Simulating a workstation user with Macro Scheduler ?

AlexL · Post by **AlexL** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:41 pm

Hi

In a project to measure the availability of various IT services and response times for SLA compliance, I am looking for a software (Windows platform, free or commercial) which generates specific user activity.

An example of simulated activity would be: the user opens Outlook, writes a mail, appends an attachment, sends it out to an auto responder, checks the returned mail and records if it was successful, and the time it took. Similarly with Word, Excel and other GUI applications.

It should be kind of a robot which periodically simulates a typical user activity in front of his workstation and evaluates the system's response (and responsiveness).

We expect to determine the service's availability, the response times and such, for SLA compliance.

Has anyone done this with Macro Sceduler? Is it difficult? What alternatives are there for such a task?

TIA

Alex

Post by **Marcus Tettmar** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:57 pm

This has been done many times with Macro Scheduler.

Macro Scheduler is designed for automating tasks by simulating a user. It is often used as a load testing tool.

See:
http://www.mjtnet.com/automated_testing.htm

Here's a paper describing some ways you can use Macro Scheduler for load testing and measuring the time taken to perform tasks:

http://www.mjtnet.com/loadtesting.pdf

AlexL · Post by **AlexL** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:56 pm

I played with MS and was quite impressed.

What about simulating with MS user activity in a Terminal Server/Citrix window, where the image is unstructured (and quite volatile) ?

Did anyone succeeded in this and willing to share the experinence (or scripts?) ?

TIA

Alex

Post by **Marcus Tettmar** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:12 pm

Many people have used our tools to simulate user activity within a terminal server or citrix session - it is common practise for automated loadtesting.

The best approach is to use Image Recognition as you can then respond, wait for and manipulate screen objects reliably.

This approach is vastly simplified with AppNavigator which let's you create such routines without the need to write code.

AlexL · Post by **AlexL** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:05 pm

Thanks a lot.

Is there a sample of such a script somewhere? Or do you have one?

My mail is:
TLD: ch
Domain: redcross
MBX Name: alex.leibovici

TIA

Alex

Post by **Marcus Tettmar** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:15 pm

Take a look at:
http://www.mjtnet.com/blog/2007/02/20/h ... cognition/

This short tutorial demonstrates using Image Recognition to control a Citrix session.