Effortlessly Fetch Excel Data in Katalon: A Guide

In today's fast-paced digital world, automating repetitive tasks is a necessity for increasing efficiency and productivity. One of the common tasks in testing and data manipulation is fetching data from Excel spreadsheets. This guide will walk you through how to effortlessly fetch Excel data using Katalon Studio, a powerful automation tool designed for testers and developers alike.

The Importance of Excel Data in Automation

Before diving into the mechanics of Katalon Studio, it’s crucial to understand why Excel data plays a significant role in automation testing:

• Portability: Excel files are widely supported across various platforms, making them an excellent choice for cross-platform testing.
• Data Integrity: Excel ensures that data remains structured, reducing the likelihood of errors during the import process.
• Ease of Use: Even non-technical users can manage data in Excel, making it accessible for various team members.

Setting Up Katalon Studio for Excel Integration

To start using Excel data in Katalon Studio, you need to ensure the following prerequisites are met:

• Download and install Katalon Studio from the official Katalon website.
• Have a basic understanding of Katalon Studio’s interface and functionalities.
• Ensure your Excel file contains clean, well-structured data that can be easily read by Katalon.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fetching Excel Data

Creating a New Test Case

Begin by creating a new test case in Katalon Studio:

1. Navigate to Tests Explorer.
2. Right-click on the test suite or folder where you want to add the new test case.
3. Select New / Test Case from the context menu.

Configuring Excel Settings

Now, configure your test case to interact with Excel:

• Go to the Data Files panel in Katalon Studio.
• Click on Add, then choose Excel File.
• Browse and select your Excel file, then define how Katalon should interpret the data.

Writing the Script

With the Excel file linked, here’s how to write the script to fetch data:

import static com.kms.katalon.core.checkpoint.CheckpointFactory.findCheckpoint
import static com.kms.katalon.core.testcase.TestCaseFactory.findTestCase
import static com.kms.katalon.core.testdata.TestDataFactory.findTestData
import static com.kms.katalon.core.testobject.ObjectRepository.findTestObject
import com.kms.katalon.core.annotation.Keyword
import com.kms.katalon.core.checkpoint.Checkpoint
import com.kms.katalon.core.cucumber.keyword.CucumberBuiltinKeywords as CucumberKW
import com.kms.katalon.core.mobile.keyword.MobileBuiltInKeywords as Mobile
import com.kms.katalon.core.model.FailureHandling
import com.kms.katalon.core.testdata.TestData
import com.kms.katalon.core.testobject.TestObject
import com.kms.katalon.core.webservice.keyword.WSBuiltInKeywords as WS
import com.kms.katalon.core.webui.keyword.WebUiBuiltInKeywords as WebUI
import internal.GlobalVariable
import org.openqa.selenium.Keys as Keys

TestData excelData = findTestData(‘Your Excel File Name’)
int rowsCount = excelData.getRowNumbers()

for(int row = 1; row <= rowsCount; row++) {
    String cellValue = excelData.getValue(‘Column Name’, row)
    // Do something with cellValue
}

Executing the Test Case

Now, execute your test case to verify data fetching:

• Click on the Run button at the top menu.
• Select the correct environment and click OK.
• Katalon will fetch the data, and you can confirm the fetched values through logging or assertions.

🌟 Note: Ensure that your Excel file is formatted correctly with headers, as incorrect formatting can lead to data mismatches or errors during fetching.

Advanced Techniques for Data Fetching

Conditional Data Fetching

You might need to fetch data based on certain conditions:

for(int row = 1; row <= rowsCount; row++) {
    String conditionValue = excelData.getValue(‘Condition Column’, row)
    if(conditionValue.equals(“True”)) {
        String cellValue = excelData.getValue(‘Data Column’, row)
        // Process this cellValue
    }
}

Fetching Data for Parameterization

Using data from Excel for parameterization:

List parameters = new ArrayList();
for(int row = 1; row <= rowsCount; row++) {
    parameters.add(excelData.getValue(‘Parameter Column’, row));
}

// Use these parameters in your test script

💡 Note: For complex data fetching scenarios, consider creating custom keywords in Katalon Studio to keep your test scripts clean and modular.

Summary and Key Takeaways

This guide has provided a comprehensive look at how to fetch Excel data in Katalon Studio. Here are the key points to remember:

• Katalon Studio offers built-in capabilities for Excel data integration, simplifying data-driven testing.
• Setting up the Excel file correctly and understanding how to reference it in Katalon is crucial for smooth data fetching.
• Advanced techniques like conditional fetching or parameterization can greatly enhance your test automation efficiency.

What versions of Excel are supported by Katalon Studio?

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Katalon Studio supports Excel 97-2003 (.xls) and Excel 2007 onwards (.xlsx). Ensure your Excel files are in one of these formats.

Can I fetch data from multiple Excel sheets within the same workbook?

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Yes, by specifying the sheet name in your test data query, you can access data from different sheets within the same Excel file.

How do I handle errors when fetching data?

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Utilize Katalon’s error handling techniques like try-catch blocks to manage exceptions when reading Excel files.

Is there a way to verify fetched data?

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Yes, Katalon provides assertions to verify data integrity. You can compare the fetched data against expected values in your test cases.