How can we set a variable such that it can be used in a different test suite?

Question

I need to set an variable in testSuite#1. Use the above variable in testSuite#2.

Do we have any keywords to do it? Can we export it at command line?

Answer 1

Use BuiltIn's Set Global Variable. This should be avoided whenever possible, but is sometimes necessary.

Set Global Variable    ${MYPROJ_ADMIN_PASSWORD}    supersecret123

Answer 2

This is not a very good idea, because you end up with a dependency between two suites, and a dependency on the order that the suites are run.

That being said, there are a couple of ways you can accomplish this.

Using Set Global Variable

The first method is to use the Set Global Variable keyword from the built-in library.

| | Set global variable | ${foobar} | this is foobar

Setting an environment varible

The second way would be to set an environment variable that can be shared between two suites, using the OperatingSystem library.

suite1.robot

*** Settings ***
| Library | Operating System

*** Test Case ***
| Save a variable that other suites can see
| | Set environment variable | foobar | this is foobar

suite2.robot

*** Settings ***
| Library | OperatingSystem

*** Test Cases ***
| Use a variable from another suite
| | Should be equal | %{foobar} | this is foobar

Notice the use of % instead of $ to access the variable. You can also use Get Environment Variable to get the value of one or more variables.