cucumber contradictory error messages

Question

Problem Background: "cucumber declarative step definitions using web_steps.rb" Stack Overflow Question

In troubleshooting the problem in question two contradictory error messages are arrived at; with the statement:

When /^(?:|I )uncheck "([^"]*)"$/ do |field|
  check(field)
end

added to 'features/step_definitions/movie_steps.rb' execution of 'bundle exec cucumber features/filter_movie_list.feature' results in:

Ambiguous match of "I uncheck "ratings_G"":

features/step_definitions/movie_steps.rb:65:in '/^(?:|I )uncheck "([^"]*)"$/
features/step_definitions/web_steps.rb:65:in '/^(?:|I )uncheck "([^"]*)"$/

However, removal of the step does not result in the step definition from 'web_steps.rb' being utilized; rather, a different error message is displayed:

When I uncheck the following ratings: G, PG-13                 # features/step_definitions/movie_steps.rb:44
  Undefined step: "When I uncheck "ratings_G"" (Cucumber::Undefined)
  ./features/step_definitions/movie_steps.rb:52:in `block (2 levels) in <top (required)>'
  ./features/step_definitions/movie_steps.rb:49:in `each'
  ./features/step_definitions/movie_steps.rb:49:in `/I (un)?check the following ratings: (.*)/'
  features/filter_movie_list.feature:30:in `When I uncheck the following ratings: G, PG-13'

How is it possible for Cucumber to complain that a step is redundant when there are two definitions in two places but then later complain that the very same step is not defined when its duplicate is removed? Is it possible the second error message really means something other than what is stated?

PS: The configuration was arrived at by way of a Cucumber installation with training wheels for CS169.x1 @ edX...

froderik froderik · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-26T07:19:27

It seems that you have one definition called When I uncheck "ratings_G" that is somewhat matched with the call When I uncheck the following ratings: G, P-13 that occurs in the error message. Cucumber is complaining that nothing matches the latter one. Does it exist in your code?

The somewhat matching would possibly explain the ambiguity warning you got initially. The definition matches but not what is found inside the string.

cucumber contradictory error messages

1 Answers