Creating a Citrix Plug-In Test Script

The easiest approach to recording user actions via Citrix XenApp plug-ins (clients) that connect directly to Citrix XenApp servers and then creating a test script is to use the Silk Performer Recorder, the Silk Performer engine used for capturing and recording traffic and generating test scripts.

The Silk Performer Recorder captures and records the traffic between Citrix XenApp plug-ins and the server under test. When recording is complete, the Silk Performer Recorder automatically generates a test script based on the recorded traffic. Scripts are written in the Silk Performer scripting language, Benchmark Description Language (BDL).

  1. Click Model Script on the workflow bar. The Workflow - Model Script dialog box appears.
  2. In the Recording Profile list, select Silk Performer Citrix Recorder to record a Citrix XenApp-enabled application via the Silk Performer Citrix Recorder application. This recording profile is appropriate for testing Citrix plug-ins that connect directly to Citrix XenApp servers.
  3. Optional: If you have an ICA file that defines your server connection parameters, type the full path of the ICA file into the Command line field.
  4. Click Start recording.
  5. The Silk Performer Recorder then opens in minimized form along with the Silk Performer Citrix Recorder. If correct login credentials are not available at startup, the Connect dialog will open. The Connect dialog is also accessible via the Connect button in the upper left corner of the Silk Performer Citrix Recorder.
    Note: If you have an ICA file that defines your server connection parameters, select ICA File and browse to the ICA file to skip past all of the Login fields.
  6. On the Connect dialog in the Server field, enter the name of the Citrix XenApp server that is to be recorded.
  7. Complete the User name, Password, and Domain fields for the server under test.
  8. Type the name of the hosted application in the Application field.
  9. The Client name field enables you to specify a client name for your session. The default client name for the Citrix recorder is SP_Recorder (the default client name for the Citrix Player is SP_User_x). If you specify a different client name for recording, then a CitrixSetClientName function will be inserted into the script. In such cases you must customize the client name value, otherwise all users will use the same client name, which may lead to replay problems.
  10. Select the desired Color depth for recording.
  11. Select the desired screen Resolution for recording.
    Note: Do not change the resolution after recording your script, as replaying with a different resolution setting may cause mouse actions to fail on repositioned elements.
  12. Click Connect to begin the Citrix XenApp session.
  13. Interact with the shared desktop in the Citrix Recorder in the same way that you want your virtual users to act during the test. For example, you can click links, open applications, and enter data. Your actions will be captured and recorded by the Citrix Recorder. The Citrix Recorder supports session sharing, allowing you to start additional published applications in the existing session (by clicking Run Application on the Citrix Recorder toolbar). Click Select Window to switch between applications. The following example Citrix XenApp session includes simple Excel calculations in which the mouse and keyboard are used to open Excel, enter new data values, insert an AutoSum formula, select a screen region, edit the AutoSum formula, and close Excel.
  14. When you are done recording your Citrix XenApp session, click Stop on the Silk Performer Citrix Recorder. The Generating script progress window opens followed by the Save As dialog.
  15. Save the script with a meaningful name.
  16. A newly generated test script that is based on your recorded actions appears in the Silk Performer script editor window.
Parent topic: Defining Projects