SSRS Unit Testing Suite

Summary

SSRS Report Testing Suite is a tool that allows the user to unit test SQL server reports.

For more information: products@innosphere.ca

Business Need

Implementing a framework for testing an application throughout its development lifecycle is an expected part of business. This should also be the case for reporting, whether using SSRS, Crystal Reports, etc … By-in-large report testing practices are limited to eye-balling changes, which is insufficient because of human error when working with small to large datasets. The SSRS Report Testing Suite brings a piece of mind and ease of use in creating a testing framework for working with SSRS reports.

Prerequisites

Must have a test database up with a static snapshot of the data being reported on
Ideally have a test report server to also deploy reports to and point data sources to snapshot database

*The tool can still be tested without these prerequisites

Details

SSRS Report Testing Suite allows the user to batch export selected reports with desired parameters to an ‘Expected Results’ folder in xml format. The user can then determine which specific fields in the report that they want tested using a simple and intuitive interface. This phase determines the unit tests desired for each report. Once changes are made to the underlying data structure or reports themselves, the user can batch export the reports to a ‘Test’ folder, also in xml format. Using a comparison wizard, the unit tests will be run, comparing the user specified fields in the ‘Expected Results’ folder and the ‘Test’ results folder. Each field will be reported against on whether is passes or fails.

Walkthrough

1) When you first start SSRS Report Testing Suite you will get a blank window with the toolbar at the top

2) Use the menu to navigate to your desired location
Screen shots for the Export and Comparison Wizards are provided …

Export Wizard

Welcome page, can go to options from here Connect to Server

Select reports to export, specify parameters Export Reports

Comparison Wizard

Welcome page, can go to options from here Compare ‘Expected Results’ to ‘Test’ results (folder content only)

Determine which fields to test in each report Compare reports (using XPath)

3) As alluded to above, there is an options menu

4) Additionally, if you wish to jump to a key operation without using the wizard, you can use to file menu to open any of these windows individually