Read Data from Property File - Notes By ShariqSP

How to Read Data from Property Files in Android Mobile Application Testing (Using Eclipse)

Property files are key-value pairs commonly used for configuration settings, test data, or application behavior customization. In Android mobile testing, property files can be a lightweight and straightforward way to manage test data. This guide explains how to read data from property files in Eclipse for Android mobile testing.

Steps to Read Data from Property Files

  1. Set Up the Environment:
    • Ensure you have installed the Android Development Tools (ADT) plugin in Eclipse.
    • Create or open your Android project in Eclipse.
  2. Create a Property File:
    • Right-click the assets folder in your Android project and select New > File.
    • Save the file with a .properties extension, such as testdata.properties.
    • Add key-value pairs to the property file.
  3. Write Code to Read the Property File:
    • Use Java’s Properties class to load and read the file.
    • Access the property file using an InputStream from the assets folder.

Sample Code in Eclipse


              import java.io.InputStream;
              import java.util.Properties;
              
              public class PropertyFileReader {
                  public void readPropertyFileData(Context context) {
                      try {
                          // Load the property file from assets
                          InputStream inputStream = context.getAssets().open("testdata.properties");
              
                          // Create Properties object and load the file
                          Properties properties = new Properties();
                          properties.load(inputStream);
              
                          // Retrieve data using keys
                          String username = properties.getProperty("username");
                          String password = properties.getProperty("password");
                          String expectedResult = properties.getProperty("expectedResult");
              
                          // Print the data
                          System.out.println("Username: " + username);
                          System.out.println("Password: " + password);
                          System.out.println("Expected Result: " + expectedResult);
              
                          // Close the InputStream
                          inputStream.close();
                      } catch (Exception e) {
                          e.printStackTrace();
                      }
                  }
              }

Example Property File


              # Test data for login functionality
              username=testuser1
              password=password123
              expectedResult=Success

Real-Time Scenarios

  1. Configuration Management:
    • Store environment-specific configurations like API URLs, timeouts, or feature flags in property files.
    • Switch between different configurations by modifying the property file without changing the code.
  2. Login Testing:
    • Store test credentials and expected results for login functionality in the property file.
    • Use automation scripts to read the data and simulate login attempts.
  3. Localization Testing:
    • Store language-specific strings in property files.
    • Verify that the application displays text correctly based on the selected locale.

Advantages of Using Property Files

  • Simple and easy to create, with minimal learning curve.
  • Lightweight format, suitable for small to medium-sized configurations or test data.
  • Readable and editable without requiring additional tools.
  • Separates configuration from the source code, promoting better maintainability.
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