Datafile library provides more convenient way to save some of your test data than robotframework variables tables do.
For example you have a file 'users.rst' where you save users accounts information:
**Accounts on site** ========= ==== ======== ================= users id password email ========= ==== ======== ================= admin Eric passwr eric@example.com manager Jonh passwr jonh@example.com publisher Olga passwr olga@example.com reader Jane passwr _table_: \ work; jane@work.com| \ pesonal; jane@pesonal.com ========= ==== ======== =================
and in test case you can parse this file and access its data in the following manner:
*** Settings ***
Library quintagroup.robotframework.datafile.rst
*** Test Cases ***
Attribute alike access
${users}= Read tables from file ${CURDIR}/users.rst
Should Be Equal ${users.admin.id} Eric
Should Be Equal ${users.manager.email} jonh@example.com
Should Be Equal ${users.reader.id} Jane
Should Be Equal As String ${users.reader.email} [['work', 'jane@work.com'], ['pesonal', 'jane@pesonal.com']]
Should Be Equal As String ${users.reader.email}[0] ['work', 'jane@work.com']