TEST: Try casting before comparison.

integrationtests/test_ex_import_xlsx.py

@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ from utils import (  # noqa: E402, pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
 
 set_test_key("_CAOSDB_ADV_TEST_SUITE")
 
+
 def rfp(*pathcomponents):
     """
     Return full path.
@@ -183,6 +184,7 @@ def setup(clear_database):
     c.extend(testdata)
     c.insert()
 
+
 def test_successful_export():
     records = next(db.execute_query("FIND Record", page_length=50))
     tmp_path = Path('temp_test_successful_export.xlsx')
@@ -252,7 +254,6 @@ def test_export_list_refs(tmpdir):
     # Check: Filled XLSX
     filled_generated = load_workbook(tmpdir / "result.xlsx")
     # For the moment: just check a few samples
-
     assert filled_generated.get_sheet_names() == ['Training',
                                                   'Training.Organisation',
                                                   'Training.Organisation.Person',

unittests/table_json_conversion/utils.py

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """Utilities for the tests.
 """
 
+from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Iterable, Union
 
 from openpyxl import Workbook
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@ Raise an assertion exception if they are not equal."""
                     assert_equal_jsons(el1, el2, allow_none=allow_none, allow_empty=allow_empty,
                                        path=this_path)
                     continue
-                assert el1 == el2, f"Values at path {this_path} are not equal:\n{el1},\n{el2}"
+                assert equals_with_casting(el1, el2), (
+                    f"Values at path {this_path} are not equal:\n{el1},\n{el2}")
                 continue
             # Case 2: exists only in one collection
             existing = json1.get(key, json2.get(key))
@@ -66,7 +68,18 @@ Raise an assertion exception if they are not equal."""
             assert_equal_jsons(el1, el2, allow_none=allow_none, allow_empty=allow_empty,
                                path=this_path)
         else:
-            assert el1 == el2, f"Values at path {this_path} are not equal:\n{el1},\n{el2}"
+            assert equals_with_casting(el1, el2), (
+                f"Values at path {this_path} are not equal:\n{el1},\n{el2}")
+
+
+def equals_with_casting(value1, value2) -> bool:
+    """Compare two values, return True if equal, False otherwise.  Try to cast to clever datatypes.
+    """
+    try:
+        return datetime.fromisoformat(value1) == datetime.fromisoformat(value2)
+    except (ValueError, TypeError):
+        pass
+    return value1 == value2
 
 
 def purge_from_json(data: Union[dict, list], remove_keys: list[str]) -> Union[dict, list]: