In SoapUI, your work is organized into projects, which are displayed under the root node in the workspace navigator. A project can contain any number of functional tests, load tests, and service simulations required for your testing purposes.
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SoapUI offers two project formats: standalone projects and composite projects.
1.1. Standalone Projects
The default project format is standalone. SoapUI stores them as a single XML file that contains all project artifacts – such as interfaces, tests, mock services, scripts, and so on.
1.2. Composite Projects
The aim of the composite projects is team testing. These allow several people to work on the project at the same time.
2. Project Types
There are three main types of projects in SoapUI:
The project type indicates the main type of the tested service. However, you can manually combine service types in any projects you create.
2.1. SOAP Projects
SOAP projects can be created from a WSDL file or single service call. You can use these projects to test every aspect of your SOAP services, verify that the services support commonly used standards such as WS-Security, WS-Addressing, and MTOM, create functional and load tests, and much more.
To learn more about SOAP projects in SoapUI, see the corresponding section of the documentation.
2.2. REST Projects
REST projects can be created from WADL file or, directly, URI and its parameters. You can use these projects to test RESTful services, create various requests and check the information you receive, give a try to a multitude of methods and operations, and so on.
To learn more about REST projects in SoapUI, see the corresponding section of the documentation.
2.3. Generic Projects
Generic projects are all-purpose project for services with varied interfaces and methods. They may combine tests you create for REST and SOAP services, as well as data-driven tests, mockups, and all the functionality SoapUI provides.
3. Add Projects to Workspace
There are two ways to add a project to the workspace:
- By creating a new project
- By importing an existing local, composite, packed, or remote project
3.1. Create New Project
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To create a new SOAP project, select File > New SOAP Project.
Specify the name for your new project and the WSDL file that SoapUI will use for the initial configuration, then select the necessary options.
Click OK. SoapUI will generate the service and, optionally, test suite and mock service.
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To create a new REST project, select File > New REST project.
Specify an URI to use for the project generation in the subsequent dialog and click OK.
You can also click Import WADL to switch to the New WADL project dialog.
With this dialog, you create a REST project based on WADL.
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To create a new empty project, select File > Create Empty Project. It will immediately appear in the Navigator, and the editor for the project will become available in the Workspace.
In ReadyAPI, you can also create projects from the OpenAPI or Swagger definition, or use the built-in API discovery feature. To try it out, download a free trial of ReadyAPI.
3.2. Import Project
3.2.1. Local Project File
To import an existing project file from your computer:
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Select File > Import Project.
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Specify a path to the project XML file, or click Browse and navigate to the file manually.
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Click OK.
3.2.2. Local Packed Project
To import an existing packed project ZIP file from your computer:
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Select File > Import Packed project.
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Specify a path to the project ZIP file, or click Browse and navigate to the file manually.
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Click OK.
3.2.3. Local Composite Project
To import a composite project consisting of multiple files:
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Select File > Import Project.
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Specify a path to the folder that contains the project files, or click Browse and navigate to the folder manually.
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Click OK.
3.2.4. Remote Project
To import a remote project (for example, a tutorial, demonstration, bug report, and so on) using HTTP:
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Select File > Import Remote Project.
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In the subsequent dialog, specify an URL that leads to the project.
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Click OK.
Note: SoapUI saves all changes you apply to the imported remote project to the local copy.
3.2.5. Resolve Projects
When you import a project, SoapUI checks it to verify it is consistent and has all necessary external dependencies available. This process is called resolving.
If errors are found, the Resolve Project dialog appears. It shows all errors, so you can resolve them as you need.
To take a closer look on a specific item, double-click it in the list, and the corresponding editor will appear.
Resolve Project Dialog
In the Resolve Project dialog, you handle conflicting resources in your project when you import it.
To resolve a potential problem:
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Select a needed action from the drop-down list to the right of each item.
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Enter parameters or values as needed.
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Click OK.
3.2.6. Import Postman Collection
To create a project based on the Postman Collection:
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Select File > Import Postman Collection.
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In the subsequent dialog, specify the path to the collection file.
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Click OK.
To learn more about the Postman integration in SoapUI, see Postman Collections.
4. Resource Root Property
4.1. Description
The Resource Root property controls how SoapUI handles paths for the project resources.
If the project contains references to external resource, they will need to be included with the project when distributed.
| Option |
Description |
| An absolute path |
Use this absolute path. |
| ${projectDir} |
Resolves files relative to the project folder. |
| ${workspaceDir} |
Resolves files relative to the folder containing the workspace file. |
Note: SoapUI also applies this setting to external files the project uses.
4.2. Resource Root Examples
For example, you have the testdata.xls file you need access from the project. The d:\projects\ folder contains workspace files, and d:\projects\webservice\ is the folder of the project.
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Absolute path – The d:\data path resolves to d:\data\testdata.xls.
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Project path – The ${projectDir}\data path resolves to d:\data\testdata.xls.
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Workspace path – The {workspaceDir}\data path resolves to d:\proects\webservice\data\testdata.xls.
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5. Project Encryption
You can use the Project Password project property to encrypt the entire contents of the project file.
When you save such project, the project icon will contain a small E character to indicate it has been encrypted.
When you open the password-protected project, SoapUI will suggest to decrypt the project before using it.
To remove the encryption, clear the project password value and save the project.
Important: Do not lose your password. SoapUI provides no means to recover an encrypted project file if the password has been lost.
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