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Synchronizing virtual testers

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Chapter 4 - Implementing Tests

To initialize a shared variable:

Open a suite, and then click

Suite > Edit Shared Variables

Shared variables are useful in the following situations:

To synchronize virtual testers Use for more specific coordination than a
synchronization point provides. For example, you can limit a transaction so that
only five virtual testers perform it at once. In that case, use a shared variable with
the appropriate wait routine in your scripting language.

To block a virtual tester from executing until a global event occurs It is easier to
set an event and a dependency than to set a shared variable. However, if the event
depends on some logic within a test script, you must use a shared variable.

To count loops within a test script If you want to set a loop for an entire test
script, it is easier to set a selector or an iteration count within the suite. However, if
only a portion of the test script loops, set a shared variable to control the number of
iterations of that loop.

To monitor specific transaction counts and conditions When you monitor a suite,
shared variables provide detailed information about the progress or state of a suite
run.