This dialog is where you add the tests you want to include in your batch-test, as described below. Here you can also define a number of settings for the batch-test, as a whole. These are:

• Save each test’s session data to file: You’ll normally want to leave this checked so you can reload the test’s session data, for any results that interest you, so you can examine it in more detail. However, be aware that session data files can be large (typically 10’sMB) so you need to ensure you have enough disk space for these files. To reduce their size, you can disable the saving of unneeded elements in Resource Settings.
• Run ‘Performance by Account’ report after each test, summarise the test results and save them to file: Again it’s a good idea to leave this checked so a table is generated, summarising the results for each test, at the end of all back-tests. This uses the Performance by Account report and will tabulate the report parameters specified in the drop-down list below this setting.

It’s also recommended that you limit the number of parameters in the report, so the width of the table fits in the Console’s width (an example is given in the Summary Performance Report Parameter Set supplied for the Performance by Account report, amongst others). Alternatively, you can check the divide summary report output into pages… setting in Report Settings, to prevent it overflowing.  This divides the report into pages with just enough columns to fit the width of the console, which is defined by the ‘Max characters per line’ setting in Message Settings.

Important Note: the output of the Performance by Account report will also be displayed, in full, after each test in the batch has been run, as will any other reports that are checked in the Reports dialog. To  take  advantage of this very useful feature, please ensure you have checked all reports that you need and selected an appropriate parameter set for each, in the Reports dialog, before you run your batch-test.

To define a back-test to add to the batch, click the Add Test button, which will take you to the Create Batch Test Definition dialog. As you add tests, they are added to the Test Definitions group (see the image above). Here you can edit or remove a definition, or change its order in the sequence of tests that will be executed.

To give you an idea of how long the batch will take to execute, the number of tests (iterations) is displayed at the bottom.

Once your batch-test is defined, use the buttons on the right hand side to save and/or execute your batch-test. The Execute button is also available on the main Batch Tests For Unattended Execution dialog