Tosca Data Sources: Excel, Database, and More

In test automation, data-driven testing plays a vital role in increasing test coverage and improving flexibility. Tricentis Tosca, a leading test automation tool, offers powerful features to support data-driven testing through various data sources. Whether you're pulling data from Excel, databases, or other sources, Tosca provides easy integration to drive tests dynamically. This blog will explore the most commonly used data sources in Tosca and how to effectively utilize them in your automation projects.


Why Use External Data Sources in Tosca?

Data-driven testing separates test logic from test data, making scripts reusable and easier to maintain. Instead of hardcoding values into your test cases, you pull them from external sources, allowing you to:

  • Execute the same test with multiple input sets
  • Validate different data scenarios
  • Improve test coverage and efficiency
  • Minimize duplication and maintenance


1. Using Excel as a Data Source

Excel is one of the most popular data sources for Tosca due to its simplicity and accessibility. Tosca’s Excel Engine allows testers to read and write data from Excel spreadsheets directly.


How to Use Excel with Tosca:

  • Use the Excel Engine module to open an Excel file.
  • Navigate to the required sheet and read/write specific cells or ranges.
  • Use TBox Excel Modules like "Open Excel Workbook", "Read from Excel", and "Close Excel Workbook.
  • You can also combine this with buffering to store and reuse values across multiple test steps.

Example use case: Reading login credentials from Excel and using them in a login test case.


2. Database as a Data Source

Tosca can connect to databases like MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and more. This is particularly useful for validating backend data or using live data in your tests.

Steps to Use Database in Tosca:

  • Use the TBox DB Engine to establish a connection.
  • Execute SQL queries directly from Tosca to fetch or validate data.
  • Store query results in Tosca buffers or test case parameters.
  • Use these values in your automation steps.

Example use case: Fetching a dynamic user ID from a database and using it to validate UI actions.


3. Tosca TestCase Design Sheet

Tosca’s in-built TestCase Design module allows you to create reusable test data combinations within Tosca itself. This is ideal for testers who want to manage test data inside the tool.

  • Define attributes and values.
  • Generate test combinations using value range or classification trees.
  • Link the sheet to test cases using TestCase Templates.
  • This method provides better traceability and integration with requirement-based testing.


4. Other Data Sources

Tosca can also pull data from:

  • CSV files: Using Tosca's standard modules or custom scripts.
  • API responses: Parse dynamic values from REST or SOAP API responses and use them in other test steps.
  • Environment variables: Useful for storing environment-specific data like URLs or tokens.

Best Practices

  • Always separate test data from logic to make your test cases reusable.
  • Use naming conventions and documentation for your data sources.
  • Validate data before using it in test execution to avoid runtime errors.
  • Secure sensitive data like passwords or tokens with encryption or masking.


Conclusion

Tosca offers extensive support for external data sources, enabling powerful and flexible data-driven testing. Whether you're using Excel for simplicity or databases for real-time validation, Tosca makes integration seamless. Mastering these data sources can significantly enhance your automation strategy and ensure better, faster, and more reliable testing outcomes.

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