📐 Templated Test Cases (Rules)
Rules allow you to create multiple test cases at once using parameterized SQL templates. When you need to apply the same validation pattern across many tables, columns, or schemas, rules eliminate repetitive manual work and ensure consistency.
🧠 Why Use Rules?
Many test cases follow the same pattern — only the target table, column, or schema changes. Instead of creating each test case individually, rules let you:
- ✅ Define a template once with placeholders
- 🔁 Generate multiple test cases by providing different parameter sets
- ⚡ Speed up test creation significantly for large-scale projects
A Rule is like a cookie cutter — you define the shape once, and stamp out as many cookies (test cases) as you need with different flavors (parameters).
🔗 Rules and Test Approaches
Rules are connected to Test Approaches. When you select a test approach during test creation, the rules associated with that approach are automatically available.
🛠 Parameterized Syntax
Rules use a clear parameterized syntax with double curly braces {{ }} as placeholders:
SELECT * FROM {{schema}}.{{table}} WHERE {{column_under_test}} IS NULL
In this example:
{{schema}}— the database schema{{table}}— the target table{{column_under_test}}— the column to validate
You can modify rules freely — add or remove parameters, adjust the SQL logic, or save your changes as a new rule for future use.
📋 Parameter Sets
You can specify as many parameter groups as you need — each group generates a separate test case from the same rule template.
✅ Creating Tests from Rules
Once your rule and parameter sets are configured, press the Submit button. X-AutoMate generates all the corresponding test cases automatically.
📌 Summary
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Template syntax | {{parameter}} placeholders in SQL |
| Linked to | Test Approaches |
| Parameter sets | Multiple groups per rule — each produces a test case |
| Editable | Modify rules or save as new |
| Output | Batch-created test cases on submit |