Index Dataset Using File is same as File Parameter. The only difference is that it identifies how data is selected from the data file. The first column is considered as the index of that file and the second column will be the value. The user passes the index value in Index File Parameter and the corresponding value will be picked as the parameter value.

Adding The Parameter

The following fields need to be filled to add the Index Dataset Using File Parameter :

• Parameter Name : This field is used to set the name of the parameter, which is used in the parameterization of the script. It is a mandatory field.
• Parameter Type(s) (only in case of Advance Settings) : Select the following from the drop-down as per requirement :
  • Parameter Type Value : The value from the data file is treated as the file parameter value.
  • Parameter Type File : The value from the data file is treated as a new file path and content from that file is treated as the value.
• Encrypt : To encrypt the parameter name check this box. (only in case of Advance Settings)
• Directory : This field contains the list of data directories present. By default, the script name is selected.
• File Name : It is the name of the data file in which all data related to parameterization is stored. It can be an individual name of the file and it can be an absolute path for that file.
• File Data : This section is to view, add and modify data of the file.
• First Data Row : In some situations, the user might want the Load Test to start reading data from a particular line number. So, the user can use this field to indicate Load Test which lines it should consider as the first data row. By default, the first data row is 1.
• Column Delimiter : This field specifies which character in the data file should be considered as a column separator. By default, the column delimiter is ','. Users can also use special symbols as the column delimiter.
• Index Variable : Select any parameter from the dropdown list available for indexing. Dataset using file parameter can not be used as Index variable.

Advanced

In Advanced, we have the following fields to be filled :

Encoding options

This option is used to encode special characters to their ASCII value. This option contains the following fields :

Encode : In Load Test, the user can encode any number of special characters i.e. all, specific, or none. Users can have the following options :

• Encode all special characters except (+), (-), (.), (_) : All special symbols except + - . _ are encoded. It is the default value.
• Encode only specified characters : The user can specify which special characters to encode in Characters to encode field.
• Do not encode special characters : None of the special characters is encoded. However, space is encoded always.

Characters to encode : If the user selects Encode only specified characters option in Encode, then this field becomes active. Here user can specify which special characters should be encoded.

Encode Space By : This option specifies to Load Test how to encode space. Users can have two options : '+' and '%20'. If '+' is chosen, Load Test encodes space by '+' and if '%20' is chosen, Load Test encodes space by '%20. The default value is '+'.

Notes :

1. Data directory can be overridden from the scenario only if you are using a data directory other than the script.
2. You can edit data files upto 10 MB. For more than 10 mb it will open as Read Only mode.
3. If your values contain special characters that you prefer not to encode, you have the choice of using either "Do not encode special characters" or "Encode only specified characters." A practical illustration of this situation can be found in the domain name https://www.cavisson.com, which includes special characters such as (:/).