Set conditional make options in the robot framework - robotframework

Question

In my robot file for a specific test, I've defined the variable uarts_to_test to a list of numeric values under variables:
*** Variables ***
${uarts_to_test} ['0', '1', '2', '3']
Now I would like to loop though this list, and create the define -DTEST_UART# where # is the uart index, for every number listed in uarts_to_test. I would also like to add all of these defines to the variable ${make_options}. I've tried to create a simple routine under keywords:
*** Keywords ***
Determine which uarts to test
[Arguments] #{uarts_to_test}
:FOR ${item} IN #{uarts_to_test}
\ IF List Should Contain Value ${i}
\ ${make_options} = ${make_options} -DTEST_UART${i}
but I only get the error:
Variable '${make_options}' not found.

Answer 1

This is my solution. I return make options as a string and also as a list in case additional logic is needed with the items in the list.
*** Settings ***
Library Collections
*** Variables ***
${uarts_to_test} ['0', '1', '2', '3']
*** Test Cases ***
MakeOptionsTest
${make_options} ${make_optionsList} Determine which uarts to test ${uarts_to_test}
Log ${make_options}
Log List ${make_optionsList}
*** Keywords ***
Determine which uarts to test
[Arguments] ${uarts_to_test}
${make_optionsList} Create List
${uarts_to_test} Evaluate ${uarts_to_test}
:FOR ${item} IN #{uarts_to_test}
\ Append To List ${make_optionsList} -DTEST_UART${item}
${make_options} Evaluate " ".join(${make_optionsList})
[Return] ${make_options} ${make_optionsList}
This outputs in the console:
20210602 23:24:59.595 : INFO : -DTEST_UART0 -DTEST_UART1 -DTEST_UART2
-DTEST_UART3 20210602 23:24:59.596 : INFO : List length is 4 and it contains following items: 0: -DTEST_UART0 1: -DTEST_UART1 2:
-DTEST_UART2 3: -DTEST_UART3

Answer 2

I was not able to find ${i} in your code. There is also no declaration of ${make_options} that is probobaly why it is not found. You can use collection library, create list and append the items to it. like so
***Settings***
Library Collections
*** Variables ***
#{uarts_to_test} 0 1 2 3
***Test Cases***
test
#{make_options}= Create List
FOR ${uart} IN #{uarts_to_test}
Append To List ${make_options} -DTEST_UART${uart}
END
Log ${make_options}
this will be in the log of your ${make_options}:
['-DTEST_UART0', '-DTEST_UART1', '-DTEST_UART2', '-DTEST_UART3']

Answer 3

from the error Variable '${make_options}' not found. it says you are assigning variable ${make_options}, before defining its value.
if you take example of first iteration of loop, your variable ${make_options} is not defined before and you are assigning it to a variable.
you can simply define a variable ${mytext} and concatinate it in loop, like below:
*** Setting ***
Documentation test1
*** Variables ***
#{uarts_to_test} 0 1 2 3 4
${mytext} 'DTEST_UART'
*** Test Cases ***
demo testing
Determine which uarts to test #{uarts_to_test}
*** Keywords ***
Determine which uarts to test
[Arguments] #{uarts_to_test}
FOR ${item} IN #{uarts_to_test}
\ ${make_options}= Catenate ${mytext} ${item}
\ Log To Console ${make_options}
console output:
'DTEST_UART' 0
'DTEST_UART' 1
'DTEST_UART' 2
'DTEST_UART' 3
'DTEST_UART' 4