# Send Raw Record: `When record from file is sent`

> Produce a raw (String/JSON/text/XML) message to a Kafka input topic from a file.

Source: https://docs.ktestify.xyz/docs/write-tests/actions/send-raw-record

Produces a raw (String-serialised) message to a Kafka **input** topic. The file content is read as-is, with [dynamic variables](../dynamic-variables) resolved before sending.

---

## Syntax

```gherkin
When record from file is sent
  | topicName  | file           | recordKey | headerFile        |
  | orders-in  | order.json     | order-001 | headers.json      |
```

| Column | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `topicName` | `string` | ✅ | Name or alias of a declared **input** topic |
| `file` | `string` | ✅ | Path to the payload file, relative to the assets directory |
| `recordKey` | `string` | ❌ | Kafka record key; omit to send with `null` key |
| `headerFile` | `string` | ❌ | Path to a JSON file containing Kafka headers (`{"headerName": "headerValue"}`) |

---

## File format

The file can contain any text content, JSON, XML, plain text, CSV. KTestify sends it verbatim as the record value (String serialisation). Dynamic variables (e.g. `{{DATE:yyyy-MM-dd}}`) are resolved before sending.

```json title="assets/order.json"
{
  "orderId": "{{RANDOM:UUID}}",
  "createdAt": "{{DATE:yyyy-MM-dd}}",
  "product": "Widget A"
}
```

---

## Headers file format

```json title="assets/headers.json"
{
  "X-Correlation-Id": "abc-123",
  "X-Source-System": "order-service"
}
```

---

## Multiple records in one step

Add multiple rows to the DataTable to produce several records in sequence, in row order:

```gherkin
When record from file is sent
  | topicName | file          | recordKey |
  | orders-in | order-001.json | order-001 |
  | orders-in | order-002.json | order-002 |
```

:::info[Same topic required]
Every row must resolve to the **same physical topic**. Mixing topics in one DataTable throws `TopicMismatchException` before any record is sent, split into separate step invocations instead. See [Multi-row DataTables](../advanced/multi-row-datatables) for the full rules (including single-record assertion steps and batch steps).
:::

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## See also

- [Send Avro record →](send-avro-record)
- [Dynamic variables →](../dynamic-variables)
- [Multi-row DataTables →](../advanced/multi-row-datatables)