Recording a Test Script

If you are an experienced user, you may want to create a script on your own and write your code manually. You can start with a blank script or you can customize one of the preinstalled sample scripts.

However, you can also use the Silk Performer Recorder, which does the scripting and the recording work for you. Here are the basic steps you need to perform when you use the Silk Performer Recorder:

Open the project in which you want to work, or start a new project.
Click Model Script on the workflow bar. The Workflow - Model Script dialog box appears.
From the Recording Profile list, select the profile for the client application that you plan to test. If a profile has not yet been set up for the application you want to use, click Settings to the right of the list to set one up.
Depending on the project type, enter either the application's URL in the URL field or the location of the application in the Command line field.
Click Start recording. The Silk Performer Recorder dialog opens in minimized form, and the client application starts.
To see a report of the actions that happen during recording, maximize the Recorder dialog by clicking the Change GUI size button. The maximized Recorder opens at the Actions page.
Using the client application, conduct the kind of interaction with the target server that you want to simulate in your test. The interaction is captured and recorded by the Recorder. A report of your actions and of the data downloaded appears on the Actions page.
Insert transactions and timers into the test script during the recording phase. You can create as many transactions and timers as you want. To insert a transaction, click the New Transaction button. A transaction represents a piece of work that can be assigned to a virtual user.
In the ensuing dialog, enter a name for the transaction and click OK. The new transaction appears in the Actions log.
To insert a timer, click the New Timer Session button. A timer is a user-defined measurement period in a test. You should create timers for each component of a transaction for which you want to analyze performance. In the ensuing dialog, enter a name for the timer and click OK.
To end recording, click the Stop Recording button.
Enter a name for the .bdf file and save it. The Capture File page displays. Click Generate Script to generate a script out of the capture file.
Close the client application and close the Silk Performer Recorder.