Create New Forms Database

Use the Forms tab on the Client Actions tab to create a forms database to customize or modify the traffic specified by the Action list. For example, you could simulate users logging in and submitting data to an Internet site by creating a database of user names and passwords.

The Forms resource allows you to manage configuration data referenced by name in the Action list. The forms databases are not part of the Action list, but are separate, nameable entities. For the Action list syntax for specifying forms databases, see Using Forms Databases with Action Lists.

NOTE: You can also use a forms database instead of the User Name and Password fields, when configuring IPSec XAuth (Extended Authentication) in the Subnets tab.

Typically, you use each row in a forms database to personalize an Action list when a new SimUser is created. A forms database consists of key name/value pairs in a comma-separated value (CSV) format. It can simulate users sending HTTP POSTs to an Internet site, as an example. You can edit forms databases directly or import forms databases that you create by using another application, such as Microsoft Excel. If you have more than 1 MB of data, use the import command to create the forms database.

NOTE: If your forms database contains reserved characters that an Action list cannot accept, use the URL Encode option (Step 6) to convert them to an acceptable form before sending the request.

To create a forms database:

1. In the Forms tab on the Client Actions tab, click the New button . The Create New Forms Database window appears.
2. In the Specify Name field, enter an alphanumeric string that describes the forms database. Do not use special characters such as spaces, colons, and slashes.
3. Click OK. The form name appears in the left pane.
4. To prompt each simulated user to use the next line in the forms database, select the Auto Increment checkbox. All requests within a simulated user, that is, all URLs in the Action list, use the same line. See Forms Databases and Auto Increment for more information.
5. To skip the first line in the forms database, select the Skip First Row checkbox. This allows you to use the first line to insert comments preceded by a "#" symbol in files, or to ignore the column heads in a spreadsheet file.
6. To encode URL values from the forms database before sending them in the request, select the URL Encode Form. This option converts reserved characters that an Action list cannot accept, into an acceptable form.
7. Type in the forms database values in the Body Data text box. Forms database field entries vary, but must follow specific comma-separated value (CSV) formats.

To import a forms database:

TIP: You can use Excel or vi to create a form data file.

1. In the Forms tab on the Client Actions tab, click the New button . The Create New Forms Database window appears.
2. In the Specify Name field, enter an alphanumeric string that describes the forms database. Do not use special characters such as spaces, colons, and slashes.
3. Click OK. The form name appears in the left pane.
4. To prompt each simulated user to use the next line in the forms database, select the Auto Increment checkbox. All requests within a simulated user, that is, all URLs in the Action list, use the same line. See Forms Databases and Auto Increment for more information.
5. To skip the first line in the forms database, select the Skip First Row checkbox. This allows you to use the first line to insert comments preceded by a "#" symbol in files, or to ignore the column heads in a spreadsheet file.
6. To encode URL values from the forms database before sending them in the request, select the URL Encode Form. This option converts reserved characters that an Action list cannot accept, into an acceptable form.
7. Click the Import button. A directory dialog box appears.
8. Navigate to, and select the forms database that you want to use, and then click Import. The imported text appears in the Body Data pane.

   NOTE: If you import a forms database larger than 1MB, you cannot edit the database within Commander. A message appears indicating this information; click Yes to continue.

---

Related Information:

Maintaining Forms Databases

Using Forms Databases with Action Lists

Using Excel to Create Form Databases

Forms Databases and Auto Increment

Special Characters