Gómez Script Recorder GETTING STARTED October 2003
Overview The Gómez Performance Network (GPN) measures Web page and transaction performance globally in real-time, enabling organizations to continuously monitor site availability and responsiveness. From 60-plus locations spanning more than a dozen Internet backbones, our secure service provides the data needed to identify factors that impact Web site performance, manage provider Service Level Agreements, compare your site to competitors' and evaluate Web site, server platform or network device configurations changes. The GPN is an online subscription service that collects and reports URL and transaction performance from the Internet s first- (the Sever-side), middle- (the Data Center) and last-mile (the desktop). This data enables Gómez customers to manage their e-businesses in real-time. GPN archives historical data, allowing users to evaluate performance trends in business context and take action to improve the delivery of Web-based transactions, thus enhancing the customer experience and boosting the overall effectiveness of the Internet channel. Our monitoring infrastructure consists of the following components: 1. Gómez Performance Network (GPN) a global network spanning more than a dozen Internet backbones and thousands of locations designed to collect and report URL and transactional performance from across the Internet s infrastructure. 2. Gómez Universal Testing Agent (UTA) a scalable, reliable and flexible networkcentric Internet transaction monitor designed and implemented to independently measure URLs or transactions to completion using network protocol interactions. 3. Gómez Script Recorder (GSR) an application that enables users to capture a set of Internet transactions measured by UTA and save them as a Gómez Script Language file to be uploaded to the GPN. 4. Gómez Script Language (GSL) an XML-based language specification that describes a set of user interactions with Web pages. The GSR enables users to easily create and maintain scripts for use on the GPN. Users of the GSR can record, edit and upload scripts to the GPN without the intervention of Gómez personnel. Gómez, Inc. 2003 1
Installation Instructions System Requirements The Gómez Script Recorder (GSR) has the following system requirements. Operating System: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 6.0), Windows 2000 or Windows XP (The GSR is not supported on Windows 95 or Windows 98.) Memory: 32 MB minimum; 64 MB recommended Disk Space: 75 MB System: IBM-compatible PC with Pentium Pro or faster processor recommended Administrator-level privileges should be added to your local machine prior to installation Installation Steps 1. Download the Gómez Script Recorder (GSR) from within your GPN Transaction tab. You can login to your GPN account at www.gomez.com. 2. Exit all Windows programs. 3. Launch the GSR Install Shield wizard from the download location. The GSR Install Shield Wizard appears. 4. Press Next. The License agreement window appears. 5. Read the license agreement and press Yes. The Choose Destination Location window appears. 6. Press Next. The Unpack Files window appears. The Installation Complete Window appears. 7. Press Finish. 8. The Gómez Script Recorder icon should appear in your file menu under Programs Gómez Gómez Script Recorder Gómez, Inc. 2003 2
Technical Support Requests can be submitted through the following means: 1. E-mail: servicedesk@gomez.com 2. Web form: http://www.gomeznetworks.com/manual/help.asp 3. Telephone: 888-GOMEZ18 (888-466-3918) or 781-768-4910 The following service level agreements will be utilized in conjunction with all client requests submitted using the aforementioned methods: 1. High Priority Issues: Within two hours of receiving the request, the client will be updated on the status of the incident and actions taken. Regular updates will be provided as the status changes. 2. Medium Priority Issues: Within eight hours of receiving the request, the client will be updated on the status of the incident and actions taken. Regular updates will be provided as the status changes. 3. Low Priority Issues: Within 24 hours of receiving the request, the client will be updated on the status of the incident and actions taken. Regular updates will be provided as the status changes. Client Service hours are from 8 AM - 8 PM (EDT) Monday though Friday. Our Network Operations Center is staffed 24x7 to monitor the health and quality of our nodes, and provides off-hours support in case of emergencies. Note: We encourage you to e-mail us for faster service. When contacting technical support please reference your GPN account, the GSR version and build number. Gómez, Inc. 2003 3
Getting Started Using the Gómez Script Recorder This section explains how to start the GSR, record a transaction, playback a script and upload a script to the GPN. In addition, the application s main features are described. Starting the Gómez Script Recorder Once installed, you can start the GSR by clicking Start Programs Gómez Gómez Script Recorder or by clicking the shortcut icon on your desktop. NOTE: The first time the Script Recorder is opened after installation, you will be prompted to enter your Gómez Performance Network (GPN) account username and password. If you access multiple GPN accounts, you can easily switch between accounts using the User Setting feature in the Script Recorder. NOTE: You may be prompted to update to a newer version of the GSR. If this dialog appears, please select Yes to update to the latest version of the GSR. After the update, you will need to restart the GSR. Main Window Features The Gómez Script Recorder s main window is used to prepare scripts to monitor Web applications through the Gómez Performance Network. The script replays a sequence of actions performed on a Web site to monitor the performance of an application. The GSR records, edits, verifies, saves and uploads scripts to the GPN. The Gómez Script Recorder s main window consists of the menu bar, toolbar and two panes (the Script Pane on the left and Actions Pane on the right). Gómez, Inc. 2003 4
Script Pane The Script Pane shows the pages of the recorded transaction. When the GSR is started, the pane will be empty. As a script is recorded, the pane will fill with the steps of the transaction. After recording a transaction, selecting a step in the Script Pane will update the Actions Pane to display the details associated with that step. Actions Pane The Actions Pane contains information specific to a step in a script. Within the Actions Pane, tabs provide the ability to edit information contained within that step of the script. The following tabs are available within the Actions Pane: Details, Post Data, Content Match, Substitutions, Parameters, Authentication and Playback Results. Gómez, Inc. 2003 5
Within each tab you have the ability to create, edit or delete specific elements of the script. For a more detailed discussion of specific tabs see the Advanced Activities Tabs section of the online help. Browser Features The Gómez Script Recorder browser window is where transaction monitoring scripts are recorded for the Gómez Performance Network. The browser window allows you to select the Web pages for recording while providing full navigational features. To access the browser window, start a recording session by clicking the record button on the toolbar or selecting New Script under the File menu. The Gómez Script Recorder s Browser window consists of the menu bar, tool bar, address bar and navigation pane. Gómez, Inc. 2003 6
Recording a new script Start a Recording Step 1: Open the Gómez Script Recorder. To start the Gómez Script Recorder go to: Start Programs Gómez Gómez Script Recorder Step 2: Create a new script. Once the Gómez Script Recorder is open create a new script by going to File New Script OR Click the Record button on the Toolbar A new GSR Browser window will open, ready for recording a transaction. Step 3: Select a Web site. To select the starting point for your recording session simply enter the URL, or select from the drop-down list of recently accessed Web pages. For example, to start a recording session from the Gómez homepage you would Type: www.gomez.com in the browser window address bar and press the Enter key. Once you hit enter, the Web page appears in the Browser s navigation pane and the transaction is recorded. NOTE: Please wait until the Navigation image disappears before continuing to navigate. NOTE: While recording, the Web page address appears in the Script Pane of the GSR main window. Navigate the Web Site Step 4: Continuing recording the transaction. After transaction s first page has loaded in the browser window, navigate through the application as an end user would. As you instrument the application, your interaction with the application and the traffic sent to and from the application are being recorded for script generation. Gómez, Inc. 2003 7
Stop the Recording Step 5: Stop recording. Click the Stop button on the toolbar or close the Browser window to stop recording. NOTE: If you are running in advanced mode, a pop-up window will appear with possible parameters requiring substitutions. For more information on using advanced mode or substitutions see the advanced mode or substitutions sections of the online help. Save the Script Step 6: Save the script. Select File Save to save the script. Step 7: Name the script. Type in the name of the script in the Save As dialog box and click Save. Gómez, Inc. 2003 8
Playing back a new script After recording a script it is important to ensure the script works properly by playing it back in the Gómez Script Recorder before uploading it into the GPN.. You can Playback a script by going to Transaction Play OR Click the Play button on the Toolbar During playback, the browser window will display the pages visited at the time of execution. When Playback is successfully completed the following message will appear: NOTE: Within the playback results tab of the GSR actions pane, URLs navigated to during the execution of the script will be displayed. The URLs contain page and object-level results information for the last executed transaction run. If the Playback is unsuccessful, the script will stop at the page on which an error occurred. An error message will appear indicating which aspect of the script has failed: For Troubleshooting tips on editing scripts see the Script Troubleshooting section of the help by clicking Yes. Gómez, Inc. 2003 9
Uploading a new script Once successful playback is confirmed, you need to upload the script to the Gómez Performance Network to enable the GPN to monitor the transaction. Step 1: Upload a script. You can upload a script by going to: Scripts Upload OR Click on the Scripts Upload button on the Toolbar The dialog box below will appear. Step 2: Enter a script description. Step 3: Enter your GPN Username and Password. NOTE: You only need to enter your Username and Password the first time you open the application. For each upload, the Gómez Script Recorder will automatically use the information you ve supplied. If you need to change the Username or Password, go to Scripts User Settings in the file menu. Gómez, Inc. 2003 10
Step 4: Upload the script. Click on the OK button. When the upload is completed you will see the following message: To directly log into the GPN from the GSR click Yes. NOTE: To activate and schedule monitors you must use the Admin tab of the GPN. NOTE: Once uploaded to the GPN, transactions are available immediately for activation and scheduling within the Admin tab of the Please refer to the online help system included with the Gómez Script Recorder for answers to additional questions. Gómez, Inc. 2003 11