Creating a reference or field reference

Designating a test value as a reference, or a range of test data as a field reference, allows you to use the data elsewhere in the test.

References, usually located in response data, contain values that you want to use from a subsequent test location, usually a request. You can substitute a request value with a reference (called data correlation). You can also use a reference as input to an if/then condition in a test or to custom Java code that your test calls.

Whereas a reference points to a specific value in a test, a field reference points to a range of test data. You can use a field reference as an input argument to an if/then condition or to custom code.

To create a reference or field reference:

  1. Open the test.
  2. Locate the value or container that you want to designate as a reference or field reference.
    References and field references can be created in these fields:
    • A request URL or post data (URL and Data fields)
    • A request or response header value (Value column of a Request Headers or Response Headers table)
    • Response content (Content field)
  3. If you are creating a reference, highlight the value: with the left button pressed, drag your mouse over it.
  4. To create a reference, right-click and select Create Reference. A light blue highlight of the value indicates that it is an unused reference. When you use it, the highlight changes to dark blue.
  5. To create a field reference, right-click and select Create Field Reference. A yellow highlight of the field indicates that it is a field reference.

Parent topic: Correlating response and request data in a test

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