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Creating a Test Suite by Combining Page Scripts in Microsoft Dynamics Business Central

Friday, July 19, 2024
Reading time: 3 minutes

In Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, the ability to automate and streamline your processes through scripting is invaluable. By combining smaller scripts into a comprehensive test suite, you can ensure that your business processes are running smoothly and efficiently. In this post, we’ll explore what a test suite is, why it’s beneficial to create smaller scripts, and how to combine them into a test suite using YAML files.

What is a Test Suite?

A test suite is a collection of test scripts that are designed to validate the functionality and performance of a system. By running a series of tests, you can ensure that different parts of your system are working correctly and that recent changes have not introduced any new issues. A well-organized test suite can save time, reduce errors, and improve the overall quality of your system.

Benefits of Smaller Scripts

Creating smaller, focused scripts has several advantages:

  • Ease of Maintenance: Smaller scripts are easier to understand, update, and debug.
  • Reusability: Individual scripts can be reused across different test suites and scenarios.
  • Modularity: By breaking down complex processes into smaller steps, you can test each step independently before combining them.

Step-by-Step Guide to Combining Scripts

Recording and Exporting Scripts

  1. Record the Scripts: Use the Business Central recording tool to capture each step of your process. For example, record a script to open the customer list and filter to a specific customer, and export it as Step1.yml.
  2. Export the Script: Save the recorded script to a specific directory.
  3. Repeat for Additional Steps: Record and export additional scripts, saving them as Step2.yml, Step3.yml, and so on.

Combining Scripts into a Test Suite
Once you have your individual scripts, you can combine them into a single test suite.

  1. Create a Master YAML File: In the same directory where your step scripts are saved, create a new YAML file, Master.yml.
  2. Include Individual Scripts: In the Master.yml file, include each of the step scripts. Your master file might look something like this:
name: Master
description: Test recording
start:
  profile: BUSINESS MANAGER EVALUATION
steps:
  - type: include
    name: Step1
    description: Run <file>Step1</file>
    file: .\Step1.yml
  - type: include
    name: Step2
    description: Run <file>Step2</file>
    file: .\Step2.yml

Tips for Successful Script Combination

  • Start and End on the Role Center: Always begin and end your scripts on the Role Center in Business Central. This ensures that scripts can be combined in any order without issues.
  • Create Data Used in Scripts: To ensure repeatability, create the data you use in your scripts. This avoids problems caused by changing data, such as customers exceeding their credit limits or running out of stock.
  • Keep Scripts Small and Purposeful: Focus each script on a specific task. This makes them easier to manage and combine.

Disclaimer

This guide is based on version 24 of Business Central, and the Page Scripting Tool is currently in preview. Features and functionalities may change in future releases. For now, this method allows you to combine scripts into a test suite effectively.

Feedback and Future Improvements

Your feedback is valuable in shaping the future of the Page Scripting Tool. Please share your thoughts and suggestions on the BC Ideas page. Together, we can enhance this tool for the entire Business Central community.

Conclusion

Combining smaller scripts into a test suite is a powerful way to ensure your Business Central processes run smoothly and efficiently. By following the steps outlined above, you can create a modular, maintainable, and reusable test suite that saves time and reduces errors. Happy scripting!

Berny Düring
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