This topic applies only to the IBM Business Automation Workflow Advanced configuration.

Adding and running emulator definition steps for inline human tasks

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This topic only applies to BAW, and is located in the BAW repository. Last updated on 2025-03-13 12:15
An emulator definition step for an inline human task enables you to emulate an inline human task for a specific test case and use the test data table to specify the expected input data and output response data. It also enables to you to claim and complete the human task automatically.

About this task

If your test is invoking a one-way operation, the test will return a result of Passed, but the emulation will not actually run unless you have followed the instructions in the topic "Emulating components and references when invoking one-way operations".

To add and run an emulator definition step for an inline human task:

Procedure

  1. Add an emulator definition step for an inline human task by completing the following steps:
    1. In the Business Integration view, expand your component test project and expand the Test Suites folder.
    2. Right-click your test suite and select Open. The test suite opens in the test suite editor.
    3. Click the Test Cases tab. The Test Cases page opens.
    4. In the upper left corner of the Test Cases area, click the down arrow beside the Add Test Case icon Picture of the down arrow icon.
    5. From the menu list, select Emulator Definition Step > Inline Human Task. The Add Inline Human Task Emulator Definition wizard opens.
    6. In the list box, expand the module and business process and then select the inline human task for which you want to emulate the response data and automatically claim the task.
    7. If you want to have variables automatically created for the new emulator definition step, ensure that the Create variables for the new emulator definitions check box is selected. One variable will be automatically created in the test data table for each operation parameter. (If the check box is not selected, you will need to manually create the variables yourself in the test suite editor.)
    8. Click Finish. A new Define human task emulator step is displayed under the associated invocation in the Test Cases area.
  2. Specify properties for the new emulator definition step by completing the following steps:
    1. In the Test Cases area, ensure that the new Define human task emulator step is selected.
    2. Move the emulator definition step to a position over the invocation step by clicking the Move Up icon Picture of the Move Up icon.
      (Emulator definition steps must be placed in a position that precedes the associated invocation step.)
    3. In the Detailed Properties area, ensure that the fields display the correct module, business process, and inline human task for the selected emulator definition step. (If you need additional information about these properties or any other properties, position your cursor in a property and press F1 to open the context-sensitive help information.)
    4. Click the Output tab and then select either Return response or Throw exception, depending on the parameter type that you want to return. If you choose Return response, select a variable for the output parameter and then click the link on the parameter name to open the test data table and specify a variable value in the Set column. If you choose Throw exception, select the exception that you want to throw and then create a variable for it.
    5. If you want to specify a variable value for the input parameter, click the Input tab, then select a variable for the input parameter and click the link on the parameter name to open the test data table and specify a variable value in the Expected column.
      The emulator rule will only apply if the actual input data values match the values specified in the expected inputs of the emulator definition. By default, the expected inputs are not set, which means that the emulator rule is always applied.
    6. In the test suite editor, press Ctrl-S to save your changes.
  3. Use the new emulator definition step to run a test by completing the following steps:
    1. In the Business Integration view, right-click the test suite and select Run Test. The test client opens.
    2. In the test client, click the Continue icon Picture of the Continue icon to invoke the operation and run the test. (If the Deployment Location wizard opens, select the server where you want to deploy the test artifacts and then click Finish.) A Define Human Task Emulator event is displayed in the Events area.
    3. In the Events area, select the Claim event and view the test results in the Detailed Properties area. (If you need additional information about a property, position your cursor in the property and press F1 to open the context-sensitive help information.)
    4. Close the test client without saving the test trace.