ruby on rails - How do I test with Rspec an initialize method that invokes find_or_initialize_by? -

how write test check find_or_initialize_by block in initialize method?

def initialize(document, user)   @document = document   @api = @document.api_version   @template = @document.template   @user = user   @brand = @user.brand   @vars = master_var_hash.extend hashie::extensions::deepfind    template_variables.each |t|     @document.template_variables.find_or_initialize_by(name: t.name) |d|       d.name           = t.name       d.tag            = t.tag       d.box_name       = t.box_name       d.designator     = t.designator       d.order_index    = t.order_index       d.master_id      = t.id       d.editable       = t.editable       d.editable_title = t.editable_title       d.html_box       = t.box.stack.html_box if @api == :v3       d.text = t.name == 'title' ? default_title : user_value(t)     end   end end 

i want able test right values have been assigned @document's templatevariables class' templatevariables. in coverage report can't hit inside find_or_initialize_by block.

my test size doesn't check want test here:

describe 'template_variables'   'initializes new vars per document'     expect(document.template_variables.size).to eq subject.master_var_hash.size   end end 

how can write test check values , cover lines?

you use

expect(document).to receive_message_chain(:template_variables, :find_or_initialize_by).exactly(8).times

but it's mess , have check if each call got proper parameters.

i suggest extracting method: document#initialize_variables(template_variables)

then test as

expect(document).to receive(:initialize_variables).with(expected_hash)

and can cover document#initialize_variables specs , test it's behavior in depth.