Cucumber - run same feature a number of times depending on records in a database - ruby

Question

I have a cucumber feature that checks a website has processed payment files correctly (BACS,SEPA, FPS etc). The first stage of the process is to create the payment files which in-turn create expected result data in a database. This data is then used to validate against the payment processing website.
If I process one file, my feature works perfectly validating the expected results. Where I'm stuck is how I get the feature to run (n) number of times depending on the number of records/files that were originally processed.
I've tried an 'Around' hook using a record count iteration with no joy, can't see how I can fit it into an outline scenario and now think that perhaps a rake task to call the feature might work.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Here's a sample of the feature:
Feature: Processing SEPA Credit Transfer Files. Same Day Value Payments.
Background:
Given we want to test the "SEPA_Regression" scenario suite
And that we have processed a "SEPA" file from the "LDN" branch
And we plan to use the "ITA1" environment
Then we log in to "OPF" as a "SEPA Department" user
#feature #find_and_check_sepa_interchange #all_rows
Scenario: Receive SEPA Credit Transfer Files for branch
Given that we are on the "Payment Management > Interchanges" page
When I search for our Interchange with the following search parameters:
| Field Name |
| Transport Date From |
| Bank |
| Interchange Reference |
Then I can check the following fields for the given file in the "Interchanges" table:
| Field Name|
| Interchange Reference |
| Transport Date |
| File Name |
| File Format |
| Clearing Participant |
| Status |
| Direction |
| Bank |
When I select the associated "Interchange Id" link
Then the "Interchange Details" page is displayed
Update I've implemented nested steps for the feature so that I can call the database records first and feed each set of records (or at least the row id) into the main feature like so:
Feature
#trial_feature
Scenario: Validate multiple Files
Given we have one or more records in the database to process for the "SEPA_Regression" scenario
Then we can validate each file against the system
Feature steps:
Then(/^we can validate each file against the system$/) do
x = 0
while x <= $interchangeHash.count - 1
$db_row = x
# Get the other sets of data using the file name in the query
id = $interchangeHash[x]['id']
file_name = $interchangeHash[x]['CMS_Unique_Reference_Id']
Background.get_data_for_scenario(scenario, file_name)
steps %{
Given that we are on the "Payment Management > Interchanges" page
When I search for our Interchange with the following search parameters:
| Field Name |
| Transport Date From |
| Bank |
| Interchange Reference |
Then I can check the following fields for the given file in the "Interchanges" table:
| Field Name|
| Interchange Reference |
| Transport Date |
| File Name |
| File Format |
| Clearing Participant |
| Status |
| Direction |
| Bank |
When I select the associated "Interchange Id" link
Then the "Interchange Details" page is displayed
Seems a bit of a 'hack' but it works.

Answer 1

If you have batch processing software, then you should have several Given (setup) steps, 1 When (trigger) step, several Then (criteria) steps.
Given I have these SEPA bills
| sepa bill 1 |
| sepa bill 2 |
And I have these BAC bills
| bac bill 1 |
| bac bill 2 |
When the payments are processed
Then these sepa bills are completed
| sepa bill 1 |
| sepa bill 2 |
And I these bac bills are completed
| bac bill 1 |
| bac bill 2 |
It's simpler, easier to read what is supposed to be done, and can be expanded to more. The works should be done in the step definitions of setting up and verifying.