User Defined Variables in 4.0

Mr Nosuch · Post by **Mr Nosuch** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 7:55 am

I am trying to use user defined variables to store authentication information for my tests. Some issues so far:

1. How do you create a NEW user defined variable?

When I select "Profiles -> Global Macro Variables" from the menu, I get the "User Defined Variables" window which has four variables defined. I can edit the variables names and the values, but I can't figure out how to add new ones. Right-clicking doesn't pull up a menu, and there's only "OK", "Cancel" and "Help" buttons (and my help doesn't do anything.)

For the moment, I've simply renamed two of the sample variables. I now have a "udv_testuser" and a "udv_testpw" variable. (But I'll need more variables for email groups, etc., at some point.)

2. I've set up an URL test, and I need authentication. When I use an URL test and manually enter an URL like this, the test works:

http://username:password@www.mysite.com/mypage.asp

So now I've set the following udvs:

udv_testuser = username
udv_testpw = password

I edit the URL in the test properties to:

http://%udv_testuser%:%udv_testpw%@www. ... mypage.asp

The test then stops working. I've made sure there's no typographic errors, and that I've used the right UDV name.

So it looks like UDV aren't being parsed in the URL test.

May I suggest it would be a huge bonus if there was a place to store "Authentication Profiles" where we could set up username/password combinations which could be secured with a password and encryption? Then in tests needing authentication, we could pick a profile. I know that's a pretty big feature request, but I think it would solve a lot of headaches.

Even once I sort out this current problem with using UDVs, I know storing passwords in plaintext for the UDV isn't making me light up for joy.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mr Nosuch on 2003-07-30 07:57 ]</font>

KS-Soft · Post by **KS-Soft** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 1:51 pm

>1. How do you create a NEW user defined variable?

Versions 4.0, and 4.02 do not have complete help file, sorry for this.
New documentation already available on-line, next version of the software will include complete manual and help file.
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http://www.ks-soft.net/hostmon.eng/mfra ... m#udvmacro
To add a new variable to the end of the list go to the last existing line and press Down Arrow key. Press INSERT button to insert a new line. Press CTRL+DEL to remove variable. To edit variable press F2.

>http://%udv_testuser%:%udv_testpw%@www. ... mypage.asp
The test then stops working. I've made sure there's no typographic errors, and that I've used the right UDV name.

http://www.ks-soft.net/hostmon.eng/news.htm#hmudv
Quote: "Now you can define global macro variables. They can be used in any of the action profiles".
You cannot use macros in the test properties.

>May I suggest it would be a huge bonus if there was a place to store "Authentication Profiles" where we could set up username/password combinations which could be secured with a password and encryption?

Yes, it has sense. I have added this task into "to do" list.

Regards
Alex

Mr Nosuch · Post by **Mr Nosuch** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:01 pm

Thanks for the clarification about UDV and hwo they are meant to be used. Guess I should have read the docs a little more closely.

That's great news about a possible authentication profile support coming down the road at some point. I am not looking forward to having to amend a number of tests on a monthly basis as passwords are changed... Knowing I won't have to do it forever will ease that pain.

And thanks for the info on how to add user defined variables. May I suggest adding an "Add" and a "Delete" button to that dialog? It might be a bit more user friendly that way.

Great product and great support.