Testing formulas

You can test a formula after you create it. This step is important to ensure that the formula is valid.

1. Ensure that the default collector is started.
2. Click the Test tab.
3. Specify an element, subelements, or group of subelements for which to test the formula from the Target listbox.

   You must specify an appropriate target to test against. For example, an Ethernet formula requires a target with an ethernet interface. A token ring formula requires a target with a token ring interface.

4. Click the refresh button to update this listbox with available resources.
5. Specify an instance from the Instance box. For example, a single instance such as 1, or multiple instances such as 1,3,5-4.1.2,7.*,8.1.*,9-10.
   You can override the default instances specified in the formula by using the Instance field. For example, if the formula specifies all instances:

   Dim I1 AS Integer Default * NAME Interface
   

   You can use the Instance field to specify only instances 2 through 5:

   Interface<2-5>

   If you do not specify any instances, Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager DataMart uses the default instances specified in the formula, and inserts them into the Instance field when testing the formula.
6. Enter a community name in the Community box.
7. Optional: You can select an SNMP Collector for the formula test from the SNMP Collector listbox. When you selected resources in step 3, the associated collector appears by default.
8. Click Test to test the validity of the formula. The selected target and community name are also tested.

   In a few moments, the results are displayed in the Trace box.

   If the test passed, the formula is correct and the element or subelement is active. The numerical results of the test are displayed.

   If the test failed, an error message is displayed. For example, the message might tell you that no data was found.

9. Right-click the Trace > Reset to clear the Trace box or select Save to print the results or save them to a file.