how to import package for several tests in unittest framework?

Hi,

I've created a TestCase class and I'd like to import StringDiagnostic for each of the test methods in one go - meaning without having to import it for each test desperately.

This is how it looks now:

classdef MyTestClass < matlab.unittest.TestCase

    properties(ClassSetupParameter)
      prop1 = num2cell(1:2);
    end

    properties
        actual;
        expected;
    end

    methods(TestClassSetup)
      get_actual_and_expected(test_case);
    end

    methods(Test)
      function test1(test_case,prop1)
            import matlab.unittest.diagnostics.StringDiagnostic;
            testCase.verifyNotEmpty(testCase.actual,StringDiagnostic('Struct is empty'));  
      end
      function test2(test_case,prop1)
            import matlab.unittest.diagnostics.StringDiagnostic;
            testCase.verifyNotEmpty(testCase.expected,StringDiagnostic('Struct is empty'));  
      end
    end

I'd like to not have to write the line "import matlab.unittest.diagnostics.StringDiagnostic;" in each test function but only once.

I've also tried to put in in TestMethodSetup block which didn't work.

Thank you!

Jack

Answer 1

[Andy Campbell]

Hi Jack,

This is currently a limitation in the MATLAB language, which restricts the import scope to functions and methods. There is no way currently to import across an entire "file".

As a workaround, you can use local functions to get import-like behavior, like so:

classdef MyTestClass < matlab.unittest.TestCase
    properties(ClassSetupParameter)
        prop1 = num2cell(1:2);
    end
    properties
        actual;
        expected;
    end
    methods(TestClassSetup)
        get_actual_and_expected(test_case);
    end
    methods(Test)
        function test1(test_case,prop1)
            testCase.verifyThat(testCase.actual, ~IsEmpty, StringDiagnostic('Struct is empty'));  
        end
        function test2(test_case,prop1)
            testCase.verifyThat(testCase.expected, ~IsEmpty, StringDiagnostic('Struct is empty'));  
        end
        function test3(test_case,prop1)
            testCase.verifyThat(testCase.actual, IsEqualTo(testCase.expected), ...
                StringDiagnostic('Actual should be equal to expected.'));  
        end
    end
end
% "import" functions
function d = StringDiagnostic(varargin)
d = matlab.unittest.diagnostics.StringDiagnostic(varargin{:});
end
function c = IsEmpty(varargin)
c = matlab.unittest.constraints.IsEmpty(varargin{:});
end
function c = IsEqualTo(varargin)
c = matlab.unittest.constraints.IsEqualTo(varargin{:});
end

Note, in this case though you don't need to import String Diagnostic at all. If you just use:

testCase.verifyNotEmpty(testCase.expected,'Struct is empty');

The string your provided will be converted to a StringDiagnostic automatically by the framework.

Hope that helps!

Andy