Loading Test Data

Using the Test.loadData method, you can populate data in your test methods without having to write many lines of code.

Simply, add the data in a .csv file, create a static resource for this file, and then call Test.loadData within your test method by passing it the sObject type token and the static resource name. For example, for Account records and a static resource name of myResource, make the following call:

1List<sObject> ls = Test.loadData(Account.sObjectType, 'myResource');

The Test.loadData method returns a list of sObjects that correspond to each record inserted.

You must create the static resource prior to calling this method. The static resource is a comma-delimited file ending with a .csv extension. The file contains field names and values for the test records. The first line of the file must contain the field names and subsequent lines are the field values. To learn more about static resources, see “Defining Static Resources” in the Salesforce online help.

Once you create a static resource for your .csv file, the static resource will be assigned a MIME type. Supported MIME types are:

text/csv
application/vnd.ms-excel
application/octet-stream
text/plain

Test.loadData Example

The following are steps for creating a sample .csv file and a static resource, and calling Test.loadData to insert the test records.

Create a .csv file that has the data for the test records. This is a sample .csv file with three account records. You can use this sample content to create your .csv file.

1Name,Website,Phone,BillingStreet,BillingCity,BillingState,BillingPostalCode,BillingCountry
2sForceTest1,http://www.sforcetest1.com,(415) 901-7000,The Landmark @ One Market,San Francisco,CA,94105,US
3sForceTest2,http://www.sforcetest2.com,(415) 901-7000,The Landmark @ One Market Suite 300,San Francisco,CA,94105,US
4sForceTest3,http://www.sforcetest3.com,(415) 901-7000,1 Market St,San Francisco,CA,94105,US

Create a static resource for the .csv file:
1. Click Develop | Static Resources, and then New Static Resource.
2. Name your static resource testAccounts.
3. Choose the file you just created.
4. Click Save.

Call Test.loadData in a test method to populate the test accounts.

1swfobject.registerObject("clippy.codeblock-2", "9");
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17@isTest 
18private class DataUtil {
19    static testmethod void testLoadData() {
20        // Load the test accounts from the static resource
21        List<sObject> ls = Test.loadData(Account.sObjectType, 'testAccounts');
22        // Verify that all 3 test accounts were created
23        System.assert(ls.size() == 3);
24
25        // Get first test account
26        Account a1 = (Account)ls[0];
27        String acctName = a1.Name;
28        System.debug(acctName);
29
30        // Perform some testing using the test records
31    }
32}

Force.com Apex Code Developer's Guide

Loading Test Data

Test.loadData Example