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More customization options for "Variables" section

Feature Request

I would find it very useful to be able to have more control over the "Variables" section content, more precisely on the way to view the data in here.

At the moment the data in these tabs have their items as "fixed" cards:

  • "Built-in Variables"

  • "Custom variables"

  • "Profiles"

This view is really rigid and I can't organize it intuitively according to my needs.

I would like to be able to do at least one (more is better) action from the following:

  • Display as a list + filtering

  • Display as a table + filtering

  • Drag and drop items

  • Organize per folder

My use case is the following: I currently use a very important component for initiating a specific set of variables. These variables are used in almost 50 different tests, but their values are static, so the same at all times no matter the test being executed (they are basically First/Last names for certain entities).

My issue is that this component keeps expanding, it currently has 28 steps, each one a variable, and they are currently being initialized at the beginning of each of these 50 tests.

I was thinking that since they are static values, I could migrate them from this component inside the "Variables" section of my project, so that I save up on execution time without a need to keep initializing them in each test.

But moving 28 new variables in the "Custom variables" tab would make this section quite difficult to manage and filter without any options to organize it to my needs.

Even without these new 28 variables, at the moment the "Custom variables" is quite difficult to organize since this is the place where we put our test account emails, environment urls, and other important information.

I would like to be able to organize this section easier and better. With this, I would actually change my mindset on initializing my static variables using this dedicated section, instead of pilling them inside components.

Posted by Marius COJOCARIU ·
6 comments

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Comments6

  • Paweł Bylina

    Team•

    Apr 9, 2024

    It's just a question because some users want to group components into folders. We also have grouping tests into folders on our list and you actually asked about grouping variables into folders.

    We can go in two directions:

    • separate views for tests, components, and variables like today, with the option to group them into folders

    • a single view with all the above types of "objects" with the option to group them into folders - similar to the file browser, let's say when you can mix different types of files into folders

    • Marius COJOCARIU

      •

      Apr 9, 2024

      To me both sound like they'd bring value, and I would opt for first bullet point, mainly because I like these entities having their own dedicated section in the BugBug software as they do now. :D But if second option is more approachable from your development point of view, I'd be more than happy with that as well, up to you. 👌

      • Paweł Bylina

        Team•

        Apr 9, 2024

        OK, thanks for your feedback! ;) I think we will go with option 1, just asking.

  • Paweł Bylina

    Team•

    Apr 9, 2024

    @Marius COJOCARIU I think this is very useful, but the question is - should we add a separate function to group components, variables, and tests, OR should we change the presentation and group all types of data into one structure? What do you think?

    • Marius COJOCARIU

      •

      Apr 9, 2024

      Hmm I'm not sure I fully understand the question. :D

      So, for Components section, the current layout in table form I think is doing a good job, and I'm able to easily find and filter what I need.

      For the Tests section, current version is also in the form of a table, so we can at least sort based on columns, but if I remember correctly you offered us a sneak peak of a new UI you're working on, which might include folder sorting and organizing.

      Then all that remains is the Variables section, more specifically the "Custom variables" one, where an improvement for me would be to see more items at the same time on the screen, since the current cards style limits the total visible at any time. And of course, if we could group variables in folders, that would be nice as well. For example, I like the current modal layout for the "Profiles", where I click a profile and then I get a collection of variables and possiblity to overide them.

    • Marius COJOCARIU

      •

      Apr 9, 2024

      "OR should we change the presentation and group all types of data into one structure?"

      Reading this again, I think I understand what you mean now. :)

      From my point of view, it would be nice to have a "unified" design look for all these entities, or a unified way of organizing them. Either in their own section as they are now, or in a single place, this is less important for me as long as I have more control over organizing or filtering them. My final desire is to be able to easily view one or more groups of such entities.

      In general, drag and dropping items around is always great, such as for test steps, or tests inside a testsuite.