Optimizing the playback time of a test

About this task

For example, when you play back a test, screenshots of all of the steps are captured and shown in the Mobile and Web UI report. Most of the times, you might require screenshots only for the failed steps.

Note: For the Safari browser, you can capture only the web page screenshots.

Also, if the computer on which you are playing back the test is locked or you are working on other applications on that computer, the captured screenshots will either be dark black or belong to applications that are not relevant to the test. When you capture only page screenshots, you can lock the screen or work on other applications on the computer.

Similarly, you might be interested only in testing the functionality of the application, and the performance testing might be covered by someone else. You can choose not to capture the response time breakdown data thereby improving the speed of the playback of your test.

You can apply playback optimization options for the test or for the workbench (in Preferences). When you set the optimization options for the workbench, only the desktop screenshots are captured and applied to all of the tests. When you import a test for playback, the configurations on your workbench are used by the test. When you set the optimization options for the test, you can choose to capture screenshots for pages or desktop. To apply playback configurations at the test level, use the pre-defined variables and values mentioned in the table.

Table with variables for playback optimization

Table 1. Variables for Playback Optimization

Variables	Values	Description
webui.report.screenshots Note: If this variable is not set, desktop screenshots for all of the steps are captured.	DISABLE	Stop capturing screenshots for all the steps
	PAGE*	Capture the screenshots of pages for all of the steps
	PAGE_ONFAIL	Capture the screenshots of pages for only the failed steps
	PAGE_ONVP	Capture the screenshots of pages for all of the verification points
	PAGE_ONVPFAIL	Capture the screenshots of pages for only the failed verification points
	PAGE_ONFAIL_AND_VP	Capture the screenshots of pages for only the failed steps and all of the verification points
	DESKTOP	Capture the screenshots of desktop for all of the steps
	DESKTOP_ONFAIL	Capture the screenshots of desktop for only the failed steps.
	DESKTOP_ONVP	Capture the screenshots of desktop for all of the verification points
	DESKTOP_ONVPFAIL	Capture the screenshots of desktop for only the failed verification points
	DESKTOP_ONFAIL_AND_VP	Capture the screenshots of desktop for only the failed steps and all of the verification points
webui.responsetime	False	Do not collect response time
webui.highlight	False	Do not highlight UI controls during playback

* If you specify the PAGE value, screenshots are captured differently on different web browsers and take more time:

• Google Chrome
  • • The portion of the web page that is hidden under the scrollbar is not captured.
    • The browser is in focus even when minimized.
• Internet Explorer
  • The portion of the web page that is hidden under the scrollbar is captured but in black.
  • The browser window resizes often while the screenshot is taken.

To apply playback optimization options for the workbench:

1. In the workbench, click Window > Preferences > Test > Test Execution > Web UI Playback.
2. To capture the screenshots of only the web browser page that runs the application under test, select the Capture browser page screenshots check box.
3. To capture screenshots, ensure that Take screenshots while playing back check box is selected, and select one of the options to take screenshot for.
4. To collect performance data, ensure that the Collect performance data check box is selected. If the check box is not selected, the response time breakdown (On App/Off App) data is not collected and the related report is not generated.
5. To highlight the recorded page elements during playback, ensure that the Highlight the page element check box is selected.
6. Click OK.