Creating a Sequential Number datasource

You can create a sequential number datasource in IBM® DevOps Test Performance (Test Performance) to assign unique sequential numbers to all the virtual users in a test. This datasource can generate unique integers or floating point numbers for the users.

You can use the sequential built-in datasource option wherever data correlation substitutions are permitted, such as Transactions or Delays.
You define an initial value that should be assigned to the first virtual user and a step value that is a number by which the current value increments after each retrieval by a virtual user. If initial value is 1 and step value is 5, the workbench generates numbers in the sequence of 1, 5, 10, 15, and so on and each number is mapped to a virtual user. If a test is run on multiple agent machines, the workbench assigns a sequential value to all the users in all the agent machines.

You can also assign a full sequence of numbers of one virtual user. The sequence number increments in the request for each time the request in the multi-request generator is executed.

  1. In the Test Contents area of the test, click an element in the test where data correlation substitution is permitted, such as a transaction name or delays.
  2. In the Test Element Details area, right-click the name of the element and click Substitue > Built-in Datasources.
  3. In Built-in Datasource Selection Wizard, click Sequential Number and click Next.
  4. Assign a name for the datasource.
  5. In Initial Value, type a number to be assigned to the first virtual user.
  6. In Step Value, type a number.
  7. In Formatting Options, you can format the number in the manner you want to use.
  8. Optional: To assign a full sequence of numbers to one virtual user, select the Execute for individual user check box.
  9. Optional: To substitute the built-in datasource every time with a new value for the requests, select the Get new value each time used check box.
  10. Click Finish.
  11. Save and run the test.
After you add the test to a schedule and run the schedule, the test log displays each element name where the datasource is applied with the unique sequential number assigned to the virtual user.