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Rational® Performance Tester
Test Author Guide
This guide describes how to create test scripts in Rational® Performance Tester and enhances tests by applying different test elements such as dataset, variables, and verification points. This guide is intended for testers.
Editing tests
After you record a test, you can edit it to include datasets (to provide variable data rather than the data that you recorded), verification points (to confirm that the test runs as expected), and data correlation (to ensure that returned data is appropriate for the corresponding request). You can also add protocol-specific elements to a test. When you edit a test, the modified items appear in italic type. The italic type changes to regular type after you save the test.
Correlating response and request data
For a test to run correctly, a request that is sent to a server might need to use a value that was returned by a previous request. By ensuring that this data is correlated accurately, you can produce better performance tests.
Test data sources overview
Use the Test Data Sources window to add or change data correlation for any supported test element.
Built-in Datasources
You can use built-in data sources instead of creating custom data sources to substitute the recorded values. The Built-in Datasources section in the Test editor displays the data sources that have been used and unused. You can modify their properties from a location.
Assigning random numbers to users or clients
To assign unique random numbers to all the virtual users in a test, you can create a random number data source in the workbench. This data source will generate unique integers or floating point numbers for the users or clients. You can choose to distribute the numbers of the virtual users or clients in a uniform, normal, or negative exponential way.

Rational® Performance Tester
- Release Notes
  This document contains information about what's new, installation instructions, known problems in IBM® Rational® Performance Tester and contact information of IBM Customer Support.
- System Requirements
  This document includes information about hardware and software requirements for IBM® Rational® Performance Tester.
- Getting Started
  This guide provides an overview and describes the task flows to get you started with Rational® Performance Tester. This guide is intended for new users.
- Tutorials
  This section contains the tutorials which explains the main features of Rational® Performance Tester.
- Samples
  This section describes about the sample project which can be used with Rational® Performance Tester to test the functionality of an application.
- Administrator Guide
  This guide describes how to install Rational® Performance Tester. After you install the software, you can perform administration tasks such as license configuration and integration with other products. This guide is intended for administrators.
- Test Author Guide
  This guide describes how to create test scripts in Rational® Performance Tester and enhances tests by applying different test elements such as dataset, variables, and verification points. This guide is intended for testers.
  - Creating tests
    To create a test, you record representative interactions with an application.
  - Editing tests
    After you record a test, you can edit it to include datasets (to provide variable data rather than the data that you recorded), verification points (to confirm that the test runs as expected), and data correlation (to ensure that returned data is appropriate for the corresponding request). You can also add protocol-specific elements to a test. When you edit a test, the modified items appear in italic type. The italic type changes to regular type after you save the test.
    - Editing HTTP tests
      After you record a test, you can edit it to include variable data rather than the data that you recorded and can include verification points to confirm that the test runs as expected. You can also edit the test to include [NB1] transactions, conditional processing, custom code, and standard header or custom header to a request or response.
    - Editing SAP tests
      After you record a test, you can edit it to include variable data (rather than the data that you recorded) and verification points (to confirm that the test runs as expected).
    - Editing Citrix tests
      After you record a test, you can edit it to include variable data (rather than the data that you recorded), verification points (to confirm that the test runs as expected), transactions, conditional processing, and custom code.
    - Editing service tests
      After you record a service test, you can edit the calls and message returns to include variable data (rather than the data that you recorded). You can add verification points (to confirm that the test runs as expected), transactions, conditional processing, and custom code.
    - Editing Socket tests
      Improve the Socket tests by adding test elements.
    - Editing Kerberos tests
      You can change the Kerberos realm, user name, and password when editing tests.
    - Adding test elements
      You can add a variety of elements to a test, such as transaction blocks, IF-THEN conditions, loops, and comments.
    - Searching within tests
      Search request data or response content by right-clicking in the data or content and selecting Find. To search for specific element types and to display the results in a table, click Select. For a still more powerful search and replace, use the Test Search function.
    - Exporting a test
      To share the test scripts with manual testers or reviewers who do not have the workbench, export the test scripts to text files. You can export one file at a time.
    - Copying test assets with dependencies
      You can export test assets, and then import them into another project or workspace without losing any dependencies. Test assets include projects, schedules, and tests. You can export and import test assets to collaborate with other testers.
    - Disabling portions of a test
      When you disable portions of a test, you can still see the disabled portion, but it is not executed during a run. You can also disable portions of a schedule by using the following procedure.
    - Running test elements in random order
      You can record multiple user scenarios in a test and then run each scenario in a random order. To do this, you put each scenario under a random selector and then select the proportion of time that the scenario should be run.
    - Renaming test assets
      As your test assets increase and become more complex, you might want to rename them. Use the Eclipse Rename function or save the assets under a different name.
    - Deleting test assets
      As your test assets grow and become more complicated, you might want to delete the assets that you no longer use.
    - Debugging custom code for tests and compound tests
      If you have custom code added to a test or a compound test, you can debug the custom code for any errors by clicking the Debug button.
    - Providing tests with variable data (datasets)
      You can produce more realistic tests by changing them to use datasets. During execution, a test that uses a dataset replaces a value in the recorded test with variable test data that is stored in the dataset. This substitution allows each virtual user to generate a different request to the server.
    - Test variables
      A test variable is a user-defined, name-value pair that stores and refers to information throughout a test and between tests.
    - Correlating response and request data
      For a test to run correctly, a request that is sent to a server might need to use a value that was returned by a previous request. By ensuring that this data is correlated accurately, you can produce better performance tests.
      - Data correlation overview
        A request can include data that was returned in the response to a previous request. Associating data in this manner is called data correlation.
      - Viewing data correlation
        You can switch between viewing all test elements in the test editor and viewing only elements related to data correlation in the test editor. Viewing only data correlation elements makes it easier to add and remove substitutions.
      - Data correlation rules overview
        You can use the data correlation rules editor to customize how data is correlated. You can control how references and substitutions are generated in tests, and store these rules so that you do not have to manually correlate data in every test that you record against a particular application.
      - Test data sources overview
        Use the Test Data Sources window to add or change data correlation for any supported test element.
        Correlating a request value with test data
        If a test runs without error but does not generate the results that you expect, you might need to correlate a value in a request with other test data.
        Substituting request content with file contents
        You can substitute the content portion of a protocol request with the contents of a file. This feature is only supported in certain sections of a test, depending on the protocol. For example, HTTP tests support file content substitution only in the POST data section of a request. SOA tests support file content substitution for MIME and DIME attachments, XML node values and fragments, and text content. File content substitution works in the same manner as other substitutions. All standard test data sources such as test variables, datasets, and references can be used. The data from the source is treated as a full path to a file. The file is opened, its contents are read, and then those contents are used in the substitution.
        Built-in Datasources
        You can use built-in data sources instead of creating custom data sources to substitute the recorded values. The Built-in Datasources section in the Test editor displays the data sources that have been used and unused. You can modify their properties from a location.
        Assigning random numbers to users or clients
        To assign unique random numbers to all the virtual users in a test, you can create a random number data source in the workbench. This data source will generate unique integers or floating point numbers for the users or clients. You can choose to distribute the numbers of the virtual users or clients in a uniform, normal, or negative exponential way.
        Assigning sequential numbers to users
        To assign unique sequential numbers to all the virtual users in a test, you can create a sequential number data source in the workbench. This data source will generate unique integers or floating point numbers for the users.
        Creating a reference or field reference
        When you designate a test value as a reference or designate a set of test data as a field reference, you can use the data elsewhere in the test.
      - Viewing references
        You can use the Test References window to view, modify, or verify references in a test.
      - Correlating multiple fields in a test
        Some tests are structured in such a way that you must correlate data for multiple fields.
      - Guidelines for adjusting data correlation
        When you run a test, you might notice that the server is not under the expected load or that your database is not being updated as expected. Incomplete or incorrect data correlation can cause these problems.
      - Finding data correlation errors
        You can use the Potential Correlation Errors view to find missing or incorrect data correlations.
      - Disabling data correlation
        You can disable a data correlation source or a substitution site. When you disable a data source, none of the substitution sites that use the source will be correlated when you run tests. When you disable a substitution site, only that specific substitution site is disabled. Other substitution sites that use the same reference will be correlated when you run tests. You can also disable data correlation entirely for subsequent tests that you record.
      - Recorrelating test data
        If you disabled automatic data correlation before recording a test, you can regenerate the test with automatic data correlation enabled.
    - Data transformation
      You can transform HTTP application specific data such as JSON data, binary data and encoded data to a more readable format to use data correlation.
  - Compound tests
    You can create compound tests to help you organize smaller tests into scenarios that can then be run end-to-end. You can combine tests from different extensions to achieve end-to-end flow.
  - Simulating services with stubs
    Service stubs enable you to simulate the behavior of an actual service for a wide variety testing or integration purposes.
  - Sending service requests with the generic service client
    The generic service client enables you to send requests to services for which you do not have a convenient client and to view the responses returned by the service.
  - Emulating workloads
    You emulate a workload by creating a schedule and adding user groups/rate runner groups, tests, and other elements to it.
- Test Execution Specialist Guide
  This guide describes tasks that you can perform on schedules, test execution with custom code, and Extending Rational® Performance Tester to support other protocols. This guide is intended for testers or test execution specialists.
- Test Manager Guide
  This guide describes how to keep track of the performance of the application by evaluating the test results. This guide is intended for test managers.
- Troubleshooting Guide
  This guide describes how to analyze and resolve some of the common problems that you might encounter while you work with Rational® Performance Tester.
- Reference Guide
  This guide describes, additional topics to gain more knowledge about Rational® Performance Tester.
- All Guides (PDFs)
  This page contains the release notes, system requirements, and persona guides for IBM® Rational® Performance Tester in PDF format.
- Security Considerations
  You can take certain actions to ensure that your installation is secure, customize your security settings, and set up user access controls.
- Notices
  This document provides information about copyright, trademarks, terms and conditions for the product documentation.

Assigning random numbers to users or clients

To assign unique random numbers to all the virtual users in a test, you can create a random number data source in the workbench. This data source will generate unique integers or floating point numbers for the users or clients. You can choose to distribute the numbers of the virtual users or clients in a uniform, normal, or negative exponential way.

Procedure

In the Test editor, select the root node (name of the test) and from the Test Details area, select Built-in Datasources.
Select the Random Number data source and click Add Built-in Datasource.
Type a name for the data source.
Select how do you want to generate the numbers:
- Uniform: Click this option to generate random numbers with a uniform distribution. Specify the minimum and maximum values for the generated numbers.
- Normal: Click this option to generate random numbers with a normal or Gaussian distribution. Specify the average and the standard deviation for the generated numbers.
- Negative Exponential: Click this option to generate random numbers with an exponential distribution. Specify the average for the generated numbers.
Select how do you want to format the numbers. You can select Common to format the numbers in decimal or scientific notations.
You can choose Custom to specify a Format mask by using the standard Java formatting syntax. The changes that you specify can be previewed in Formatted output.
To substitute the built-in data source every time with a new value for the requests, select the Get new value each time used check box.