LoadRunner - Selecting random value using lr_paramarr_random function

In performance testing, it is really important to simulate a realistic user path through an application. For example, randomly select an image link from a gallery or select a share from a share list. In such situations, you can use the LoadRunnerlr_paramarr_random function to select a random value from a captured parameter array. Similarly, you can also write a code to do the same.

Before you use the above function, you will need to use web_reg_save_paramfunction to capture all the ordinal values. This can be achieved by passing "ORD=ALL" into the function.

The following code demonstrates the use of lr_paramarr_random function. The code saves link Ids using  web_reg_save_param function and then useslr_paramarr_random function to randomly select an Id value. The value is passed as a parameter in web_text_link function to navigate to the appropriate webpage.

Action()
{

 //Capture all the Link IDs
 web_reg_save_param("LinkID","LB=id=\"","RB=\" href=\"default.aspx?content=business_","ORD=ALL",LAST);

 lr_start_transaction("VU01_01_Homepage");
 web_browser("website", 
  DESCRIPTION, 
  ACTION, 
  "Navigate={WebsiteUrl}", 
  LAST);

 lr_end_transaction("VU01_01_Homepage",LR_AUTO);

 lr_think_time(10);


 //Save a randomly selected ID to a Parameter
 lr_save_string(lr_paramarr_random("LinkID"),"RandomLink"); 

 //Printout the randomly selected parameter
 lr_output_message("%s",lr_eval_string("{RandomLink}"));

 //Navigate to the appropriate webpage associated to the ID
 lr_start_transaction("VU01_02_RandomLink");

 web_text_link("Links", 
  "Snapshot=t2.inf", 
  DESCRIPTION, 
  "Id={RandomLink}",
  ACTION, 
  "UserAction=Click", 
  LAST);

 lr_end_transaction("VU01_02_RandomLink",LR_AUTO);
 
 web_browser("Sync", 
  "Snapshot=t3.inf", 
  DESCRIPTION, 
  ACTION, 
  "Sync", 
  LAST);

 return 0;
}

Following is a screenshot of replay log, displaying the random id's selected for each iteration. It also displays the values captured using web_reg_save_param function.