Synchronizing users in tests

Inserting a synchronization point enables you to coordinate the activities of a number of virtual users by pausing and resuming activities. You can synchronize all virtual users at the beginning of a test and stagger the release times so that the users do not overload the system. Synchronization points are also useful in stress testing.

About this task

You can insert a synchronization point into a schedule or a test. You typically insert synchronization points into schedules, because they are more visible at the schedule level and you can set the Release and Timeout options within a schedule only, not within a test. However, you should insert a synchronization point into a test in the following cases:

Synchronization points within loops are not reset. In other words, once a synchronization point has been released (in the first iteration of a loop) it stays released for all further iterations.

To insert a synchronization point into a test:

Procedure

  1. In the Test Navigator, browse to the test and double-click it. The test opens.
  2. Click the test element just below the place that you want to add the synchronization point, and then click Insert > Synchronization point. Depending on the nature of the test element, you can insert a synchronization point at some points in the test hierarchy, but not at others.
  3. Type a name for the synchronization point, or select the name of an existing synchronization point. The synchronization point opens in the test. Note that you cannot change the Release Type or Timeout within the test.
    synchronization point with release type and timeout attributes grayed out
  4. To change the Release Type or Timeout, open the synchronization point within a schedule and make the changes. The changes affect all instances of the synchronization point.

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