PHPUnit Zend Framework Controller Tests - Failed asserting last controller used <"error"> - display errors

Question

We are currently putting unit tests around zend framework controllers.

(I've abstracted this code example a little bit, but the idea is the same....)

We've happily managed to make the test fail, with the error message

Failed asserting last controller used <"error"> ....

with the test:

$this->dispatch('/controller/action/param');
$this->assertController('controller');
$this->assertAction('action');

So in this instance, how do I get the real error message to bubble up to PHPUnit, i.e. if there is an error in the controller, I want to know about it rather than invoking the error controller.

If I set resources.frontController.params.noErrorHandler = 1 in the application.ini, the test passes even though there is an error, because that controller and action still occurs, but just outputs nothing (I know I could look for assertions in the output, but that's not the point - I want the original error).

I've tried turned on

convertErrorsToExceptions="true"
convertNoticesToExceptions="true"
convertWarningsToExceptions="true"

in phpunit.xml as well, no joy.

Any pointers would be much appreciated.

I hope all of that made sense!?

Many thanks.

Ciaran McNulty Ciaran McNulty · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-17T15:34:23

Unfortunately Zend_Test_PHPUnit_ControllerTestCase explicitly overrides some frontcontroller options during dispatch. The relevant bit of code is here:

$controller = $this->getFrontController();
$this->frontController
     ->setRequest($request)
     ->setResponse($this->getResponse())
     ->throwExceptions(false)
     ->returnResponse(false);

Because this is done inside dispatch() you have absolutely no chance of altering the options.

One solution I've used is to create my own base ControllerTestCase that extends the Zend one and copy the entire dispatch() function from the Zend object, then change that one line.

It's messy but it works. You could do a more elaborate version that read something from a config etc.

PHPUnit Zend Framework Controller Tests - Failed asserting last controller used <"error"> - display errors

2 Answers