How to automate tests for reports in SSRS

Question

My current project uses SSRS as the reporting engine. I have the report executing a text command with about 10 variables passed to it. I have been looking for a solution on how to unit test (acceptance or integration, whatever, just some automation) to an SSRS report project.

I thought about using this method:

1. Move the SQL text command to a stored procedure
2. Create a Reports.Tests project
3. Create a project_tests database and point the connection string to this database
4. Set up my unit test <Setup> with the data I would return in the test
5. Create a test with the parameters passed and test the result set

I wanted to be sure that I wasn't missing something obvious.

How do other programmers test their reports automatically? Any suggestions on how to improve this method?

EDIT: I should clarify that I would like to only test the result set and not formatting of the report.

Solution 1

I saw the Reporting Services Unit Testing Framwork on CodePlex which could be useful, though I haven't had a chance to evaluate it.

Solution 2

Don't know if this is to late - but I have looked at the testing product at the following site: http://www.asyncsoftware.co.uk/ReportTestGenerator.html

Which generates (MSTest or NUnit) unit tests based on the assertions you create...might be of help.

Comments

[Preet Sangha]

[Broken Link] I can't find the Innosphere's page you referenced, and nothing else seems to point to a replacement page.