How to use ruby-on-rails fixtures for setting up (external) data that does not belong to the rails app DB? -

per requirements, have created models querying external database (different 1 rails app uses) of data.

i trying write tests around these models , want separate "sample test data" actual tests.

i thought put data in yml file , load hash, did work out :(

• added sample test data fixture file name 'external_database.yml'
• put below code in setup, in test file

ext_data = yaml.load_file(rails.root.to_s + "/test/fixtures/ext_data.yml")

• but stuck below error

1) error: test_should_errorout_for_invalid_market_zip(extdbtest): activerecord::statementinvalid: mysql::error: table 'rails_app_db.ext_data' doesn't exist: delete ext_data

1. what best way want done?

i guess problem schema of external database not contained in schema.rb-file and/or migrations. these used setup test-database before run tests.

so attempt made write fixtures non-existing tables - result see above.

multiple database-connections in unit tests pain. consider creating sqlite-file data of external dependencies , configure test-environment use file - or copy of it, in case need mutate data.