Variables

After having executed a number of steps from the Edit mode, this tab (Figure:Variables Tab) displays information on the variables values, both simple and composite, referenced by the executed steps. Any variable shown in this tab can be modified, so as to run subsequent tests using the new value.You can inspect the variable's values at the end of a run.

Figure:Variables Tab

Predefined system variables, such as the UserResults-Directory variable that is used by the Files Catalog window, are always displayed.

When working with multiple scripts opened at the same time (MDI functionality), this tab displays information for the currently active script.

If an error is encountered at execution time, the variable from the offending step is assigned the execution error value. For example, if a step error occurs in an Assign step for a variable x, then x is assigned the "Can't read "x". No such variable" value, which is the error message generated for the erroneous step.

The modification of input arguments values in the Variables tab (Edit mode) cannot be persisted between two subsequent test executions.

If you switch from the Edit mode to the Debug mode, the variable values in the Variables tab are cleared. The variables are also cleared when resetting the Tcl interpreter by clicking the button.

Switching betwween the Detail and Summary view of TestComposer, however, does not affect the variable values.

View and Edit Variable

The visualizer allows you to view entire content of a variable and edit them. Select the variable from the list in the Variables window and click to open the visualizer. Depending on the visualizer settings, any of the following visualizer window opens:

  • List Visualizer window: The List Visualizer window displays the variable values in the form of a list. You can view the entire content of the variable and edit them.
  • Text Visualizer window: The Text Visualizer window displays the variable values in a text editior. It allows you to view entire content of a variable and edit them. The text editor has scrollbars that can be used to access parts of the text that do not fit into the text editor. Instead of using the horizontal scrollbar, you can also select the Wrap check-box to enable text wrapping so that the portions that do not fit in a single line appear in the next line.

The visualizer window that opens when you click depends on the visualizer settings. The visualizer settings are defined at the variable level, that means settings defined for one variable is not applicable for the others. Also, the default visualizer settings are not same for all the variables.

To change the visualizer settings, do the following:

  1. Click the drop-down arrow next to the variable.
  2. The list of available options appears.

  3. Select either List Visualizer or Text Visualizer.
  4. If List Visualizer is selected, the List Visualizer window opens when you click next to the variable in the Variables window.

    If Text Visualizer is selected, the Text Visualizer window opens when you click next to the variable in the Variables window.

The changes you make to the visualizer settings are retained untill you run a test in TestComposer. When you run a test, at each breakpoint the visualizer settings are changed to their default settings.