then_my_account_will_be_assigned_the_role_of_Admin()
        {
            ScenarioContext.Current.Pending();
        }

        [Then]
        public void Then_I_will_get_an_error_message()
        {
            ScenarioContext.Current.Pending();
        }
    }

Answer 1

RESOLVED - It was not an issue with the use of characters such as @ or &. It was actually using commas in my Given Statement. I found if I used 'and' it works. So to get it working the statement had to be written as below: -

SOLUTION

1. Write statement as

   Given I have completed the form with <email> and <organisation> and <password> and <passwordConfirmation>

2. Modify statement to put single quotes around paramaters that need to be strings

   Given I have completed the form with '<email>' and '<organisation>' and '<password>' and '<passwordConfirmation>'

3. Generation Step Definitions and then change statement back to exclude single quotes

   Given I have completed the form with <email> and <organisation> and <password> and <passwordConfirmation>

A bit of mucking around but it gets the correct results. Hopefully in the future SpecFlow will be updated to handle paramaters as strings as default.