Data files

This topic explains the advantages of using data files and how to use them.

Use data files

Upload data files and assign them to scripts so that the scripts use their contents instead of inputting data directly into the scripts. This is useful when multiple scripts use the same data (for example, paths, URLs, or credentials). When the data changes, update and reload the data files instead of updating each script manually.

Data files associated with a script are deployed on load generator machines at runtime and extracted into the script's folder.

The folder structure inside the data file is maintained, but existing files in the script folder are overwritten.

Note: When a data file ZIP contains multiple files or nested folders, the full folder structure is preserved and deployed to the load generators at runtime. In data file selection dialogs (for example, Load Test > Load Profile > Assign Data Files), only the data file asset name is displayed. Selection is performed at the asset level, not at the individual file or folder level. As a result, all files and subfolders contained in the selected data file asset are made available to the script. If only a specific file or a subset of files is required, those files must be uploaded as separate data file assets.

Data files are not exclusively for data or parameter files. You can also use them to share common items, such as header files, code, and TruClient function libraries.

For example, if you have a common login implementation defined in the login.h header file that is used by multiple scripts, create a .zip file that includes the login.h file and its dependencies, and upload it as a data file to OpenText Core Performance Engineering. Then associate it with all scripts that need the implementation. To include a shared transaction in your data files, all scripts that use this transaction must include a reference to it.

To update the common login implementation, create a new .zip file with the updated implementation and reload the data file in Assets > Data files.

All scripts associated with the data file automatically use the new implementation.

Prepare data files

The following guidelines apply to data files:

  • Data files must be uploaded as a .zip file.

  • The size of a data file, both compressed and decompressed, is limited (see Data file limitations). To optimize the test initialization process, avoid using large files.

  • For trial versions of OpenText Core Performance Engineering, the total of all .zip files cannot exceed 200 MB.

  • The maximum number of data files that can be uploaded per tenant is 100 for trial versions and 5,000 for non-trial versions.

  • By default, the following file types are supported: c, cfg, csv, dat, doc, docx, h, htm, html, java, jar, jpg, js, json, pdf, png, ppt, pptx, txt, xml, xls, xlsx, yml, yaml, zip.

Organize data files in a Git repository

You can connect to an existing Git script repository and add data files to your OpenText Core Performance Engineering assets. For details, see Git integration.

Each data file in a Git repository is a folder. To identify these data file folders, add a configuration file called data.yml in the repository. In the file, include a type member with the value lrc-data-files. In addition, you can include the name and relative path of directories that contain data file folders. The Git agent searches the directory containing the .yml file, as well as any other directory referenced in the file, and identifies every folder in these directories as a data file.

Examples

This data.yml file only includes the lrc-data-files type member and the directory that contains the data.yml file also contains a data file folder.

data.yml file content Structure in Git repository Structure in OpenText Core Performance Engineering
data.yml file content data.yml file Git structure data.yml file structure in LRC

The following data.yml file includes the lrc-data-files type member as well as the names and relative paths of other directories that contain data file folders.

data.yml file content Structure in Git repository Structure in OpenText Core Performance Engineering
data.yml file content example data.yml file Git structure example data.yml file structure in LRC

Upload and manage data files

To upload and manage data files, select Assets > Data Files.

Uploaded data files are displayed in a list. For each data file, the number of assigned scripts is also displayed. For a selected data file, additional information is shown, including the files that comprise the .zip file and the scripts to which it has been assigned. For Git data files, information about the Git agent and repository is also displayed, and you can click the Commit history link to view the last ten commits.

Action Task
Upload

  1. Click the Upload button Upload button and select Upload.

    Note: This step is only required if you are connected to a Git repository.

  2. Select the data files to upload.

  3. Click Open.
Upload from Git

  1. Click the Upload button Upload button and select Upload from Git.

  2. In the Add data file from Git dialog box, select the agent, repository, and branch that connect to the Git repository you want to use.

  3. Select the data files to upload and click Add.

Note: This action is only available if you are connected to a Git repository. For details, see Git integration.
Reload

  1. Click the Reload button Reload button and select Reload.

    Note: This step is only required if you are connected to a Git repository.

  2. Select the data files to reload.

  3. Click Open.
Reload from Git

  1. Click the Reload button Reload button and select Reload from Git.

  2. In the Reload data file from Git dialog box, select the agent, repository, and branch that connect to the Git repository you want to use.

  3. Select the data files to reload and click Reload.

Note: This action is only available if you are connected to a Git repository. For details, see Git integration.
Sync

  1. Select the Git data files you want to sync.

  2. Click the Sync button Sync button to sync the data files with the Git repository.

Note: This action is only available for data files in a Git repository.
Download

Select the data file in the list and click the Download button Download button.

The file is saved in the default Downloads directory in the local file system.
Delete

Select the data file in the list and click the Delete button Delete button.

Deleting a data file removes it from any assigned scripts and also from the current project.

Assign data files to scripts

Assign one or more data files to a script through Assets > Scripts or the Load tests > Load profile pane.

For details, see Assign data files.

See also