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Message Inspectors

soapUI Pro adds a number of context sensitive message inspectors that are available for both the standard XML Source editor and the Outline Editor displaying context sensitive details for the currently selected content element.

The following inspectors are currently available:

  • XSD - displays XML Schema information for the selected node
  • Table - displays a tabular view of the current nodes' siblings and children
  • XML - displays XML fragment and XPath information for the current node
  • Doc - displays schema documentation annotations if available
  • Coverage - displays Message Coverage information for the selected node

Each tab is enabled or disabled if corresponding content is available.

A view of the different Message Inspectors in soapUI

Coverage Inspector

When enabled via its toolbar, the coverage inspector continuously displays Message Coverage information for the current request or response message.

Well Testedness with the Message Inspector

In the image above, the inspector shows red for the search string element since it contains a default value ('?'), checking the "Default Values" checkbox in the toolbar would allow this and show the entire message as covered.

XSD/XML Schema Inspector

The XML Schema Inspector displays the current nodes corresponding XML Schema definition if possible. For simple types (for example in a sequence), the containing complex type is displayed instead. The tab title will contain the name of the current type if available. The following screenshot shows schema information for the selected RequesterCredentials SOAP Header in a request to the PayPal API

Detailed Element information in soapUI Schema Inspector

Note that the inspector requires the message to comply with the currently imported WSDL file, for example if a received response has an updated namespace, the inspector will not be able to display schema information.

Table Layout Inspector

The Table Inspector builds a tabular view of the current selected node and its siblings and children;

  • siblings correspond to rows in the table
  • children correspond to columns. For each sibling the same children that are available for the selected node are displayed

Once selected, it is possible to navigate "both ways", i.e. clicking in a new row in the table moves focus in the current editor to the corresponding node. The tab title displays the currently number of available rows.

The following screenshot shows a tabular view of the items found in a Amazon search result;

Viewing Message Structure in Table Layout Inspector

XML - XML Fragment/XPath Inspector

The XML Fragment/XPath inspector shows the XML fragment for the currently selected node, which can be useful when using the Outline Editor to navigate a message. It also displays the currently selected nodes XPath expression which can be selected and copied to the clipboard with Ctrl-C. The following screenshot shows an XML fragment for a node in found in a Amazon search result;

Zooming in on ZML Fragment in the XML Fragment Inspector

Doc - XML Schema Documentation Inspector

The Doc inspector displays any schema annotations for the currently selected type. These are also available as tooltips in the Outline Editor but can be useful in the Source Editor as shown in the following screenshot for a PayPal API request;

Viewing Schema Annotations in the XML Schema Documentation Inspector


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