Execute some code after a successful SQL Unit Test

Question

We have an application that has many SPROCs being developed and maintained by multiple developers, and we are trying to automate the process to keep track of modifying and testing the SPROCs. We currently have a table in our database that is populated and modified based on a trigger that fires when a SPROC is created, modified, or deleted. In this table there is a column that specifies whether the SPROC was tested and deemed a success by a unit test. We are using Visual Studio's Test Explorer and Unit Test designer to handle the SQL Unit tests. We have them functioning fine, but are trying to add automate to update the database after a test succeeds. Is there some kind of event or something similar that is touched by every successful unit test? If not, then at least something that can catch the results and allow some kind of additional logic after a(n) (un)successful execution?

Within the TestMethod itself, one of the objects returned is the SqlExecutionResult[] testResults object. Within this object is the hasError attribute, that when successful is set to true. It seems testResults isn't populated on some errors and is only ever null. Is there some method or something similar called by ALL unit tests upon completion that might be able to look back/use testResults to get confirmation of success? Something that can be used and catch the output from all unit tests?

user_4770152 · Answer

We found the results using a couple of slightly adjacent posts.

It comes down to creating a base test class that only has the TestCleanup() method and referencing the TestContext.CurrentTestOutcome.

You will then have the other test classes reference this as a base class and remove the reference to TestCleanup() in all of the other tests. This will allow for any kind of extra work to be done based on a success or failure of a unit test. To avoid this extra work, you could probably create a template using the base class. However, at this time we are not putting in the effort to figure this out since it's not a necessity.

These are the posts we referenced:

How to get test result status from MSTest?

In MSTest how to check if last test passed (in TestCleanup)

user_12229910 · Answer

This is something for all tests executed, not specifically passing tests only. You can create a stored procedure to reset and update that testing table/db as you need, and then use the [SetUp] method to ensure it triggers before every test is executed

As a basic example, using nUnit I have done

        private IMyRepo _repo;

        [SetUp]
        public void Init()
        {
            _repo = new MyRepoImpl();

            //reset db to a known state for each test
            using (SqlConnection c = new SqlConnection(Settings.GetConnString()))
            {
                SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand
                {
                    Connection = c,
                    CommandText = "DbReset",
                    CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
                };

                c.Open();
                cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
            }
        }

You can setup the DbReset stored procedure used here to update that specific column

But a major caveat here is that this will fire before every test, not just successful or failed ones, and I'm not sure if there is such a specialization for a something to trigger for only passed tests.

In nUnit, [TearDown] methods are guaranteed to fire assuming the [SetUp] method did not throw an exception so you will have the same issue here. If there was a scenario where [TearDown]'s don't fire if the test fails, that could've been a hacky approach to solve your problem, but these types of methods are typically aimed at object creation and cleanup, so I highly doubt there is another testing suite that will attempt to do this (as, even in a failed test, the developer would still want cleanup to take place)

Sorry I can't provide the fix to the exact scenario you have, but I hope this gets you closer to your answer

Execute some code after a successful SQL Unit Test

2 Answers