test_helper.rb

# Add more helper methods to be used by all tests here...
  def load_xml_fixture_file(name)
   path = RAILS_ROOT + "/test/fixtures/#{name}.xml"      
   if File.exists?(path)
    contents = ""
    File.open(path).each do |line|
      contents << line
    end
    return contents
   else
    return nil
   end      
  end