System.debug() not appearing in batch test

Question

I am running a test on a batchable class.

@isTest

public class BatchSkillExcalationUpdaterTest {
    static testMethod void ValidateUpdates() {

        ...
        EscalationSkillUpdater SkillBatch = new EscalationSkillUpdater();    
        system.debug(logginglevel.FINEST, 'BATCHING...');
        Database.executeBatch(SkillBatch);
        system.debug(logginglevel.FINEST, 'FINISHED BATCHING.');
        ...
    }
}

The class I am testing:

global class EscalationSkillUpdater implements Database.Batchable <sObject> {
    global Database.QueryLocator start (Database.BatchableContext BC) {
        ...        
        return Database.getQueryLocator(query);
    }

    global void execute (Database.BatchableContext BC, list<SkillEscalationChangeRecord__c> Data) {
        ...
        System.debug(logginglevel.FINEST, 'FLAG');
        update Data;
    }

    global void finish (Database.BatchableContext BC) {}
}

However, the Debug message in the execute() method is not showing up:

The 'FLAG' from the batchable class is not showing up. Why is this? Is there another way to "print" values to examine?

Answer 1

You should call Test.startTest(); before calling Database.executeBatch(SkillBatch);. Then call Test.stopTest(); afterwards to have the actual batch run.

From Adding a Test for the Batch Apex Class:

The call to Database.executeBatch is included within the Test.startTest and Test.stopTest block. This is necessary for the batch job to run in a test method. The job executes after the call to Test.stopTest. Any asynchronous code included within Test.startTest and Test.stopTest gets executed synchronously after Test.stopTest.

So, without the start/stop calls your batch job will be queued, but will never run in the testing context as it is typically asynchronous.

Also, as Eric commented, ensure that you have inserted SkillEscalationChangeRecord__c records as part of the test for the batch query to find.

Answer 2

The most logical answer:

The query in the start method is not returning results thus the execute method will NOT well execute and no debug will be shown there

or

To daniel's point below (I believe he will turn out to be having the correct answer)

You have to wrap the batch call in Test.StartTest and test.stopTest

(I forgot you posted your test class....)