# Stubbing an ApplicationController before\_filter **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [April 16, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708 "2009-04-16T16:39:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/fipa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708/1 "2009-04-16T16:39:50Z")
Hi, I am writing a functional test for a controller. The problem I have is that a before filter defined in ApplicationController is hit and I don’t know how to stub it. I tried controller.expects(:find\_site).returns(@site) but it fails as controller is unknown method. I tried ApplicationController.expects(:find\_site).returns(@site) but the assertion fails as it never happens. So how do I deal with that? ---
**Author:** ![fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/fipa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708/2 "2009-04-16T17:43:54Z")
Hi, The RSpec Book ([Pragmatic Bookshelf: By Developers, For Developers](http://www.pragprog.com/titles/achbd/the-rspec-book)) just added a new chapter about testing controllers, within which is an example of testing a before filter. You might find it of use. Brandon ---
**Author:** ![fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/fipa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708/3 "2009-04-16T16:58:44Z")
I tried the following: def setup @controller = ProductsController.new @request = ActionController::TestRequest.new @response = ActionController::TestResponse.new ``` @site = Site.new(:domain_name => 'example.com') @controller.expects(:find_site).returns(@site) ``` end But with the debugger, once inside the action of the controller being tested, @site is not set, and therefore the action cannot run correctly. ---
**Author:** ![fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/fipa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708/4 "2009-04-17T15:13:02Z")
Fernando P. wrote: […] > I stopped using RSpec, Just for this issue? If so, there was no need. I use controller.stub!(:filter).return(@whatever) regularly with RSpec. It works fine. > and switched back to Test::Unit, the Agile Web > dev with Rails has a good intro chapter and I was able to solve my > problem. How were you able to solve the problem? It will help others if you post your solution. ## Best, Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/fipa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 11:32am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708/5 "2009-04-17T11:32:23Z")
Brandon O. wrote: > Hi, > > The RSpec Book ([Pragmatic Bookshelf: By Developers, For Developers](http://www.pragprog.com/titles/achbd/the-rspec-book)) > just added a new chapter about testing controllers, within which is an > example of testing a before filter. You might find it of use. > > Brandon I stopped using RSpec, and switched back to Test::Unit, the Agile Web dev with Rails has a good intro chapter and I was able to solve my problem. ---
**Author:** ![fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/fipa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708/6 "2009-04-17T15:29:52Z")
> Just for this issue? If so, there was no need. > Not just for that issue, and Brandon probably assumed I was using rspec, > but it pissed me off some time ago. Each time I would hit a wall with RSpec and have to search for hours how to solve it. With Test::Unit for some reason, I don’t have as many little annoying troubles, and when I do, I find a solution whether on my own or by reading stuff online very quickly. I am having a much better testing experience with Test::Unit. > How were you able to solve the problem? It will help others if you post > your solution. Well I can’t directly stub a controller instance method. So I stubbed the Model class method that the instance variable will be set to. ---
**Author:** ![fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/fipa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708/7 "2009-04-17T17:26:16Z")
> Only because I could have sworn I saw you posting over on that mailing > list just the other day. > I didn’t fully transition to test::unit yet, so I still use RSpec’s ML > from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fipa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/fipa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stubbing-an-applicationcontroller-before-filter/165708/8 "2009-04-17T16:50:27Z")
> Not just for that issue, and Brandon probably assumed I was using > rspec, Only because I could have sworn I saw you posting over on that mailing list just the other day. Brandon