Excel Checkpoints

Applies to TestComplete 14.71, last modified on April 22, 2021

An Excel checkpoint is a test operation that recognizes content of an Excel file and verifies that the recognized data matches the expected data. This can be helpful when testing an application that provides its output as an Excel file. You can use Excel checkpoints to make sure the application provides the expected output and, therefore, works correctly.

In keyword tests, you perform Excel checkpoints with the Excel Checkpoint operation:

Excel Checkpoint in a keyword test

In scripts — by using the Files.Excel_File_Name.CheckExcelWorkbook method:

JavaScript, JScript

Files.DataStorageExcel1.CheckExcelWorkbook("C:\\Temp\\DataStorageExcel.xlsx");

Python

Files.DataStorageExcel1.CheckExcelWorkbook("C:\\Temp\\DataStorageExcel.xlsx")

VBScript

Call Files.DataStorageExcel1.CheckExcelWorkbook("C:\Temp\DataStorageExcel.xlsx")

DelphiScript

Files.DataStorageExcel1.CheckExcelWorkbook('C:\Temp\DataStorageExcel.xlsx');

C++Script, C#Script

Files["DataStorageExcel1"]["CheckExcelWorkbook"]("C:\\Temp\\DataStorageExcel.xlsx");

If you need to compare a specific sheet of an Excel file, use the Tables.Excel_File_Name.Check method.

How an Excel Checkpoint Works

During the test run, TestComplete:

  1. Gets the Excel file whose contents you want to verify.

  2. Recognizes the content of the file.

  3. Compares the content with the baseline content that the Stores > Files or Stores > Tables collection contains for comparison of an entire Excel file or a specific sheet respectively.

  4. Reports the results.

How to Create Excel Checkpoints

You can add Excel checkpoints to your test during test recording and at design time using the Create Checkpoint wizard. For detailed instructions, see Creating Excel Checkpoints.

Excel Checkpoint Results

If the actual data and the stored data are reported equal, the checkpoint posts a success message to the test log.

Otherwise, the checkpoint posts an error message to the test log and lists comparison differences in the Detail panel:

Detailed results of Excel file comparison

Click the image to enlarge it.

For a detailed description of the results Excel checkpoints generate, see Analyzing Excel Verification Results.

Alternatives to Excel Checkpoints

  • To compare Excel files byte by byte, use file checkpoints.

  • You can iterate through your Excel file and compare the desired data via if … then … else statements and comparison operators.

Updating Excel Checkpoints

If the expected contents of your tested Excel file have changed, you may want to update your Excel checkpoints to use new baseline contents. Instead of updating the baseline data stored in the Stores > Files collection manually, you can command TestComplete to update it automatically.

To learn how to do this, see Updating Excel Checkpoints.

See Also

Working with Microsoft Excel Files

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