Editing datasets

You can add, modify, or remove data from a dataset by using the CSV Editor. The working principle of the CSV Editor is similar to that of a spreadsheet.

Before you begin

You must have created a dataset. See Creating a dataset in a workspace.

About this task

In Rational® Performance Tester 9.5.0 or later, you can use the CSV Editor to view and edit data in the dataset.

To have seamless access to a dataset CSV editor use any one of the following web browsers on Windows or Linux or Mac operating systems:
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome
  • Microsoft Edge based on Chromium

You can also view the datasets in other editors by right-clicking the dataset and selecting the Open With option.

When you want to run a test asset with different dataset values, you can either edit the existing dataset or create a new dataset to use it during the test asset run. When the number of edits is minimal, it is easier to edit the dataset within the CSV Editor.

You can perform basic tasks in the CSV Editor by right-clicking any row, column, or cell of the dataset to organize your data in a better way. For example, updating the data in a cell, inserting or deleting rows and columns, or renaming column names.

When you edit the dataset in a CSV Editor, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts to control the cursor selection in the CSV Editor:

  • Tab - To move the cursor control to the next available option.

  • Shift-Tab – To move the cursor control to the previous option.

  • Shift+F10 – To open the context menu from the dataset cell.

Note:

You cannot resize the width of rows in the CSV Editor. When you have a large amount of data in a cell, you can right-click the cell and select Copy (or Ctrl+C), and then paste it into a text-editing program to view the content. Alternatively, you can hover the mouse over the cell to view the content.

Procedure

  1. Double-click the dataset that you want to edit in the Test Navigator.
    The dataset opens in the CSV Editor in a bowser.
  2. Perform the following actions to use the options available in the CSV Editor:
    OptionDescription
    Set as current row Right-click any cell in a row and select Set as current row.

    When rows are deleted:

    If you delete any row between row 1 to current row, the current row data is taken from the next row.

    For example, when you set the current row as 6, and then you delete any row between row 1 to row 6, the current row remains at row 6, but the content of row 7 is moved to row 6.

    When rows are inserted:

    If you insert any new row between row 1 to the current row, the current row data is taken from the previous row.

    For example, when you set the current row as 6, and then you insert any row between row 1 to row 6, the current row remains at row 6, but the content of row 5 is moved to row 6.
    Find and Replace find and replace icon To find:
    1. Click the Find and Replace icon find and replace icon.
    2. Enter the content that you want to search in the Find field.
    3. Select any or all the following options to find the search content more effectively:
      • Select the Case sensitive check box to search the content that is the exact letter case of the content entered in the Find field.
      • Select the Match entire cell contents check box to search for cells that contain only the characters that you have entered in the Find field.
      • Select the Search using regular expression check box to search the pattern that matches strings.
        For example, to search a cell that contains any number between 0 to 9, do the following:
        1. Enter \d in the Find filed.
        2. Select the Search using regular expression check box.
        3. Click Find.
    4. Click Find. If the text is found, the cell containing that text is selected.
    5. Click Find again to find further instances of the search text.
    Find and Replace find and replace icon To find and replace:
    1. Click the Find and Replace icon find and replace icon.
    2. Enter the content that you want to search in the Find field.
    3. Enter the content that you want to replace in the Replace field.
    4. Select any or all the following options to find and replace the content more effectively:
      • Select the Case sensitive check box to find the content that is the exact letter case of the content entered in the Find field.
      • Select the Match entire cell contents check box to find and replace for cells that contain only the characters that you have entered in the Find and Replace fields.
      • Select the Search using regular expression check box to find and replace the pattern that matches strings.
    5. Click Replace to replace the individual instances.
    6. Click Replace All to replace every instance of the content throughout the dataset.
    Undo undo_icon
    1. Click the Undo icon undo_icon.
    2. Select the recent changes from the list that you want to undo, and then click the list.

    The Undo option undoes anything you do in the dataset. The CSV Editor saves the unlimited undo-able action. You can perform the undo action even after you save your changes made to the dataset.
    Redo redo_icon
    1. Click the Redo icon redo_icon.
    2. Select the recent changes from the list that you want to redo, and then click the list.

    The CSV Editor saves the unlimited redo action.
    Import import_icon
    1. Click the Import icon import_icon.
    2. Click Choose File and select the CSV file that you want to import in the Import File dialog box.
    3. Optional. Click Overwrite to add the rows and columns from the selected CSV file from the beginning of the dataset.
    4. Optional. Click Append to add rows and columns from the selected CSV file to the end of the dataset.
    5. Optional. Select the First row contains headers check box if your CSV file contains the header.
    Export export_icon Click the Export icon export_icon to download the dataset as a CSV file.
    Dataset configuration settings configuration_icon In the Configure Dataset window, you can change the row and column settings and configure the string values in the dataset that contains variable data for tests to use when they run.
    1. Click the Menu icon menu_icon and select Configure option.
    2. Configure the following options in the Configure Dataset window:
      • Column header - To change the column header, use an up-down control button to increment or decrement the value.
      • Data start point - To change the data starting pointer, use an up-down control button to increment or decrement the value.
      • Current row - To set the current row, use an up-down control button to increment or decrement the value. You can also see the Current row number on the upper-right side.
      • Treat empty text as null -If a dataset contains any blank cells, the value of those blank cells is interpreted as null when you select this field.
      • Treat as null - Enter a string value that is to be treated as null when running test.
      • Treat as empty - Enter a string value that is to be treated as empty when running test.
    Discard discard_icon

    Click the Menu icon menu_icon and select Discard to discard the changes made to the dataset.
  3. Click the Save icon save_changes_made_to_dataset to save the changes made to the dataset and close the CSV editor.