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Defining Repeats (Virtual Users) on Tracks

The repeat count, or virtual users, can be set on the surface of tracks using the Virtual Users icon to toggle an entry field on the track.

To define virtual users on a track in a test composition, click the Virtual Users icon and enter the number of Virtual Users for the track.

When track repeats are revised, the same Fixed value(s) in the Composition Properties for the given track are changed.

Defining Repeats on Test Clips

Repeat count can be set on the surface of test clips in the Composition Editor using the Repeat Count toggle button. Click the button on the test clip and then specify a value in the text field that appears, and then click again to exit the toggle. Repeats set on the surface of either tracks or test clips are "fixed" repeats without a property value. To specify a "fixed" value conditionally, use Property: Fixed.

Additionally, repeat count can be set for the test clip using Composition Editor properties. Select the test clip whose repeat count you want to change by single-clicking it. Select the Properties tab in the lower panel of the Composition Editor. You will then see the Repeat Count field. Update the values and click Enter to make the changes.

Serial vs. Parallel Repeats on Test Clips (in Timed Compositions)

In Timed Compositions, parallel or serial repeats can be set using the Repeat Count toggle icon on the surface of test clips in the Composition Editor. Simply click the icon in your Timed Composition to cycle through the options: parallel, serial, or inactive.

• Use serial repeats to fire the test clip sequentially, or serially, at the specified time for the repeat count indicated by the integer on the test clip surface.

• Use parallel repeats to fire the test clip concurrently, or in parallel, at the specified time for the same integer.

• Use None to fire the test clip only once.

In the screenshot on the right, the test clip in Track 1 will repeat 2 times in serial. In Track 2, the clips will fire in parallel for the specified integer.

Repeats: For each, While, and By Property

Repeats can employ properties that use For each, While, and “By Property” logic to insert values into tracks, test clips, and messages at runtime.

You can specify any type of property for use with repeats: Custom, System, or Global, although custom properties will probably be most commonly used.

Property: For Each

• A For each repeat works when the property value is an array.

A property’s value can be set to an array from a script, or by the use of a Property Set created from a message response. A property can take on an array value when it has a response that matches more than one value. Property Sets can be created for existing properties in the Message Editor, Results tab.

Property: While

• A While repeats as long as the property’s value evaluates to “true”. The current value of the property is converted to a Boolean each time through the repeat. Therefore, the value must be changed to false inside the repeat to stop it (unless an infinite repeat is desired, as in the case of a Composition that will run until stopped).

Note: The While option can only be used with the Serial repeat timing type. Tracks cannot repeat serially therefore the While value does not appear for track properties.

Conversion to Boolean follows these rules:

• Null: Null is false.
• String: “true” (case insensitive) is true, everything else is false.
• Numeric values: zero is false, everything else is true.
• Values of type date, array, or struct are invalid, and will result in an error.

To define advanced repeat properties on a track or test clip (using Property: Fixed, Property: For each, or Property: While)

1. Select the track or test clip.
2. Right-click the Repeat icon and then select Edit Properties.

In either case, the test composition’s Properties tab is selected in the sub-pane below with the track or clip selected in the Properties list and the General tab selected on the right.

Note:        The “Property: While” option is not available for use with Tracks. In the case of messages, “Property: While” is only allowed in timed clips with serial repeat timing.

Custom Properties can be defined for the track or clip while it is selected in the Properties list by clicking the Properties tab in the sub-pane.

Once the Repeat Type (shown below) is selected, specify the path for the given property. The syntax of the property path is:

{%% property-type : item-type : property-path %%}

Note:        The syntax used here can’t be used to execute a script — you can only enter a Property Path.

The example on the right takes the property for the test clip, TrackProp2.