Overview

A performance test allows you to record sessions with an HTTP application, and generates tests from the recording. Creating a Performance test involves three steps (starting a recording, starting an application, and starting a test generator). IBM® Rational® Performance Tester automates these steps for you.

Tool Steps

To create a performance test, perform the following steps:

1. Create a Performance Test
2. Creating Tests with the Create Test Wizard
3. Creating Tests with the Test Editor

1. Create a Performance Test

There are several ways you can create a performance test.

1. When you create a project (see the Tool Mentor: Create a Test Project Using IBM Rational Performance Tester), you are asked whether you want to record a performance test at this point.
2. Another way to create a performance test is by highlighting a performance test project -- or a folder in a performance test project -- in the Test Navigator view.

2. Creating Tests with the Test Creation Wizard

Once you start the recorder, a test creation wizard starts. The Create Test Wizard combines into one flow recording a session with a Web application, generating a test from the recording, and opening the test in the test editor. You can record tests from Microsoft® Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape, or another browser.

1. If you create a project and are prompted to create a test, click Yes.
2. If you have already created your project, right-click on the project (or on a folder in the project), select New and then select Record Performance Test. This starts the Create Test Wizard.
3. In the HTTP Proxy Recorder window, enter a name for the test and click Finish. This starts the Recorder.
4. After the Recorder is started, either a ReadMe page or an about:blank page is opened. This is where you will begin your test.
5. Enter the URL in the address bar and start recording tests.
6. Once you are finished with your test, close the browser. This will stop the Rational Performance Tester recording session.
7. Rational Performance Tester then generates your test and opens it in the Test editor.

3. Creating Tests with the Test Editor

After you close the browser from a performance test session, Rational Performance Tester generates the script and opens it in the Test editor. The Test editor lists by title a test's HTTP pages that, when expanded, show the request and response data in each page. You can use the editor to inspect or customize a test that was automatically generated from a recorded session, or you can code a test.

There are two main areas in the Test editor, the Test Contents and the Test Elements Details. The Test Contents area displays the test's HTTP page hierarchy. The Test Elements Details area contains details on the currently selected item in the test hierarchy. From the Test editor, you can expand a test page and see a list of the requests of a page organized into separate folders. Each folder contains response and connection data.

For more information on the Test editor, see the Tool Mentor: Edit Tests with IBM Rational Performance Tester.