Message as QReturnArgument?

[QphiuchuS]

Hi!

I'm supposed to test an application with QTest. Now I would like to test a login function, which is void, but returns (I suppose) QMessages (I'm not sure though). Ok, I call the function from my test class:

TheClassToTest * test = new TheClassToTest();
 
QMetaObject::invokeMethod(test, "login", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(QString, username) , Q_ARG(QString, password));

TheClassToTest * test = new TheClassToTest();

QMetaObject::invokeMethod(test, "login", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(QString, username) , Q_ARG(QString, password));

To copy to clipboard, switch view to plain text mode 

This works, but obviously I am not comparing anything yet. If the login attempt is successful, the ClassToTest shows a Message (and this message in fact appears when i call my test class):

statusBar()->showMessage("You're logged in now!", 4000);

statusBar()->showMessage("You're logged in now!", 4000);

To copy to clipboard, switch view to plain text mode 

Since this function is void, this is the only reaction.

Now I would like to somehow get the content of this message an compare it to a predefined string, to see, if the login was indeed successful. In a very naive attempt I tried it this way:

TheClassToTest * test = new TheClassToTest();
QMessageBox returnVal;
QString result = "You're logged in now!"
 
QMetaObject::invokeMethod(test, "login", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_RETURN_ARG(QMessageBox, returnVal), Q_ARG(QString, username) , Q_ARG(QString, password));
 
QCOMPARE(returnVal.text(), result);

TheClassToTest * test = new TheClassToTest();
QMessageBox returnVal;
QString result = "You're logged in now!"

QMetaObject::invokeMethod(test, "login", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_RETURN_ARG(QMessageBox, returnVal), Q_ARG(QString, username) , Q_ARG(QString, password));

QCOMPARE(returnVal.text(), result);

To copy to clipboard, switch view to plain text mode 

The MessageBox no longer appears if I now run the test, but the test still fails since the string I try to retrieve from my returnVal is empty:

Actual (returnVal.text()): 
Expected (result): You're logged in now!

Actual (returnVal.text()): 
Expected (result): You're logged in now!

To copy to clipboard, switch view to plain text mode 

I could not find how QStatusBar::showMessage() is implemented, maybe the error is that showMessage does not use a QMessageBox?

I would really appreciate some help.

Thank you.

[anda_skoa]

I don't see a reason why you want to use invokeMethod() here.
Simply call the login slot directly.

As for the message, use a QSignalSpy to connect to the QStatusBar's messageChanged() signal and then compare the value from the spy.

Something like

QSignalSpy messageSpy(statusBar, SIGNAL(messageChanged(QString)));
 
// perform login
 
QCOMPARE(messageSpy.count(), 1); // expect one emit
QCOMPARE(messageSpy[0].count(), 1); // signal has one argument
QCOMPARE(messageSpy[0][0].toString(), expectedMessage);

QSignalSpy messageSpy(statusBar, SIGNAL(messageChanged(QString)));

// perform login

QCOMPARE(messageSpy.count(), 1); // expect one emit
QCOMPARE(messageSpy[0].count(), 1); // signal has one argument
QCOMPARE(messageSpy[0][0].toString(), expectedMessage);

To copy to clipboard, switch view to plain text mode 

Cheers,
_

[QphiuchuS]

I don't see a reason why you want to use invokeMethod() here.
Simply call the login slot directly.

As for the message, use a QSignalSpy to connect to the QStatusBar's messageChanged() signal and then compare the value from the spy.

Something like

QSignalSpy messageSpy(statusBar, SIGNAL(messageChanged(QString)));
 
// perform login
 
QCOMPARE(messageSpy.count(), 1); // expect one emit
QCOMPARE(messageSpy[0].count(), 1); // signal has one argument
QCOMPARE(messageSpy[0][0].toString(), expectedMessage);

QSignalSpy messageSpy(statusBar, SIGNAL(messageChanged(QString)));

// perform login

QCOMPARE(messageSpy.count(), 1); // expect one emit
QCOMPARE(messageSpy[0].count(), 1); // signal has one argument
QCOMPARE(messageSpy[0][0].toString(), expectedMessage);

To copy to clipboard, switch view to plain text mode 

Cheers,
_

Thank you for your answer, I will look into the QSignalSpy. I tried to call the method directly but can't, since it is a private slot. Me googeling how to test a private method resulted in using invokeMethod().

[anda_skoa]

I tried to call the method directly but can't, since it is a private slot. Me googeling how to test a private method resulted in using invokeMethod().

Ah, yes, I see.
Ideally this wouldn't be necessary, i.e. if a unit's interface it difficult to test, then the interface is most likely not they way it should be.
But if there is no way around such a restriction at the given time, then things like that can indeed be helpful

Another thing: since login procedure are often asynchronous, a test will have to wait while keeping the event loop running. That can be done with either QTest::qWait() or a local event loop that exits on receiving the target signal.

Cheers,
_