Think Time

The THINK action introduces a delay between actions in an Action list. For example, a simulated user may access a website, then pause for 10 seconds before proceeding with the next website.

When you use the THINK action in between two actions, the value that you specify is the amount of delay in milliseconds (e.g., 10000 for 10 seconds) before the next request in the Action list is processed. You can specify a literal value, a forms database reference, or a random number with the THINK command.

Syntax and Examples

• Set a think time of 10 seconds

  THINK<10000>

• Assign a literal value of 10 seconds

  ASSIGN VARIABLE <time1 10000 >

  THINK<time1>

• Assign a forms database reference

  ASSIGN VARIABLE <time1 formsdb.$1>

  THINK<time1>

• Assign a random number

  ASSIGN VARIABLE <time1 ###>

  THINK<time1>

• Embed random uniform distributed think times, ranging from 10 to 30 seconds

  ASSIGN VARIABLE <rand UNIFORM 10000 30000>

  THINK<rand>

• Sleep six seconds between two level 1 Actions

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index1.html

  THINK<6000>

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index2.html

  In the following three examples, the level 2 Actions will be executed immediately after the first level 1 Action, and the second level 1 Action will wait 6 seconds.

  NOTE: The THINK command always gets executed prior to the next level 1 Action, even if it is appears before a level 2 Action.

  Example 1

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index1.html

  THINK<6000>

  2 GET http://192.168.42.11/index2.html

  2 GET http://192.168.42.11/index3.html

  # 6-second delay occurs here

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index4.html

  Example 2

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index1.html

  2 GET http://192.168.42.11/index2.html

  THINK<6000>

  2 GET http://192.168.42.11/index3.html

  # 6-second delay occurs here

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index4.html

  Example 3

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index1.html

  2 GET http://192.168.42.11/index2.html

  2 GET http://192.168.42.11/index3.html

  THINK<6000>

  # 6-second delay occurs here

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index4.html

• Four times six-second think times equals a 24-second delay before the next Action is executed

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index1.html

  THINK<6000>

  THINK<6000>

  THINK<6000>

  THINK<6000>

  1 GET http://192.168.42.11/index2.html

Related Information:

Forms Database With Action Lists

HTTP Assign Variables

Configuring User Behavior